Captivating visitors with award-winning wines, architectural grandeur, and immersive cultural programming, Mission Hill Family Estate offers experiences that linger long after each visit. Yet, tucked within its stone passages lies an unexpected destination: The Boutique. More than a retail space, it is a curated world where craftsmanship, heritage, and beauty come together, reshaped each year through the thoughtful vision of David Amos. His work transforms what could be a traditional gift shop into a sensory journey that encourages guests to pause, explore, and experience the estate in an entirely new way.
David’s path to Mission Hill is as layered as the collections he assembles. With decades of experience in luxury goods, fashion, and the wine and spirits sectors, he brings a refined understanding of craftsmanship and narrative to every selection. Now guiding the curation of The Boutique for the Mission Hill Family Estate, he channels this experience into seasonal reinventions that honour the estate’s legacy and enhance the guest’s journey, approaching each choice with purpose and reverence.
Within The Boutique, everything holds meaning, and each detail engages more than the eye. The moment visitors step inside, textures become storytellers. Fingers brush over the softness of Chanel tweed, its meticulous weave echoing the Parisian ateliers from which it emerged. Nearby, the weather-worn leather of historic trunks carries the patina of time. One can imagine salt-soaked sea crossings, train platforms, and the quiet glamour of voyages from another era. Rare vintages, curated home goods, and handcrafted preserves are selected with equal intention, each contributing to an evolving narrative rooted in discovery. The estate’s annual theme, The High Life – La Belle Vie, further embraces the romance of luxury vintage travel and elevated living.
Among the most enchanting elements of The Boutique is its extraordinary collection of globally sourced vintage trunks from revered maisons such as Louis Vuitton, Goyard, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Harrods, Cartier, and Gucci.
Many pieces boast remarkable provenance, and all reflect a reverence for artistry that parallels the craftsmanship of Mission Hill’s wines.
Their metal hardware carries the cool weight of age, while their interiors reveal linens and compartments designed for a world where travel was ritual, not convenience.
For David, sourcing these treasures is an act of devotion. His approach is guided by a desire to find “what is most beautiful and unique,” and pieces must “seamlessly complement our estate and wines.” While he searches internationally, he notes that “on occasion I find remarkable items close to home,” reflecting his openness to discovery.
One of the most captivating pieces he has brought into the collection is a Louis Vuitton Courier trunk from 1895 once owned by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
The trunk began its journey in Vancouver as she set off on her honeymoon voyage to Japan, entwining global heritage with local history. Reflecting on rare finds such as this, David shares, “Some pieces are so rare that selling them is bittersweet for me, knowing I probably will not find another like it.”
Beyond The Boutique, Mission Hill leads guests into another expression of artistry within The Chagall Room, revealed by towering 24-foot wooden doors.
At its centre hangs a monumental tapestry crafted by master weaver Yvette Cauquil Prince, completed in 1991 and inspired by Marc Chagall’s 1969 painting Animals and Music. Known as Animal Tales or Le Bestiaire, the piece fills the room with vivid storytelling, embodying the estate’s dedication to cultural depth and preservation.
Beneath this striking work stands a Yamaha Grand Piano once owned by David Foster. Acquired at the David Foster and Friends Charity Gala in 2006. Signed by more than sixty legendary performers, including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, and Robin Williams, the piano stands as a testament to generosity, artistry, and shared history.
The room now welcomes guests for the exclusive Iconic Oculus Experience, a guided journey into Mission Hill’s most celebrated wines. The experience begins in the underground barrel cellar before transitioning to a seated tasting of rare vintages, including the acclaimed 2020 Oculus. Paired with elevated dishes from the estate’s award-winning culinary program.
This holiday season, step into The Boutique, explore its ever-evolving treasures, and find a piece of history to bring home as part of your own story.