The GOODS from Okanagan Crush Pad

Summerland, BC | From its ponderosa-surrounded perch in beautiful Summerland, Okanagan Crush Pad overlooks the 10-acre Switchback Vineyard to Okanagan Lake. We invite you to come by and visit the winery, relax in the “O Tasting Lounge”, which offers a spot to escape on a sunny afternoon with tastings of over six wine brands and 30 different limited production, vineyard inspired wines.

You will be in awe driving past vines to the graffiti-mural exterior that welcomes you. Surprise sets in when you spot the row of unique fermentation ‘eggs’ that comprise only one of the unique aspects of this high end, small lot, custom winemaking facility. Sun seekers may prefer the “Crush Pad Patio” where wines can be sipped and picnics enjoyed. This summer, the winery is open to the public for the first time, from June 15 to October 13, Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. Visit and taste house brands Haywire and Bartier Scholefield and several others and discover why this winery has become one of the Okanagan’s rising stars.

See directions and more www.okanagancrushpad.com

Upcoming events at Okanagan Crush Pad

Lastly, if you are able to help us spread the word with your friends, we have a couple awesome onsite events coming with Memphis Blues BBQ, as well as a Joy Road Catering dinner at God’s Mountain featuring winemaker Michael Bartier:

“Baah-be-cue, it ain’t just for breakfast anymore”

Mmm…we love barbeque…perfect with rosé! Succulent Memphis ribs, beef brisket, and pulled pork will be met by the wines from Haywire, Bartier Scholefield and Bartier Bros. at two VERY special events on July 11 and July 12 at 6pm, as Memphis Blues Barbecue House makes a special visit to Okanagan Crush Pad. Wear your stretchy pants!

Tickets – $29 plus HST are for sale online now. www.okanagancrushpad.com/events/

Alfresco Vineyard Dining with Joy Road Catering

Imagine yourself under a tree, a warm, gentle summer wind blowing, and as your stress melts away, a to-die-for seasonal meal is placed in front of you, paired with wine… Okanagan Crush Pad is teaming up with Joy Road Catering to host a dinner at God’s Mountain Estate on Thursday, July 19, 2012 that should not be missed! Those in the know understand what magic Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart are able to achieve with the best local ingredients from foragers and local farmers, as well as fruit picked on estate. You will dine with Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker Michael Bartier and enjoy a menu created around the wines. Tickets are $115.00 plus HST and available at www.joyroadcatering.com/contact_us.php. These Joy Road events sell out, so don’t delay!

Details

16576 Fosbery Road, Summerland, BC | V0H 1Z0
Winery phone: 250-494-4445 | Order wine: 604-800-3738 [email protected]
Web: www.okanagancrushpad.com | Facebook | Twitter

Gallery

The People

Christine Coletta, Owner
Steve Lornie, Owner
Michael Bartier, Winemaker
David Scholefield, Winery advisor
Alberto Antonini, Consulting viticulturist & winemaker
Leeann Froese, Media relations
Alison Scholefield, Orders & General Inquiries
Karen Kho, Sales & Events

About Okanagan Crush Pad

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, is based in beautiful Summerland, British Columbia, overlooking the 10-acre Switchback Vineyard site and Lake Okanagan. The winery is home to Haywire and Bartier Scholefield, as well as other brands that have been made at the custom crush facility. With a team of dedicated industry leaders, OCP’s mantra has been to improve the quality of Okanagan wines through shared space and ideas. Since September 2011, the winery has opened its doors to provide home to smaller producers and growers within the Okanagan Valley, while focusing on their own boutique line of hand crafted wines. Keeping with the philosophy that less is more, grapes are handled with minimal intervention with an eye on pure fruit expression that accentuates the Okanagan’s distinctive terroir. Aided by six concrete egg fermenters by Sonoma Cast Stone, Okanagan Crush Pad is the first Canadian winery to introduce these modern vessels to the market.

Okanagan Crush Pad boasts an impressive state of the art facility, but owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie stress that it is their winery team that remains the hallmark of their success. Respected winemaker, Michael Bartier is an Okanagan native that has a refined understanding of the valley. Coupled with the global experience of internationally acclaimed wine consultant Alberto Antonini and OCP’s wine advisor David Scholefield, the team strives to create distinctive, quality driven BC wines. The winery is responsible for the boutique labels Haywire and Bartier Scholefield but is equally committed to bringing small producers from field to market.

The winery is not open regularly to the public but is designed to be a shared working space for winemakers to work closely together. Tastings and visits to the winery can be made by appointment through Alison Scholefield at [email protected].

Accolades

Bartier Scholefield Rosé

Review on Tim Pawsey’s www.HiredBelly.com | “Bartier Scholefield 2010 Rosé gets better every time we taste it. Looks pretty too. Lovely salmon colour in the glass, raspberry earthy notes on top.”

Recommendation in Georgia Straight by Jurgen Gothe | This one delivers hints of ripe strawberries as well as truffles—no mean feat!—for an intriguing—guess the grapes, Uncle Frank!—dinner companion. Not-quite-salmon-but-beyond-apricot is the colour. Think I could sell that to Sherwin-Williams? Great, crisp finish.

Bartier Scholefield White

Review by Christopher Waters in The London Free Press, 24 Hours Edmonton, 24 Hours Vancovuer, Fort MacMurray Today | It boasts terrific integration and focused peach/apricot character that makes real the cliché that a blended wine is better than the sum of its parts. Made in a unoaked, old school way to amplify the flavours that came with the fruit, you could say it’s a “no B-S white.”

Haywire Pinot Gris

One of Julianna Hayes Top Wine Picks for 2011 – Okanagan Saturday | “Intense aromas of pear, golden apple, yellow grapefruit and lemon meringue pie. Delivers all that character on the palate with mineral and mouthwatering acidity. Stylish.

Reviewed by Kasey Wilson in The Globe and Mail | It’s a deliciously pure, fresh white that displays citrus and delicate mineral nuances highlighting our lighter West Coast cuisine. Influential Tuscan-born winemaker Alberto Antonini acts as a consultant to Haywire, helping craft terroir-driven wines like this one.

Review in Tidings by Harry Herstscheg, 89 points | Fragrant orchard blossoms tease the nose, while ripe pear flavour rides lemony acidity along a crisp, lively palate. Generous lees contact gives a rounder mouthfeel. Flinty minerality lingers.

Haywire Rosé

Reviewed in the Okanagan Sunday | “Haywire 2010 Rose ($25) – Cranberry, cherry, blood orange with some earthy notes. Refreshing.”

Review in Tidings by Harry Herstscheg, 88 points | “Attractive salmon pink colour. Delightful scents of all manner of red fruit. Bright cherry and cranberry flavour upfront set up lean, lingering mineral notes.

Haywire Pinot Noir

Reviewed in Vines magazine | On the nose this has pleasing strawberry and pepper notes. The palate keeps that same delicious peppery character, with the addition of cherry and some subtle herbaceous hints. Some slight grip from fine tannins adds structure and great acidity on the finish rounds out this truly enjoyable wine.”