A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

“Okanagan Crush Pad” Turns 3, Announces Changes To Winemaking Team

Okanagan Crush Pad is located at 16576 Fosbery Road in Summerland, BC | 250-494-4445 | okanagancrushpad.com
Okanagan Crush Pad is located at 16576 Fosbery Road in Summerland | 250-494-4445 | okanagancrushpad.com

The GOODS from Okanagan Crush Pad

Kelowna, BC | As Okanagan Crush Pad celebrated its 3rd anniversary on September 28th, owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie are excited to announce changes within the winemaking team. Michael Bartier will transition his role as chief winemaker to Matt Dumayne which will allow Michael Bartier flexibility and the time required to continue to build his own wine portfolio, Bartier Family Vineyards. Michael will continue to consult to Okanagan Crush Pad indefinitely, continuing his work in developing and managing the vineyards. Jordan Kubek will continue her role as sparkling winemaker. The change in responsibilities will allow for a smooth transition through harvest and the critical time of fermentation.

“The past few years have been a whirlwind of activities, with the team at Okanagan Crush Pad experiencing many firsts and some outstanding accolades in a short period of time. None of this would have been possible without the support of our team,” noted Christine Coletta. “We have some of the most talented and passionate people in the wine industry working with us and take great pride in the personal steps and achievements of each.”

Michael has been a key influencer at Okanagan Crush Pad and his work ethos and personal values have driven much of our vision. He and his brother Don have been diligently working to build their Bartier Family Vineyards wine portfolio and the time has come for Michael to devote more time to growing this brand.

Matt Dumayne joined Okanagan Crush Pad in February 2013. Originally from New Zealand, with over 25 vintages under his belt, Matt has crafted award-winning wines in Central Otago, California, Australia, and Oregon. He has proven to be an invaluable asset to the team with a particular passion for Pinot Noir, organics, and natural winemaking. In addition to making OCP’s house wine Haywire, Matt will oversee winemaking for clients including 40 Knots Estate Winery (Comox, BC), Singletree (Abbotsford), Coolshanagh (Naramata), and Vibrant Vines (East Kelowna).

Jordan Kubek joined Okanagan Crush Pad in August 2011 as a cellar assistant. Since then she has completed her enology certificate at Washington State University and has assumed responsibility for Okanagan Crush Pad’s growing sparkling wine program. In the winter months Jordan has gained experience in the southern hemisphere working in Australia and New Zealand with plans to work in Chile this coming winter.

“Steve and I see this as a good and healthy progress for both Okanagan Crush Pad and Michael and wish the Bartier family much success,” stated Coletta. “Our business model is to develop and launch successful wineries and it is a natural transition to have Bartier Family Vineyards take the next step. They will remain as custom crush clients and Michael will focus his services to helping us develop our Garnet Valley Ranch vineyard.”

At Okanagan Crush Pad, harvest 2014 commenced on September 5 with the arrival of Chardonnay grapes grown at Secrest Mountain Vineyard for the Haywire sparkling wine program. This vintage is shaping up to be an exceptional year. Due to a record amount of visitor traffic this past summer, the tasting lounge at Okanagan Crush Pad, located in Summerland, BC will remain open daily through fall. The guest center is built into the heart of the cellar offering visitors a front row seat to harvest and crush. For more information visit www.okanagancrushpad.com.

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

  • Crush Pad
  • OCP_4coletta_lornie_dumayne_oct2014
  • Tasting Room
  • ocp_tastingrm_2253v
  • _LTP7024tv1
  • OCP Tasting_room1
  • OCP | Coletta & Lornie
  • _LTP6183_t
  • Tasting Room
  • OCP_oct12_view3
  • OCP | Echo on barrel
  • OCP
  • OCP | Lionel Trudel photo
  • OCP Patio | Lionel Trudel photo
  • _LTP0160v

The People

Christine Coletta, Owner Steve Lornie, Owner Michael Bartier, Chief Winemaker Matt Dumayne, Associate Winemaker Julian Scholefield, Operations Manager David Scholefield, Wine advisor Alberto Antonini, Consulting viticulturist & winemaker Leeann Froese, Marketing and Communications Alison Scholefield, Brand Manager Whitney Law, order desk and THE Club @ Crush Pad

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 Vancouver, 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.”