The GOODS from Okanagan Crush Pad

Kelowna, BC | BC’s Okanagan Crush Pad, producer of Haywire and Bartier Scholefield, announces the release of Owen ($25.90) — 100 cases of BC VQA Cabernet Franc, made by 2011 Vancouver Sommelier of the Year and West wine director Owen Knowlton.

‘Owen’ is the second wine release from the winery’s Okanagan Wine Campus program. Okanagan Wine Campus is a two-part mentorship program. Each year Okanagan Crush Pad provides the person named Vancouver’s Sommelier of the Year a chance to make 100 cases of wine using the grape variety and style of wine they wish.

The proceeds from the sale of the wine are then given to the BC Hospitality Foundation wine scholarship fund to support students who are pursuing their higher level wine education certification. To date, $10,000 has been awarded to 11 individuals.

Okanagan Wine Campus participants to date include Kurtis Kolt (2010), Owen Knowlton (2011), Terry Threlfall (2012), and Samantha Rahn (2013). Learn more after the jump…

Owen Cabernet Franc

The Owen Cabernet Franc starts off a little tight then opens up tremendously well in the glass. Notes of spicy ripe berries and bittersweet chocolate on the nose tie in with a lovely minerality. The palate is elegant yet strikingly powerful with layers of blueberry and mocha that complement flavours of mineral and earth. The wine is bright and fresh thanks to a long, cooler 2011 vintage. The tannins have phenolic ripeness and are silky fine, which lends to a smooth texture and a long, persistent finish.

Anyone who hopes to get their hands on a case of the Owen wine is advised to act quickly. Only 100 cases were made, and with a network of wine-engaged peers, it is expected these wines will disappear quickly.

As of the time of this notice, Owen wine can be purchased while dining at West Restaurant, or from the retail shelves of Brewery Creek Liquor Store.

To see the full tasting notes, and background story for Owen, please visit the Okanagan Wine Campus page and read or download the media kit.

To order Owen wine, contact the order desk at 604-800-0601 or email [email protected].

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.”