The GOODS from Okanagan Crush Pad

Summerland, BC | Haywire wine, made at Okanagan Crush Pad winery in Summerland BC has been awarded a Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines for the Canyonview Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 ($35).

The Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in BC Wines was established in 2003 to recognize and honour excellence in the province’s growing wine industry and to elevate the image of BC wines. To be eligible for the competition, the wine must be grown and processed within British Columbia. The awards are supported by the Government House Foundation.

The Haywire Canyonview Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 has been a favourite among critics since its release, and the winery is flattered that it has been recognized by the Lieutenant Governor.

“We’re honoured, especially since this is the first vintage of this wine,” remarks winery owner Christine Coletta. “We hope that this award is a sign of things to come, as we see great strides being made in our wine quality, year over year. We’re very proud of our winemaking team, Michael Bartier and Matt Dumayne, who have received accolades not only for our Haywire wines, but for wines they made for many of our custom crush clients.”

Bartier notes that this Pinot Noir started with low crop levels, extreme patience during harvest, and strictly regimented manual punch downs in the tanks. It was aged in old French oak barrels then moved into egg-shaped concrete tanks for further rest time. The wine has cherry fruit intensity, with soft, lush tannins and will continue to improve and evolve with bottle aging. The team suggests the wine pairs well with soft ripe cheeses, hearty stews, and game meats.

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, 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.”