WITH TOWN HALL
STORIES, NEWS, AND BEST PRACTICES
The team at Haywire Winery is thrilled to unveil its Certified Local program as a token of gratitude to the incredible residents who have steadfastly supported the Okanagan wine industry over the decades. The year-round visits and purchases from locals have played a pivotal role in transforming this region into a globally respected wine producer.
Valley Commons soft launches starting Saturday, September 4 before the grand opening on September 8
[Oliver, BC] After months of planning and much hard work, September 8 is a big day for husband-wife duo Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff. It’s the day they open the doors to - Valley Commons in the south Okanagan’s District Wine Village (DWV). The winery will also do a 'soft launch' at DWV starting on Saturday, September 4 for long-weekend visitors. Those at DVW this weekend will be the first to taste the wines and shop the merch.
Starting next week, Valley Commons will be open Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays) 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We are so excited to welcome guests and introduce them to our beautiful wines,” says Richey. “Our tagline at Valley Commons is ‘Where we gather’ because we strongly believe that friendships and family ties are strengthened, and community is created when people gather to enjoy a glass of wine together.”
Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff, owners of Valley Commons Winery. Photo credit: Shari Saysomack
Guest Experience
In addition to the tasting room, Valley Commons’ beautiful new 1,500-sq-foot facility houses the winery’s production area with its fermentation tanks. Guests may even catch a glimpse of winemaker Bill Adams working his harvest magic, as he transforms Okanagan and Fraser Valley grapes into beautiful wines.
The winery offers two different experiences for guests – a quick and casual visit to the stand-up tasting bar with a flight of four ‘petit pour’ wines for $10, or a more leisurely seated experience for $15 and five wine samples to savour. All the wines will be available for sale by the glass and the bottle. In addition to the stand-up tasting bar, the facility offers two tables with two seats each inside the tasting room and an additional 14 seats on the outside patio overlooking the central plaza.
The Wines
Visitors to Valley Commons will be able to enjoy its 2020 vintages created for the winery by Mark Simpson of BC Wine Studio. Starting with the 2021 vintage, wines will be made by Valley Commons staff winemaker Bill Adams and supported by consulting winemaker Pascal Madevon.
The current portfolio of 2020 vintages includes:
Garden Society, a premium red blend ($40/ btl, $14/glass)
Cabernet Franc ($35/btl, $12/glass)
Rosé ($30/btl, $10/glass)
Pinot Gris ($28/btl, $9/glass)
Harvest Table White, a blend ($25/btl, $9/glass)
Valley Commons Winery 2020 Vintages. Photo credit: Ian Lanterman
Richey and Verhoeff want the tasting room to be a unique experience; not only for the sampling of their wines but also a way for individuals to be inspired by, and connect to, the natural beauty that surrounds them. The couple envision it as a place for people to gather and reconnect.
Richey comments, “We want it to be a place to come as you are and be welcomed as family. It will be a place that combines the sophistication of metropolitan tastes with the agricultural cornucopia of the Valleys. We invite people to visit Valley Commons to recharge their spirit and discover new, exciting wines.”
To stay up to date with the latest news from Valley Commons, to subscribe to their newsletter and to order the winery’s first vintages visit www.valleycommons.ca and be sure to follow along on social at @valleycommons.
Valley Commons Winery 2020 Rosé. Photo credit: Ian Lanterman
Toast #NationalRoséDay with 10 BC Rosé Wines
Since National Rosé Day is almost here (June 12, 2021), we’re sharing how you can celebrate the occasion with some of our favourite BC wines! Each rosé on this list was made locally with grapes grown in BC. From the Fraser Valley, to the Okanagan, and even the Island, each corner of BC has a rosé that’s sure to fit your palate. Read the below descriptions to find out which rosé is right for your #NationalRoséDay festivities.
Bizou + Yukon Pinkie Rosé, Singletree Winery Rosé, and Haywire Gamay Rosé
This rosé gives flavours of bright and juicy red berries with floral notes on the nose. It’s approachable, easy to drink, and pairs well with charcuterie. Available online at okanagancrushpad.com , in-person at the winery in Summerland, BC, or at select private wine stores throughout the province.
A blend of Malbec and Syrah, find this refreshing pink rosé online at singletreewinery.com or in-person at the winery in Abbotsford or Naramata. This wine is predicted to sellout, so move quickly!
A dry, mouth-watering rosé, filled with flavours of bright fruit and orange blossoms. Pair it with your choice of grilled fish or sip it solo. Available online at okanagancrushpad.com, in-person at the winery in Summerland, BC, or at select Save-On-Foods stores throughout the province.
Pink Cadillac Rosé, Free Form Rosé, Nostalgia Rosé, and Blue Grouse Estate Winery Quill Rosé
As playful as the artwork on its label, the Pink Cadillac tastes of berries and exotic fruit on the palate. Drink this on its own or with a light fruit-filled salad. Available online at nostalgiawines.ca or in-person at the winery in Oliver, BC. You may be able to find this wine at private wine stores throughout BC in the coming months.
A sweet red berry rosé on the nose, balanced by equal parts sweet and savoury fruit on the palate with a juicy acidity. Available online at okanagancrushbad.com, in-person at the winery in Summerland, BC, or at select private wine stores throughout the province.
A saignée-method rosé, this wine gives you flavours of watermelon, cranberry, grapefruit, raspberry, and passionfruit. Available online at nostalgiawines.ca or in-person at the winery in Oliver, BC. You may be able to find this wine at private wine stores throughout BC in the coming months.
When sipping this rosé, expect it to be well-balanced, with flavours of strawberry, pink grapefruit and earthiness. Pair it with salmon or watermelon and goat cheese salad. Available online at bluegrouse.ca or in-person at the winery in Duncan, Vancouver Island.
Evolve Cellars Pink Effervescence, Stoneboat Vineyards Rosé, and Narrative Rosé
A bubbly rosé for the sparkling wine lovers! With flavours of berry and peach, and bubbles in every glass, this wine will beautifully complement a celebration like Rosé Day. Available online at timewines.ca, in-person at TIME Winery & Kitchen in Penticton, BC, or at select Save-On-Foods, BC Liquor Stores, and private wine stores.
Filled with hints of strawberry, watermelon, cranberry, pink grapefruit and guava on the finish, this wine is both juicy and medium dry. Available online at stoneboatvineyards.com, in-person at the winery in Oliver, BC, or at select Save-On-Foods stores throughout the province.
Those looking for a dry rosé have found their match with the 2019 Narrative Rosé. This wine is bone dry and filled with fruity flavours like ripened berries. Available online at okanagancrushpad.com, in-person at the winery in Summerland, BC, or at select BC Liquor Stores.
[Oliver, BC] The Verhoeff Group of Companies announces the purchase of Stoneboat Vineyards located on the Black Sage Bench in Oliver, BC. The business continues to be family-owned, changing hands from Julie and Lanny Martiniuk to the Verhoeff family.
Led by husband-wife duo Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff, the new owners keep the Stoneboat Vineyards name and are eager to build upon the legacy of the Martiniuks, while winery employees stay on with new ownership, including winemaker William (Bill) Adams, and general manager Levi Gogolinski. Industry veteran Pascal Madevon joins the team as consulting winemaker to work with Bill in the cellar.
“Our family is thrilled to make its entrance into the BC wine industry by taking over from the Martiniuks, a family that has established their name as a top-quality grape grower and producer on the Black Sage Bench,” says Rudy Verhoeff, owner of Stoneboat Vineyards. “Our intention is to continue their outstanding work and expand the brand’s presence in the Okanagan and beyond.”
The Verhoeff family, based in Fort Langley in the Fraser Valley, has experience with businesses in the event and hospitality sectors including Red Door Events and Trading Post Brewing, and soon in the District Wine Village with Trading Post and a new winery Valley Commons.
The team will apply its vast experience in foodservice, events, and hospitality to the BC wine industry. Kyla and Rudy complete years of traveling to compete on Team Canada’s women and men’s volleyball teams respectively and are welcoming the change to one of Canada’s biggest-growing industries.
“We are so excited to enter the wine business at such an exciting time of growth and change,” says Kyla Richey. “All of our neighbours have been so welcoming, and we can’t wait to receive visitors from outside the valley soon.”
New Stoneboat owners Rudy Verhoeff, Kyla Richey, Paul & Cobi Verhoeff toasting with Tim Martiniuk, centre. Photo credit Shari Saysomsack
About Stoneboat Vineyards
Stoneboat Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located in Oliver, BC founded in1979 by the Martiniuk family. Known for its award-winning wines and Black Sage Bench location, the portfolio of wines is guided by consulting winemaker Pascal Madevon and crafted by winemaker Bill Adams, These include: Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Pinot Gris, Rosé, sparkling wine, red and white blends, and Icewine.
The winery team strives for balance in its approach. Through thoughtful farming, Stoneboat engages in a variety of conscientious and non-invasive practices to maintain healthy vineyards. Balancing these grape growing elements provides wines with a character that cannot be duplicated anywhere else.
Visitors to the winery are welcomed by general manager Levi Gogolinski and the Tasting Room Team to enjoy a taste of South Okanagan terroir and drink in the picturesque vistas. Stoneboat Pinot Club members receive a curated selection of wines in club shipments, first access to limited small lot wines and library releases, and Pinot Club benefits when visiting the winery.
Schedule a tasting, catch the latest news, and learn more at www.stoneboatvineyards.com
Photo credit Shari Saysomsack
After teasing followers on social media with the sneak peeks of the label under development, the wait is over.
Okanagan Crush Pad announces its 9th Wine Campus project, this time, a collaboration with Matthew Landry.
16576 Fosbery Rd Summerland, BC
Every Thursday
from July 4 to August 29 – From 7-9 PM attend Live at Crush Pad and listen to a variety of live music performances while you drink locally-made wine at Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad. Tickets are just $25 per person. Gates open at 6:30 PM.
Live at Crush Pad features renowned artists including Trailerhawk, The Fugitives, Rob ‘n Walker, Tiger Moon and many many more!
Okanagan Crush Pad’s wine brands (Narrative, Free Form & Haywire) will be available for purchase. Guests can also buy food from on-site food trucks.
View the upcoming musical acts and purchase your tickets online HERE.
Find more information and RSVP to Live at Crush Pad on Facebook.
The team at Okanagan Crush Pad Winery is pleased to announce that Lesley Brown has joined its team as vice president sales and marketing, to lead the company’s Vancouver based HQ Wine & Spirits division.
[Summerland, BC] On September 27, Christine Coletta, owner of Okanagan Crush Pad (OCP), has been presented the Founders Award at the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. Coletta has been presented the award in recognition of her contributions to the BC wine industry.
When presented the award in front of industry peers by industry veteran Harry McWatters of ENCORE Vineyards, Coletta said "I was very touched to receive this award. It was emotional to see my name added to a trophy containing the names of people who have worked tirelessly to create a thriving BC wine industry over the past 30 years."
This award is a further recognition for Coletta's passion and leadership in propelling the industry forward and to rise on an international level. Coletta has worked tirelessly to advocate for and to improve the Canadian culinary scene.
Coletta started her career in hospitality as a server during her early years and it was in the 1990s that her leadership and dedication for the industry took off. As founding executive director for the BC Wine Institute, Coletta forged VQA as a standard to support the local wine industry and its various marketing activities. In addition, she co-founded Wines of Canada, the national wine standards arm. Under that umbrella, Coletta developed a roadshow that crossed Canada to encourage support for local food and wine.
After helping numerous BC wineries establish their businesses, Coletta launched her own wine, Haywire, and Canada's first purpose-built custom crush winemaking facility at OCP. Since 2011, Coletta has assisted more than 15 BC wineries in their winemaking via OCP.
Coletta has also been on the leading edge of Canada's organic farming and winemaking movement, establishing OCP as Canada's top producer of wines made from organic grapes and without additives or manipulation.
Earlier this year, when the government of Alberta held a boycott on BC wine, instead of responding with retaliation, Coletta led and set the tone for collaboration, by initiating a BC wine and Alberta food event.
And above this, Coletta doesn't keep her knowledge and ideas to herself. She shares her resources and continually offers advice and encouragement to not only her own team and people, but also her community and industry. Her most recent project is on the team that formed the Okanagan Wine Initiative, where seven leading BC wineries have united to share resources and to collaborate on various projects internationally, across Canada, and in their home market, British Columbia.
With another accolade added, Coletta will continue to innovate and propel the industry forward to become a premium wine producing region and a superb wine tourism destination.
About Okanagan Crush Pad:
Okanagan Crush Pad is Canada's first purpose-built custom crush winery facility, located on the 10-acre Switchback Vineyard in Summerland, BC. Owned by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, Okanagan Crush Pad focuses on making wines that celebrate purity and simplicity, and aim to lead the next evolution of Okanagan wine. Visitors to the tasting lounge, set in the heart of this state-of-the-art facility, get a rare glance into the art of winemaking. Watch the cellar team in action, discover why the team makes wine in concrete tanks, and learn how the team composes wines that are definitive expressions of their vineyards.
For more information visit: okanagancrushpad.com.
Note from Leeann Froese:
If you follow us on social media, you will note that our design team has been working on a beautiful new label with an illustration from Darrell Underschultz, for the Reimers, a lovely Kelowna couple, for their new Mirabel Vineyards Pinot Noir.
This limited release Pinot made by Matt Dumayne is both bold and silky at the same time, and with only a few cases made, is sure to go quickly.
We are very proud to also handle the publicity for this new wine, and here is the official press release.
Mirabel Vineyards Announces Debut Release Reimer Family focused on terroir-driven Pinot Noir
Doug and Dawn Reimer are pleased to launch their inaugural Mirabel Vineyards wine with the release of the 2015 Pinot Noir, sourced exclusively from their South East Kelowna hilltop estate and vineyard overlooking the Okanagan Valley.
Mirabel, meaning "of wondrous beauty", perfectly represents the Reimer family's stunning South East Kelowna hilltop estate and vineyard overlooking the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
The sustainably-farmed Reimer Family Vineyard was planted in 2006 on a steep hill with both southwesterly and northwesterly aspects. Grapes were planted at high elevations over complex soils. Analysis of the terroir suggested the estate was best planted to specific clones of Pinot Noir, to be blended together for optimum colour, flavour, acidity, tannin and length. The yield is cropped at a low 2.5 tons per acre and harvested by hand. One-and-a-half acres of Chardonnay will be planted this spring.
The family's commitment to quality is realized with this first vintage release of 237 cases of a luscious, elegant, sustainably-grown Pinot Noir.
The 2015 Mirabel Pinot Noir ($70.00 for 750ml, $160 for 1500ml Magnum) was aged 11 months exclusively in French oak (30% new). Gentle handling, including gravity transfer from barrel to bottle, helped to maintain the subtle texture, rich fruit, soft spice and generous length. As the Reimers do not yet have a winery, this wine was made at Okanagan Crush Pad by chief winemaker Matt Dumayne.
Mirabel Vineyards was founded through Doug and Dawn's shared love of travel, and the belief that the creation and sharing of wonderful food and incredible wine is one of life's greatest joys. Following a vacation to the Okanagan in 2004, the couple purchased an exclusive piece of property that was ideal for growing grapes. The fruit was previously sold to other wineries, but it will now be reserved for the Mirabel Vineyards label.
Initial praise for the Pinot Noir includes a review from noted BC wine authority John Schreiner, who described it as having "great purity of fruit". A saignée-method Pinot Noir Rosé and a Chardonnay will be released later this year.
"We believe that what is in the bottle is more than just wine; it is a place and time; a snapshot of the vineyard. We invite you to join us, as we pursue our dream." - Doug and Dawn
Those seeking access to these limited-production wines are invited to sign up at mirabelvineyards.com.
If you are a member of the trade seeking an allocation, please contact info@mirabelvineyards.com.
For media, or anyone who wants to know more about the Mirabel Vineyards story, download the information kit HERE.
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