Aspirational Okanagan Wineries Form New Group

'The Okanagan Wine Initiative' Members Set to Collaborate and Raise Profile

[Okanagan Valley, BC] Seven leading BC wineries: 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Haywire Wines, Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, have formed a partnership, The Okanagan Wine Initiative.

The association groups together these seven Okanagan wineries to share resources and collaborate on varying projects internationally, across Canada, and in their home market, British Columbia. The members share a common passion to drive one-another to excel and adopt best business practices and to help elevate the identity of the Okanagan as a premium wine producing region and superb wine tourism destination.

The seven members found themselves working together over industry issues or attending wine trade fairs abroad and discovered common values and aspirations, most notably around export market development, sustainable business practices and a desire to create terroir driven wines that showcase the Okanagan. Over a year ago, they started informally sharing resources and more recently decided to establish The Okanagan Wine Initiative as a company. Each member has provided significant funding that will support market development and promotional activities. Once the group is firmly established and its processes and activities in place, other likeminded wineries with similar aspirations will be encouraged to join.

The Okanagan Wine Initiative is in no way a replication or replacement for any of the current trade marketing associations in BC. "We are non-partisan and will work closely with all existing trade organizations, in addition to driving our own initiatives," says Liquidity's Ian MacDonald, a key force behind the group's formation. "The Okanagan Wine Initiative is about adding to what is currently being done to elevate awareness and demand for Okanagan wine around the world."

"This group is here to challenge and build one another up to be the best we can be in all areas of our business," says Christine Coletta, co-owner of Haywire Wines in Summerland, BC. 

"Collectively, we offer wines and tourism experiences from north to south, and we create a diverse portfolio, focusing on wines that are signatures of the Okanagan," Coletta continues.

Recently the group came together to host the event 'Farm Friends' following the Alberta BC wine boycott, and also held a public tasting and panel discussion for the Everything Wine tasting Lab in Vancouver. Next up is a series of events in London in mid-May and co-hosting a tour in the Okanagan for seven UK journalists.

"Each of us brings a different skill set to the group and by dividing the work between us, we hope to make fast in-roads," noted Culmina's co-owner Don Triggs. "Our end game is to build our wine region's reputation nationally and internationally."

About The Okanagan Wine Initiative

The Okanagan Wine Initiative was formalized in 2018 by a group of winery owners seeking to elevate the region's rich and diverse narrative through business excellence and the promotion of quality Okanagan wines outside of British Columbia, Canada.

Founding members include 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Vineyards, Haywire Wines, Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

Their mandate is to work together to improve all areas of viticulture, winemaking and winery operations, market development and sales, by sharing resources and expertise, and to go to market as a group under the banner of The Okanagan Wine Initiative. A collection of member wines will be selected annually to benchmark the region's style and diversity at national and international events and tastings.

Meet The Okanagan Wine Initiative Founding Members

50th Parallel Estate
50th Parallel Estate, truly one of Canada's exemplary destination wineries, is set in Lake Country on a stunning 61-acre southwest-sloping site. Panoramic lake views, a warm, dry climate, the sun, the lake reflectivity, the slope of the land, and feldspar granite soils combine to provide the perfect place to build an enclave for Pinot Noir, with the first release in 2011.

The winery building was constructed specifically to handle Pinot Noir, utilizing the natural slope of the site and gravity to gently process the grapes, rather than mechanically pumping the juice and skins.

Proprietors Curtis Krouzel and Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel invite you to try their internationally-awarded Pinot Noir and aromatic white wines, and in 2018, 50th Parallel opens its new winery fine dining restaurant, event hall, and 'Transparent' tasting room.

Culmina Family Estate Winery
Culmina Family Estate Winery is the result of a lifetime of experience in the wine industry for Don and Elaine Triggs. Purchasing raw land in 2007 and joined by their daughter in 2012, the Triggs began developing their new estate, naming it 'Culmina'. Latin for 'peak', they chose the name to reflect not only their lifetime of efforts in the wine industry, but also their desire to coax the highest quality grapes from their Golden Mile Bench terroir.

Culmina's vineyard and winemaking practices are grounded in precision-management and scientific tenets, stemming from a desire to make Icon quality wines that reflect the uniqueness of their terroir, as well as an underlying commitment to sustainable vineyard practices, gentle handling of fruit, and minimal intervention of wine. This philosophy has informed every decision since the project's inception, including the mapping of the vineyard's 44 micro blocks, the design of the winery's state-of-the-art production facility, and the release of a wide number of critically-acclaimed wines from the estate.

Haywire Wines
The journey began in 2006 when Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie planted a 10-acre site in Summerland with Pinot Gris and named it Switchback Vineyard. Three years later, after a lot of trial and labour, a tiny crop capable of making 168 cases was harvested. Curiosity won out over practicality, Haywire wines were launched, and there was no turning back. In 2010 consulting Tuscan winemaker Alberto Antonini arrived and the following year, his colleague Pedro Parra, from Chile joined him. The pair make regular trips to advise the winery and vineyard teams and have been instrumental in shaping a vision which includes precision viticulture, organic farming and minimal intervention winemaking. 

In 2011, Coletta and Lornie opened Okanagan Crush Pad, an innovative custom winemaking facility, to give Haywire a home. Today, their venture includes 380-acres of organic vineyard and farmland. Signature wines include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and traditional method sparkling. Haywire is recognized as making game-changing wines with New Zealander Matt Dumayne at the helm. The team is committed to farming organic wines that let the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley shine through.

Liquidity Wines
Liquidity Wines in Okanagan Falls, uses sustainable, time-tested viticultural practices to provide the finest growing environment for the 100% estate grown vines and hand harvested grapes. 10,000 years ago, glaciers covered the landscape deposited sand and gravel soils on the south-facing property, creating the ideal growing conditions for fruit. Winemaker Alison Moyes' goal is to produce authentic, expressive wines of the highest quality. The winery's 2016 Reserve Chardonnay received the top award at the 2018 Chardonnay du Monde.

Visitors treat their senses when they visit the cutting-edge winery, bistro and gallery. All design aspects of this property have been carefully chosen by the owner, Ian MacDonald, so wine lovers may sample award-winning wines while surrounded by wonderful modern art. Visitors also enjoy delicious, locally-sourced cuisine from the Liquidity Bistro, as they take in the views of the surrounding landscape and the ever-evolving art installations throughout the grounds.

Painted Rock Estate Winery
Painted Rock Estate Winery began in 2004, on a 56-acre west sloping property, surrounded by an amphitheatre of rock bench, on the eastern shore of Skaha Lake in south Penticton. The long, hot summer days, in conjunction with ideal air flow and soil structures of the site, allow proprietors John and Trish Skinner to create terroir-driven wines and build a family legacy business.

The Skinners assembled local and international talent to realize their vision for an ultra-premium Okanagan winery, planting the single vineyard estate with Chardonnay and Syrah, in addition to the five Bordeaux varieties. Their consultant, Alain Sutre of Ertus Consulting in Bordeaux, oversees the blending and winemaking team each vintage.

At Painted Rock, John Skinner personally welcomes visitors to the architecturally-distinctive tasting room, to taste the results of his family's shared ambition to make terroir expressive Okanagan wines.

Poplar Grove Winery
One of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench, Poplar Grove Winery was founded in 1993. Tony Holler purchased Poplar Grove and became winery president in 2007. Tony's wife, Barbara, owns and operates the Holler's 100 acres of estate vineyards, while their sons, Chris, Andrew, Matthew, and Eric, manage the vineyards with a passionate desire to bring the Okanagan's full potential into each bottle.

Poplar Grove is focused on six core wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and a signature blend called The Legacy. Visit Poplar Grove and experience breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley while sipping on a selection of these signature wines. Stay for afternoon tapas, lunch or dinner at the Vanilla Pod restaurant. While visiting, join the Poplar Grove Wine Club and their journey to make truly great wines.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery, located since 1991 in the Lakeshore district of Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley, is Canada's largest certified organic winery, BC's first Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard, and Canada's foremost producer of sparkling wine. The winery, owned by the Cipes family, is also home to the Sunset Organic Bistro, a 200-seat, organic restaurant featuring fresh, seasonal wine paired menus and a panoramic view of Okanagan Lake.

The winemaking philosophy is that organic and biodynamic is the royal road to producing exceptionally beautiful, authentic, terroir-based wine. The portfolio of 100% BC wines has earned the winery the title of 'Canadian Wine Producer of the Year' at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England, as well as numerous international trophies and medals at the highest levels of competition.

Celebrating Our Women In Business #WithTownHall

  By Amy Chen

Happy Business Women's Day! 

Flashback 65 years today, the American Business Women’s Association was founded by Hilary A. Bufton Junior with a mission to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to support each other personally and professionally. Thirty years later in the 1980s, president Ronald Reagan officially declared September 22^nd as a national holiday to recognize gender equality and the contribution that women make in the business world.

Now, why is this important to Town Hall (and maybe you, too)?

According to Canadian Statistics:

• Number of Canadian women in business is drastically growing
• Self-employed women grew by 6.4%, accounting for one third of all self-employed persons
• On average, women in business do not make as much money as men
• Women perceive more barriers doing business than men
• Love is what drives majority of women entrepreneurs in their business

With a number of our clients and team members being women, we want to celebrate Business Women’s Day by highlighting the leadership and dedication of our Town Hall women in business. Most of all, we invite you to help us celebrate and recognize these incredible women for their hard work and achievements. They inspire us and allow us to take great pride in the work that we do for them. Thank you ladies for everything that you do! Here’s what ten of our empowering Town Hall Women in Business shared when we asked them their greatest challenge and reward as women in the industry:

Angie Quaale, owner, Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store

Challenges: “I don't think I face specific challenges because I'm a woman. I know plenty of male and female entrepreneurs. Their challenges are unique to the business, and not their gender.”

Rewards: “Meeting food producers that raise or grow food. The passion involved in that process is completely inspiring to me.“  

Christine Coletta, owner, Okanagan Crush Pad

Challenges: “I didn’t really face many as the wine industry is made up of family business with many dynamic women taking lead roles. It was not a male dominated environment and neither was the restaurant industry, which was my previous career. Frankly, the biggest challenge was the confusion over my name, which is when I officially started using “Christine” to avoid receiving calls and mail addressed to Mr. Coletta. The assumption was that I was a male… I quickly set that straight.”

Rewards: “Watching the growth and knowing that I played a vital role in changing the direction of the BC wine industry along with the many people that became my friends. It was hard work, but we shared some wonderful experiences and have great war stories to tell.”

Darnelle Moore, owner, Eastside Fitness

Challenges: “One of the biggest challenges is to let people know that a female operated fitness business does not mean we are for women only. To let people know that women can and do lift some pretty heavy weights (and they don't "bulk up" when they do so) and that men don't have to lift heavy weights all the time to improve their health/fitness. They could benefit from movement pattern corrections, which might involve some pretty basic "unloaded" body weight exercises. One of my pet peeves in the industry, regardless of the fact that I'm a woman, is that the fitness industry is categorized under "Recreation and Entertainment". To me, that implies fitness is not taken seriously as a preventative health measure! I would love to work towards changing this officially!”

Rewards: “I think seeing people move beyond their original fitness goals, beyond the obvious ones like losing weight or running a 5km to where they realize the real benefits of a full, balanced exercise regime.  Seeing people become stronger (physically and mentally) and in a place where they enjoy working out. I especially love when I see a client make a self-correction in a movement pattern we have been working on. It's a sign to me that they are aware of how their body is connected.”

Jenny Garlini, office manager, Blue Grouse Winery

Challenges: “My biggest challenge right now is splitting my time between my kids and my work. I have two kids that are four and six years old, and I want to be involved with school/preschool as much as I can. The other big challenge working for a small business is that you have to wear many hats. It has been a big challenge to not only manage a tasting room, but also make sure bills are paid, schedules are done, edit a website, put out a newsletter, start a wine club, make sure the lawns are cut, and the list goes on and on.”

Rewards: “Seeing the whole picture. I love being a part of each aspect of the winery that I listed and more! I get to see and make decisions on things that will make Blue Grouse grow and be successful. I love seeing the sales grow, new wine club members signing up and knowing that we have made a new customer that will love our place in the Cowichan Valley as much as I do.”  

Judy Kingston, owner, Serendipity Winery

Challenges: “Getting the farm started is my biggest challenge as a woman in the winery industry. As most would know, the farm is a really male dominated industry. So, when I first moved from Toronto to start Serendipity, there were a lot of non-believers. I was a Torontonian, a lawyer, and a woman that had no idea how to drive a tractor nor did I know anything about farming.”

Rewards: “Since Serendipity started, my biggest reward is proving everyone wrong. I succeeding at farming and transformed from the Toronto, lawyer woman that everyone doubted to the farmer and owner of Serendipity, 2013 Winery of the Year from New York International Wine Competition.”  

Judy Poole, branch manager, Poole and Associates Wealth Management

Challenges: “The biggest challenge working in this industry has been balancing the expectations of the various firms that I worked for, especially in a male dominated industry and with the unique way that I, as a woman, work with clients. My philosophy puts building trust and truly understanding client’s needs first, but the corporations put sales results first. Fortunately, I have found an independent home at Raymond James where my philosophies fit.”

Rewards: “Without question, the biggest reward has been watching my clients’ lives evolve, helping them to navigate the rough waters of life! Children have been born, grown up, educated, marriages, divorces, and widowhood. I've been at this a LONG time!”  

Marina Knutson, owner, SpierHead Winery

Challenges: “I co-own a winery with my husband so my challenges are no different than his. The ongoing challenge I see is balancing roles as husband and wife while owning a small business and continuing to be parents of four children.”

Rewards: “It’s always a success to see my wines do well and win awards. Also, I’m pleased to see more women wine makers as equal partners. This means I have more opportunities to meet new groups of women in the hospitality and wine industry. Prior to the wine industry, I was an occupational therapist, so another reward is being able to learn more than I ever thought.”

Pinki Gidda, wine shop manager & marketing, Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery

Challenges: “As a family-run business, we have to do everything ourselves and wear many hats. While it’s a great learning experience that I am able to get my hands in everything, it is slightly challenging at times because I often wish I have more time to spend with my customers, rather than working behind the scenes.”

Rewards: “One of my biggest reward is meeting people from all over the world and seeing our business grow with everyone’s support.”  

Tarrah MacPherson, vice president of operations, Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Challenges: “I don’t really feel any significant challenge as a women in the industry. The support I have received coming on board here at Summerhill has been tremendous. My environment has been collaborative and inclusive right from the start. And this is the mantra we are passing on to our teams to be successful.”

Rewards: “Well, to start, I love my job. I feel really good about the achievements we are making as a team and as a company. As an organic winery contributing to the sustainability of our planet, we feel we are pioneers among our peers. As the worldwide wine industry continues to trend upwards, we feel we are well positioned to continue as a leader in our industry. A really great place to be.”

We will end with our own Leeann Froese, owner, Town Hall Brands

Challenges: “The biggest challenge is living up to my own pressures – trying to oversee the business, family, volunteer obligations and carve out time for myself. It’s a challenge for me to be a leader in these varying aspects while still trying to look ahead and grow.”

Rewards: “My biggest rewards come when I hear from clients saying what a difference we have made for them, how we are vital to their teams, or from press saying that some of our best practices are their favourites. And I get huge satisfaction from the smiling faces of my team. I push them, hard; to work to output their best and learn and grow, and hope that they are happy with their role and work.”

Do you know any of these women or know a woman in business you would like to recognize? Let us know or give them a big high five and thank you.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Wins Gold in France and Rosé is Named in World's Top 10 Sparkling Wines

  Client News - photo download at end of story

Suggested Tweet:

Best bubble! @summerhillwine Cipes Rosé named in Top 10 in the world http://bit.ly/1dSKgbY #bcwine #organic

The News:

They have done it again! The Cipes Rosé sparkling wine from Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Canada's acclaimed organic and biodynamic winery, has been given a gold medal and named one of the Top 10 Best Sparkling Wines in the World at the 2013 Effervescents du Monde held on November 13-15 in Dijon, Burgundy, France.

Of the 46 gold medals awarded, the Cipes Rosé is the only North American wine to win a medal, as well as make the top 10. Other countries that placed in the top 10 included France, Italy, Spain, South Africa and Brazil.

The Effervescents du Monde, now in its 11th year, has established itself as the leading authority on quality sparkling wine. Utilizing strict guidelines, more than 100 international expert judges, including 50% from outside of France, sampled over 600 wines representing almost 30 countries.

The Cipes Rosé is a 100% organic Pinot Noir cuvee grown at multiple vineyard locations around the Okanagan Valley that were planted and are maintained specifically for sparkling wine production to express a crisp, bright style.

Made in the traditional Champagne method, this wine offers notes of raspberry, strawberry, kiwi, blood orange, vanilla, almond and white toast. Extremely versatile, the wine pairs well with charcuterie, salmon, grilled chicken, duck, pork, quiche, roast turkey, or with family and friends.

Perfect for the holidays!

Download the bottle shot here.

British Columbia Icewine Harvest Begins

Client News - photo downloads at end of story

British Columbia Icewine Harvest Begins at Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Team Braves Sub-Zero Temperatures For A Sweet Reward

Suggested Tweets:

Brrrr! The #icewine harvest began tonight @summerhillwine Superb grapes will yield delicious nectar. #bcwine #organic

or

Want to learn more about #bcwine and #icewine? @summerhillwine tells us more about it in Icewine: The Essence of the Grape

Here's The Story:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Canada’s acclaimed organic and biodynamic winery, started its harvest of Icewine at their Kelowna vineyard tonight. Following an already excellent growing season and table wine harvest, the ideal weather situation occurred that allowed the team to harvest Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt from the winery’s estate vineyard.

“To make superb Icewine, the first thing you need is superb grapes,” said Summerhill CEO Ezra Cipes. “The Okanagan Valley is singularly blessed because not only have we had a growing season that produced perfect grapes, but we had the temperatures that froze our grapes on the vine to produce this delicious nectar. It’s perfection in a glass.”

In the previous vintage, Summerhill picked grapes for the 2012 vintage Icewine on January 12, 2013.

Vineyard manager Willem Semmelink suggested, "After a challenging growing season that saw heavy rain in June, followed by damaging hail in some parts of the Valley, the weather ultimately delivered a long, warm Autumn that produced wonderful grapes. We are pleased that the arctic express has arrived so early, allowing us to capture this amazing fruit so early in the season and avoid damage to nature's gift."

So what exactly is Icewine?

Icewine is a style of sweet dessert wine produced from grapes that have frozen naturally on the vine to a level of at least -8 degrees Celsius. Grapes left on the vine late in the season begin to lose their stored water content and start to shrivel. The sugars within the core of the grape do not freeze, which produces a concentrated grape must at time of pressing, resulting in a small yield of sweet and concentrated juice. Ice wine usually offers mouth-coating balanced with high acidity and moderate alcohol.

Icewines are generally more expensive than table wines for several reasons. Labour costs are higher than normal as a large group of grape pickers must be assembled with sometimes little notice, who are able to pick the entire crop within a few hours before the grapes begin to thaw, often in the middle of the night. The potential for damage to grapes left on the vine also increases due to weather, predators, rot and disease. Conditions in the cellar are also more challenging as the grapes must be pressed while still frozen and special equipment may be used. Fermentation also takes months instead of weeks and unique varieties of yeasts must be used in the process.

Since many of the world’s wine growing regions will not experience such extreme temperatures, Canada and Germany produce most of the world’s Icewine, usually sold in 375 or 200ml bottles

Summerhill Winery has produced a short video titled Icewine: the Essence of the Grape which can be viewed HERE.

Learn About Summerhill Pyramid Winery:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, located for more than 20 years in the Lakeshore district in Kelowna, BC, is Canada's premier certified organic winery, BC's first Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard, and Canada's foremost producer of sparkling wine.

Winemaker Eric von Krosigk oversees the portfolio of BC VQA wines that suit every occasion and has earned the winery the 'Canadian Wine Producer of the Year' award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England. The winery, owned by the Cipes family, is also home to the Sunset Organic Bistro, serving food grown and raised by local organic producers, including Summerhill's own on-site permaculture-style vegetable garden. The mission of the entire Summerhill team is to produce exceptionally good-tasting wines organically, support local organic food growers, and provide unforgettable experiences for all guests.

More background reading on Summerhill Pyramid Winery's organic and biodynamic farming practices can be found here.

For more information, visit www.summerhill.bc.ca, find Summerhill on Facebook or follow the winery on Twitter @summerhillwine.

Download photos:

1. Pickers bundled up to pick frozen grapes at Summerhill Pyramid Winery click here

2. Frozen grapes are poured into a bin at SummerhiIll Pyramid Winery click here

3. Frozen grapes are picked for Icewine at Summerhill Pyramid Winery click here

4. A bottle of Summerhill Pyramid Winery's finished Pinot Noir Icewine click here

Need something you can't find here? Email leeann@townhallbrands.com or sujinder@townhallbrands.com