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.
Lionel Trudel Photo.
“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 winemaking team suggests the wine pairs well with soft ripe cheeses, hearty stews, and game meats.
About Haywire
Haywire wines were launched in 2010 with a small offering of Pinot Gris grown on Switchback Vineyard. Since then, a Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, rosé and sparkling wine have been added to the 12,000 case portfolio. The winemaking team includes Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini, Michael Bartier, and Matt Dumayne.
About Haywire and Okanagan Crush Pad
Okanagan Crush Pad is committed to making wines that are pure Okanagan and celebrate the distinctive beauty and exceptional growing conditions of its vineyards. The Summerland winery, owned by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, is located on the 10-acre Switchback Vineyard site overlooking Okanagan Lake. In addition to its own flagship wines, Haywire and Bartier Scholefield, Okanagan Crush Pad makes wines for people who are seeking to start their own winery. As the first purpose-built custom crush facility in the Okanagan, Okanagan Crush Pad’s aim is to set its clients on the right path by providing expertise at all stages of the wine cycle – from vineyard to market. For more information visit www.okanagancrushpad.com
