Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Ltd. Announces Strategic Partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd.

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Ltd. Announces Strategic Partnership with
Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd.

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Ltd. is delighted to announce that it has entered a strategic partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd. The agreement provides Renaissance the rights to represent Okanagan Crush Pad’s brands across Western Canada. Renaissance will integrate the winery’s existing sales operation, HQ Wine + Spirits, with its own team to grow its reach with new customers while bolstering its product offering to existing clientele. As part of the transaction, Renaissance has made a minority investment in Okanagan Crush Pad.

Founder Christine Coletta expresses her utmost satisfaction with the partnership, affirming that it fully supports Okanagan Crush Pad’s ambitious growth plans. “Since 2014, we have owned and managed our own sales force to establish a close bond with our team, ensuring their direct engagement and passion for our signature brands: Haywire, Narrative, Free Form, and Garnet Valley Ranch. By welcoming Renaissance into our family, we ensure a continued intimate relationship with our sales team and foster a mutual reliance on growth and success.”

Director of Sales Andrew Raines will continue to be an employee of Okanagan Crush Pad, assuming all marketing responsibilities while overseeing both external and internal sales. Alongside General Manager Craig Pingle, Andrew will act as a brand ambassador, representing the winery in trade and public appearances.

Renaissance Wine Merchants is a leading importer and marketer of premium wines and spirits in Western Canada. “We warmly welcome members of Okanagan Crush Pad’s HQ Wine + Spirits to our company,” said Jason Denis, Renaissance’s General Manager. “Their remarkable success to date is what made this partnership so appealing. With this transaction, Renaissance immediately diversifies its portfolio while gaining a leadership position in the highly sought-after domestic wine category.”

The partnership between Okanagan Crush Pad and Renaissance Wine Merchants exemplifies the innovative thinking that both companies are renowned for, offering robust opportunities for growth.

About Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Ltd.

Located in Summerland, BC, Okanagan Crush Pad has earned a reputation as a leading producer of organic wines in the Okanagan region. Under the leadership of founders Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, the winery is deeply committed to sustainability in all aspects of its operations. Okanagan Crush Pad recently joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) and has set an ambitious goal to annually reduce its carbon footprint. Chief Winemaker Matt Dumayne offers five distinctive wine portfolios: Haywire, Narrative, Free Form, Garnet Valley Ranch, and Bizou + Yukon, ensuring a wine for every taste and budget.

In 2023, the winery concluded its custom crush services to focus on its own wine brands and renamed the facility Haywire, paying homage to the wine that ignited Christine and Steve’s wine journey. The couple also built and launched a small artisanal winery, Garnet Valley Ranch, on OCP’s 320-acre property in Summerland. The ranch is meticulously farmed with a focus on preserving nature and boasts 65 acres of organic vines, 8 acres of organic vegetables, hayfields, a lavender farm, and a bee farm, while also providing places and space for wildlife. More information can be found at www.okanagancrushpad.com

About Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd.

Established in 1983, Renaissance Wine Merchants is a family-owned importer, distributor and marketer of wines and spirits from the finest growing regions in the world. Renaissance’s General Manager, Jason Denis, is supported by BC Manager, Curry Scott, and a team of seasoned professionals managing importation, logistics, marketing and sales in both retail and on-premise channels. More information can be found at www.renwine.com

Media release provided by Christine Coletta, Okanagan Crush Pad. Image courtesy of the winery. Photo credit: Lionel Trudel