The Okanagan Crush Pad Winery in Summerland has made a major addition to their grape supply with the addition of Secrest Mountain Vineyards in Oliver.
The holding includes a 50-acre property planted in 2000 with 38 acres (15ha) of Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer.
The property has been under lease to Crush Pad since 2010 and is transitioning to organic certification. Grapes from this vineyard have been instrumental in allowing Okanagan Crush Pad to increase production of its own wine labels, with Secrest Mountain Vineyard grapes earmarked to many of the winery’s top Haywire and Narrative wines.
“We thank Brad and Dave Wise for the hard work they have done over the years and wish them well in their future endeavours,” said Steve Lornie, co-owner of Crush Pad. “We look forward to working with their crew and completing the organic farming conversion they started.”
Secrest Mountain Vineyard, which neighbours Covert Farms, is a flat, south-west facing bench in a high mountain setting 487 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, with alluvial soils, studded with coarse gravel, sandy loam and limestone layers.
“The cool high altitude setting of Secrest Mountain yields exceptional grapes,” said Crush Pad’s chief winemaker, Matt Dumayne. “The vineyard has proven itself over the years, and we are able to produce some of the best sparkling Pinots and Gamay that I have made over the course of my career.”
With this acquisition, Okanagan Crush Pad now has 80 acres of grapes between it and their Switchback and Garnet Valley Ranch holdings in Summerland. The winery aims to plant an additional 55 acres at their Garnet Valley Ranch and Monro Avenue sites, to bring the total to 135 acres.
“Owning and controlling our grape supply is critical to our future,” said co-owner Christine Coletta. “We have been very fortunate that the Wise family shared our vision and have put in three years of hard work to convert to the farm to organic practices. Now we are in a position to see that work carried on. While our winemaking team is a key asset in the processing chain, the farmer is the unsung hero in any wine narrative. The more work done in the vineyard, the less intervention required in the cellar, and that suits our winemaking ethos fully.”
Steve Kidd
Senior reporter, Penticton Western News
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