INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED WINEMAKER ALBERTO ANTONINI JOINS THE HAYWIRE WINERY TEAM

The Haywire Winery team is pleased to announce that Alberto Antonini has agreed to act as consulting oenologist for British Columbia’s newest winery.

Antonini toured the Okanagan Valley for the first time this past weekend, visiting vineyards (including the Switchback Vineyard and Hollenbach Vineyard) and working with owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, and advisor David Scholefield to finalize winery construction plans and wine making protocols. Antonini was lured to the region by Scholefield, a long-time colleague and friend who has dreamed for years of finding the right place for Antonini to make wine in Canada.

“We are both delighted and humbled to have a person of Alberto’s global stature working with us here in the Okanagan,” Coletta said. “We were overawed at first. But hearing Alberto say ‘it’s essential to make wines that talk of the land, that have a sense of place and are more related to the people and their stories’ was very reassuring and validating after decades of hearing David Scholefield talk about ‘place not grape!’ and ‘wine is narrative!’ We know that the Okanagan has a great story to tell, and we know that Alberto is the perfect person to help us tell it.”

Alberto Antonini was born near Florence, Italy, and earned a doctorate degree in agricultural studies from the University of Florence. He later studied oenology at the Université de Bordeaux and UC Davis. His experience includes working as senior winemaker at Antinori and Frescobaldi in Tuscany, and at Robert Mondavi, Au Bon Climat and Qupé in California. He and partner Attilio Pagli founded the hugely influential consulting agency Gruppo Matura in 1996. Today, Antonini consults in many wine regions in Italy, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, California, South Africa, Portugal, Spain and Australia. At home in Tuscany, he lives at Poggiotondo, his 50-hectare estate in the western hills of Chianti, with his wife and three children.

Haywire Winery is located in Summerland, BC, where owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie established Switchback Vineyard in 2006. Their inaugural release, a 2009 Pinot Gris, hits the Vancouver market in August 2010. David Scholefield is a key member of the Haywire team, acting as wine advisor and industry liaison. His vast experience and invaluable relationships in the international wine community bring a fresh perspective to wine making in the Okanagan Valley. For more information visit www.haywirewinery.com.

To learn more about Haywire Winery, visit www.haywirewinery.com

Haywire Winery Launched

WINE INDUSTRY MARKETING GURU GOES HAYWIRE

In short:

After more than 20 years guiding the strategic and marketing activities of wineries from BC and beyond, industry consultant Christine Coletta, along with her husband Steve Lornie, is launching Haywire Winery. Their first wine will be a 2009 Pinot Gris from the duo’s Switchback Vineyard located in Summerland, British Columbia (CSPC#147009 $22.90).

In full:

For Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, the snap decision to purchase an unproductive 10-acre orchard in Summerland, BC, followed by the progression to planting grapes and ultimately making wine, has been a long journey with many twists and turns.

“It was never our intention to make wine, but as we got further into the project – financially and emotionally – something took hold and gave our common sense a good shake,” remarked Coletta, who is never above a good laugh at her own expense. “We have managed to hold on to our sense of humour about our move into the winery game, but we are very serious about the wine we will be making. This is the beginning of something: we hope our wine will sit proudly next to the other great wines made in the Okanagan Valley.”

On a whim, Coletta and Lornie bought an old orchard in 2005, but one season of growing Red Delicious apples and apricots that were unsuitable for canning or hand eating was enough for both. They planted the entire site to Pinot Gris in 2006 and settled back, keen on merely growing grapes and keeping their day jobs. They optimistically named the vineyard “Switchback”, to celebrate the switch from losing money as orchardists to losing money as grape growers. Coletta noted, “It will take seven years of profit to pay for the tractor alone.”

Along the way, they received interesting and conflicting advice from friends and industry associates. To Lornie, who has run a construction company for 30 years, it appears there is no wrong way to do anything, just hundreds of right ways. “Really, on a daily basis, seasoned professionals would arm-wrestle their points until we were all downright dizzy,” Lornie commented. “So when it came time to name the winery, ’Haywire‘ seemed an obvious choice.”

The expression ‘haywire’ is derived from the wire, once used for baling hay, which tended to tangle in a chaotic way. The term also aptly describes Coletta and Lornie’s transition from city slickers to farmers to winery owners, which they have chronicled in a journal available on the winery’s website www.haywirewinery.com.

This year, they will release a small lot of 2009 Pinot Gris from their Switchback Vineyard (CSPC#147009 $22.90), with wine style being directed by David Scholefield. With three decades of experience in the wine industry and an international reputation for his palate and knowledge, Scholefield has been instrumental in convincing Coletta and Lornie of the potential of their vineyard site and encouraged them to take the leap into winemaking. Scholefield will remain actively involved as a spokesperson and advisor. He is currently selecting a consulting winemaker.

Looking forward, more Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris will come from the 2010 harvest, along with a Pinot Noir sourced from friend Fritz Hollenbach’s Skaha vineyard in Penticton. Down the road, Haywire Winery hopes to add a rosé and a sparkling wine; but whatever the mix, it will be small lots.

Christine Coletta has been in the wine industry for more than 20 years, where her role evolved from implementing BC’s VQA program to strategic brand planning, marketing wine regions and promoting wineries big and small. With Haywire Winery, she will finally have the chance to personally test her own marketing skills. She will still consult to others through Coletta & Associates, a Vancouver-based wine marketing and communications partnership.

As its sales agency, Haywire Winery has appointed Landmark Selections of North Vancouver. This medium-sized British Columbia wine agency is operated by partners Chris Perry, Dean Davis and Jaime Kowan. Landmark Selections now sells over 65,000 cases a year in British Columbia and is highly respected in the trade.

To learn more about Haywire Winery, visit  www.haywirewinery.com or connect on Twitter @haywirewine.

Haywire is represented by Landmark Selections 604-986-4000

Media Contact: Leeann Froese, Coletta & Associates 604-800-0603 | leeann@ccltd.ca

Rollingdale unveils new labels

The new labels have a clean and modern look.  The sleek one piece label is white with a large rolling “R” connecting the front label to the back.  Burgundy is the colour of the “R” and capsules for the red wines, forest green for the white wines.  The Rollingdale logo is gold foil.

The back labels have a brief discription of the wine and finish with the salutation “From our cellar to yours”

Wines available with the new label design:

2009 Organic Estate Pinot Gris
2009 Riewurztrafelseron
2009 Chardonnay
2007 Reserve Pinot Noir
2008 Organic Merlot

Contact Allison for further inquiries or samples for reviews at allisonvidug@rollingdale.ca

Laughing Stock Vineyards Spring Wine Releases

Spring is a busy time in the winery as wines are bottled, buds are bursting and the winery visitors are back on the Naramata Bench. At Laughing Stock Vineyards spring also means that our latest limited production whites are released. Last year was a stellar example of a perfect growing season for these whites.

Pinot Gris 2009 – $20.00 – Pinot Gris really is one of the darling varietals of the Okanagan Valley, and we think this is our best vintage yet. It ripens easily and consistently produces an enjoyable, fruit forward yet food friendly wine.

Blind Trust White 2009 – $25.00 – Our winemaker has full discretion over the assets so you’ll just have to trust us on the 2nd vintage of this white blend. Blind taste the Blind Trust and try to guess the varietals before checking under the capsule for disclosure of the assets.

Viognier 2009 - $26.00 – Offered through our Small Caps program with only 150 cases available, this is our first release of Viognier, one of the new grape varieties that we are working with at our East Bench – Osoyoos vineyard. Viognier is a unique white varietal combining a nice weight on the palate with amazing floral aromatics… a very “pretty” wine

These wines are only available direct from the winery or in select restaurants. Order now online or call the winery at 250.493.8466 and we’ll ship direct to your door.

Off the Beaten Path Organic Dinner Dunham & Froese

Off the Beaten Path with the proprietors of Dunham & Froese
Step out of the mainstream hustle and bustle and get back to the basics with Dunham & Froese Estate Winery.
5 course organic dinner paired with our library and new release wines created in sustainable responsible method.
You will enjoy a personal tour of the 600 acre Covert Organic Farm & Vineyards where you will hear the history and evolution of their family farm celebrating 50 years. You will discover the glacial terrace, various soils types and incredible view of the 500 meter high wall of granitic gneiss, shot through with thin layers of quartz and other mineral veins called McIntyre Bluff that the vineyard and winery is nestled next too.
This event includes a private winery tour and tasting with award winning winemaker Kirby Froese. Enjoy a 5 course Organic dinner paired with a mix of our library and new release wines. Hosted by proprietors Gene & Shelly Covert and Kirby and Crystal Froese.
Dress for Okanagan Spring weather and this event has limited space so book your spot and get off the beaten path!
$129 per person
Please contact winery closer to event as we may be able to arrange shuttle service. email crystalatcfroese.com to book your spot.

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