Local Cooperage Partners with International Colleagues to Compare Oak and Raise Money for Charity
Okanagan Barrel Works began the 2009 Barrel Challenge with the intent of showcasing the importance of oak in winemaking, his vision has extended beyond the cooperages. His new focus is how to give back to the region and industries that helped through this challenge, and to share the wine! Support the project through the live auction on June 10 during the Walnut Beach Resort for the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival.
Modeled after the famous “Judgment in Paris” which saw California wines triumph over some of the best French wines in the 1970s, this challenge was developed to showcase the ancient craft of coopering and to demonstrate the importance of barrels in winemaking. This challenge started in 2009 when Craik of Okanagan Barrel Works brought together seven cooperages from around the world to compare the effect of similar barrels on one wine. Pitting the best from A&K Cooperage, Canadian Oak Cooperage, Carriage House Cooperage, Demptos Napa Cooperage, Okanagan Barrel Works Ltd., Radoux USA, and Seguin Moreau USA against one another, Craik asked all cooperages to submit one American oak barrel to a general standard for the competition. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate of Oliver, BC donated a single-block of Cabernet Sauvignon, made by award winning winemakers Brooke Blair and Derek Kontkanen. Blair said the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon “displays a delightful bouquet of black currants, dark cherries and fresh plums. The palate is rich and complex with hints of spice and has a soft, velvety finish.”
Once in the barrel, the wine was tested at regular intervals to see how the wine developed. Finally, the champion was announced at the final tasting after 12 months: Seguin Moreau, with Oliver’s own Okanagan Barrel Works following close behind in second place!
With the wine made, aged and judged, now comes the exciting part: drinking the wine! With the profits donated to local charities, the wine will be showcased at the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival, benefitting The United Way and Kelowna Children’s Hospital Wing. The auction will take place on Friday, June 10 at the Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos. An open house for media and trade will take place on Saturday, June 11 at Okanagan Barrel Works in Oliver to allow them to see the project in motion and support the charities.
This exciting challenge has led to some very unique wines, perfect for wine tasting parties at home! The wines will be available in cases comprised of eight bottles, featuring a bottle from each of the individual barrels and one bottle with a wine blended from the seven cooperages. Supporters are encouraged to taste all eight bottles at once with friends, and compare the influence of each barrel on the same wine. Wine lovers can taste like a winemaker, discover their favourite and see if they agree with the judging!
Check out the challenge website at www.barrelchallenge.org for more information.
