State-of-the-art equipment such as concrete fermentation eggs make OCP a leading facility
( Photo by Lionel Trudel, courtesy of Okanagan Crush Pad)
The People
Envisioned and owned by Christine Coletta( recognized as one of Canada’ s premier marketers) and Steve Lornie( a 38-year veteran of the construction and development industry), this husband and wife team have surrounded themselves with industry stars.
Chief winemaker Michael Bartier is an Okanagan boy through and through. Born and raised in the area, Bartier began working in the wine industry shortly after graduating from university. Today, he heads up winemaking at OCP, where he works closely with famous Italian consultant Alberto Antonini. OCP also benefits from the contributions of Pedro Parra, an internationally recognized terroir consultant based in Concepcíon, Chile.
Other OCP stars include David Scholefield, one of Canada’ s foremost wine experts and the inspiration behind the OCP concept, and Julian Scholefield, industry insider and operations manager at OCP.
The Facility
Full of innovations, the OCP facility is a fantastic combination of tradition and invention. From the graffiti-adorned concrete walls to the local artwork throughout the space, there is no shortage of wonder at OCP. Outside, the beautiful cover crops grace the rows of vines where chickens roam, eating pests, aerating, and fertilizing the ground and then returning to their customdesigned wine barrel coup! Perhaps some of the most interesting objects at OCP are the 2000 litre fermentation eggs. OCP was the first Canadian winery to use these revolutionary vessels. Weighing as much as a killer whale, each of the temperature-controlled, semi-porous, concrete eggs were carefully transported from California.
In anticipation of your next trip to the Okanagan, stop by Banville & Jones and pick up a couple of Bartier Scholefield wines to tide you over!
B. S. 2010 ROSÉ TABLE WINE $ 28.99
Made from 100 % Gamay Noir, this is a dry-style rosé with beautiful, bright strawberry flavours and aromas.
B. S. 2010 WHITE TABLE WINE $ 28.99
A refreshing unoaked blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay, the bright flavours of pear, apples, and lemon give way to a clean finish.
The Wines
Ahhhh, finally we get to the good stuff: the wines! After processing over 80 individual lots of wine last year, OCP has hired associate winemaker Matt Dumayne to assist Bartier in crafting their spectacular wines. OCP currently produces two house brand wines under the Bartier Scholefield and Haywire labels. Client wines include such delicious offerings as the wines of Bartier Bros., Bella, Di Bello, Harper’ s Trail and Rafter F. These wines tend to focus on cool climate varieties that thrive in the Okanagan environment.
The OCP facility represents the cutting edge in winemaking, and also wine tourism. Samples of their portfolio can be enjoyed on their patio as you soak up the Okanagan sunshine and watch the sailboats float by, truly a little slice of heaven that is already beckoning us back. � www. banvilleandjones. com 29