Okanagan Crush Pad Innovates in a Mature Industry
SUMMERLAND, BC, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Okanagan Crush Pad (OCP) winery, located in Summerland, BC, is owned by wine industry marketing consultant Christine Coletta and her husband Steve Lornie. As a small, yet inventive winery, OCP is the first custom winemaking facility of its kind in Canada. The team makes wine for grape growers and people wishing to enter the wine industry, yet it also offers guidance and advice from field to the marketplace, to help clients establish profitable businesses; the only custom facility in Canada to do this. The innovative model behind Okanagan Crush Pad has proven a winner. Since it opened its doors in September 2011 the winery has more than doubled production, and is now at capacity with 12 clients (including house brands Haywire and Bartier Scholefield) producing 34,000 cases annually.
BC Business magazine recognized OCP as one of its top innovators of the year at an award ceremony in Vancouver on March 27, and features the winery in the April 2013 issue, while the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) awarded the winery its Technology & Innovation trophy at a ceremony held in Chase, BC on March 26. Additionally, Coletta was named "One to Watch" in Vancouver magazine's 12th Annual "Power 50" list of influential people in November 2012.
"It has been an exciting week," noted Coletta. "When we unveiled, our concept was not embraced with open arms by established wineries," she continues. "Every industry must evolve, and we are pleased that our efforts to push a new agenda are being recognized by the business community. Laws regarding wine and its sales and marketing, have been described as "overly restrictive" and vineyard land in the Okanagan is among the most expensive in the world," she adds. "We need to rethink the way we are doing business. A viable local wine industry is paramount, as it creates a value-added agricultural product and is an anchor for tourism."
Okanagan Crush Pad is open to the public June 15 to September 30. For more information and to order wine visit www.okanagancrushpad.com.
Image with caption: "Okanagan Crush Pad (CNW Group/Okanagan Crush Pad)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130328_C9229_PHOTO_EN_24916.jpg
SOURCE: Okanagan Crush Pad
Note to editors: photos for download at http://www.okanagancrushpad.com/media-center/
Media Contact: Leeann Froese [email protected] 604-800-0603
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