There were a lot of smiles at Nk’Mip Cellars winery last week as it was revealed the Osoyoos-based winery was named the best winery in all of British Columbia and second best in Canada by Wine Access magazine. Head winemaker Randy Picton and Jennifer Busmann, manager of guest services, will be on hand Thursday evening when the winery hosts a special celebration for winning the prestigious award. Photo by Keith Lacey.

 

 

Randy Picton is a modest, quiet and unassuming man who has a passion for his job as the head winemaker at Nk’Mip Cellars Winery – a passion that has the Canadian wine world heaping praise.
Picton and his small, hard-working team at Nk’Mip Cellars were all smiles last week when it was revealed the winery had been selected the best in British Columbia and second best in the entire country by the acclaimed Canadian magazine Wine Access.
Nk’Mip Cellars made a spectacular finish at the 2012 Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards, winning an incredible 14 medals, garnering them the prestigious title of the top winery in British Columbia and number two winery in Canada. Four of their top-tier wines were bestowed with gold medals for achievement, with 10 others taking home silver and bronze.
“I’ve known about this since September, but I had to keep it quiet because that’s what the magazine asked me to do,” said Picton, who has been the head winemaker at Nk’Mip Cellars since it opened for business in 2002.

“We’ve been on the cusp of something pretty special here for awhile now as we finished in fourth place (for best winery in B.C.) last year and fourth place the year before. We’ve been knocking on the door and to finally break down that door and be named the top winery in the entire province and second in Canada is obviously something we’re pretty proud of.”
Wine Access is one of the most respected publications in the wine industry and the Canadian Wine Awards are a big deal in the industry, said Picton.
“There are two major national wine publications with Wine Access being one of them,” he said. “They are a national magazine, but concentrate a lot on western Canada, while Vines Magazine concentrates more on the wine industry in the eastern half of the country.
“When I found out we had won the award, I have to admit it was pretty exciting. It’s very gratifying because it provides some validation for all of the hard work that has been going on around this place for years.”
The fact all 14 entries submitted by Nk’Mip Cellars into the national competition were recognized is what makes him most proud, said Picton.
“Besides being named top winery in the province, that’s probably what I’m most proud of,” said Picton. “I’m very proud of the consistency of all of our wines that we produce across our portfolio. To submit 14 different wines and have all 14 receive medals is an exceptional accomplishment.”
Nk’Mip Cellars is a joint venture between the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and Constellation Brands, with the OIB Development Corporation holding the majority of the shares, said Picton.
To celebrate the announcement, Nk’Mip Cellars is throwing a big party for its staff, OIB administration, area media and VIP customers on Thursday, Nov. 29 at the winery.
When OIB Chief Clarence Louie and the band council, a dozen years ago, near the turn of the millennium, committed to opening a winery, they didn’t only want to be the first First Nations-owned winery in the country, but one that could compete on the provincial, national and international stage, said Picton.
“There was a vision dating back many years to become a world-class winery,” he said. “This vision dates back all the way to 1968 when the OIB first started growing and selling grapes to other local wineries.
“The vision was always to produce top-quality wines … when the OIB and Constellation finally partnered up and built this place back in 2002, that dream became a reality.”
Louie was thrilled with the announcement.
“There are a lot of great wineries competing for awards like this and to get first place in all of B.C is an honour,” said Louie. “The OIB and its members and council are very proud of this achievement.”
Every single grape used by Nk’Mip Cellars is grown and harvested on land owned by the OIB in Oliver and Osoyoos, said Picton.
“The band owns roughly 1,500 acres and we have 30 here on-site and another 350 or so acres in Oliver just for grapes as well as several across on the east bench off the north end of Osoyoos Lake heading towards Oliver,” he said. “All of our success starts with the grapes and the commitment to excellence in all the vineyards we own and operate.”
Nk’Mip Vineyards experts Sam Baptiste and his sister Char, along with Troy Osborne and Mike Watson with Constellation Brands, work as a team to ensure only the best grapes are being produced, said Picton.
His winemaking team of Justin Hall and Aaron Crey are also top-notch and dedicated as both have been with him almost since Nk’Mip Cellars first opened in 2002, said Picton.
“The winemaking team is only as good as the grapes you get to work with,” he said. “I get to spend a lot of time in the vineyards with our viticulture teams … we have a great team committed to producing the highest-quality grapes and ultimately it’s a huge reason for our success.
“Justin and Aaron have both been with me for over nine years and they’ve grown up with this winery and remain as committed and passionate about what they’re doing as we all are here.”
The winery was designed by Robert Mackenzie, a Penticton based architect, who has designed four other wineries in the South Okanagan. The 18,000 square foot winery has the capacity to produce 18,000 cases or 162,000 litres of wine.
The winery is equipped to handle approximately 60 per cent red grapes and 40 per cent white. The varietals currently produced are Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Riesling Icewine and a blended Meritage.
After a spectacular summer and fall in 2012, Picton is confident more awards will be bestowed upon Nk’Mip Cellars in the future.
“We were blessed with incredible weather this past summer, and especially during the crucial months of September and October, so the blends we have in the barrels for 2012 are incredible,” he said.
Nk’Mip Cellars’ gold medal winners from the Canadian Wine Awards include the 2009 Mer’r’iym Meritage, 2009 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Qwam Qwmt Merlot and 2010 Qwam Qwmt Pinor Noir.
Jennifer Busmann, manager of guest services for Nk’Mip Cellars, said Thursday’s party will be a celebration of being named top winery in the province as well as the official launch of a new label for the winery’s Winemaker Series of brands.
All members of the Nk’Mip staff are thrilled with this announcement, said Busmann.
“It all starts in the vineyards and continues in the cellars and carries on to my staff who are responsible for promoting and selling our brands,” she said. “This is a major achievement we’re all so proud to be a part of.
“This is a big deal and it has been a steady climb to the top. The fact our wines all taste great, but are affordable at prices between $16.99 and $60 a bottle, is also something we’re proud of.”