Staff from Nk’Mip Cellars were all smiles last Thursday evening as they held a party to unveil a new label for the winery’s Winemaker Series and celebrate the recent announcement of being named the top winery in British Columbia and second best in all of Canada by Wine Access Magazine’s Canadian Wine Awards. Raising a toast to the good news were (from left) Nk’Mip Cellars manager of guest services Jennifer Busmann, assistant winemaker Justin Hall, Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, head winemaker Randy Picton and Josie Tyabji, chair of the B.C. Wine Institute. Photo by Keith Lacey.
It has taken a decade of hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence to be named the top winery in British Columbia, says Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) Chief Clarence Louie.
Louie was on hand last Thursday evening when staff invited special guests to help celebrate the official announcement made a couple of weeks ago that Nk’Mip Cellars had been named the top winery in the province – and second best in all of Canada – by Wine Access magazine’s annual Canadian Wine Awards.
Nk’Mip Cellars is co-owned by the OIB and Constellation Brands, one of the top wine-producing companies in North America. The winery is the only one owned and operated by a First Nation band in Canada.
Nk’Mip Cellars entered 14 different wines into the national competition and all 14 won gold, silver or bronze medals during the competition, including four which received gold.
Being named the top winery in the ultra-competitive wine industry in B.C. is amazing considering Nk’Mip Cellars has only been in existence for a decade, said Louie.
“It’s hard to believe it has already been 10 years,” said Louie. “I’m really proud of the staff we have here. Being named the top winery in the entire province is really a great and awesome thing.”
Louie said he has been receiving emails from colleagues and peers from across the country congratulating him, the OIB, band council and winery staff for winning the prestigious title.
“I even received an email from an aboriginal group in New Zealand congratulating us on this award,” he said smiling.
The staff at Nk’Mip Cellars, including head winemaker Randy Picton and assistant winemakers Justin Hall and Aaron Crey and vineyard managers Sam Baptiste and his sister Char Baptiste, are the leaders of an outstanding team of employees who have worked together to produce a world-class winery, said Louie.
“The wine you guys have worked together to produce is first class,” he said.
Picton, who has been the head winemaker at Nk’Mip Cellars since it opened in 2002, said the commitment to excellence is shared by every employee who works for the winery.
“We’ve been working hard on this and we’ve been making steps forward every year,” he said. “We have a terrific group here and we’re all fixated on one thing and that’s making the very best wine we can.
“To be named the No. 1 winery in B.C. out of the 273 wineries in the province and No. 2 in the country out of more than 600 wineries across Canada, well, it’s quite an achievement.”
The wine industry is “incredibly competitive” and you can’t succeed on the provincial or national level without quality people who are committed to working hard and producing excellence, said Picton.
“All of this success is a testament to the hard work from the team here at the winery and the teams who work in the vineyards,” he said. “We have a great group.”
The good news should only get better as this past summer may have produced the best crop of grapes the winery has ever produced, said Picton.
After a “very rough start” to the 2012 growing season due to some terrible weather in May and June, wine producers across the Okanagan Valley were deeply concerned about this year’s crop, he said.
However, a remarkable run of great weather from early July until early October ensured a bumper crop of grapes, he said.
“We were blessed with great weather in July and August, which is pretty normal for the Okanagan in the summer, but the key was a beautiful September with hot weather and warm and dry nights.
“We ended up with a great vintage for 2012.”
The majority of staff working for Nk’Mip Cellars have been there for some time and remain committed to excellence, which bodes well for the future success of the winery, he said.
“We’ll keep plugging away and having our nose to the grindstone,” he said. “Having this kind of success is good for the winery and good for the community.”
Jennifer Busmann, manager of guest services for Nk’Mip Cellars, said Thursday’s celebration was also held to introduce a new label for the winery’s Winemaker Series as well as introduce a new Talon wine.
The blended red Talon is now on sale at the winery.
Nk’Mip Cellars will also be introducing is first sparkling rosé wine in the spring.
Despite the recent success, Picton said the wine industry remains extremely competitive and he and his staff will have to work even harder to continue to maintain the excellence already established at Nk’Mip Cellars.
