Oliver’s Secrest Mountain Vineyards are going organic and becoming the property of Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad Winery.
The 50-acre property has been under lease to Okanagan Crush Pad since 2010, and is currently transitioning to organic certification.
“We thank Brad and Dave Wise for the hard work they have done over the years and wish them well in their future endeavors,” owner Steve Lornie said in a press release.
“We look forward to working with their crew and completing the organic farming conversion they started.”
Secrest Mountain Vineyards, which neighbours Covert Farms, is a flat, south-west facing bench in a high mountain setting 487 meters above sea level, with alluvial soils, studded with coarse gravel, sandy loam and limestone layers.
Chief winemaker Matt Dumayne said the vineyard’s high mountain setting “yields exceptional grapes.”
“We can harvest at full physiological ripeness with lower sugar levels, and subsequently create delicate, lower alcohol wines, which is exactly our aim.”
Owner Christine Coletta said the Wise family’s efforts to convert the farm will be continued.
“Now we are in a position to see that work carried on,” she said.
“While our winemaking team is a key asset in the processing chain, the farmer is the unsung hero in any wine narrative. The more work done in the vineyard, the less intervention required in the cellar, and that suits our winemaking ethos fully.”
