Wine column: New year, new look, new name for Summerland winery

Taking inspiration from a colossal mural, Haywire Winery in Summerland is a new name (sort of) with new labels and an innovative new direction.

Vancouver artist Scott Sueme painted the 150-by-20-foot mural of giant, multi-coloured circles on the side of the winery building in August 2021.

Those eye-catching abstract circles, symbolizing perfection, enlightenment, unity, wholeness, infinity, inclusivity and symmetry, no less, have now also popped up on Haywire's labels.

When Sueme was painting the winery was known as Okanagan Crush Pad and it had the Haywire, Narrative, Free Form and Bizou+Yukon brands.

Haywire was always the anchor brand of the company, so owners Cristine Coletta and her husband, Steve Lornie, decided, after 14 years, to revamp with a name change to Haywire Winery.

Previously, Haywire's labels were white and simple, with only the name and a graphic of a band of the wire used to bind bales of hay -- an ode to the winery's location in a heavily agricultural area.

The original name, Okanagan Crush Pad, aptly described that the company also helped other small wineries with crush, winemaking, bottling and shipping services.

Now that Haywire's own brands have hit critical mass, it's time to say goodbye to the original concept and name and concentrate on Haywire, Narrative, Free Form and Bizou+Yukon.

The first five Haywire releases are all from the 2021 vintage, were fermented or aged partially in the company's signature concrete tanks and as a result are all textured, but uncomplicated, bright, lively and fresh.

- Switchback Pinot Gris ($30)

- Chardonnay ($30)

- Pink Bub Sparkling ($30)

- Gamay Rose ($26)

- Gamay ($29)

- Pinot Noir ($30)

Matt Dumanyne will continue to be the winemaker for all brands not just to keep continuity, but to propel the wines into the future.

Sueme's influence isn't over either.

A new Haywire tasting lounge will open at 16576 Fosbery Rd. in the spring with more of his murals on the exterior and some of his original pieces inside as well.

Haywire is stressing the word 'lounge' because tastings will be seated and relaxing.

The company also has a 320-acre property at nearby Garnet Valley Ranch and will be releasing wines under that label soon.

Garnet Valley already has a small tasting room and VIPs and members that have already signed up to its wine club can visit the site for previews.

Winter Wine Fest reminder

The return of the Okanagan Winter Wine Festival is over two weekends -- last Sunday at Predator Ridge Golf Resort near Vernon and tonight and tomorrow in Penticton and Oliver.

Last Sunday's Winter Sip & Savour at Predator was sold out -- a great indication that the public is thirsty for the return of Winter Wine Fest.

There may still be some last-minute tickets available for tonight's Sensation event, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and tomorrow's Winterfest at the District Wine Village in Oliver.

They are $109 for Sensation and $60 for Winterfest at TheWineFestivals.com

Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.