If you don’t know this about me, I am a very proud Canadian.

I love this country, with all of its perfection and its flaws. And, I am a proud British Columbian who happens to be a massive fan of our B.C. industry and our well-crafted wines.

There is nothing quite like a well-played Canadianism word or phrase. A case in point is the term ‘haywire,’ which refers to wire that is used for bailing hay…it can be lively and unpredictable and get caught up in tangles – a perfect name for Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie’s first foray into winemaking back in 2005. Fast-forward to 2020 and the Okanagan Crush Pad (where Haywire Winery is based) is internationally recognized for its expressive, impressive, daring and delicious wine portfolio.

While the tasting room is in Summerland, B.C., they have acreage and vineyard property peppered throughout the Okanagan Valley. I will be heading to the Okanagan Crush Pad for a tasting and a ranch tour next week – more than a little excited.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to three of my current favourites from the Haywire Winery portfolio.

• Haywire Chardonnay Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2018 Okanagan Valley, B.C. VQA – Any time in my life I can find a new, favourite Chardonnay to enjoy is a perfect day. Here is a well-crafted Chardonnay that is fermented with native yeast in concrete tanks. It is bright with perfectly ripened flavours of Bartlett pear, Red Delicious apple alongside some juicy nectarine. There are some delicious creamy notes with a dusting of vanilla wafer. The harmonious acidity lends itself to a mouthwatering long finish. Delicious!
• Haywire Pinot Gris 2019 Okanagan Valley, B.C. VQA – There was a time in my life when I only wanted to drink Pinot Gris – B.C. Pinot Gris to be precise. I am always on the hunt for a Pinot Gris from British Columbia that I enjoy. And this is one of them! Sourced from four different Okanagan vineyard sites, the grapes see an impressive range of winemaking choices along the way. They are fermented in not only stainless steel tanks but also concrete and an oak foudre before they get six months of lees ageing. All of this adds to the complexity and balance of the wine. With your first sip, you will taste an array of Okanagan Valley fruits – apple, peach, nectarine and pear. I appreciate the generous mouthfeel of this Pinot Gris and its considerable length. Yum!
• Haywire Gamay 2018 Okanagan Valley, B.C. VQA – This delightful bottle of unfiltered Gamay comes from grapes sourced at the Secrest Mountain Vineyard in Oliver, B.C. The grapes are gently destemmed with a portion left whole cluster and are fermented in concrete tanks before ageing another eight months in concrete. Gamay is my new sweetheart grape for many reasons, but the main one is how the herbaceous flavour profile flirts up against juicy blackberry and fresh potting soil notes. So damn good.

I am entirely looking forward to my visit to the Okanagan Crush Pad next week and I hope to shoot some video with Christine Coletta when I am there.

You can purchase Haywire wines directly from the Okanagan Crush Pad, Everything Wine and Save-On-Foods.