South Okanagan Winery Releases Most Expensive Debut Vintage
OLIVER, BC, Nov. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - British Columbia's First Growth wine is here. For more than two decades, the Okanagan Valley has been producing first-rate Bordeaux varietals. The goal of One Faith Vineyards is to build on this success and take it to the next level. By using seasoned knowledge and experience, the One Faith Vineyards team has crafted what is being hailed as the Okanagan's first First Growth - a Grand Vin made in British Columbia.
Bill Lui, the visionary and driving force behind One Faith, is a first-generation Canadian based in Vancouver, who built a successful medical supply business which allowed him to pursue his lifelong passion for wine. He developed his wine education through attending wine and winemaking courses in Vancouver and at UC Davis (California). This inspired him to spend time visiting each of the five classified first growth wineries in Bordeaux, learning the art of producing the finest wines. He says, "The singular goal at One Faith is to produce Canada's first First Growth, an exceptional wine of unparalleled quality." No expense was spared in the creation of One Faith, and with exceptional dedication, Bill assembled a top-tier team to bring his vision to reality.
Celebrated Napa Valley-based winemaker Anne Vawter was hired to handcraft the premier release. Anne is highly sought-after as a consultant by top wineries in Washington, Chile and California. Viticulturist Richard Cleave has been growing grapes in the Okanagan for 38 years and is one of the pioneers of viticulture in British Columbia. He planted and has managed the site of the One Faith Vineyard on the Black Sage bench in the Southern Okanagan since 1992. Industry icon, maverick and lifelong British Columbia wine advocate Harry McWatters, is Bill's wine business advisor and his company handles the distribution of the wine.
The One Faith Vineyard is a carefully selected site in Oliver on the Black Sage Bench that boasts some of the warmest temperatures of anywhere in Canada, and a complex soil structure that lends elegance and depth to the finished wine. The vineyard is meticulously tended according to Bill's specifications. Each and every plant in the vineyard receives individual attention and is closely monitored to yield premium fruit, a practice Bill believes is essential to achieving superior quality grapes.
One Faith is made entirely by hand and is extremely labour intensive. Each varietal lot, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is fermented in premium first-use French oak barrels that deliver integrated notes. One Faith utilizes specialized barrique techniques that turn the barrique regularly on specially-designed racks to allow for whole fruit cluster fermentation, and results in an achieved balance of fine-grained tannins, a rich and concentrated mouthfeel, perfect oak integration and depth of flavour.
To maximize the intensity of aromatics and flavour, the winery went further to draw off 10-15% from each fermentation, thereby concentrating the final red blend. The drawn wine was bottled separately and is sold under The Girls label, with 100% of the profits being donated to breast cancer research in BC.
The wine was aged for 22 months in French oak barriques, sourced from Tonnellerie Baron, Ermitage and Taransaud barrels, amongst the very best coopers in France. The wine was neither fined nor filtered prior to bottling, preserving the special natural character of the grapes and the soil in every drop, and presenting pure Black Sage Bench terroir.
The 2012 One Faith Vineyards wine offers a complex depth of aromatics, with flavours suggesting chocolate, espresso, cassis, plum, vanilla and cedar. The palate is defined by its perfect balance of fruit and spice, featuring layers of flavour, a supple texture and an exceptionally luxurious length.
This incredible amount of dedication and hard work produced just 144 cases of the 2012 One Faith. The winery has therefore limited sales to just three bottles per person, only available in a custom-milled bamboo, numbered-edition three-bottle-box, at a retail price of 495 $CDN per box. This extremely rare, top-quality Canadian wine is created to be enjoyed now, or aged and prized among discerning collectors. It is perfect for gift giving, and for those that drink only the very best.
Quotes and Early Praise:
"Easy to see how it has become a cult wine in BC." - Jancis Robinson, MW
"One Faith is the most aggressive winemaking project in the Okanagan Valley when it comes to sacrificing everything for quality. Bill is willing to do something that hasn't been done before. This is the Okanagan being pushed to its upper limits." - Anne Vawter, winemaker
"I believe that they've not only accomplished but also exceeded their goal in producing Canada's finest wine. Of all my years in the wine business in BC, this is without a doubt, the most complex, well-balanced wine I've ever tasted from British Columbia, and for that matter, probably from all of Canada. It's elegant; it's got great finesse, depth of colour and depth of character. This is a solid gold." - Harry McWatters, founder, TIME Estate Winery
How to purchase:
Due to the exclusivity and high anticipation of this fine wine by collectors, the wine is only available for purchase via One Faith Vineyards (Toll-Free: 1-888-630-3076) with a limit of one three-bottle case, per vintage, per person. Every purchase of a one three-bottle case entitles the purchaser to an exclusive invitation to join Club Faith, with advanced privilege to new vintage releases each year.
Note to Editors:
Interview opportunities are available with Bill Lui, Harry McWatters and Anne Vawter.
Image with caption: "One Faith Vineyards (CNW Group/CNW Enriched News Releases)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141120_C6046_PHOTO_EN_8325.jpg
Image with caption: "Bill Lui, visionary and proprietor of One Faith Vineyards (CNW Group/CNW Enriched News Releases)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141120_C6046_PHOTO_EN_8326.jpg
Image with caption: "One Faith is an exclusively rare wine highly anticipated by fine wine collectors (CNW Group/CNW Enriched News Releases)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141120_C6046_PHOTO_EN_8327.jpg
Image with caption: "One Faith is Canada's premier First Growth wine (CNW Group/CNW Enriched News Releases)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141120_C6046_PHOTO_EN_8328.jpg
SOURCE: One Faith Vineyards
Please direct all media inquiries to Town Hall Brands, Sujinder Juneja, [email protected], 604-367-6745 or Amy Chen, [email protected], 778-998-0036.
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