Okanagan Crush Pad First Canadian Winery to Join International Wineries for Climate Action

mywinepal May 10, 2022

We are all aware of climate change and how it adversely affects everything, including viticulture and winemaking. Viticulture and winemaking can be part of the solution in helping to slow climate change. Okanagan Crush Pad sent me this press release outlining that their winery is joining the International Wineries for Climate Action. I congratulate them in helping out in our climate crisis. Their press release is below.

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[Summerland, BC] Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad Winery is pleased to announce that it is the first Canadian winery to join the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). IWCA is open to any winery, from any country, and employs a three-tiered membership system that allows a diversity of wineries to join. Okanagan Crush Pad has been accepted as an applicant member having committed to an ISO-14064 audited baseline greenhouse gas inventory. The winery team now has one year to meet IWCA membership requirements and become a silver or gold level member.

Okanagan Crush Pad's Switchback Vineyard — Okanagan Crush Pad’s Switchback Vineyard

“I am proud that the winery team is devoted to this process and to making a full effort to take our land stewardship commitment to the next level,” notes OCP founder, Christine Coletta.

“We started our sustainability push in 2011 by converting our vineyards to organic farming and then in 2014 obtaining organic certification for our winemaking facility. We can now push this commitment beyond farming and winemaking to incorporate all aspects of our business,” says Coletta.

Okanagan Crush Pad's Garnet Valley Ranch — Okanagan Crush Pad’s Garnet Valley Ranch

Founded by Familia Torres (Penedes, Spain) and Jackson Family Wines (California, USA) in 2019, IWCA sets out to galvanize the global wine community to create climate change mitigation strategies and decarbonize the industry. The association is a collaborative working group of environmentally committed wineries taking a science-based approach to reducing carbon emissions across the wine industry.

Members share best practices that lessen climate change impacts in vineyard and winery operations so that the global wine industry can act collectively to decarbonize, applying direct solutions that avoid purchasing carbon offset credits.

“It is important for us to take a deep dive into our practices with a set goal and timeframe in which to achieve the next level of IWCA membership,” notes OCP’s CEO, Darryl Brooker.

Okanagan Crush Pad's Nico Velo Tanks — Okanagan Crush Pad’s Nico Velo Tanks

“Some of the first steps we will take is to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, followed by an ISO-14064 audit. We will be working with Josh Prigge of Sustridge, an industry leading sustainability consulting firm, to guide us through the initial process. Once this is complete, we will commit to annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieving a 33% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. We are also pleased that through IWCA membership we are also a participant in the United Nations’ Race to Zero Campaign,” says Brooker.

More About Okanagan Crush Pad

Founded in 2011 by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, on Switchback Vineyard in Summerland, BC, Okanagan Crush Pad has developed a reputation as a leading producer of Okanagan organic wines with chief winemaker Matt Dumayne at the helm since 2013. Dumayne utilizes a host of fermenting and aging vessels; concrete tanks, amphorae, large format oak and stainless steel, all crafted in a state-of-the-art facility that is a draw for wine enthusiasts. The winery offers four unique wine portfolios: Haywire, Narrative, Free Form and Bizou + Yukon, guaranteeing a wine for everyone’s taste.

The winery also owns 320-acre Garnet Valley Ranch (Summerland), a rare piece of land, which is respectfully farmed with nature in mind. The ranch is home to organic vineyards and vegetables, hayfields, and a lavender farm, with space and places for wildlife to roam. OCP’s club members have access to tour the ranch and relax at the newly opened GVR Outlook and explore the world of organic farming. For more information visit okanagancrushpad.com.

Author: mywinepal

Drink Good Wine. That is my motto and I really want to help you drink good wine. What is good wine? That can be a different thing for each people. Food also loves wine so I also cover food and wine pairings, restaurant reviews, and world travel. Enjoy life with me. MyWinePal was started by Karl Kliparchuk, WSET. I spent many years with the South World Wine Society as the President and then cellar master. I love to travel around the world, visiting wine regions and sharing my passion for food & wine with you. Come live vicariously through me, and enjoy all my recommended wines.