May 17th is Pinot Gris Day. This pink skinned grape is thought to be a mutation of Pinot Noir and it is known by more than twenty different names, including Pinot Grigio and Auxerrois Gris. Pinot Gris is also the most planted white grape in British Columbia.
I am celebrating Pinot Gris Day with the 2020 Haywire Pinot Gris from the Okanagan Crush Pad. The Okanagan Crush Pad is located in Summerland and was established in 2011 by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie. The Crush Pad produces four different wine labels: Free Form, Haywire, Narrative and Bizou + Yukon. Since their inception, the Okanagan Crush Pad has built a reputation as one of the leading producers of organic wines in the Okanagan. It is therefore not surprising that they are the first Canadian winery to be accepted as an applicant member of the International Wineries for Climate Change (IWCA). Over the next year they will work to meet IWCA membership requirements and become a silver or gold level member. First steps will include conducting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2030 and be net zero by 2050.
2020 Haywire Pinot Gris $27.99
The Pinot Gris for this wine was harvested from vineyards in Oliver and Summerland. The grapes were pressed and fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak foudre using native yeast. The wine was left on the lees for six months before being filtered and bottled.
The 2020 Haywire Pinot Gris has aromas of blossoming trees, yellow grapefruit pith, guava and peach. This is a dry, medium bodied wine with medium+ acidity. The palate offers lemon rind, yellow grapefruit pith, guava, peach and poached pears with a medium, saline finish.
This Pinot Gris paired beautifully with spaghettini in a creamy lemon sauce with prawns and clams.