NEWS RELEASE
(Naramata, BC – August 17, 2018) International accolades keep coming in for Tightrope Winery of Naramata, BC. In its début at the prestigious Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition, Tightrope has won a total of ten medals: three gold, three silver and four bronze.
Tightrope is a ten-acre operation on the Naramata Bench in BC’s Okanagan Valley, where the terroir is ideal for growing a variety of grapes. The winery won its first award with its first vintage: double gold for its 2012 Rosé at the 2013 Northwest Wine Summit.
At the Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition, Tightrope pitted itself against wineries from all across North America, including California and Ontario. Gold medals went to the 2015 Syrah, and the 2017 Riesling and Pinot Gris; silver was awarded to the 2015 Pinot Noir and 2017 Rosé and 2017 Tip-Toe (a blend of Gewürtztraminer, Riesling and Chardonnay); bronze went to the Cabernet Franc, Equipoise, Merlot and Viognier, all from 2016.
The early – and decisive – success of Tightrope Winery is a testament to the passion and education of the owners. Lyndsay and Graham O’Rourke are formally educated in viticulture and oenology, having studied first at Okanagan University College (now part of the University of British Columbia) and then at Lincoln University in New Zealand. Now, Graham works the land as the viticulturist, producing the grapes Lyndsay needs as vintner.
“We have to take what we are given, apply science and match the season,” explains Graham. “We continually adjust our growing practices and management to achieve balance in the vineyard and in the wine using sustainable practices.”
Earlier this year, Tightrope won multiple awards at the Cascadia Wine Competition, including Best of Class for the 2017 Riesling and double gold for the Pinot Gris.
Check out our previous articles on Lyndsay and Graham O’Rourke and Tightrope Winery here and here.
About Tightrope Winery: Tightrope Winery sits on 10 acres on the Naramata Bench in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where the complex soil is ideal for growing Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Barbera, Viognier, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Supplementing its own grapes with those from other vineyards on the Naramata Bench, Tightrope produces up to 4,500 cases of wine a year.
For more information and to arrange interviews, contact Mat Wilcox, Wilcox Group mwilcox@wilcoxgroup.com or Drew Snider drewdsnider@gmail.com.