“Nostalgia Wines Inc. has three small-lot labels (Nostalgia, Pin-Up, and Family Collection) that use grapes from our 14 acres of vineyard and our partner growers in Oliver Osoyoos. There are four white varietals and four red varietals planted here, including the unique Kerner variety. You’ll be charmed by the fun and seductive Pin-Up Series, which allows Gina to express her fun side, with retro-cool paintings by artist Ralph Burch. These labels are a nod to Gina’s previous career pin-striping and airbrushing classic cars, hot rods, and motorbikes.”
Gina Harfman
Gina Harfman – Owner / Winemaker
Gina Fernandes Harfman is owner, winemaker and leader of the team at Nostalgia Wines. She’s the fourth generation from her family to sink her hands into South Okanagan soil. She’s a proud mom to son Jaxson, born in 2011, and daughter Vida, born in 2015. The family lives on the winery’s 17-acre property.
Gina attended Fine Art school in Kelowna, airbrush courses in Las Vegas and was working airbrushing and pin striping hot rods and motorcycles. She made her first wines with grapes from her father Ken Harfman’s vineyard for a family function in 2009.
“It was a Gewürztraminer and a Merlot, and I custom pinstriped the labels,” says Harfman. “I had to make a lot of wine, knowing my family. And I loved doing it, so September 2009 I enrolled in Okanagan College to learn more about winemaking.”
She worked at Cassini Cellars as assistant winemaker and began helping with crush at Nostalgia Wines (then called Oliver Twist) in 2010. In 2012, Gina purchased Oliver Twist from founders Bruce and Denice Hagerman taking over the ownership of the winery when she was just 32 years old.
Gina is a classic car lover, and has a 1961 Chevrolet Bel Air fondly called “Ollie” after its previous owner.
Gina is proud of her South Okanagan farming legacy. Terroir is in her blood. She is the fourth generation from her paternal side, and the third generation from her maternal side, to sink her hands into South Okanagan soil.
Her maternal grandfather, Joe Fernandes, left Madeira in the early 1950s to establish orchards and a fruit stand in Osoyoos. Her father, Ken, has 6 hectares (15 acres) of vineyard in Osoyoos which he runs with the help of her brother, Jeremy.
Sheila Whittaker – General Manager
Sheila is a journalism graduate of Carleton University. Her studies in wine include the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, French Wine Scholar and Italian Wine Scholar.
Before joining Oliver Twist Estate Winery in 2019, she was the Trade Marketing Director for Western Canada for Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.
Sheila and Gina have been friends since kindergarten!
The Wines
I was able to join others from the BC Wine and Media community to enjoy a virtual tasting of six wines with Gina and Sheila and the team from Town Hall Brands. Here are the notes and some comments from the Zoom session.
Nostalgia Kerner 2021
Hand-picked then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vessels.
Alcohol 13.1% | pH: 3.35 | TA: 5.1 | RS: 8.9
The off-dry Kerner is a highly aromatic wine with floral aromas of rose petals, ripe pear, and honeysuckle. Flavours of apricot, apple, Mandarin orange, and honeycomb with just a hint of sweetness and a spicy finish. 90 Points
“The wine pairs well with all Asian food but especially Moroccan Chicken and Indian Food.”
Nostalgia Pinot Gris 2020
“Bottled Okanagan memories: peaches, apples and pears, like a walk through the orchards.”
100% Pinot Gris (Home Vineyard, Oliver; Cassini Vineyard, Oliver; Nunes Vineyard, Osoyoos) Harvest Date: September 19 – October 5, 2020
Alcohol 13.2% | pH 3.42 | TA 4.8 | RS 0.8
This is a bolder style dry Pinot Gris. Gentle aromas of orchard fruit. The medium-bodied Pinot Gris has intense flavours of white peaches, lemon zest, crisp apples, and ripe pears with a hint of almond and minerality. 92 Points
Nostalgia Rosé 2020
24% Cabernet Sauvignon (Harfman Vineyard, Osoyoos) 23% Merlot (Home Vineyard, Oliver), 23% Syrah (Home Vineyard, Oliver), 17% Malbec (Gablemann Vineyard, Oliver), 13% Cabernet Franc (Farinha Vineyard, Osoyoos)
Harvest Date: October – November 2020
Saignée production method. Stainless steel fermentation.
Alcohol 13.7% | pH 3.45 | TA 5.6 | RS 1.9
The wine has a deep pink hue. Light aromas of watermelon and grapefruit. Flavours of watermelon, cranberry, pink grapefruit, rhubarb and strawberry jam. A bolder Rosé at 13.7% really works well with food. 90 Points
Perfect with Caprese Salad on the patio on a hot summer day.
Nostalgia Merlot 2018
95% Merlot (3% Harfman Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Gablemann Malbec)
Aged 14 months in oak barriques (French and American)
Alcohol 13.7% | pH 3.51 | TA 6.2 | RS 0.4
The Merlot is young and dynamic so decant before tasting or cellar. Aromas of black fruit and coffee. Flavours of black cherry, juicy black plum, blackberry, dark chocolate with a hint of espresso and cedar and a lovely long finish. The texture is velvety with supple tannins lifted by vibrant acidity. 91 Points
“Who would have ever thought 10 or 20 years ago that BC producers would be talking about blending their MALBEC into Merlot???***brilliant** ”
Kristof Gillese
Nostalgia Family Collection Meritage 2018
“But with our Meritage, we just take all of our best barrels and we really want to find that beautiful combination. For each vintage the percentages are a little different. This one also has a bit of Cabernet Franc and it grew to five grapes in 2018. This reminds me a lot of our 2013 blend. So for 2013 we did a similar vintage, and it it was like a sleeper It was so beautiful. I wish all the vintages lasted so well. I had my last bottle this year, it was a vintage where I saved the last bottle!”
Gina Harfman
51% Merlot (Home Vineyard, Oliver), 21% Cabernet Sauvignon (Harfman Vineyard, Osoyoos), 14% Cabernet Franc (Farinha Vineyard, Osoyoos), 11%Malbec (Gablemann Vineyard, Oliver), 3% Petit Verdot (Harfman Vineyard, Osoyoos)
Harvest Date: October 11 – November 8, 2018.
Aged 15 months in French and American oak barriques.
Alcohol 13.8%| pH 3.6| TA 6.2| RS 0.5
A vivid blend is dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and bursts with notes of black currant, raspberry, cherry, and blackberry. Hints of violet, clove, oak, leather, vanilla and baking spices add layers and depth, while the firm, supple tannins are balanced by fresh acidity. 90 points
Nostalgia Chantilly Lace
Retro-cool paintings by artist Ralph Burch impeccably give life to the fun and seductive Pin-Up Series.
81% Kerner (Home Vineyard, Oliver), 19% Chardonnay (Home Vineyard, Oliver)
Frizzante sparkling method.
Alcohol 13.1% | pH 3.49 | TA 5.3 | RS 34.7
A lightly carbonated refreshing, semi-sweet bubbly. Flavours of ripe peach, pear, tropical mango and strawberry create just the right tone to bring joy to any celebration … including breakfast with waffles or brunch! 89 Points
To purchase these excellent BC Wines please visit the Nostalgia Wines website.