[Summerland, BC] After just making headlines for releasing its equity fundraising campaign, the team at Okanagan Crush Pad Winery (OCP) announces the departure of Darryl Brooker, who is relocating to the US to assume a new position.
Winery founders Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie brought Brooker on board to help model out a succession plan. Brooker joined OCP in early spring 2022 and played a key role in helping the winery reorganize for growth, and get ready for its next phase, which includes significant projects at Garnet Valley Ranch.
“We owe Darryl a debt of gratitude for the outstanding work he did, and our team is confident that the winery is left in very capable hands. While his tenure was short, we accomplished the equivalent of two years of reorganizing and programming. It’s been a whirlwind. We wish Darryl, his wife Sally, and their three children the very best moving forward. They will be missed.”
Christine Coletta
Stepping up to take on an expanded role with operational duties is Craig Pingle, who joined the team this past spring in the position of General Manager. Andrew Raines has been promoted to director of sales to oversee sales across Canada and export markets. Winemaking remains in the capable hands of Matt Dumayne, who has been chief winemaker since 2013. Okanagan Crush Pad has some key projects launched of late. The winery recently became the first Canadian winery to join International Wineries for Climate Action and is developing ways to reduce carbon emissions. The winery recently launched its Owners Circle program, which allows a new cohort of investors to purchase shares in the winery, through an innovative online platform, FrontFundR.
“In addition to myself, Steve, and our friends and family, Okanagan Crush Pad has always had outside investors. The Owners Circle program, which we have been working on for over a year, allows us to expand beyond friends and family, and invite a new generation of investors to the founding group.”
Christine Coletta
About Okanagan Crush Pad
Respectfully Farming. Pure Okanagan Organic Wines.
Okanagan Crush Pad has developed a reputation as a leading producer of Okanagan organic wines. With founder Christine Coletta at the helm since 2010, the winery is committed to sustainability in all areas of its business, having recently joined International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) and setting an aggressive goal to reduce its carbon footprint annually.
Chief winemaker Matt Dumayne offers four unique wine portfolios: Haywire, Narrative, Free Form, and Bizou + Yukon, guaranteeing a wine for everyone’s taste and budget.
The winery utilizes a host of fermenting and aging vessels: concrete tanks, amphorae, large format oak and stainless steel, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility that is a draw for wine enthusiasts. Wines reflect the region’s unique high mountain, northern desert setting noted for its intensely hot, short growing season with hallmark cool evenings.
The winery also owns the 320-acre Garnet Valley Ranch in Summerland, a rare piece of land, which is respectfully farmed with nature in mind. On the ranch are 60 acres of organic vines and eight acres of organic vegetables, hayfields, a lavender farm, a new guest center, The Outlook, and places for wildlife to roam.