Oliver, BC (August 26, 2017) – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ CEO and Co-Owner Sandra Oldfield presents a $15,000 cheque on behalf of the winery’s Celebrate the Arts charity to Lori Martine, Fine Arts Director at Oliver Elementary School, Tracy Harrington, Principal, South Okanagan Secondary School, Lisa Ante, Music Teacher at Tuc el Nuit School and Rod Kitt, School District #53 Career Education Coordinator during The Mounties concert at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards on Saturday August 26th. The donation will be divided equally between Oliver Elementary School, Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School and South Okanagan Secondary School to support their arts programs.
“Our annual Canadian Concert Series is all about bringing people together through music and celebrating our country’s musical talent,” says Sandra Oldfield, CEO and Co-Owner of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. “We want to support our community and encourage the next generation of artists and performers by inspiring them through strong school arts programs that also give youth an outlet for expression. This supports their emotional well-being, their self-esteem and their overall balance to help them become well-rounded human beings.”
Tinhorn Creek launched Celebrate the Arts in 2015 and this is their third cash donation to the program, which supports local schools to fund extra music, drama, dance and fine arts programming for students. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has also committed to in-kind donations, such as the use of their outdoor amphitheatre, tasting room and barrel cellar for performances and rehearsals, and use of the guest suite for visiting performers.
Tinhorn Creek remains committed to Celebrate the Arts and has pledged proceeds from next season’s Canadian Concert Series, as well as a portion of Tinhorn Creek’s annual income, to continue to support the program.
Oliver, BC (August 21, 2017) Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is proud to announce the release of The Creek, its highly anticipated flagship wine.
A toast to 23 years of experience in farming and winemaking on the southern Okanagan Valley, The Creek is an elegant, luscious and modern wine that reflects both place and time.
The 2014 The Creek is a unique blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Aptly named after the iconic waterway that has shaped the surrounding landscape, the new flagship wine is a celebration of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ longstanding pursuit of both excellence and innovation in winemaking.
“We have been working toward this wine since my husband Kenn and I first landed in Oliver in 1994,” says Sandra Oldfield, Founder and CEO of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. “Inspired by our desire to honour the region where the grapes come from, and to create the best possible wine in our cellar, The Creek reflects a spirit of innovation both in how we farm our land and how we treat our wines. We will continue to push forward and evolve with creativity and dedication because that is what our customers have come to expect from us.”
Fermented using wild and selected yeasts, the wine is aged for 24 months in 40% French new and Hungarian oak barrels. Boasting opulent flavours of blueberry, cassis and black cherry, with a warm toasted spice finish - the flagship wine’s rich undertones and full-bodied palate make it a perfect pairing for richer dishes.
“The planning for this release really began in 2014, spearheaded by our winemaker Andrew Windsor and viticulturist, Andrew Moon”, says Oldfield. “This flagship wine is the result of a focused and passionate collaboration, made possible by our people, land and grapes here at Tinhorn Creek”.
Each estate grown, handcrafted vintage will bring forth a structured, intense and powerful blend, reflective of Tinhorn Creek’s ongoing commitment to its stunning terroir and quality vineyard practices.
2014 The Creek wine retails for $55 for 750ml and $120 for magnum bottles, both of which are available in limited quantities from Tinhorn Creek’s tasting room, wine club, online store, as well as their onsite restaurant, Miradoro. The Creek will be released to the public in September 2017, and will be available from liquor stores and in select restaurants in BC and Alberta.
Oliver, BC (July 26, 2017) – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is proud to announce that its 2013 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red has been awarded a Double Gold designation by the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC).
Reserved for the finest wines in the world, the Double Gold rating comes from the SFIWC - one of the world’s most respected and longstanding international wine competitions. Now in its 37th year, the competition has been integral in setting the standard for expert wine judging, attracting over 4,200 entries from 31 countries across the globe.
“The Oldfield Series 2Bench Red is one of our greatest achievements,” says Sandra Oldfield, CEO and Founder of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. “Our goal has always been to inspire innovation and improvement with every vintage and this award makes us very confident in the work we’re doing.”
This year, the 2013 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red achieved a Double Gold medal and 94 points rating from the SFIWC’s panel of esteemed judges and wine critics. A blend of five Bordeaux varietals (47% cabernet sauvignon, 24% cabernet franc, 20% merlot, 6% malbec, and 3% petit verdot) sourced from Tinhorn Creek's estate vineyards on the Black Sage and Golden Mile Benches, this unique blend has earned its place as an international double gold winner. Its full-bodied, balanced and powerful palate boasts a complex aromatic range from spice and dark fruit to tobacco. The 2Bench Red’s dark fruit and herb-infused profile is a perfect fit for pairing with richer meat dishes.
Tinhorn Creek’s 2013 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red retails for $30.49 and can be cellared for up to 15 years. Bottles and cases are available for purchase at the winery or online at Tinhorn Creek’s wine store.
Oliver, BC (May 3, 2017) – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is excited to introduce its new Oldfield Reserve brand, along with a refresh of the Tinhorn Creek varietal series labels.
Oldfield Reserve replaces the previous Oldfield Series; communicating an evolution of the brand and reflecting the quality and sophistication of Tinhorn’s top tier wines. The update also demonstrates a clear distinction between Tinhorn Creek’s premium wines and the Tinhorn Creek varietal series, which has also undergone a label revamp that speaks to Tinhorn’s modern, fresh approach.
“The philosophy behind the varietal tier and Oldfield tier has always been ‘best of grape’ for the former and ‘best of site and winemaking’ for the latter,” says Jan Nelson, Sales & Marketing Manager at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. “We hope our new labels underscore this differentiation, whilst letting the wines speak for themselves. The Oldfield Reserve label now has a more luxurious feel that speaks to the elevated quality of our premium line, while the new look of our entire portfolio also marks Winemaker Andrew Windsor’s first Oldfield Reserve wines to market.”
The Oldfield name is still prominently displayed to express the continuity of the brand and its rich history. Since experiencing her first “crush” at Tinhorn Creek in 1995, past Winemaker Sandra Oldfield remains actively involved as the winery’s CEO. Sandra was recently recognized by WXN as one of the country’s most powerful female entrepreneurs in the Trendsetting and Trailblazing category, with more than 20 years of winemaking and leadership in the BC wine industry under her belt.
Andrew Windsor joined the team in 2014 and has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with the winemaking team and Viticulturist Andrew Moon to produce the latest releases of both the new Oldfield Series Reserve wines and the Tinhorn Creek varietal series wines. “I’m very proud of the wines that are in the market now, and of all the hard work our team has put into making them,” says Windsor. “The 2014 vintage reds look great and I'm particularly proud of the Syrah, which is probably one of the finest wines I've ever been a part of making. It's a varietal that I'm very passionate about. The Bordeaux varieties are also excellent; with only the best wines going into the small production of the Oldfield Reserves, they are built to last and I suggest stocking up on them."
Winery welcomes new addition to oversee finances and HR of growing team
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Lalor as Manager of Finance & Administration at the winery. British-born Lalor was educated in the UK before she left to work in Europe, eventually settling in Canada and gaining her CPA designation as an Accountant.
Lalor grew up working in a family-run business, so she understands the many challenges involved. She brings with her a passion for enjoying wine in addition to international work experience including a three-year stint working at the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Rome, Italy.
Responsible for overseeing the finances and human resources of the winery, Lalor was keen to move to BC from Alberta to work in the hospitality, tourism and wine industry. “The team at Tinhorn Creek are fun, smart, enthusiastic and passionate about what they do – it’s a powerful combination,” says Lalor. “I love to have a view of the whole business, not just the numbers, and help pull all the pieces together to grow the business.”
Now settled in Penticton, Lalor hopes to continue to grow the company through developing Tinhorn’s people and its wines. Outside of work she enjoys exploring her new home with her family and dog. The free-spirited mom of three likes to play soccer, experiment with new recipes and visit her children who are based in New York and Edmonton.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is thrilled to announce that CEO Sandra Oldfield has been named as a Top 100 award winner in the Sun Life Financial Trailblazers & Trendsetters category of the Women’s Executive Network’s (WXN) 2016 Canada’s Most Powerful Women.
The 2016 Top 100 Award Winners will be celebrated at an evening Awards Gala at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, on Thursday November 24th where Sandra will become part of an exceptional community of now 939 remarkable female leaders. When Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards were launched in 2003, WXN wanted to highlight the incredible accomplishments of professional women across Canada. Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles.
“I’m honoured to be recognized as a trailblazer and have the opportunity, as a female CEO in the wine industry, to act as a role model for younger generations and my peers,” says Sandra Oldfield. “At Tinhorn Creek we strive to be at the forefront of the industry; pushing boundaries and setting trends to promote Canadian wine.”
Sandra’s award recognizes her trailblazing in the wine industry, having been one of the few BC female winemakers when Tinhorn Creek Vineyards opened over 20 years ago and now one of the few female CEOs in the Canadian wine industry. Sandra spearheaded the establishment of BC’s first wine-growing sub appellation, the Golden Mile Bench, and has kept Tinhorn at the forefront of the industry by making them the first winery in Canada to move their entire production to screw top closures rather than corks in 2003 and starting the province’s first wine club, shipping wine direct to consumers. In 2009 Sandra tackled sustainability when Tinhorn Creek became Canada’s only carbon neutral winery and perhaps the achievement closest to Sandra’s heart has been the implementation of the most rigorous Health and Safety program of any winery in BC and achieving Canada’s Safest Employers Award, for outstanding accomplishments in promoting the health and safety of workers.
Sandra’s advocacy work promoting Canadian wines to Canadians has garnered the attention of national press through her political acts highlighting problems with access to wine (such as when she proved it is easier in Canada to order and ship a 12-gauge shotgun online than a 12 bottle case of Canadian wine) and campaigning for clearer labelling of grape origins for wines as ‘cellared in Canada’ contain Canadian grapes. Since 2011 Sandra has combined her love for wine, the wine industry and social media to being a weekly online discussion on twitter called #BCWineChat to bring together consumers, wineries, retailers and restaurants on specific topics of exploration weekly.
For more information about Tinhorn Creek Vineyards visit http://www.tinhorn.com and for more information on WXN visit https://www.wxnetwork.com.
Autumn is an opportune time to visit Tinhorn Creek Vineyards to savour delicious local ingredients while watching grape harvest. Sip the ever-evolving wines that celebrate two distinct vineyards: one on the Golden Mile at the winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyard; and the other across the valley off Black Sage Road, Diamondback Vineyard. Taste the creative seasonal cuisine at the onsite award-winning Miradoro Restaurant.
Enroll in events that herald the harvest. For Hops, Grapes & Grub, September 30th, the Miradoro team takes on the challenge of creating a scrumptious family-style, three-course dinner to match both with wine and ale; each course is paired with a Tinhorn Creek wine and a Cannery Brewing beer. Tickets are $85 inclusive. Partake in another elevated evening of exceptional food and wine during the Okanagan Wine Festival, October 4th, at the Guest Chef Dinner. Miradoro Chef Jeff Van Geest invites Chef Chris Whittaker from Vancouver’s Forage Restaurant to partner in creating a multi-course dinner paired with Tinhorn Creek wines. Dinner, wine and gratuities are included for $125 plus GST. Seating is limited so reserve your spot soon. For these dinners call Miradoro at 250-468-3742 or email info@miradoro.ca for reservations.
Another perennially popular Okanagan Wine Festival event is Grazing in the Vineyard, from 11 am to 1:30 pm, on October 3rd, 4th or 5th. Purchase your $55 ticket in advance at tinhorn.com to enjoy a hike through the vineyard with proprietors Kenn and Sandra Oldfield while sampling Tinhorn Creek wines with canapes from Miradoro Restaurant. Afterwards enjoy a three-course lunch by Miradoro. For members of perhaps the Okanagan’s most generous wine club, sign up early for the Crush Club’s Pick Up Party, 1 to 3 pm, October 1st, for an afternoon of music, wine and food.
~ Roslyne Buchanan, Food & Wine Trails Magazine, Sep 2016.