Media
~ For Immediate Release ~
An Aberration for Appellation
“Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery launches Appellation Wines on heels of Cellared in Canada debate”
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. March 23rd, 2010. Hainle Vineyard Estate Winery is making a bold yet unambiguous statement in the local wine industry by launching its own Appellation System of labeling. As of April 1st 2010, Hainle is releasing their new wines with the front label proudly stating the Appellation Region in which the grapes were produced.
Proprietor and winemaker Walter Huber explains: “We felt it necessary to ensure our core value of old style winemaking was made known in the Okanagan Valley; part of that style resides in clearly stating the Appellation Region on our labels”.
Appellation in winemaking refers to a legally defined geographical indication used to identify where grapes for a wine are grown and Hainle is the first winery in the Okanagan to take such a step. The rules that govern appellations are dependent on the country in which the wine was produced. In Canada, there are currently no rules to govern an Appellation System.
Huber is aware of the potential consequences of such a move, due in part to the “Cellared in Canada” debate that emerged in late 2009 to much local and international criticism. Hainle Vineyards Wine Advisor and Sommelier Francois Verreault elaborates: “Both sides of the Cellared in Canada debate hold their merits. It is not our intent with our new Appellation System to fall on one side or other of that debate; our intent is to simply be true to our old style traditions of winemaking and to be transparent in what our winery provides our customers”.
As part of the launch of this initiative, Hainle Vineyard Estate Winery has partnered with SOPA Square Real Estate Development in an interesting alliance. SOPA Square has purchased one hundred bottles of Hainle’s 2004 Zweigelt, an exclusive reserve wine served at the Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on February 27th, 2007. SOPA Square plans to gift all of it’s owners with a signed and numbered bottle; which are no longer available for purchase to the public, making this gift truly one to be treasured in any wine collection. Developer for SOPA Square, Stacey Fenwick, is delighted with the pairing of both brands: “SOPA Square and Hainle Vineyards are two socially conscious entities with the same core values: being true to one’s self while being transparent to others. SOPA Square’s commitment to green building and European style living also speaks to how Old is New again, much like Hainle’s commitment to old style winemaking,” states Fenwick.
The Hainle label artwork is also reverting back to the nostalgic labels they once introduced in 1978, to further reflect their commitment to old style wine. The newly released Hainle Wines will be available in select wine specialty stores in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland on April 1st, and their other line of wines “Deep Creek” will soon follow with the re-branding and Appellation label.
Further information and label revealing will take place at a press conference in which you are invited to attend:
Tuesday, March 30th at 3:30 pm
SOPA Square Discovery Centre, 3013 Pandosy Street
VIP Reception to follow 4:00 to 6:00pm with food and wine tasting courtesy of Hainle Vineyard Estate Winery
Please RSVP your attendance to: info@sopaquare.com
Media Contacts:
Walter Huber, Proprietor, Hainle Vineyard Estate Winery
250-212-5944
whuber@hainle.com
http://www.hainle.com
Stacey Fenwick, Developer SOPA Square
250-317-4313
stacey@sopasquare.com
http://www.sopasquare.com
About Hainle Vineyards and Walter Huber:
The Huber Family has been in the winemaking business since 1167 with their origins in the area of Neusiedel, Austria. The art of winemaking has been passed down from generation to generation, with Walter Huber learning the business from his great grandfather at the age of only six-years-old at their family vineyard. Walter moved to Canada in 1980 and purchased Hainle Vineyards in 2002, which was the first original organic winery in the Okanagan Valley. Hainle has won over 100 awards for its winemaking, including Best in Class and Best in Show in 2007 at the LA International Wine and Spirit Show – the most prestigious wine show in North America.
About SOPA Square:
SOPA Square is a cutting edge real estate development located in the desirable and vibrant SOuth PAndosy (SOPA) area of Kelowna. With plans for completion in 2013, SOPA intends to set a GOLD standard in LEED (a program created by the Canada Green Building Council). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ accelerates the global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices by implementing universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. It is a third-party certification program and internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
SOPA Square will encompass 1.79 acres of space across one city block, with 96 residential units available for purchase. SOPA will offer luxurious living, while making an ecologically conscious choice. Homes are architecturally stunning, yet built with the highest standards of sustainable design. The street level of SOPA Square will host an array of retail shops, a large and open market square with a “green grocer”, deli, baked offerings, and artisans; as well as an array of boutiques, restaurants and sidewalk cafes in a trendy, pedestrian friendly atmosphere.
http://www.sopasquare.com
About Cellared in Canada:
Canadian wine producers may still import pre-fermented grapes from other countries to produce wines under their own wine label. In British Columbia, growers are not required to have any local grapes in the wine, and local growers protested the practice as a threat to their livelihood. Wine producers who do not use the “Cellared in Canada” designation have also criticized the practice as tarnishing the reputation of Canadian wines and possibly misleading consumers. Growers in Canada have petitioned the government for changes in the practice, such as making the origin of grapes more transparent on the wine label and increasing the visibility of 100% Canadian wines produced by members of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA).
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Press Release
For immediate release
Green living alive and well in Canada
“British Columbia Development is LEEDing the way”
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, February 18th, 2010. The home of the 2010 Winter Olympics is swiftly becoming known for its commitment to sustainability; with elements of green living prevalent in many of the Olympic Venues, the athlete’s village, even in its transportation.
Green living is incredibly important to these British Columbian’s; and that sentiment seems to ring true right through the province. A media reception was held over the games where international journalists and trade delegates were invited in to learn about an “undiscovered jewel” in the province called the Okanagan Valley. People from the Okanagan talk about sustainability as if it isn’t an option; and one project in particular stood out as a shining example of dedication to better living.
Within the city of Kelowna is SOPA Square – a cutting edge sustainable real estate development slated for completion in 2013. SOPA Square is the only “true to the book” sustainable housing option in the Okanagan Valley.
SOPA Square intends to set a GOLD standard in LEED – a program created by the Canada Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ accelerates the global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Just a few hours east of Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley is often touted as “Canada’s Napa Valley or French Riviera”. The Valley has a population of over 300,000 and offers a dry and mild climate, stunning natural beauty and boasts over 120 wineries within a three hour drive. Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, with approximately 125,000 residents.
SOPA Square Developers Edgar and Stacey Fenwick believe building GREEN is the only way to build in the future. “By reducing the amount of energy, water and land consumed, we minimize our impact on this beautiful planet. Our project will exemplify LEED practices with the use of environmentally sensitive building materials, solar panels, green roofs, natural lighting and an air-to-air flow exchange system – very similar to the system being used in the Olympic Village” states Stacey.
Architect for the project Busby Perkins+Will furthers the thought: “Green building is not simply a process of reducing environmental impact. It’s re-thinking the relationship between nature and humans.”
On the heels of the advancements of green living in Europe, it appears Canada, British Columbia, and SOPA Square are surely gaining momentum.
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Media Contact:
Stacey Fenwick
Stacey@sopasquare.com
Office: 250.762.5818
Mobile: 250-317-4313
About SOPA Square:
Life at SOPA is about enjoying luxurious living while making an ecologically conscious choice. Your home is architecturally stunning and built with the highest standards of sustainable design, what CONSCIOUS LIVING is all about. SOPA Square is located in the desirable, vibrant SOuth PAndosy (SOPA) area of Kelowna where beaches and parks are only a few minutes away. The street level of SOPA Square will host an array of retail shops, a market square, boutiques, restaurants and sidewalk cafes in a trendy, pedestrian friendly atmosphere.
About the Developers:
Edgar Fenwick was born in Kelowna after his father moved to the Okanagan Valley during the depression, where the Fenwick family has been for over 80 years. Edgar is a real estate developer with a solid builder background, and has a passion for building quality projects and products ahead of their time. He has been building commercial projects for 25 years and has always believed that great architecture should blend with the environment. Edgar was the very first to build R2000 homes in British Columbia, the first to build Commercial Geothermal office buildings in Kelowna, and is now the first private developer to build LEED Gold in the Okanagan Valley.
Stacey Fenwick was also born and raised in Kelowna and leads the sales and marketing of the quality projects build by her father Edgar. Her business acumen has her currently working on her MBA while she leads the SOPA Square Sales team. Her love for the Okanagan and it’s beautiful environment inspires her commitment to the community of SOPA Square, whereby the vision is to provide residents with the only European-inspired urban lifestyle in the Okanagan. Stacey will also be an owner and resident of SOPA Square
http://www.sopasquare.com/blog/meet-the-team/
Download pdf of press release – click here
Download SOPA Square logo – click here
Links
Sopa Square http://www.sopasquare.com
About LEED http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php
About Kelowna http://www.tourismkelowna.com
About Okanagan http://okanaganstories.ca
Images
Edgar Fenwick – Developer, SOPA Square
Download High Res – Click Here
Stacey Fenwick – Sales Director, SOPA Square
Download High Res – Click Here
Exterior Rendering – SOPA Square
Download High Res – Click Here
Rooftop Rendering – SOPA Square
Download High Res – Click Here
Interior Rendering – SOPA Square
Download High Res – Click Here
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
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