The ‘Parkhill Vineyard Wine Care Pack’ features all of the wines that come from Hans’ family vineyard
Long-time Okanagan grape grower, Hans Buchler, has been named the “Viticulturist of the Year” by the BC Grapegrowers’ Association. This award recognizes B.C. growers who produce the top quality grapes that go into making B.C.’s best wines.
Hans has been producing Okanagan grapes for 40 years and is considered a legend in the industry. He adopted an organic approach and through determination and innovation, began to produce top-quality grapes.
Hans sells all of his grapes to Summerhill Pyramid Winery, a multi award-winning Kelowna winery that produces more than 40 varieties of organic wine.
Summerhill’s Tribute to Hans
In tribute to Hans, Summerhill Pyramid Winery has created a package featuring all of the wines that come from Hans’ Park Hill Vineyard in Oliver.
The Park Hill Vineyard Wine Care Pack includes six organic wines:
- 2019 Organic Pinot Noir, previously unreleased wine, highly allocated
- 2017 Organic Heritage Series Marechal Foch, 100% Park Hill Vineyard grown
- 2020 Organic Gewurztraminer
- Cipes Brut Nature
- 2019 Alive Organic White
- 2019 Alive Organic Red
“I am so happy that Summerhill’s long-time grape supplier and friend Hans Buchler has been named the “Viticulturist of the Year,” says Ezra Cipes, Summerhill Pyramid Winery CEO. “This is an amazing honour for Hans and we are thrilled to release a wine package featuring all of the wines that come from Hans’ family vineyard.”
More About Hans
Hans operates the 20-acre Park Hill Vineyard in a small valley north of Oliver where climate, soil and growing conditions have created a winning combination for certified organic Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Gewürztraminer, Marechal Foch, Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes, among others.
“When we began to develop the vineyard in the 1980s, we knew it would be difficult,” said Buchler. “We knew the site was on the edge of the growing region and had limited water. We also knew the eco system in this difficult growing location was going to give us frost and other unique challenges so we had to be innovative and resourceful to be successful.”
About the Viticulturist of the Year Award
BC grape growers nominate their peers for the Viticulturist of the Year honour. A committee of growers evaluates the nominees by visiting their vineyards to look at management practices, environmental stewardship, innovation and other factors.
The award carries a $2,000 bursary for viticulture education. This is the second year the honour has been presented.
