Time opens with new winemaker
In a two-for-one announcement, Time has revealed it will open its long-anticipated winery in downtown Penticton today with a new director of winemaking at the helm. Time has been retrofitting the former movie theatres at 361 Martin St. into a showpiece tasting gallery, wine shop and bistro with crush pad, winemaking and cellaring space in the back.
The winemaking facilities opened last summer, but work continued until the public spaces were ready to be opened this week.
Time also announced it has secured Graham Pierce as director of winemaking.
Pierce comes to the job after seven years at Black Hills Winery, where he was acclaimed for crafting the premium Bordeaux-red-blend Nota Bene and a stellar line up of other wines from aromatic whites to big reds.
Pierce will work closely with winemaker Nadina Allander, who was recently promoted from assistant winemaker.
The two will not only make Time’s wines, but the vintages of the two other labels in the Encore Vineyards family – Evolve Cellars in Summerland and McWatters Collection.
“The fun challenge will be to oversee and make a range of wines from fruit-forward, juicy Evolve Cellars wines to the complex and textured wines of Time and McWatters Collection,” said Pierce.
“After crafting still wines for so many years, I am most excited about the chance to create my first small-batch sparkling wine. (Evolve has several sparkling wines.)”
The three wineries are owned by Okanagan wine pioneer Harry McWatters and all three brands will be made at the Time facility.
However, Evolve does have a separate tasting room, shop and bistro with a spectacular view of vineyards and Okanagan Lake in Summerland.
Another Encore employee splitting his time will be chef AK Campbell, who will create the daily appetizers, charcuterie boards and features served at the bistros of both Time and Evolve.