True Dual Citizens: Winemakers Severine Pinte & Grant Stanley

THE SHOW

Severine Pinte – Chief Winemaker, viticulturist and managing partner

Le Vieux Pin and LaStella (South Okanagan)

Severine and Ava

This weeks TRR is part of an on-going series highlighting stories of cold snaps, badly damaged vines/vineyards and renewal!

Both Le Vieux Pin/La Stella and Spearhead were badly hit by 2 Winter cold snaps that left their prized vineyards hanging by the slimmest of threads.

Le Vieux Pin on Black Sage Bench is known for capturing the essence of French Winemaking but doing so with the fruit and character of The New World. Elegance, balance and the pure intensity of fruit.

Executive Winemaker, viticulturist and managing partner Severine Pinte came to Le Vieux Pin and La Stella in 2010 with 14 harvests of international winemaking experience under her belt along with 8 years of vineyard management.

For her, the Okanagan, with its unique terroir and cool climate, has always been intriguing. She is the perfect winemaker to craft world-class Syrah, Viognier and other varietals native to France, in the South Okanagan.

Since Le Vieux Pin became certified sustainable in 2021, Severine has been also serving as the chair of Sustainable Wine Growing BC.

In the spring of 2023, Severine Pinte received the 140-year-old honour of being knighted to the “Order of Agricultural Merit” by the Consul General of France.

Severine is also the proud recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award presented to her by the Winegrowers BC on March 12th 2024.

Severine also leads the winemaking team at Italian influenced sister winery La Stella!

Like many other winemakers, Severine sourced her 2024 fruit from vineyards in Washington State for their “Crafted in BC” replacement wines.

Severine takes us through the journey from cold snaps, through renewal and into bottle. For many winemakers and growers these two years of damage and recovery are the story of a lifetime. The journey demanded much. Smarts – Luck – Drive. Severine has quite a story to tell.

We taste and talk about the Washington Edition series.

2024 Le Vieux Pin – Petit Blanc (chardonnay, viognier, sauvignon blanc, roussanne)

2024 Le Vieux Pin – Ava (53% roussanne, 46% viognier) Horse Heaven Hills. “familiar yet different.”

2024 La Stella LaStellina Rosato (Cab Franc/Merlot) Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills

2024 La Stella Leggiero Chardonnay. Red Mountain

www.levieuxpin.ca

www.lastella.ca

Grant Stanley – Winemaker and General Manager Spearhead Winery

Best performing small winery in Canada – Best Winery in Canada – 2024 Wine Align Nationals.

Grant is a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand.

Grant’s grown in Washington and Oregon, crafted in BC 2024 Spearhead wines are called Dual Citizen

When we last talked in February, the conversation was about winning both top awards at The Nationals and the loss of their prime vineyards that won those awards.

Grant brings the roller coaster stories of how, when and why Spearhead managed to find a way to celebrate the winning of top awards and surviving a historic loss. Back to back.

2024 Pinot Gris