Oliver Twist Estate Winery

Oliver Twist is winery in the south Okanagan – south of the town of Oliver, as the name suggests – that opened just at the end of April, 2007, launching with wines made from purchased grapes. The winery’s own year-old 17-acre vineyard is several seasons from yielding a commercial vintage.

For the owners, Bruce and Denice Hagerman, wine is only the latest career in lives filled with adventure and novelty. Native Albertans, they have been farmers, retailers, owners of a recreational vehicle park and have themselves travelled the continent in a motorhome. Just before moving to the Okanagan to be wine growers, they had lived in Palm Springs where Bruce was a policeman and then a locksmith. And the couple co-authored a hiking book. That rich background shows in their well-equipped winery, based on the former orchard they bought in 2002 and converted to vineyard last year.

Somewhat to their surprise – for the wine grape supply in the Okanagan is tight – the Hagermans were able to buy enough fruit last fall to hire a consulting winemaker and make 2,500 cases of wine, including Pinot Gris, one of the most popular varieties in the market. This wine, with green and blush glints, shows fresh, fruity aromas, flavours of green apples and peaches, and a juicy, mouthfilling texture. The finish is fresh and crisp. 88 points.

Reviewed May 29, 2007 by John Schreiner.