The winery which produced the top rated wine at the Summerland Wine Fair earlier this month is also producing more wine than ever before.
Judi Skinner, sales and marketing manager at Dirty Laundry Vineyard, said the vineyard has been expanding.
Last year, it produced 13,500 cases of wine; this year that figure is expected to reach 16,500 cases. In 2006, the vineyard produced just 2,000 cases.
The winery recently purchased six new tanks from Italy and a Velvet 80 wine press, the largest in the area.
“This time, I attribute our success to better, more sophisticated equipment,” Skinner said.
While the quantity has been increasing, she said the vineyard continues to focus on producing high quality wines.
“Even though we’re getting bigger, we want to make sure the quality’s good,” she said.
At the Second Annual Remax Orchard Country Wine Fair earlier this month, the winery won gold and best in show for its 2011 Kay-Syrah, a 2011 blended red.
The winery also won gold for its 2011 Hush Blush Rose and silver for its 2011 Merlot, a single varietal red.
“To win best of show for a new red, that’s huge for us,” Skinner said.
The judges at the Summerland wine fair are among the most knowledgeable in the business.
Skinner said the awards are impressive since the vineyard is now receiving accolades for its red wines. In the past, it has won for its white wines.