South Okanagan winery scaling back in midst of overwhelming challenges
Oliver’s Covert Farms Family Estate has announced it will be largely scaling back its operations effective immediately.
Owners Shelly and Gene Covert said in a media release that after suffering through the COVID-19 pandemic then wildfires and highway closures this past summer, along with rising costs, it's no longer economically viable for the winery to continue operating the way it has.
"With my husband Gene and I now thinking about succession planning, and our children having decided to not take over the winery business, we have made the decision to scale back our operations," Shelly said in the release.
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Operations at the fourth-generation, family-run farm — that's been in operation for the last 65 years — are being cut effective today, Oct. 13. As a result, 17 seasonal employees will not be hired for next season. The winery will no longer be offering visitor experiences.
"My husband and I will continue to craft our estate, regeneratively-made wines, which can be purchased online and found at restaurants and retailers throughout BC and parts of Canada," Shelly said.
For wine club members, it's still business as usual.
“It's been our privilege to welcome locals and visitors from near and far to Covert Farm Family Estate over the past many years, and to share with you our love of regenerative farming and viticulture,” Shelly said.
“We plan to continue our commitment to sustainability in hopes of leaving this world a better place than we found it, and look forward to continuing to share our award-winning regeneratively-made wines with you.”
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