Pinup Perfection: Gina Fernandes Harfman Rocks Nostalgia WinesGina Fernandes Harfman's Nostalgia Wines is a testament to how personal history and artistic vision can transform a family farm into an award-winning winery, establishing her firmly as a leading voice among the women in wine in Canada. Her grace, empathy and solutions over ego style of leadership sets her apart creating a culture at Nostalgia wines, that values guests and employees alike.  Meet Gina Fernandes Harfman, woman in charge at Nostalgia Wines The Black Sage Bench south of Oliver, BC, is renowned for producing Canada's finest red grapes. It's also home to Nostalgia Wines and the remarkable woman who redefined it - Gina Fernandes Harfman. Gina is owner, winemaker, and fourth-generation South Okanagan farmer. She has blended her love for kustom culture art and a family farming legacy, to create one of the valley's most interesting and distinctive wineries. Nostalgia Wines demonstrates the power of a woman-owned and operated venture with vision and drive to make it happen. And just for the record, Gina shows up with a smile, tackling operational challenges and her guest experiences with the same incredible demeanor - that of a seasoned, elegant host. Nothing ruffles her composure. Hidden Gem Backstory Food Truck at the Vineyard August's "Comedy Night" at Nostalgia Wines was facing a logistics challenge, but Gina’s effortless intervention showcased the style of leadership the world desperately needs. When circumstances for the "food truck" turned from ease to panic, Gina provided support, listening and then presenting a few concrete, actionable options - from power solutions to logistical pivots - that gave the operator space and ease to solve the problem. This grace, empathy and solutions over ego style of leadership is what Gina brings to the table and sets her and the culture at Nostalgia wines, apart. Gina’s background is rooted in tradition, from Canadian/Portuguese heritage. Her family's culture and connection to the land gave her conviction that wine is about creating lasting memories and meaningful moments. Yet, her path wasn't exclusively agricultural. Gina first trained in Fine Arts, specializing in pinstriping and airbrushing classic cars and motorcycles. If you were wondering the source of the brand's unique identity, wonder no more. The vibrant pin-up girl logo isn't a marketing gimmick; it's Gina’s signature style. She approaches winemaking as "more of an art than a science," constantly blending her creativity with experimentation until the final product is perfect. You might say it's a business philosophy that suits wine and life.  Meet Rachel Rogers, a key figure at Nostalgia Wines Originally founded as Oliver Twist Estate Winery, Gina took the significant step of reimagining and rebranding the winery as Nostalgia Wines in 2021 to fully reflect her vision and passion. She built her unique brand while raising her two children, a dedication that required performing cellar work with her kids in a carrier. Her commitment to excellence is proven by the incredible 2024 performance: Nostalgia Wines was recognized by WineAlign as the #3 Top 10 Small Winery, the #5 Top 10 BC Winery, and the #7 Top 25 Winery in Canada. She's quick to point out that her dedicated team, including Sales and Marketing Manager Rachel Rogers and her husband Jack, play a role in her success. Innovation & Sustainability at Nostalgia WinesGina crafts her small-lot wines from 14.5 acres of estate vineyard plus a few select partner growers on the celebrated Black Sage Bench. The vineyard offers ideal conditions for the 10 varieties grown, including the aromatic "old vines" Kerner. Black Sage Bench is known for being the hottest and driest area in Canada with scant rainfall. The soils are largely sandy and poor which suits Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Malbec just fine. Cool nights help to retain acidity giving wines from this area the signature freshness that is essential to balance and age-ability. Under Gina’s leadership adopting new technologies has made its mark. The winery adopted the sustainable screw top closure ("Oliver twist") early on and it's now broadly accepted in BC and around the world. In difficult vintages, she also ensures quality wines. For example, the challenging fires in the 2021 vintage brought smoke to the vineyards. The team employed carbon fining to effectively mitigate smoke taint on the Estate Syrah, preserving the wine's character and reducing production losses. Most recently, demonstrating a constant commitment to vineyard health, a cost-effective electric Frost Fan was retrofitted by Vintage Iron and installed in the vineyard to mitigate the cold air settling, which poses a crucial defense against the "death threat" frost poses to vines, as seen in recent years. The 3 Tiers of Award Winning Nostalgia WineGina categorizes her small-lot wines into three distinct series, each reflecting a facet of her artistic side and her farming family identity. For a list of all Wine Align wine awards follow the link here.  1. The Pin-Up Series: Locally Sourced Joy This series focuses on fun, approachable, and experimental blends, featuring the signature retro labels by artist Ralph Burch. The award winning 2022 Rockabilly Red ($32) well structured, aromas and flavours of dark black and red fruit, beautifully balanced acidity, and a satisfying, lingering finish. Bargain at this price not to mention it was awarded Gold at the 2024 Wine Align Wine Awards. Blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon (Harfman Vineyard, Osoyoos), 26% Merlot (Home Vineyard, Oliver), 23% Syrah (17% Home Vineyard and 6% East Bench Osoyoos), 10% Cabernet Franc (Montalvino Border Vineyard, Osoyoos), 5% Malbec (Gablemann Vineyard, Oliver). 13.5% abv. 367 cases.  2. The Nostalgia Series: Terroir in Every Vintage The 2022 Rosé ($32) is a powerful, food-friendly wine. It is sold out now but 2025 (release spring 2026) is highly anticipated. Blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 9% Cab Franc, 6% Malbec 13.6% abv. 270 cases.  3. Nostalgia's Family Collection: Small Batch, Ageworthy Wines While most of the wines under this label are red I was fortunate enough to taste the 2022 Chardonnay with 13 months of barrel age and it is fantastic. At $38 a bottle, you should stock up as supplies won't last. Awarded Silver at the 2024 Wine Align Wine Awards. 13% abv. 104 cases produced. ConclusionWhen "Black Sage Bench" is mentioned in wine circles, many may not think of Nostalgia Wines. But this is changing. Gina Fernandes Harfman's Nostalgia Wines is a testament to how personal history and artistic vision can transform a family farm into an award-winning winery, establishing her firmly as a leading voice among the women in wine in Canada. If you have not visited, what are you waiting for? While popular releases like the Rosé may be sold out until the next vintage, there are plenty of award winning red and white wines to fit into your holiday plans. Nostalgia Wines are available online (winery), at Save-On Foods Wine shops, Legacy Liquor Store and fine private liquor stores in the province. Cheers to our local wine industry and to women in wine. If you like this story please share with your wine loving community. #supportlocal How to Follow Nostalgia Wines
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December 2025
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Photos from Magnus Reuterdahl, wuestenigel, Fareham Wine