Faces of Kelowna: Winemaking

Faces of Kelowna was created to provide a connection between business owners and consumers, offering a deeper look into what makes them unique and recognized in their sectors. Over the next few months, expect to see 20 different entrepreneurs and community business leaders sharing their stories of business in Kelowna. We hope after reading about all of this year's Faces of Kelowna, you feel more connected to our community and the businesses that help it thrive.

What is the Okanagan Valley best known for? Incredible wine is definitely a contender.

Sandhill is a long-standing winery in Kelowna, with a history as rich and flavourful as its terroir-driven wines and a winemaker who is committed to her craft and continues to make waves in the industry.

Whether you’ve purchased a bottle to sip at home, enjoyed a glass at a local restaurant or visited the lively urban winery for some live music and happy hour drinks, there’s a good chance that Sandhill’s BC VQA wines have entered your life at some point.

First created in 1997, Sandhill was built on a premise to designate specific vineyards in different parts of the Valley, and then use non-interventionist processes to create the wines in order to showcase the influence that the terroir has on each variety.

Every Sandhill wine is made from grapes that come from one or a combination of their five vineyards.

This approach is still used today by Sandy Leier, who joined the Sandhill Winery family in 2006, working on popular portfolios like Wayne Gretzky Okanagan and Calona Vineyards before becoming Sandhill’s lead winemaker in 2017.

While Sandy’s winemaking style remains true to the winery’s original vision, there is still plenty of room for innovation.

Sandy’s wines have received a number of awards, among them the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence and Gold at the Syrah du Monde in France.

Sandy’s newly released 2018 Sandhill Rose has received a Gold Medal at the BC Best of Varietal Wine Award 2019.

You may see Sandy serving up tastings at the urban winery in downtown Kelowna or at local events, but much of her time is spent studying her craft, visiting the vineyards and even traveling the world in search of new knowledge and ideas.

“The best part of my job is always being challenged. There are new challenges every year because we rely on mother nature, and mother nature is unpredictable,” said Sandy. “I’m never bored!”

Something else that makes Sandhill unique is its long history in the Valley and close relationships with growers, many whom they’ve worked with since the beginning.

“The roots are deep, and our winery has built long-term relationships with all the growers we work with, so the fruit we get is some of the best in the Valley,” said Sandy.

“The growers are so passionate and they like working with us, and we love working with them, so it’s a win-win.”

“I love exploring the unique properties and diverse microclimates of each of Sandhill’s vineyard sites and celebrating those differences in the wines,” added Sandy. “I am truly honoured to be part of Sandhill’s inimitable legacy as a pioneering Okanagan winery.”

www.sandhillwines.ca

All photography taken by NowMedia. Makeup provided by Jenny McKinney

Check out the rest of this year's Faces of Kelowna on our online publication page!