Rooted Here: Women Shaping Canadian Vineyards and Three BC Wines They Love
In late spring mornings, vineyards are quiet. Rows stretch into the pale light. Meadowlarks lift from fence posts. Above ground, the vines are stirring, buds bursting, last season’s growth tied neatly along the trellis. Below ground, the roots are active, drawing energy from warming soils as the leaves unfurl.
This year it feels especially fitting to turn our attention to the women who shape Canadian wine from the ground up.
Viticulture is patient work. It is pruning in February wind and watching for frost in April. It is knowing exactly when a block needs water, and when it needs restraint, reading a slope the way others read a book.
Across Canada’s wine regions, women viticulturists steward some of our most distinctive vineyards. Walk alongside them and the work reveals itself as both intimate and precarious, shaped by nature and timing beyond anyone’s control.
Meet three women helping steward vineyards across three distinct Canadian regions , and the wines they recommend this season.
Watching Life Return at Stag’s Hollow Winery
Photo: Stag’s Hollow Winery
For Keira LeFranc, Winemaker and Director of Operations at Stag’s Hollow Winery, the past few years have reinforced one of farming’s most enduring lessons: patience.
Stag’s Hollow’s Chardonnay block was planted in 2023, then replanted in 2024 following the extreme cold event that affected vineyards across British Columbia.
“Seeing life returning to that block has been incredibly encouraging,” says LeFranc. “This year we’re expecting the first small crop from those vines, which feels like an important milestone after the challenges of the past few seasons.”
Farming in the Okanagan Valley means adapting to variability. BC has a unique combination of extreme heat and cold that results in intense fruit-driven, fresh and structured wines.
“Over time you learn that the goal isn’t to fight conditions but to work with them,” says LeFranc. “Adjusting farming practices, choosing varieties carefully, and responding to what the vineyard is telling you each season.”
Photo: Keira LeFranc of Stag’s Hollow Winery
Keira’s Summer Pick – 2025 Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard Albariño
LeFranc’s favourite summer wine is a vibrant Albariño layered with aromas of ripe stone fruit, lemon curd, pineapple, mango, grapefruit, and honey. Bright acidity balances the rich texture and mineral finish.
“What I love most about Albariño is the contrast it delivers,” she says. “It’s vibrant and mouth-watering with its high acidity and signature salinity, yet beautifully layered and textural.”
Pair with seared scallops from our Wines of BC perfect pairing recipe.
Reading the Landscape At Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Photo: Blue Grouse Estate Winery
At Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the Cowichan Valley, Adele McConnell’s favourite place isn’t defined by the vines at all. Her vineyard borders Patrolas Creek, a ten-acre riparian reserve that winds through the property, creating habitat for native plants, birds, and amphibians.
“I grew up being drawn to nature, so the areas of our vineyard that border Patrolas Creek are particularly special,” says McConnell. “Every season has something magical happening.”
For McConnell, vineyard management is inseparable from stewardship. “Our proximity to the ocean both insulates our vineyards in the winter and cools them in the summer,” she says. “Each vineyard has its own unique personality which requires us to watch carefully and learn to adapt to the needs of each site.”
McConnell’s grandmother farmed a 60-hectare homestead in the Sumas Valley, a legacy that continues to influence her own approach to agriculture.
“I am proud to continue this farming role and to be a part of such a diverse, skilled global community of women farmers,” she says.
Photo: Adele McConnell of Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Adele’s Summer Pick – 2024 Blue Grouse Pinot Gris
McConnell’s seasonal favourite comes from some of British Columbia’s oldest Pinot Gris vines, originally planted in 1990. The wine offers aromas of white flowers, citrus, and melon, with orchard fruit flavours and bright acidity.
“Our Pinot Gris from the original vineyard plantings by Blue Grouse’s founder, Hans Kiltz, is a special site,” says McConnell. “Its age offers perspective.”
Pair with local oysters on the half shell or Cowichan Bay spot prawns from our Wines of BC perfect pairing recipe.
Scouting for What’s Next with Tawse Family Vineyards
As Vineyard Manager at Tawse Family Vineyards and Ontario’s 2025 Grape King, Augusta Van Muyen spends much of her time looking ahead.
Each day begins in the vineyard. “My favourite time is first thing in the morning,” she says. “Often the sun is just coming up and I take my coffee to begin scouting the fields.”
Her morning walks are part of managing a certified organic vineyard, where keen observation is invaluable.
“The faster you can catch or anticipate a problem, the easier it is to solve,” she says.
When Van Muyen reflects on the International Year of the Woman Farmer, her attention turns beyond the vineyard. “This year makes me think of the women I’ve worked alongside who inspired me, and all those behind the scenes who support us as farmers and make what we do possible.”
As one of Canada’s most visible vineyard leaders, she hopes more young women will see a future for themselves in agriculture.
“Looking forward, I see a need to encourage young women in all aspects of farming,” she says. “Not just in the field, but in mechanics, marketing, advocacy and in so many more ways.”
Photo: Augusta Van Muyen of Tawse Family Vineyards
Curious to experience BC wine at its source, Augusta recently toured vineyards across the Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley, meeting the people behind the wines and gaining a firsthand appreciation for the regions, landscapes, and terroirs that make BC so unique.
Augusta’s Summer Pick – 2025 Tantalus Vineyards Rosé
With vibrant notes of pink grapefruit, strawberry, and raspberry, this dry rosé is lifted by bright acidity and layers of watermelon, tart plum, and a hint of red liquorice on the finish.
“There is nothing better than a refreshing glass of rose in the sun,” says Van Muyen.
Pair with fresh BC salmon from our Wines of BC perfect pairing.
Rooted Here
Together, we celebrate women whose work happens behind the scenes, but whose influence can be found everywhere, measured in healthy vines, thriving ecosystems, resilient farms, and future generations of growers.
This season, seek out the stories alongside their wines. Every bottle begins long before harvest, shaped by people whose work is rooted in patience and an enduring faith in what next season can bring.