Born in Toronto, I grew up a hockey player. Having an early start in wine appreciation, training with my father at the dinner table, I developed an interest at a young age. In my teenage years, I moved down to the DC area where I later earned a degree in soil science from the University of Maryland. I worked my first harvest at the university’s research vineyard, which began my career in the wine industry. I spent years working and travelling the world to gain experience and develop a rich understanding of terroir-driven winemaking. Returning to Canada in 2017, I undertook a research-based master’s degree exploring the terroir of Niagara, focusing on the effects clone and rootstocks impart on wine quality of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. At the end of my studies, in 2019, I found the perfect job at Foxtrot Winery in Naramata. In my first season here, we designed our own research project, planting a vineyard of Pinot noir comparing own-rooted and grafted vines in several different soil types. I am very excited to be a part of the BC wine industry and to continue my learning on Canadian soil!

Foxtrot Winery Winemaker Andrea Barker – orchardandvine.net