Katrina D’Costa, Winemaker at Summerland’s Haywire Winery

O&V: How did you get started in the wine industry?

Katrina D’Costa: In 2014 I decided to take a leap and change my career. I started a tasting room position with two small wineries on the Naramata Bench and in one I found an amazing mentor that brought me out into the vineyard before and after my shifts, and taught me about winemaking and viticulture.

I fell in love with being out in the vineyard and working with the wine, but it took me a couple years to get my feet firmly planted in a cellar in the field, so I worked as a wine club and tasting room manager as well as social media and marketing manager to get to know as much of the ins and outs of a winery as possible.

O&V: Where did you go to school or apprentice?

Katrina: I was lucky enough to work for a small, family owned and operated winery on the Bench as their winemaker, under the consultation of winemaker Bradley Cooper, who was a wonderful mentor to me in my first two years in the cellar.

The following years of winemaking were filled with people who always made the time to work with me and teach me until I was able to develop my own style and confidence in the cellar and vineyard. Currently I am working under Matt Dumayne, who has helped me refine my style in organics and sustainable wine, along with Duncan Billing, who always has time to talk about new and interesting organic farming methods.

O&V: Have you worked in any other countries?

Katrina: Not yet. I will be heading to Japan this year to learn more about their wine industry and hopefully get to see something truly unique!

O&V: What is your favourite varietal to work with?

Katrina: I think Gamay is a beautiful grape, but my favorite is Cabernet Franc.

O&V: What is the best thing about your job?

Katrina: Honestly, there is very little I don’t love about my job. It encourages me to be out in nature and understand environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, and math but it also inspires creativity.

O&V: Is there a particular wine or vintage that you have made that you are most proud of?

Katrina: 2018 would have to be the year and vintage I was most proud of. It was the first vintage that I felt I crafted and grew that had my stamp on it, so to speak. The feeling of bottling that vintage was such a cool and exciting moment. 

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