Our BC Winemaker
Wayne Gretzky Estates, British Columbia
Sydney Valentino was named the head wine maker for Wayne Gretzky Okanagan in 2019 but has been working closely with the winemaking team in Kelowna for over 10 years. She was previously the head wine maker for the Conviction Wines portfolio. Sydney was born in Winnipeg and raised in Kelowna. She has degrees in Chemistry and Teaching from UBC and studied wine making at Okanagan College in Penticton. She is proud to be the third in the line of female-only winemaker to take the helm of the Gretzky Okanagan Winemaking team – (Fun fact – the Gretzky Okanagan wines have only had female winemakers to date!). She has been inspired by some of the Okanagan’s leading wine pioneers - including working with Howard Soon for 5 years before his retirement.