In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
What is your name?
Matt Wentzell.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I'm originally from Markham, Ontario, but I moved to Kelowna nine years ago.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My wife, Shannon, and my three little ones, my son Cooper and twin baby girls Madeleine and Mackenzie.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I love to travel, eat and drink! I think if I could go anywhere right now, it would be to the Piedmont region in Italy. I’d go in the fall with my wife to drink great wine, eat white truffles and visit some fantastic vineyards.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
The Kelowna Farmer’s Market! So many fantastic local producers in one place! I also love Old Meadows Organic Farm. Mosaic books is rad too! Sorry, was I supposed to pick one?
What is your favourite activity?
Other than wine touring? Golfing, snowboarding, hanging out at the lake and long walks with my family.
If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
That’s like asking me to choose a favourite child!
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Does anyone answer this one? Haha, no comment.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
A few years ago I had the opportunity to tour the Okanagan with Karen MacNeil. She’s a Napa Valley-based wine writer and the author of 'The Wine Bible'. It was amazing to show her around the Okanagan to some of my favourite wineries and restaurants. She was really impressed! It was incredible to hear her insights and tasting notes about our wines and to hear her story about how she became one of the world’s most influential wine writers.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Spending summers in Nova Scotia with my grandparents in the Annapolis Valley.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Pretty much all my time is taken up by running our business and taking care of my young family, but I’m proud to donate to many amazing local charities and events. We really love working with Balding for Dollars, which just happened on April 21st. All of the proceeds of this event go towards the KGH foundation and the BC Children’s Hospital.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
People would drink more BC wine and less Apothic.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Sharing a great meal with some fantastic wine and beers on a summer evening, doesn’t get much better than that!
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Solo hikes up Knox mountain are my jam.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Living downtown and having a business that provides transportation, I would love to see more coordination of traffic lights!
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It’s hard to find such a perfect four-season place anywhere else in the world. It’s cool living where people go on vacation!
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) I love to travel! Italy, Spain and New Zealand are all on the list
2) Drink Bordeaux from my birth year, 1982
3) Heli-snowboarding
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I’m working on starting a brewery here in town, stay tuned!
What is the name of your business/organization?
Experience Wine Tours.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I love wine and I love the Okanagan. It’s really cool to be an ambassador of the valley and its wine and food! Starting our business happened really organically. I was working for another tour company and at great restaurants while working towards my sommelier diploma. At the same time, my wife Shannon was working as a wedding coordinator at an extremely busy winery. She learned the back-end sales side of the business while I was learning the front-end and meeting key contacts at the wineries. It made sense to start a business of our own. It is really rewarding for us to make a living doing something we love so much, it doesn’t feel like work at all.
What is the goal of your business?
Our goal is to offer the best wine touring experience in the Okanagan Valley. We treat our guests like we would treat our friends that visit the valley. We are passionate about showcasing the very best wines and food products our valley has to offer. Hopefully that comes across to our guests.
What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
It is so important to have a work/life balance! It can be hard to do, especially with three kids and a home-based business.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I would do it all the exact same!
What do you always find yourself saying?
I wish there were more hours in the day!
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world, who would you select?
My father-in-law, John Hillery. He passed away in 2010 and was a mentor of mine both in business and in life. I would love for him to meet his grandchildren.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
We need to keep Kelowna’s economy strong. We have an amazing array of locally available food products and if we want to keep our farmers, we need to make sure that what they are doing is financially sustainable for them. Eat local food!
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
The birth of my children.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Grant Biggs. He’s a great buddy of mine who’s followed his passion and is killing it! He’s the winemaker up at Kitsch Wines.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Grant Biggs from Kitsch Wines.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna.
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