Sometimes life's biggest changes happen all at once. For Petar Djuric, the past few months have brought a new role at one of the South Okanagan's emerging wineries, a growing family and a chance to help build something from the ground up. Somewhere in the middle of it all, Bean, the family dog, has become a regular fixture at work, happily trading city life for vineyard views and cellar adventures. It's a long way from where Petar's journey began.
Originally from Toronto, he spent nearly two decades building a career in hospitality. Starting as a dishwasher in a restaurant where he met his wife Lauren, Petar worked his way through nearly every role imaginable, eventually becoming a sommelier and restaurant leader. Along the way, a mentor introduced him to the world of wine, sparking a passion that would ultimately change the course of his life. Then came COVID.
Like many people, the uncertainty of the pandemic prompted Petar and Lauren to rethink what they wanted their future to look like. The answer led them west to the South Okanagan, where opportunity, community and a different pace of life were waiting.
"I came here to be part of winemaking," Petar says.
Over the past five years, he has immersed himself in the craft, learning from respected mentors, working harvests throughout the Okanagan and even travelling to Chile to gain international experience. While many winemakers follow a traditional educational path, Petar's journey has been shaped largely through hands-on learning, curiosity and a willingness to ask questions.
Today, that journey has brought him to Vasanti Estate Winery in Oliver. The winery itself is built on a story of family and legacy. For more than 30 years, the family behind Vasanti has grown fruit in the South Okanagan and was among the region's early grape growers. More recently, the family's three sons came together to launch a winery that would help preserve their agricultural roots while creating something new for future generations. Fittingly, the name Vasanti means "new beginnings." Those values immediately resonated with Petar.
"There is something special about being on the ground floor and helping shape what comes next," he says. Part of that excitement comes from the opportunity to help define what Vasanti's wines will become. Rather than looking to famous wine regions like Napa Valley or Bordeaux for inspiration, Petar is focused on something much closer to home: showcasing the character of the South Okanagan itself.
"What makes this place unique?" is a question he often finds himself asking.
His goal is to create wines that reflect the vineyards they come from, allowing the fruit and the land to speak for themselves. It's a philosophy rooted in restraint, with a hands-off approach that lets the quality of the grapes shine through in every bottle. That approach feels particularly fitting at Vasanti, where generations of farming knowledge have laid the foundation long before the winery opened its doors.
As he prepares for his first harvest with the winery, Petar is helping establish systems, bring in equipment and refine a winemaking style that reflects both the vineyard and the region. One variety he's especially excited about is Gamay, a grape he believes has tremendous potential in the South Okanagan.
"I think it's going to become a bigger part of the conversation in the years ahead," he says.
While much of his work takes place behind the scenes in the cellar, visitors may still catch him in the tasting room from time to time. After all, hospitality remains a big part of who he is. Having spent years connecting with guests in restaurants, he still enjoys sharing stories, answering questions and helping create memorable experiences for visitors. And if you're lucky, you'll likely meet Bean too.
The family dog often accompanies Petar to work, wandering between the cellar and tasting room while keeping him company throughout the day. With Petar and Lauren recently welcoming their first daughter, Bean has embraced winery life as part of her own new routine.
"She was our first child," Petar jokes. These days, life is busy, but it's exactly the kind of life he hoped to build when he left Toronto behind. Between a growing family, a supportive wine community and the opportunity to help shape a young winery's future, Petar has found both purpose and place in the South Okanagan. For him, this isn't simply another job.
It's the chance to build something meaningful, one harvest at a time.
