It was inevitable Manpreet Dhaliwal would one day be fully integrated into the family business.
She worked as a nurse for five years and had a baking hustle called Sugar Therapy.
But, all the while, she would help out every summer in the tasting room and restaurant at Kismet Estate Winery in Oliver.
Kismet, which means destiny or fate in Punjabi, is part of the Okanagan wine and grape empire built by Manpreet's dad, Sukhi Dhaliwal, and his brother, Balwinder Dhaliwal.
The Dhaliwal name is well known in the Okanagan, not just for Kismet Winery and its innovative Indian restaurant, Manzil, but for the 600 acres of vineyards the brothers manage.
They've supplied grapes to such industry giants as Peller (Gray Monk, Sandhill, Wayne Gretzky, Tinhorn Creek, Red Rooster and Black Hills), Arterra (Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Nk'Mip, See Ya Later Ranch, Black Sage and Sumac Ridge) and Hester Creek.
In 2022, when there was a bumper crop of grapes, it was all hands on deck and Manpreet was pulled into the cellar to help Kismet's winemaker at the time, her other uncle, Dapinder Dhaliwal.
"That's when I fell in love with winemaking and I learned everything I could from my uncle," said Manpreet.
"Winemaking actually brings together the best of both worlds of my passions -- the science of nursing and the creativity of baking and cooking."
In 2023, when her uncle went back to his accounting practice, Manpreet took over as winemaker at Kismet.
It wasn't just a big deal for the family, but for the wine industry.
At just 26-years-old, Manpreet became the first and only South Asian female winemaker in Canada.
"I'm part of the family's legacy, but I'm also forging my own path," said Manpreet.
"As a South Asian woman winemaker I have no role models to look up to in Canada. But, there are some male South Asian winemakers in the Okanagan."
Namely, her uncle, Dapinder Dhaliwal, who she succeeded, Karnail Singh Sidhu at Kalala and Little Straw wineries in West Kelowna and Rajen Toor at Ursa Major Winery in Oliver.
Manpreet also looks up to other women winemakers in the South Okanagan who have reached out to her offering help and encouragement -- Lynzee Schatz at Chronos and Time wineries in Penticton, Severine Pinte from Le Vieux Pin and LaStella wineries in Oliver and Catherine Coulombe at vinAmite, also in Oliver.
Manpreet's mentor is Bertus Albertyn, a South African who's been in the Okanagan for 20 years and founded Maverick Winery in Oliver and now works as a consultant who helps out at Kismet.
Besides her practical learning in the cellar at Kismet, Manpreet has earned the Level 3 Award in Wines from WSET (the Wine & Spirits Education Trust) and is registered to take the winemaking certificate program with University of California, Davis.
Being a young woman and being Punjabi are both playing into Manpreet's winemaking style.
"I was brought up to enjoy bold flavours and robust aromas and I bring that to the wines I make," she said.
"I'm also embracing innovation and using both science and creativity to make fresh and contemporary wines."
For instance, the 2023 Kismet Pinot Grigio that was part of her first vintage of wines is not a conventional Pinot Grigio.
"I made it in a lighter and fresher style and added a slight effervescence," she explained.
The new direction paid off.
Wine drinkers love it and it garnered big-time industry recognition, winning a double-gold medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships.
The 2023 Kamal Rose (named after the Punjabi word for lotus flower) picked up a silver medal at the same championships.
Manpreet also made two other wines from the 2023 vintage -- Infinity Rose and Safed, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Orange Muscat named after the Punjabi word for white or clear.
The January 2024 deep freeze killed most of the buds on grape vines, meaning the fall 2024 grape harvest was scant.
The Dhaliwals managed to harvest 40 tons of grapes from their 600 acres. (Usually, the yield would be 2,700 tons).
"It's not much, but it's better than nothing, so we are grateful," said Manpreet.
"We kept the entire 40 tons for Kismet and I've made three wines that will be bottled on Feb. 28."
Those three are a bold red blend called Mantra, a sparkling called Sitara (star in Punjabi) and another Rose called Phulkari (the Punjabi word for floral patchwork).
The public is invited on Feb. 28 at 1 pm for a Bottling Day Winery Tour to meet Manpreet, get a behind-the-scenes tour and taste wines.
The event is free for Kismet's Devotion Club members or $15 for non-members.
Book here: https://www.kismetestatewinery.com/product/behind-the-scenes-bottling-day-tour
If you want to become a Devotion Club member, it's free to join and then you have the chance to buy a fully customizable case of wine twice a year.
Other perks of membership include 15% off all wines, free shipping, exclusive tastings, winery tours, VIP gazebo reservations and access to the sold-out vintages of the Library Collection.
"My future plans are to be a winemaker with the family long-term," said Manpreet.
"The goal of me and my sister (Neelam, who is winery general manager) is to take Kismet to the next level, carrying on the family legacy and bringing greater recognition to Okanagan wines."
The January 2024 freeze killed about 60% of the vineyards that the Dhaliwals manage.
So, that means dead vines were pulled out and replanting happened in a restructured way to match certain varietals to certain sites for future reliliency.
As such, it's a period of rebuilding and it's still too early to predict how many grapes will be harvested in the fall of this year.
