Matt has over a decade of experience working in various facets of the hospitality industry. He graduated from Fanshawe College with a diploma in Food and Beverage Management and a post-graduate certificate in Hospitality. Matt has gained intimate knowledge of the wines and wineries of the Okanagan Valley through a combination of six years of experience as a wine tour guide and by working in some of the valley’s best restaurants. He has the Sommelier Diploma certification through the International Sommelier Guild, is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and judges on the BC VQA wine panel. Matt has also put his skills to the test in competition, having placed second in Western Canada in the Wines of South Africa Sommelier World Cup in the spring of 2013 and winning the Iron Sommelier Okanagan Competition in the Spring of 2015.

Shannon is a passionate hospitality professional. After graduating from Fanshawe College with a diploma in Travel and Tourism and a post graduate certificate in Hospitality, she began her career as a travel agent in Toronto. Shannon’s experience led her to travel throughout Canada and Australia, bartending and serving at many high-end establishments along her travels. Shannon’s career path progressed into event planning and co-ordination, working as a catering and event coordinator for a prominent local winery. She has also studied wine with the International Sommelier Guild and Wine and Spirits Education Trust.