We take wines seriously, but not ourselves.

Alistair Veen

Alistair’s first foray into hospitality at the age of 15 ended up as his lifelong calling. Great wine and amazing food have guided him around the world whether it is for work or for play. Alistair trained as a chef and achieved his Red Seal in 2006, opened his restaurant in 2007 and does his best to delight guests every chance he has to be in service. As a sommelier, Alistair ascended to the height of Best Sommelier in BC in 2016 and went as far as taking the Master Sommelier Exam in 2019. (He has to do that again BTW)

He joined the team at JoieFarm in August 2021 as a partner and looks forward to every chance he has to be in the vineyards. He is married to the love of his life, Aron, and has two amazing young children, Alex and Emily. His Siamese cat Montrachet would beg to differ over the children being amazing.

BJ Tumanut

BJ came to JoieFarm by way of Kansas City, Red Deer, and somewhere along the road, a luxury chocolate shop — proof that she has always been drawn to things made with care and meant to be shared. Her path through wine, hospitality, and food eventually landed her on the Naramata Bench, where she’s been the heartbeat of JoieFarm’s day-to-day for nearly a decade.

As General Manager, BJ’s focus is on the people and conditions that make great work possible — clearing obstacles, connecting the dots, and making sure the team has everything they need to bring the owners’ vision to life. She leads with the same conviction she’s voiced since day one: that joy isn’t just a name. It’s a standard. “It’s really the quality of every interaction we have with people that best represents our culture,” she says. “Joy is more than positivity. It’s a key ingredient in who we are.” Born and raised in Kansas City, BJ brings a Midwestern warmth and directness to everything she does — and she’ll be the first to tell you that the best moments in wine country are always the ones shared around a table.

Richard Charnock

As a carpenter in Toronto, Richard knew he wanted to do something other than renovate old homes. In 2008, opportunity knocked when his cousin introduced him to an up-and-coming winery in Ontario’s Prince Edward County. Richard jumped at the opportunity to combine a passion for wine (developed through family dinners where wine played a leading role) with a career and has never looked back. Having spent the better part of a decade in cellars producing cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aromatics in Prince Edward County, New Zealand, South Africa and Tasmania, Richard wanted to round out his experience by getting closer to the grapes. In 2015 he moved to the Okanagan, took the viticulture course at Okanagan College and hopped on a tractor to live out his goal of combining cool climate viticulture and low intervention winemaking. Richard joined JoieFarm in 2022 and is now the custodian of our vineyards and winery.

Karl Duda

Karl is a lifelong resident of the Okanagan Valley with a deep respect for what the area has to offer. Growing up on a farm in Okanagan Falls afforded him plenty of opportunity to roam the hills and valleys of the region and he will never get tired of our pine forests, lakes, grasslands and mountains. In his youth he would often ride his bicycle out of necessity but that grew into a passion that turned into a career. He spent many years riding, racing, fixing and selling bicycles before a return to the wine industry.

Karl started at Joie in 2014 and has grown his skills over the years. We can thank him for maintaining our house style of fresh, juicy, yet complex wines. The logistics and on-the-spot problem solving combined with the creativity of working with what nature gives you each year is what he loves about this work. Plus he gets to ride his bike to work!

Olivia Guerino

Having grown up on an orchard in the Similkameen Valley, Olivia has an appreciation for nature and this beautiful countryside. After moving away to explore other interests in Nelson, Vancouver, and Austria, she kept being called back to the Okanagan, until 2024 when she and her family made Penticton their home.

Now part of the JoieFarm family, Olivia brings a diverse professional background to the team. Before transitioning to wine, she spent over a decade in the music industry in a gamut of different roles, ranging from being on stage performing, to managing artists’ tours and album releases, as well as festival coordination.  She recently shifted into the wine world and she has been hooked ever since.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the world, spending time with her husband and two children, playing board games and sports, volunteering in the community and connecting with people!

Zach Wheeler

Zach is “Mr. Naramata” (he even has the sash to prove it). No one embodies the area – or relishes in it – as much as he does. Zach has crafted a life for himself that blends a love for the wine industry and refined tastes with adventure and outdoor exploration. When he’s not busy engaging with visitors in the tasting room or assisting in the production process at harvest, Zach immerses himself in the wilderness. One of his favourite pastimes is exploring new roads on his gravel bike. He finds solace in the simplicity of pedaling through scenic landscapes, discovering hidden gems, and uncovering the beauty of the Okanagan. This adventurous spirit also extends into the backcountry where Zach hunts big old mule deer and mature black bears, forging a deep connection with nature and an appreciation for the wildlife.

Stephanie Madryga

Originally from Edmonton, Steph brings a diverse background to the winery, combining a passion for education, science, food, and wine. After spending 11 years as a teacher, Steph transitioned into the world of wine, where she has found a perfect blend of her interests. Having worked in the tasting room during the summer of 2023, she quickly fell in love with the dynamic world of wine. Today, Steph works across multiple areas including the wine club, marketing, and inventory management.

With degrees in both Education and Science, Steph is always eager to learn, explore, and connect with others through the shared experience of wine and food. Outside of the winery, she is an avid fan of cooking and experimenting with new recipes—especially when it comes to baking! A lover of spending time outside in the sunshine, Steph enjoys travelling with her husband Aaron and spending time with their dog, Baxter. She is also an experienced tap and contemporary dancer, and has recently taken hip hop classes to gain some street cred. 

Kyle Clausius

Hailing from Huron County, Ontario, Kyle came to JoieFarm after spending the majority of 2025 in Arctic Norway working as a sommelier and farm hand at Kvitnes Gård, a fine dining and agricultural destination. With a desire to continue working with a passionate team in a creative and intensive seasonally driven environment, the Joie Family is the perfect fit after a return to home soil. Through years working in hospitality, Kyle has sought to share and inspire a passion for wine in others. After dipping his toes in wine production during the 2024 harvest season in Niagara, he is excited to learn from Richard and Karl in both the Joie cellar and the vineyards.

Outside of work, Kyle can be found with his beloved Sarah, exploring new restaurants and cafés together, or catching their favourite bands live. With a shared love of the outdoors, they’re thrilled to discover their new home in the Okanagan through hiking, camping and climbing.

Erin Blain

Originally from Calgary, Erin moved to Penticton “sight unseen” right after graduating high school and never looked back! She has been in the Okanagan wine industry for over a decade and has had the opportunity to work in all areas. From harvest to events & tasting room to her current role as Accounting Manager, she has done it all!

Living in the beautiful Okanagan Valley is the perfect complement to Erin’s passions and lifestyle. She embraces every chance she gets to explore the outdoors- whether it’s hiking, paddleboarding, or simply enjoying a glass of wine and with a view. When she’s not enjoying all the Okanagan has to offer, you can find Erin travelling around the world or enjoying time at home with her family and two loyal companions, George & Larry.

Kevin Rossion

For Kevin Rossion, wine starts with farming.

Born in Belgium and shaped by years of travel throughout Europe, Kevin eventually found his home in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where he built a life rooted in vineyards, agriculture, and family. Since arriving in the valley in 2008, he has spent his career immersed in the craft of growing grapes — learning every corner of vineyard work from the ground up and developing a reputation for thoughtful farming and meticulous vineyard management.

Kevin believes the best wines come from healthy, living vineyards. His approach combines sustainable and organic-minded farming with minimal intervention in the winery, allowing each site and vintage to speak honestly for itself.

Over the years, Kevin has overseen vineyard projects throughout the South Okanagan, managed complex farming operations, and helped shape vineyards focused on quality and long-term sustainability. He is also the co-founder and winemaker behind Plot Wines, a small Okanagan label dedicated to expressive, low-intervention wines sourced from some of the valley’s most exciting vineyard sites.

At JoieFarm, Kevin brings together old-world perspective, modern viticulture, and a deep respect for the land. His passion lies in crafting wines that feel alive, energetic, and connected to the people and places behind them.

Above all, Kevin sees wine as something meant to bring people together — around tables, stories, food, and memorable moments.

Barney

Hazel

Nelson

Ozzie

Kylo

Larry and George