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Our People

Steven French
Proprietor

An inherent entrepreneur, Steven’s career began after graduating from the University of Western Ontario. An ownership and executive career in Oil and Gas focused on Marketing and Business Development eventually allowed him to establish Little Engine.

Nicole French
Proprietor

Coming from a lineage of entrepreneurs. Nicole began her career in Education after receiving degrees from UWO and the University of Calgary. Her career after teaching led to Real Estate Design & Development and Brand Marketing.

Scott Robinson
Winemaker

Scott holds a masters in Oenology with Distinction from the University of Adelaide. He has been with Little Engine since the beginning, after growing his skills in New Zealand, Australia and the Okanagan.

Matt Rademakers
Viticulture Manager

Matt's viticulture career began in 2003 in Wanaka, New Zealand. Arriving in Canada the following year he worked throughout the Okanagan and Vancouver Island before calling the bench his home and completing the Viticulture program at the Okanagan College.

Michelle Younie
Horticulture & Apiculture

Locally born and raised, Michelle returned to the Valley after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Calgary. She spent 10 years developing her knowledge and skills in organic horticultural practices has now turned her energy to the development of sustainable viticulture.

Natasha Sadowy
Direct to Consumer Manager

Relocating to the Okanagan in 2017 to explore her passion for wine she has spent nearly 20 years in hospitality sales, marketing and event management.

Lisa Fredericks
DTC & Ecommerce
Graham Edgar
Assistant Hospitality Manager
Deanna Carloni
Brand Ambassador, BC

Deanna represents Little Engine Wines to Retail and Restaurants across BC.

Cameron French
Brand Ambassador, Van. Island

A second generation, Cameron has worked everything from vineyards to bottling to our tasting room. He currently represents Little Engine in agency sales on Vancouver Island while studying Commerce full time at UVic.

Margaux Bugress
Brand Ambassador, Alberta

Margaux is a WSET Diploma holder, certified sommelier and the head of Lingua Vina Ltd. Margaux is passionate about sharing the best of the wine world and the team at Lingua Vina are particularly excited to share Little Engine Wines with Alberta.

Jamen Rhodes
Photographer

Jamen has been working with Little Engine since its inception and is responsible for all Photographic content. He maintains a widely diverse client base across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Corrado D’Inzeo
Brand Ambassador, Quebec
Mateo
Brand Ambassador, Quebec

BOARD OF WINE DIRECTORS

Little Engine’s Board of Wine Directors was established to assist in the direction of our wines. Consisting of some of Canadas brightest most accomplished wine professionals our board meets and reviews wines at the blending stage. Having professionals assist and guide our wines ensures our wine making team is producing wines that meet the demanding pallets of world class sommeliers and critics.
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Robert Stelmachuk
A Sommelier for over 25 years, Robert has crafted some of the country’s best wine programs. The league includes le Crocodile, Market by Jean George, Blue Water Cafe, Chambar and The William Tell. Currently, Robert is the Wine Director at the award winning Mott 32 Vancouver while working towards his Master Sommelier designation. In addition, Robert was the recipient of Vancouver Magazine’s 2020 Sommelier of the Year.
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Jennifer Huether, MS
Jennifer’s love affair with wine started in her early twenties.  She leapt into the Sommelier Certification from ISG graduating top of class, then accomplished the Diploma of Wine from WSET, followed by the Advanced Sommelier passing in England and finally the Master Sommelier Exams-becoming Canada’s first female Master Sommelier in 2011 graduating in Dallas Texas.
Her career started off in Toronto where she worked her way up to running one of Canada’s largest beverage programs at MLSE for 7 years and then worked for several years on the wine supplier side with California based Cliff Lede Vineyards and Jackson Family Wines.  Jennifer is passionate about supporting women in wine.
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Mya Brown
Mya Brown’s background in film and theatre studies makes her a natural in the hospitality side if the wine industry. Brown’s early career aspirations have prepared her well in her current role as Botanist’s Wine Director, Her responsibilities with overseeing Fairmont Pacific Rim’s wine programs aim to curate a diverse, global selection of wines, which reflect a priority towards sustainable winemaking practices and seeks matches intended to compliment an exceptional dining experience for her guests.
Her senior management experiences span across an impressive collection of renowned restaurants in the UK and Canada, including The Ledbury, the London Theatre Company’s St. JOHN at the Bridge, and Vinoteca Wine Bar. Prior to joining the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, she was the Restaurant Manager and Sommelier at Vancouver’s award-winning L’Abbatoir.
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Lorie O'Sullivan
Based in Toronto, Canada, Lorie is the Sommelier and Wine Buyer for Sash Restaurant. She was previously the Head Sommelier for TOCA, the signature restaurant in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. She has also developed many award-winning wine lists for restaurants such as The Lakeview Diner and Touro Brazilian Steakhouse. She is duly certified through CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommelier) and the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as being a Niagara native who is currently working towards her Advanced Sommelier designation in the US. She also has her WSET Level 3 Lorie has also been a wine judge for Intervin/Vines Magazine for 9 years and most recently the Judgement of Kingston, 2020.
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