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    Meet Brianna: Dirty Laundry Vineyard’s Most Passionate Winemaker

    November 17, 2020
    Brianna McKeage, Assistant Winemaker.

    At Dirty Laundry Vineyard, we’re redefining the wine experience. We couldn’t do that without the help of our talented team of winemakers. From the long nights during harvest through to the final bottling of new blends and vintages, they play an important role in making Dirty Laundry Vineyard what it is.


    But, how did their passion begin?


    About Our Assistant Winemaker Brianna McKeage


    Meet Brianna, our assistant winemaker. Brianna’s journey didn’t begin with wine. While she worked in the restaurant industry from a young age, she studied political science in university and pursued a career in finance. 


    So, when and how did wine come into the picture? Great question.


    Brianna has always loved wine. In her early twenties, Brianna spent her summers on a farm in Italy, where she devoted much of her time to exploring the farm’s scenic vineyards and sprawling wineries. 


    Even while working as a financial analyst, Brianna stayed zeroed in on the wine industry. She went on to work for various restaurant groups, steadily climbing the ladder from employee to supervisor—to general manager. 


    As general manager, Brianna relied on her expertise in wine to cultivate a network of industry connections. That eventually led to the difficult decision of parting with the restaurant industry—and following her passion. 


    She learned her craft at a few wineries in the Cowichan Valley, before moving to the Okanagan after an internship in Summerland in 2018. In early 2020, she completed a harvest at the esteemed Yangarra Estate in Australia before coming to Dirty Laundry in the Spring.

    Why Dirty Laundry? 

    Brianna joined the Dirty Laundry Team as an assistant winemaker. Her experience and expertise made a significant difference when it came to process optimization and time management. But most importantly, Brianna was—and still is—in love with all things wine. 


    Brianna was responsible for nearly all white wine production over the past year. She worked closely with the Vineyard’s sales team to bring three club member wines to life. 


    At Dirty Laundry Vineyard, we believe in creativity and consistent quality. Every wine has its own personality, and every bottle is treated with care. 


    What’s Brianna’s Philosophy? 

    Brianna’s journey began with retail. She knows what people are looking for in that first sip. While taste is tantamount to quality, so is passion—she believes that customers can tell when a winemaker cares. 


    Much of Brianna’s work is behind the scenes, playing with flavour profiles and digging into the biochemistry behind winemaking. According to her, planning the composition of a wine is just as important as the actual winemaking process. 


    How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Operations? 

    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Okanagan region as a whole was short of nearly 8,000 agricultural workers. This had a direct impact on the wine industry, which relies heavily on agricultural labour. But there was a silver lining, Brianna says. 


    The shortage brought an influx of younger Okanagan youth into the wine industry and encouraged locals to join. And while operations became more difficult for a time, the winemaking process itself stayed the same. 


    What’s on the Horizon Going Into 2021? 

    Brianna’s favourite trend to watch is the wave of younger winemakers emerging in the valley, but who aren’t flocking toward big wine companies. Instead, they’re focused on startups, small producers, and authentic labels. To her, it feels like California in the 1980s, what some might refer to as the golden age of California wine. 


    She’s also seen a move toward old-school perfectionist winemaking. When it comes to wine, nothing is more enjoyable to her than playing around, trying new combinations, and making a winning discovery. 


    As for the industry as a whole, Brianna is thrilled to see more women in wine. Many up-and-coming positions are occupied by large, female-driven crews. 


    Brianna believes the wine industry will continue to flourish despite the pandemic. What she’s looking forward to—designing and releasing outstanding wines—hasn’t changed one bit. 

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