Meet The Woman Helping Shape The Future Of BC Wine

With a new title, a fresh vintage and the welcome return of BC-grown fruit, there’s plenty to celebrate at Blasted Church Vineyards this season. Recently promoted to Assistant Winemaker after five years with the Okanagan Falls winery, Jamie MacNeill is helping lead the next chapter of one of BC’s most beloved wineries—bringing together scientific expertise, hands-on craftsmanship and a genuine passion for every vintage. We caught up with MacNeill to talk about her new role, the excitement of working with local fruit again, and why there’s never been a better time to raise a glass to BC wine. —Noa Nichol

You’ve gone from Cellarmaster to Assistant Winemaker—what’s one lesson from the cellar that completely changed the way you think about wine?

One of the biggest lessons I learned in the cellar is that great wine starts long before it reaches the winery. When you’re working closely with the fruit every day, you realize that your role isn’t to impose something on the wine—it’s to try to preserve and guide what’s already there. The cellar has taught me patience and respect for every stage of the process. I have also learned that you never stop learning, which is one of the things I love the most about the industry. 

After such a challenging period for BC vineyards, what did it feel like to work with BC-grown fruit again this vintage? Was there a particular moment when it really hit you?

It felt incredibly special. The last few years have reminded everyone in the industry just how connected we are to the vineyards and the people who farm them. It first hit me I think well before the first bins of fruit were picked. I was out in the vineyard collecting samples for grape maturity analysis and there was actually fruit to sample from! The moment the first bin arrived on the crush pad was also special. There was a sense of excitement and gratitude that you could feel throughout the entire team. Seeing local fruit again wasn’t just the start of harvest—it felt like a symbol of resilience and optimism for the future of BC wine.

For someone picking up a bottle from the new 2025 collection, what are the first flavours or characteristics you’re most excited for them to discover?

I’m most excited for people to discover the freshness and energy of the wines. The 2025 vintage shows beautiful fruit expression, vibrant acidity and a real sense of place. Whether it’s the bright citrus and tropical notes in the Sauvignon Blanc, the texture and balance of the Unorthodox Chardonnay, or the lively character of the Blaufränkisch Rosé, there’s a vibrancy that makes these wines incredibly enjoyable and approachable, and the fact that they were all produced again from BC grown fruit makes them that much more special! 

If we were planning the ultimate Okanagan summer picnic, which of the new releases—Sauvignon Blanc, Unorthodox Chardonnay or Blaufränkisch Rosé—would you pair with it, and what would be on the menu?

For a classic Okanagan summer picnic, I’d reach for the Blaufränkisch Rosé. It’s refreshing, versatile and made for warm afternoons. It’s the kind of wine that complements almost everything on the table while still being delicious on its own as you soak up the Okanagan sunshine. The menu would include some artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and maybe a few simple salads with fresh and local peaches, cherries and berries to finish! 

Every vintage tells a story. If the 2025 vintage had a personality, how would you describe it in three words?

Resilient. Vibrant. Optimistic.

You’ve worked harvests in both the Okanagan and Australia’s Barossa Valley. What’s something wine lovers might be surprised to learn about the differences between making wine in those two regions?

I think what stands out the most to me is the sheer scale of production volume. The winery I worked at in the Barossa processed over 10 times more fruit than we typically do in a season at Blasted Church and was still only considered a medium sized winery for the region! It is very cool to see how the production facilities and equipment change to accommodate the different production levels.

Blasted Church is known for not taking itself too seriously. What’s the most memorable, unexpected or downright funny thing that’s happened to you in the winery so far?

There is never any shortage of fun silly moments with our team! Weather it’s being unexpectedly volunteered for a sing along at a staff event, having a mimed conversation over the noise of the bottling line, setting up a disco ball in the lab to “brighten up” a particular stressful day or even implementing a mini dance party before processing the last bin of fruit for the day, we always find ways to  make each season memorable. It’s all these little moments that are good reminder that in what is often a very stressful industry, a sense of humour goes a long way.