Women In Wine: Corrie Krehbiel

For our 2022 Women In Wine series, we’re shining the spotlight on incredible females in B.C.’s wine industry—like Corrie Krehbiel, chief winemaker at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery in West Kelowna. —Noa Nichol

Hi Corrie! Why and how did you become a winemaker, and when did you join Mission Hill?

I was fortunate to be exposed to winemaking while I was in high school. I began working on the bottling line at a local winery during spring break and soon found myself doing odd jobs around the winery. I was enticed by the science and the art of winemaking—how the winemakers would combine their technical knowledge with their intuition to make decisions from picking to aging. After high school I went to the University of British Columbia, majoring in food science, and then to Lincoln University in New Zealand to pursue oenology and viticulture. I knew that the Okanagan was where I wanted to make wine and returned upon graduation, working at several wineries including CedarCreek Estate Winery, Blue Mountain Winery and Gray Monk, before joining Mission Hill in 2015.

What does your day-to-day making wine at Mission Hill look like?

One of my favourite things about my job is how dynamic it is. Each day is different depending on the season and what is happening at the winery. I may be in the vineyards, collaborating with the viticulturists as the growing season progresses, or on the cellar floor, ensuring that our quality expectations are being met. All of my days involve tasting, either assessing fermentations, the wine’s development or creating new blends.

March 8 is International Women’s Day—a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In this context, when you hear the term “women in wine” what does it mean to you?

When I hear the term “women in wine” I think of passion and persistence. The women in our industry have each experienced their own challenges in their careers, but their passion for winemaking and their determination to succeed is paving the way for other women winemakers.

How do you maintain a work-life balance, especially during peak winemaking season?

Work-life balance is an area that I continue to work on. I ensure that I take time each day, even during harvest, to go for my run. This simple activity clears my head and sets me up for the day.

In your opinion, what is the perfect Mission Hill wine with which to raise a glass to women on March 8?

The perfect Mission Hill Wine is the 2016 Compendium—bold, complex and long lasting.

missionhillwinery.com