JUDY KINGSTON – WINEMAKER Judy Kingston has a lifelong passion for wine. Forsaking traditional wisdom for retirement, she has decided to devote herself into establishing a new, distinctive winery on the Naramata Bench. Judy is the general manager of operations for the vineyard and winery, the viticulture specialist, and the winemaker.

Judy is a lawyer by profession. She has had a distinguished career as a technology lawyer with leading national law firms. In December 2006, Judy moved from Toronto to Naramata to devote her full time attention to the establishment of the Serendipity vineyard and winery. In preparation for the launch of Serendipity wines in 2010, she worked as the assistant winemaker at a neighbouring winery as well as a trainee winemaker in Martinborough, New Zealand during their harvest and crush.

An accomplished chef trained in France, Judy applies her high standards of quality and attention to detail, combined with her creative flair, to her winemaking.

Serendipity is unique in that it has two winemakers.
Serendipity’s other winemaker, Jason Parkes, has been winning
international wine awards for years for his outstanding wines. Made with heart by both Judy and Jason, Serendipity’s first four releases have already garnered four awards, all prior to the official opening of the winery!

AWARDS:
Our 2008 Serenata won gold at the 2011 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition for the red bordeaux blend!!! And the competition had a record turnout. Won Bronze for bordeaux over $20, 2011 West Coast Wine Competition, Healdsburg, California. John Schreiner gave this wine a score of 90. Won Double Gold at the 2011 San Francisco International Wine competition.

Our 2007 Pinot Noir won silver for pinot noir over $30 at the 2011 West Coast Wine Competition held in Healdsburg. Won Bronze at the 2011 San Francisco International Wine competition.

Our 2009 Viognier won a bronze at the All Canadian Wine Championshps 2011. Won Bronze at the 2011 San Francisco International Wine competition.

Our 2010 Sauvignon Blanc won bronze at the 2011 San Francisco International Wine competition.

See Our Wines for pricing and tasting notes.

JASON PARKES – WINEMAKER A winemaker and consultant to several British Columbia wineries for the past three years, Jason's wines have raked in medals at West, Northwest, South and Southwest U.S. competitions. Most recently, Jason scooped gold, silver, and four bronze medals at the 2008 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirit Competition, amidst 4,000 wines collectively judges by nearly 100 international experts.

Before committing himself entirely to winemaking, Jason enjoyed a successful career in the music industry highlighted by receiving the CBC's Galaxie Rising Star award for Canada's independent song of the year, releasing three full-length albums with his band Glasshead, and composing numerous songs for Disney and television.

KATIE O'KELL Katie O`Kell is not new to Serendipity – she has spent three summers working in the vineyard and in our new lab. Fresh out of her undergraduate degree for Honours Biology, Katie has decided to forsake getting a real job and is going to law school in September to specialize in Biotech law. Katie has had a longstanding relationship with wine, although it has usually been on the consumption side. She is excited to participate in the production and selling of wine, as she takes her relationship with such a delicious beverage to a new level.