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Courtesy of Okanagan College
Kathleen McCaffrey
Kathleen McCaffrey is working in the vineyards following studying viticulture at Okanagan College.
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Okanagan College Ad
Like many who are drawn to the Okanagan, the beautiful summers and pristine winter ski hills lured Kathleen McCaffrey.
But it was more than just the views of rolling vineyard hillsides that brought her to Kelowna, it was the potential for a career in the wine industry that kept the 24-year-old Alberta-native in the area that boasts 130 wineries and more than 8,000 acres of cultivated vineyards.
“I’ve always been interested in wine and plant biology and thought I’d get into the wine industry in the Okanagan,” she said.
McCaffrey visited the region several times before moving to Kelowna in 2012 to enrol in the Business Administration diploma program at Okanagan College. Upon graduating, she took some time to travel, including a few weeks working in vineyards during harvest season in Italy. There, she had the opportunity to stomp grapes and work in cellars through Tuscany and the Aosta Valley.
Her fascination with the wine industry only grew from there. Enrolling in the unique Viticulture Certificate program at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus, she learned about the grapes, wines, and vineyards of the region, as well as valuable skills about vineyard operations and management.
McCaffrey says she not only enjoyed learning about the wine-making process, but also valued the hands-on learning opportunities, such as wine tastings and field trips to local vineyards. With a steadfast passion to learn and keen interest for the industry her efforts were recognized and she was the recipient of the 2015 BC Wine Entrance Bursary.
“Okanagan College is the only college that offers this specific program,” she said. “It’s a great starting point for working in the industry.”
“Our three wine industry certificate programs are specifically designed to serve the needs of the wine industry, and give students the tools and knowledge to succeed in carving out a career with award-winning vineyards in the area,” said Jonathan Rouse, Director of Food, Wine, and Tourism at Okanagan College. “We continually partner with wineries, and students learn the skills to manage a vineyard through a combination of classroom time and a practicum at a vineyard to apply that knowledge.“
Looking to expand its offerings, the College is currently undergoing approvals for a new Viticulture Technician diploma, which is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2016.
McCaffrey completed the Viticulture program in the spring 2015, but she anticipates that her education won’t stop there.
I am focused on building a strong educational background as well as gaining knowledge through work experience, so that I can successfully own and manage a winery in the Okanagan someday, said McCaffrey.
Applying what she learned in class, she is currently working with Ex Nihilo Vineyards in Lake Country.
In addition to the practical experience of working in wineries and vineyards, McCaffrey is pursuing the first two levels of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and would like to enrol in the College’s Winery Assistant program to round out her skillset.
Okanagan College offers certificates programs in Viticulture, Wine Sales and for Winery Assistant. For more information visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/fwt.
