- Story by Darcy Nybo Photography by Darren Hull

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Back in the 1980s, current winemaker Marina Zarrillo came to visit her grandparents, who had recently moved to the Okanagan. At the time, she and her family were living in Calgary, but the more they visited, the more they liked it here. And like many before them, her family bought property in the Okanagan and decided to move as well.

含羞草研究社淚 was an IT professional until 2012,含羞草研究社� says Marina. 含羞草研究社淚 signed up for the viticulture program at Okanagan College in 2013. My granddad made wine almost every year until he passed away. I think every Italian makes wine. It含羞草研究社檚 what we grew up with. He made wine for friends and family and I got to help him. I remember always holding something or pouring something for him.含羞草研究社�

Marina started her journey to winemaker by working in friends含羞草研究社� vineyards and at the tasting bar at . She quickly realized she wanted to be the person that was involved from the vine to the glass. However, going from the logical world of IT to winemaker was quite a leap.

含羞草研究社淚 thought initially I would just grow grapes and that would be fine. Then the more I got into it and the more I saw how the grapes transform and change into something that people like 含羞草研究社� well, it含羞草研究社檚 a pretty amazing process. I really wanted to know how that worked. The technical part of my brain found that very appealing; there含羞草研究社檚 a lot to know. My original degree was in business, so I had to go back and take chemistry to get into the winemaking certificate program at the . Once I got a handle on the chemistry, I really started to understand how wine is made.含羞草研究社�

From there it was an easy choice to start growing her own grapes. The more she learned about the wine, the deeper her attachment to the Okanagan grew. By this time, Marina含羞草研究社檚 parents and brother had moved to the Okanagan. When a nice, three-acre parcel of land became available, they bought it.

含羞草研究社淚n 2015, we found a property that suited us and gave us some growing space,含羞草研究社� says Marina. 含羞草研究社淲e have one acre planted now and could grow another acre in the near future.含羞草研究社�

The grapes and the wines Marina creates from them are strictly for her family, friends and a neighbour.

含羞草研究社淲e make a barrel of red and a tank of white every year, just because we need a house wine. We had to buy grapes before, but in 2016 we planted our own grapes, so we are making wines from grapes we grew this year. It is an exciting time as we get to see what our grapes can do.含羞草研究社�

When Marina isn含羞草研究社檛 in her own vineyards and making her own wine, she is the winemaker at Play Estate Winery and Bistro in Penticton.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 my first commercial winemaking opportunity. I started in 2015 as a cellar hand at the beginning of harvest. I had practically no experience working in a commercial winery.含羞草研究社�

She pauses as if remembering the fall of 2015. 含羞草研究社淥ne of the first things we did was crush Pinot Gris. It was fast that year, we were so busy. It was a steep learning curve in a short amount of time. Our building wasn含羞草研究社檛 complete yet so we made our wine out at Volcanic Hills in West Kelowna. I am so grateful to their winemaking team for showing me the ropes.含羞草研究社�

Marina survived her learning curve and was there for the opening of the Play Estate Winery and Bistro in May of 2016. 含羞草研究社淭here was a lot of work getting the cellar ready for bottling and the 2016 harvest. My previous career as an IT professional and project manager gave me an advantage in planning and logistics. My role as the cellar hand changed as I took on more responsibilities. At my request, Christine Leroux, a winemaking consultant, joined the Play winemaking team in 2017. She brings such a wealth of experience and expertise. She含羞草研究社檚 been a good mentor and friend.含羞草研究社�

Today, Marina is right at home as Play含羞草研究社檚 winemaker. 含羞草研究社淭here are two series of wines at Play: the Dramatic series and the Spotlight series. The Dramatic wines are everyday wines, red and white blends. The red is usually Merlot based. In 2017, it was Zweigelt and Merlot. The white has been changing every year, but in 2017 we took it into a more distinct wine 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 more of a Germanic style of white. There含羞草研究社檚 Gew眉rztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a little bit of everything,含羞草研究社� she explains.

Should you get the chance to talk to Marina about her passion, you含羞草研究社檒l hear the commitment and pride in her voice.

含羞草研究社淵ou know, people think winemaking is glamorous. It含羞草研究社檚 not. It is a very physical job. There含羞草研究社檚 a lot of long hours. Grapes don含羞草研究社檛 wait. It can also get pretty messy at times and there含羞草研究社檚 lots of cleaning, too. If I was talking to someone who wanted to be a winemaker, I含羞草研究社檇 have them come to work with me. I含羞草研究社檓 so glad I started in the vineyards and worked as a cellar hand. You have to know a little bit about everything to be a winemaker, and that includes how to maintain the equipment. You also have to check the wines constantly. Wines are like kids 含羞草研究社� they need attention at certain times.含羞草研究社�

The busyness leaves her voice as she talks about the winemaking process. You can tell she has respect for it.

含羞草研究社淢y favourite part about being a winemaker is seeing how the wines change and transform. You see the grapes in the field and you sample them. In your mind, you have an idea of where they will go. Then you process them and see what they become, and when it becomes what you wanted it to be含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 amazing.含羞草研究社�

Asked about a favourite winemaking memory, she recalls the harvest of 2017.

含羞草研究社淪ometimes you get your grapes in and they just look so beautiful. Last year the Gew眉rztraminer grapes had a copper-like hue to them. They looked so amazing and the colour was so intense. The entire team was standing there, just staring at them and taking photos. We all have the same passion and enthusiasm for what we do. It含羞草研究社檚 just great!含羞草研究社�

When asked what she does with her downtime, Marina laughs.

含羞草研究社淥h, downtime would be a dream come true right now! Between working for the winery, planting my own grapes and making my own wine, I don含羞草研究社檛 have a lot of downtime. When I do take time for myself I just step out into the beautiful Okanagan with my dog and go for a hike. Sometimes I even get to go kayaking, but not often, because the vineyards need me in the mornings. Mostly, I enjoy friends, and family and a nice glass of wine.含羞草研究社�

For more of Darren Hull含羞草研究社檚 photography visit .