alumni UBC Wine Series: Taste of the Island

In almost three decades in the wine business, DJ has trained over a thousand sommeliers throughout North America, judged and presented around the world, and tasted thousands of wines in pursuit of quality and value. She has been the Drink Editor for Vancouver Magazine, the Chief Judge for several wine competitions including the long-running VanMag Wine Awards.  DJ has a special devotion to wines of her home province, and frequently speaks, writes, and teaches about British Columbia wines.

Chris helped found Unsworth Vineyards with his father Tim in 2009. Since then, Chris has been fundamental in the establishment and growth of Unsworth from a small startup to Vancouver Island’s most prominent winery. When not working at Unsworth or studying for the Master of Wine Exam, Chris spends time on the Board of Directors of The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers – BC Chapter & Wine Growers BC, and industry advisory councils for The UBC Wine Research Centre and BC Hospitality Foundation.

Bailey Williamson is a skilled winemaker and chef who is passionate about terroir. He currently serves as the winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Prior to pursuing winemaking, Bailey worked in the culinary industry, attending culinary school in Vancouver and working in high-end restaurants such as Il Caminetto in Whistler. In 1993, he relocated to Victoria and became a well-known supporter of the farm-to-table movement. After a decade of working in kitchens throughout Canada, Bailey shifted his focus to the world of wine, starting in the tasting room and working his way up to the cellar at various British Columbia wineries. He spent five years as an assistant winemaker at Road 13 in the Okanagan before accepting the position of winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate Winery in 2012, where he oversees the estate wine portfolio and the popular Quill label.