Featured Winemaker

Andrew Windsor

In 2014 Andrew Windsor came to Tinhorn Creek Winery. Sandra Oldfield had been Tinhorn's first and only winemake since it opened over 20 years ago. Sandra was stepping aside to become the winers Presidents. As time would have it the winery sold to Andrew Peller Ltd Sandra would move on to a new and exciting career in the wine industry. Andrew remained and innovated his own methods.

Andrew’s experimental and innovative new ideas fit perfectly with our approach over the last 20 years of continually evolving and moving forward with our winemaking,” says Sandra. “Andrew’s worldly view will ensure a fresh direction as we continue to work dynamically to create our spectacular wines.”

Andrew was born in Ontario where he was introduced to homemade wines. It led to him taking wine course whilst studying Environmental Science at the University of Guelph. In his twenties Andrew met Jamie McFarland of The Ice House Winery, who invited him to assist with his ice wine project in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Andrew had a sharp taste of the winemaking world when he was called to start picking grapes at 3 am in minus 12C weather.

Andrew gained a Masters of Oenology at the University of Adelaide in Australia in 2006 and then took on an Assistant Winemaking role at Mollydooker Wines in McLaren Vale, where he lived on the beach and cycled to work through vineyards filled with kangaroos.

He went on to work wineries in BC, France and New Zealand. He was the VQA Winemaker for Andrew Peller Ltd. in Niagara. before coming to Tinhorn Creek.

“France taught me that wine is not just a science but an art form, a culture and an expression of a place. Wine has the ability to take you to a place in the world without leaving your home,” says Andrew. “I want to make the best wine in Canada and the only place I can do that is the South Okanagan.”

Okanagan partners Jan Nelson and Winemaker, Andrew Windsor, have purchased the award-winning Maverick Estate Winery from owners Bertus and Elzaan Albertyn.

It would take a great deal of space to list all the awards won by Tinhorn Creek. Trust me the wines are Mighty Fine!

Tinhorn Creek is Canada’s first carbon neutral winery located on the Golden Mile in Oliver British Columbia.

Photo: Tinhorn Creek winemaker Andrew Windsor (courtesy Hawksworth Communications)