CedarCreek Estate Winery officials announced yesterday that Darryl Brooker has become their new winemaker.

Brooker is an experienced and highly regarded winemaker who will commence his full?time duties at CedarCreek on May 19. Brooker was most recently Senior Winemaker – Ontario at Hillebrand and Thirty Bench Wineries and has over 12 years experience making ultra premium wines in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

“The opportunity to be a part of the CedarCreek team and make wine from such high quality Okanagan vineyards is very exciting,” said Brooker. ” I am looking forward to the challenge and opportunity of continually evolving the already highly regarded CedarCreek wines.”

Prior experience also includes winemaking at Flat Rock Cellars in Ontario, Villa Maria Estate in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and Mountadam Vineyards in Barossa Valley, Australia. He is a graduate of Charles Sturt University in Australia (Bachelor of Applied Science – Wine Science) and also has a graduate diploma from Adelaide University in Wine Business.

“We are delighted to attract someone of Darryl Brooker’s caliber and we are confident that under his leadership our wine growing will get even better,” said Gordon Fitzpatrick, CedarCreek president.

“His career aspirations fit perfectly with CedarCreek’s quest to craft the very best wines possible from the Okanagan Valley. His quiet confidence and disciplined approach in both the vineyards and the cellars epitomizes the CedarCreek brand —Our Wine is our Word.”

CedarCreek Estate Winery, located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, is owned and operated by the Fitzpatrick Family.