Making the best possible wines in a challenging region like the South Okanagan requires a dedicated group of talented professionals. We searched not only in our own backyard, but internationally to find the best talent possible for our winemaking team.
Severine Pinte
Winemaker & Viticulturist, Managing Partner
Severine Pinte came to Le Vieux Pin in 2010 with 14 harvests of international winemaking experience under her belt along with 8 years of vineyard management. Severine is a graduate of the illustrious ENSAM (Ecole National Superior Agronomic of Montpellier) where she acquired her Masters in viticulture and oenology, and her National Diploma of Oenology.After leaving ENSAM she apprenticed at the Cave de Tecou in the AOC Gaillac before coming for the first time to British Columbia to work for Domaine de Chaberton as an assistant winemaker. In 1999 she returned to France and worked a year in Bordeaux under the direction of Andre Lurton in Pessac-Leognan then returned to the Languedoc. For nine years Severine was head winemaker and viticultural council for ‘Le Vignoble des 2 terres’ in the Terrasse du Larzac terroir.
In the winter of 2003, she took leave for harvest at Frankland Estate winery in Western Australia and enjoyed learning a different take on her beloved Syrah and Viognier.Curiosity and the pursuit of new challenges brought Severine to the Okanagan and she brought with her an astute understanding of wine and terroir. Her favorite quote is from Jean Hugel: “100% of the quality of a true wine is already in the grapes, not in the cellars where you can only lose quality.”
For her, the Okanagan, with its unique terroir and cool climate, has always been intriguing.We are delighted to have Severine leading our viticulture and winemaking team; she is the perfect candidate to craft world class Syrah and Viognier in the South Okanagan.
Rasoul Salehi
Director of Sales & Marketing, Managing Partner
Rasoul began his career in the wine industry as soon as he turned 19 while attending university and studying toward his goal of staying and working in academia. Little did he know that his passion for wine will take over and shake his world. He quickly accumulated a vast knowledge and understanding of wine and the business of wine. In his quest to acquire more knowledge, he has visited literally hundreds of vineyards and wineries around the world and continually takes annual pilgrimages to regions including but not limited to Napa and Sonoma, the Willamette Valley, Piemonte’s Langhe hills and Germany’s Ahr and Mosel valley. If that is not enough, he travels some more to attend and at times even contribute and speak at various seminars and in-depth tastings with the likes of La Paulee, confrerie des chevaliers du tastevin, society of wine educators, etc.
His official education includes a Bachelor in Communications from Simon Fraser University which he completed with honours. He is a recipient of a scholarship to become a “Certified Spanish Wine educator”, a program offered through the “Society of Wine Educators”. As a passionate wine collector Rasoul now has a collection of well over 1000 bottles.
Rasoul’s passion and experience help lead the philosophical/stylistic direction and vision of the winery. Rasoul is also focussed on sharing the wines of Le Vieux Pin with the rest of the world as he leads the winery’s international export.
Jody Subotin
Vineyard Manager, Managing Partner
Jody started working in the Vineyards in 1996 during his summer breaks from school and as he graduated he went straight to work on the farms. Jody’s career began at Hawthorn Mountain Vineyards in 1997 and by 1999 he served as vineyard manager. In 2000 he moved to Osoyoos Larose and again rose quickly through the ranks – by 2002 he was the Assistant Vineyard Manager.
Osoyoos Larose was the perfect place to learn advanced vineyard practices, from the very start the Osoyoos Larose project employed vineyard practices that had been perfected in Bordeaux. The vineyards were plante, trained and pruned under the watchful eyes of Alain Sutre of Ertus consulting.
After Osoyoos Larose Jody lead teams who were planting vineyards from the ground up – clearing the land, installing irrigation, installing trellising systems, planting the vines and everything else vine related. Among the projects he managed were a 60 acre vineyard in Cawston and a 280 acre site at Covert Farms. During the planting of a 16 acre vineyard in Fruitvale, near Grand Forks he practiced Bio-Dynamic agriculture.
We are very excited have Jody leading our vineyard teams and know that he will take Le Vieux Pin to the next level.
Alexander Russo
Direct to Consumer Sales Manager / Wine Club Concierge
Alex arrived at Le Vieux Pin in June of 2011. Fresh from studying Marketing at McGill University in Montreal he fell in love with the city, Quebecois culture, their joie de vivre, and Sauvignon Blanc. He completed his bachelor’s of Philosophy at Queen’s University in Kingston ON in 2008 to make sure he’s always thinking things through. Growing up, Sunday dinners were spent listening to the adults debating wine, region, and food pairings, through them he caught the passion for wine and started his own collection. That passion grew from working in restaurants to pay for University, to ultimately taking the plunge and tweeting Le Vieux Pin to see if we received his resume.
His favourite food pairing will always be lager and Christmas candy (his family’s fudge recipe). The true ah-ha moment that sparked it all.
Alex can be seen in the tasting room, making sure wine club members have exactly what they need, and worrying about the online store. It doesn’t stop there he also helps with export and our wholesale accounts in the Interior and the Okanagan. He enjoys visiting our local restaurants and retailers showing them what Le Vieux Pin is all about.
Marie-Pier Nicol
Tasting Room Manager
Marie-Pier’s experience spans 14 years in the Marketing, Advertising, and Communication world. 10 of those years on the advertising agency side and the last 4 years working for Opéra de Montréal. Being in Montreal, the epicenter for the good life, it provided the perfect backdrop for her passions of food, wine, travel, and learning about other cultures. Being naturally curious, she wanted to understand what made great wine so good. During a Sommelier course, a fellow classmate brought in a bottle of the 2016 Syrah Cuvée Violette and she fell in love with the wine and the brand. That same day, Le Vieux Pin posted an ad for a Tasting Room position and the rest is history. Now adays, you will find Marie-Pier welcoming guests and sharing her passion and knowledge in the tasting room as the Tasting Room Manager. She is behind the screen on our Social Media. As well, to continue her knowledge and understanding, lending a helping hand to the cellar team during harvest.
Michelle Foran
Customer Service Manager / Logistics Manager
Michelle is a 20 year veteran of the tourism industry working overseas at hotels, cruise lines, and tour companies. Tour guiding in Beaujolais was her first real introduction to French wine, not to worry she graduated to Sicilian reds and still loves Cava. After moving back home to Penticton BC, the hotel industry wasn’t what she was looking for. Looking around and realizing that the up and coming tourism sector in the Okanagan was the wine industry. She wanted to work at a small family owned boutique winery, but it had to be the crème de la crème. Starting in the tasting room, she moved her way upstairs to the admin office where you can find her answering the phones, emails, and organizing the shipping to wherever our wine goes. It’s never a dull day for Michelle. She is Mrs. Morale, our resident Momma bear, and is the glue of the entire team.
