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 favourite 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, Viognier amongst other Grapes native to France in South Okanagan.
Since Le Vieux Pin became certified sustainable in 2021, Severine has been also serving as the chair of Sustainable Wine Growing British Columbia (SWBC). There has been no slowing Severine down as she has continued to push progressively to continue fine-tuning our work in the vineyards and cellar.
All of this hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. In the spring of 2023, Severine Pinte received the 140-year-old honour of being knighted to the “Order of Agricultural Merit” by the Consul General of France. No small feat, and the best part she and the rest of the team are not resting on their laurels and continue to push the envelope and get the best of our terroir while leaving the land in harmony with nature for generations to come.
Severine is also the proud recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award presented to her by the Winegrowers BC on March 12th 2024.