- Story by Angela Cowan Photography by Don Denton

Currently holding the titles of marketing director and sommelier at in the Cowichan Valley, Chris Turyk has been involved with the family-run business since its inception. Tim and Colleen Turyk (ChrisB次元官网网址檚 parents) bought the land and a sweet old farmhouse in 2009 with the idea of trying their hand at winemaking. It quickly grew into a much larger enterprise than theyB次元官网网址檇 anticipated.

B次元官网网址淲e had no idea or thoughts to creating this size of business,B次元官网网址� says Chris. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 the grand plan, but it took on a life of its own, and there was no going back.B次元官网网址�

A food lover from an early age, Chris always envisioned working in the industry, and initially thought heB次元官网网址檇 end up in the kitchen of his own restaurant.

He studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, but made the shift to wine after a short time.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to become a chef, and then I realized my ability to taste things exceeded my ability to create them,B次元官网网址� he says, laughing. B次元官网网址淚 think the wine aspect came from the food. I realized they were complementary.B次元官网网址�

It was in 2014 that wine as a career really took off after Chris decided to enter into the inaugural Best Sommelier in BC competition, organized by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. After an impressive showingB次元官网网址攊n which he placed third for the provinceB次元官网网址攈e was promptly offered a sommelier job at Hawksworth, four-time winner of Best Upscale Restaurant in Vancouver.

It was an opportunity that was supposed to last a year, and ended up being two and a half.

B次元官网网址淚t was an unbelievable experience,B次元官网网址� says Chris, who formally left the restaurant in 2017, but continued to help out occasionally when hands were needed for another year.

Shortly thereafter, he found himself in a practicum at the UBC farm.

B次元官网网址淚 remember thinking, B次元官网网址榳ho else gets to do this?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Going between a B次元官网网址渟mall-scale, very socially aware, very liberalB次元官网网址� environment like the farm, and a top-end eatery like Hawksworth, B次元官网网址済ives you a wide perspective,B次元官网网址� says Chris.

Being exposed to the incredible variety of extremely high-end wines while also learning about grape agriculture and growing practices gave him an invaluable education thatB次元官网网址檚 served him well.

B次元官网网址淵ou get a bit of everything, and you can speak to whatB次元官网网址檚 important to different people,B次元官网网址� he says. Whether thatB次元官网网址檚 explaining the sustainable farming practices Unsworth employs to younger generations of environmentally aware wine drinkers, or being able to talk about the specific notes in each wine with people who have been enjoying a glass of vino for decades, Chris is able to connect with everyone across the board.

And now that heB次元官网网址檚 stepped into the marketing role, heB次元官网网址檚 added another piece to the puzzle.

B次元官网网址淓ven 18 months ago, I wasnB次元官网网址檛 expecting to be in a marketing role,B次元官网网址� says Chris. B次元官网网址淏ut I like chatting to people. IB次元官网网址檝e wanted to teach wine classes for a while, and marketing is basically education on what we do, and why itB次元官网网址檚 important.B次元官网网址�

IB次元官网网址檝e wanted to teach wine classes for a while, and marketing is basically education on what we do, and why itB次元官网网址檚 important.B次元官网网址�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Since I already walk in John FluevogB次元官网网址檚 shoes, that question really forces me to think. Purely for the experience of such a high-consequence environment, being in the work boots of a cellar hand at a hyper premium winery has always interested me. Moving or dealing with wine that retails at $5,000 per bottle means every ounce is roughly $200, so, no mistakes.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

Pork. The humble and noble pig has a very special place in my diet. To sum it all up in one word: bacon.

Greed:

YouB次元官网网址檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I would get one million $1 USD bills, then fill a kidsB次元官网网址� pool and swim around Scrooge McDuck style.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Socks with sandals. I thought, as a civilization, we were better than that.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Does work count?

Pride:

What is the one thing youB次元官网网址檙e secretly proud of?

I can recite all the chemical elements of the periodic table to the tune of a recognizable song from The Pirates of Penzance.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

What is adrenaline? As a relatively excitable person, often I focus on the opposite. Taking little moments throughout the day to observe and enjoy where I am and who IB次元官网网址檓 with pays dividends not only for me, but mostly for those around me.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on