Our Team

We're very proud of our team here at Stag's Hollow Winery. From the vineyard to the cellar, everybody is dedicated to producing exceptional wines. From the office to the wine shop, and to our external sales team, we try to share the passion we have for what we produce and provide the best possible experiences to our customers. 

Photo above is the 2022 Wine Shop Team (L-R): Jill, LeAnn, Lloyd, Julie, Fred & Beth. 

Eric LiuProprietor

Eric has been involved in the wine industry since 1998 in Beijing, China, where he imported and sold wines. His love and curiosity for Canadian wines drew him to the Okanagan Valley where, for the past decade, he has dedicated both his career and personal life to making world-class wines. Eric is enthusiastic about food and wine, and enjoying the celebration of every moment of life.

Since becoming the proprietor in April of 2019, Eric has brought his extensive industry knowledge and experience in management and sales to the Stag's Hollow team. 

Keira LeFrancWinemaker & Director of Operations 

Keira grew up in the Okanagan, and actually got her start in the wine industry in our tasting room as her summer job in 2012. Showing a keen interest in the cellar side of things, after completing a science degree, she jumped at the opportunity to join our vintage team on the crush pad in 2013, which really solidified her passion for the industry. Following that first harvest, Keira spent 2 years training and working as a Sommelier in Australia, completing her WSET 3 and CMS Certified Sommelier. Missing getting her hands dirty in the cellar, she returned to the Okanagan to join our vintage crew again in 2015, before returning to the Southern Hemisphere to complete a Postgraduate Diploma of Wine Science in New Zealand, and an overseas harvest. She made her final move back to the Okanagan shortly thereafter, and joined our team permanently. Keira took over as Winemaker at Stag’s Hollow in July 2018.

Vilem BlazekVineyard Manager

Vilem came to Stag's Hollow from the Czech Republic. While on a one-year visit to Canada, Vilem fell in love with the Okanagan, decided to stay and has recently received his permanent residency. Vilem looks after the vineyards at both locations - Stag's Hollow and Shuttleworth Creek. You will find him mainly on the tractor in the field, with our seasonal vineyard team or on the crush pad during harvest!

Julie PlanidenDirector of Hospitality

Julie has always had a passion for wine and knew she would end up in the industry someday. Growing up in Kelowna, wineries were practically in her backyard, although there weren't as many as there are now. After travelling across Canada for about 25 years and raising two wonderful daughters, she realized that the Okanagan Valley in BC was where she truly wanted to be. With her education in Tourism, Marketing, and Management, as well as her vast knowledge of food and wine, Julie has had the pleasure of working for several top wineries in the Okanagan. When she's not working, Julie loves nothing more than sharing her love of food and wine with friends and family, exploring new places abroad, and going on motorcycle adventures throughout beautiful British Columbia. Julie can't wait to welcome you to Okanagan Falls and introduce you to the incredible wines of Stag's Hollow.                                                                              

Jennifer PageOffice Manager

Jennifer spends most of her time at the computer, dealing with all things government- and accounting-related in order to keep the winery running smoothly. Once in a while you’ll see her appear briefly in the wine shop to help out with our guests when things get very busy, or even on the bottling line enjoying the winery camaraderie! She is also the chief organizer/ logistics queen behind all the wine club packing. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys exploring the world of wine, finding new regions or styles to try, and can be found out on the local hiking trails with her dog Mojo.

Libby NixonAssistant Winemaker

Libby came to the Okanagan from Australia looking for a northern hemisphere vintage after completing her Masters in Oenology and Viticulture at Adelaide University in 2018. Little did she know that she would fall in love with the mountains and the beautiful wines that come out of BC. After doing back-to-back north- and south-hemisphere harvests in Mclaren Vale, South Australia and Stag's Hollow in 2019, and Margaret River, Western Australia in 2020, she decided to return to Stag’s Hollow on a full time basis, moving back to the Okanagan in the middle of a global pandemic. Libby and winemaker Keira can be found down in the cellar, using their combined wine education and passion to try new things and push the limits of what Okanagan Falls wines can show.

Josef AntalCellar Hand & Vineyard Assistant

Originally from the Czech Republic, Josef began working in the wine industry in 2009 while in New Zealand. He joined the Stag's Hollow team in 2012 to help establish the Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard. He left Stag's Hollow in 2016 in order to spend a few years gaining more knowledge of organic winegrowing, in both vineyard and cellar practices, as well as joining the craft beer industry for awhile. Josef returned to Stag's Hollow for the 2021 harvest, sharing his passion and knowledge for sustainable practices in the winery and vineyard. When not moving slowly on a tractor at work, he likes fast-moving sports like mountain biking, skiing and rally racing.

Erica McIntoshMarketing & Sales Coordinator

Erica left her corporate marketing position at Oakridge Centre in Vancouver and moved to Penticton to be closer to family back in June of 2017. Shortly after she joined the team at Blasted Church Vineyards as the first on-site Marketing Coordinator & Wine Club Manager, where she wore many hats and enjoyed many successes at the winery over the next four years. After leaving the wine industry briefly in 2021, she has returned to Stag's Hollow as the Marketing & Sales Coordinator, handling day to day marketing activities, promotions and events alongside Julie and the rest of the team. You’ll find Erica spending time with her husband and two boys up at Apex in the winter and enjoying her backyard pool in the summer.

Vineyard Team

In addition to Vilem, our Vineyard Manager, we have two great guys who have come from Mexico to stay and tend our vineyards for several vintages now - Hector (right) and Lazaro (left). Without them, we would not be able to produce the beautiful fruit that makes our wines.

CooperCellar pup

Cooper (on Instagram as @cooperthewinecollie) is a newer addition to the Stag's Hollow team, arriving in January 2021 at the age of 8 weeks. He is Keira's faithful companion in the cellar. When he's not finding new sticks to play with, he likes to race around the vineyard with Mojo or nap under Keira's desk. He's also learning how to be a passenger on kayaks this year.

MojoOffice pup

Mojo is our official greeter as he loves all of our visitors. You will find him, when he's not napping, vigorously wagging his tail, always hoping for treats. He enjoys racing around the vineyard with Cooper and is always on the lookout for marmots. In his spare time he enjoys being taken for hikes by Jennifer.