Our Team

We’re incredibly proud of the team at Stag’s Hollow Winery. From the vineyard and cellar to the wine shop and beyond, every member of our staff is dedicated to crafting exceptional wines and creating genuinely welcoming experiences. Whether guiding guests through tastings, sharing the stories behind our wines, or connecting with you on the road, we believe great wine is best enjoyed with great company—and we always strive to make you feel like part of the Stag’s Hollow family.

Eric Liu

Proprietor

Eric’s wine journey began back in 1998 in Beijing, where he imported and sold wines—and discovered just how much joy a great bottle can bring. His curiosity (and palate) eventually led him to Canadian wines and the Okanagan Valley, where he’s spent the last decade pouring his heart into making world-class wines. A true foodie at heart, Eric believes in celebrating life one delicious sip and bite at a time. Since becoming proprietor of Stag’s Hollow in April 2019, Eric has infused the winery with his passion, experience, and international perspective—along with a contagious enthusiasm for sharing what makes the Okanagan so special.

Keira LeFranc

Winemaker & Director of Operations

Keira’s wine journey started right here at Stag’s Hollow, working in the tasting room as a summer job back in 2012. After completing her science degree, she swapped the bar for the crush pad and joined our vintage crew in 2013—where she quickly discovered her true passion for winemaking. Her path then took her around the world: two years in Australia as a Sommelier (earning both WSET 3 and CMS Certified Sommelier), followed by a return harvest with us, and then to New Zealand for a Postgraduate Diploma in Wine Science and another harvest abroad. In 2018, Keira came home to the Okanagan for good, stepping into the role of Winemaker at Stag’s Hollow—bringing global experience, local roots, and a genuine love for crafting wines that tell a story. When she’s not in the cellar, you’ll often find her outdoors—whether hiking, camping, or travelling to explore new places and flavours that inspire her winemaking.

Vilem Blazek

Vineyard Manager

Vilem came to Canada from the Czech Republic for what was supposed to be a one-year adventure… but the Okanagan had other plans! He fell in love with the valley (and the vines) and decided to make it home. Now officially a permanent resident, Vilem is the guy you’ll spot zipping around on the tractor, working alongside our vineyard crew, or getting his hands purple on the crush pad at harvest. He manages the vineyards at three locations—Stag's Hollow, Shuttleworth Creek, and Maple Vineyard—and brings his passion for sustainable winegrowing to every block he tends. When he’s not in the vines, you’ll likely find him exploring new places, camping under the stars, or planning his next travel adventure.

Julie Brady

Wine Club Manager & Director of Hospitality

Julie has always known wine would be part of her story. Growing up in Kelowna, wineries were practically in her backyard (though there are a lot more now than back then!). After 25 years of travelling across Canada and raising two amazing daughters, she realized there’s no place quite like the Okanagan Valley to call home. With a background in Tourism, Marketing, and Management—and plenty of food and wine know-how—Julie has worked with some of the valley’s top wineries. At Stag’s Hollow, she wears a few hats: as our Hospitality Director, she’s often the first friendly face you’ll see in the wine shop, and as our Wine Club Manager, she’s the mastermind behind keeping our members connected to their favourite wines and exclusive releases. When she’s not at the winery, you’ll find her sharing great wine with friends, exploring the world, or cruising BC’s winding roads on a motorcycle. Julie can’t wait to welcome you to Okanagan Falls and share the incredible wines of Stag’s Hollow with you.

Jennifer Page

Office Manager

Jennifer is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse who keeps the winery humming—wrangling everything from government forms to accounting spreadsheets with ease. While she usually holds down the fort at her computer, you might catch her popping into the wine shop during the busiest days, or jumping onto the bottling line to join in on the camaraderie. As our resident logistics queen, she masterminds Wine Club organization with Julie, and as a team they ensure every box lands safely at your door. When she’s off the clock, Jennifer loves diving into new wine regions and styles, or hitting the local hiking trails in Kelowna where she now resides.

Dakota Bibby

Assistant Winemaker

Dakota dove into the wine world early, graduating from both the Viticulture and Winery Assistant programs at Okanagan College before racking up six years of hands-on experience at wineries across the Okanagan. Along the way, he spent a harvest season here at Stag’s Hollow with winemaker Keira LeFranc, sharpening his skills and fueling his passion for crafting expressive, terroir-driven wines. Most recently, Dakota has been steering the winemaking at his family’s winery, Nighthawk Vineyards, where he took the reins and helped shape their small-lot wines. In the summer of 2025, we were beyond excited to welcome him back to Stag’s Hollow as our new Assistant Winemaker. With his fresh perspective, deep respect for the land, and boundless energy, Dakota is ready to help us take our wines to even greater heights.

Josef Antal

Assistant Vineyard Manager, Warehouse Coordinator & Cellar Hand

Hailing from the Czech Republic, Josef’s wine journey began in 2009 in New Zealand before making his way to the Okanagan. He first joined Stag’s Hollow in 2012, playing a key role in establishing our Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard. After a few years away—diving deeper into organic winegrowing, experimenting in the cellar, and even dabbling in the craft beer world—he returned in 2021 for harvest. Josef now brings his wealth of knowledge and passion for sustainability back to both the vineyard and winery. While you’ll often spot him taking things slow on a tractor, his free time is anything but slow—he’s all about fast-paced adventures like mountain biking, skiing, and rally racing.

Erica McIntosh

Marketing & Sales Coordinator

Back in June 2017, Erica traded her corporate marketing gig at Oakridge Centre in Vancouver for life in Penticton to be closer to family. Not long after, she jumped into the wine world at Blasted Church Vineyards as their first on-site Marketing Coordinator & Wine Club Manager—where she wore just about every hat and had a blast doing it for the next four years. After a short adventure outside the wine industry in 2021, she’s back where she belongs—this time at Stag’s Hollow as Marketing & Sales Coordinator. These days, she’s busy dreaming up marketing magic, promotions, and events alongside Julie and the team. After hours, you’ll likely find her on the slopes at Apex with her husband and two boys in the winter, or poolside in the backyard soaking up the Okanagan sun 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.

Cooper

Cellar pup

Cooper (on Instagram as @cooperthewinecollie) bounded onto the Stag’s Hollow scene in January 2021 as an 8-week-old ball of energy. Now a seasoned cellar sidekick, he’s Keira’s loyal companion—whether snoozing under her desk, chasing after the perfect stick, or showing off his speed through the vineyard. When he’s not on duty, Cooper is busy mastering his newest adventure: becoming a pro kayak passenger.

Our Team

Eric Liu

Keira LeFranc

Vilem Blazek

Julie Brady

Jennifer Page

Dakota Bibby

Josef Antal

Erica McIntosh

Vineyard Team

Cooper

Planning on Visiting?

Stag’s Hollow Winery

Bench 1775
(Our Sister Winery)

Our Team

Eric Liu

Keira LeFranc

Vilem Blazek

Julie Brady

Jennifer Page

Dakota Bibby

Josef Antal

Erica McIntosh

Vineyard Team

Cooper

Stag’s Hollow Newsletter

Planning on Visiting?

Stag’s Hollow Winery

Bench 1775 (Our Sister Winery)

Bench 1775
(Our Sister Winery)