Our Team
Moon Curser Vineyards – a name that captures many colourful stories of the Osoyoos area, as well as the renegade spirit of our winemaking. Meet the colourful characters of our team below.
Community & Stewardship
We want Moon Curser Vineyards to be a responsible corporate citizen and a contributing member of both our most immediate community of Osoyoos, as well as the broader world of South Okanagan and British Columbia. We strive to be a responsible and fair employer, continue to evolve our farming practices to grow the grapes that we use in a sustainable fashion, and support local businesses, charitable organizations, and our neighbours and colleagues the best we can.
Gurjit Dhaliwal, Sukhvir (Sukhi) Dhaliwal & Harjit Dhaliwal
OWNERS, NEW SMUGGLERS-IN-CHIEF
There are some new owners in town, you might have seen the news. After dreaming of owning a winery one day, Sukhvir Dhaliwal (wife of Gurjit), Gurjit Dhaliwal (husband of Sukhvir and brother of Harjit) and Harjit Dhaliwal (brother of Gurjit) are the family team guiding Moon Curser into its next chapter. With decades of grape-growing grit, a shared love of farming, and just enough renegade spirit to fit right in, they keep the vines thriving and the mystery alive. Together, they’re committed to preserving the spirit and quality that has made Moon Curser an Okanagan standout, while gently guiding it forward.
Gurjit Dhaliwal
A lifelong farmer with over twenty years of grape-growing expertise under his belt. He’s the guy making sure the vines behave, the fruit shines, and the vineyards stays just mysterious enough to raise eyebrows. Farming excellence meets moonlit mischief. “Nothing to see here.”
Sukhvir (Sukhi) Dhaliwal
She keeps an eye on Moon Curser’s operations with experience behind her in both grape-growing and nursing—because apparently one career wasn’t enough. A true Moon Curser: avoids paper trails and get plans sorted face-to-face, but just mysteriously enough to stay under the radar. Usually.
Harjit Dhaliwal
Tends vines like a pro and prefers to work in stealth mode. With decades of grape and soft-fruit growing behind him, he helps steer Moon Curser from the shadows—making magic happen while staying out of the spotlight. Just how he likes it. He prefers to let the vines—and the wine—do the talking.
Christian Scagnetti
The Winemaker. They call him ‘The Crusher’, but never to his face. Makes wine sing like a bird. Impeccable standards, a refined palate and an innate understanding of what it takes, grape to bottle. Aims for the stars. Hides from the moon.
Crystal Coverdale
Orchestrates the machinations of the joint as the winery GM. Member of the inner sanctum, and possibly a witness relocation program. Knows not to draw too much attention to the operation except when she flirts with social media. Keen eye, meticulous oversight. “The best surprise is no surprise”.
Amber Way
Got a knack for keeping things running smooth? That’s Amber. Wine Smuggling Operations Coordinator. Tasting Room, Wine Club, online wine sales—you name it. Wine smuggling? Handled. Admin? Nailed. Customer service? Like butter. Keep the gears turning and the good stuff flowing.
Tasting Room Smugglers
You wanna score the goods, first you gotta talk to our Tasting Room Smugglers. Steadfast commitment to sharing our wines with our guests by providing excellent wine tasting experiences with warmth and passion. As genuine as they get. The faces of the joint.
Paper Trail Maker Extraordinaire
Convinces us to leave a tidy paper trail and is always on the lookout for anything out of place. Meets at a quarter past midnight under the lamplight. Mum’s the word.
Vineyard Crew
Vineyard Crew, makes everything happen in the field and picks the goods at harvest. Fast as a fox but as quiet as a mouse. Just what we look for around these parts.
Chris & Beata Tolley
ORIGINAL FOUNDERS, PAST SMUGGLERS-IN-CHIEF
Chris Tolley
Founded Moon Curser Vineyards in 2004. Complex fella: Software Engineer toppled by the wine bug. His academic year at NZ’s Lincoln University in Viticulture and Oenology program gave him a soft spot for offbeat varieties with loads of character. Worked as Executive Winemaker after handing over the reins to Christian in 2021, or so he claimed. “You got something special for me?”
Beata Tolley
Founded Moon Curser Vineyards in 2004. Chartered Accountant? Yeah, right. Also trained in viticulture and oenology at Lincoln University, she managed the inner workings of Moon Curser for 20 years and made inexplicable things happen. “Nothing clandestine is going on. Just look the other way.”
Barbara Kahlo – Forever in our hearts
It’s with very heavy hearts that we share the news that our beloved friend and Moon Curser’s Wine Smuggling Operations Coordinator, Barbara Kahlo, passed away at the end of February.
She was a lady full of style and class, and with that was quietly fighting a battle over the last year while continuing to work. Slow down, skip a beat? Never.
Barbara had been a key part of Moon Curser for over seven years. Tasting Room, Wine Club, online wine sales, you name it. Personalized service was Barbara’s speciality and she connected with our guests and our crew on another level. She always got the goods out quick, made this place run like clockwork and got things done yesterday. Barbara also had mad baking skills, creativity and an artistic eye. No bottling day at Moon Curser will be the same without Barbara’s baking. Her love for holidays was always seen in our Winter in Wine Country decorations, especially with the beautiful Moon Curser wreath she made.
Barbara had so much joy and enthusiasm for life – one of the most vibrant people we have ever known.
She will forever be in our hearts.
All this attention is making us nervous…
Moon Curser earned recognition seven times on Top Winery lists at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.
Do you seek gold as much as we do….?
Here are a few reports and unconfirmed rumours from various sources. Some credible, and others, well….
