Meet Our Team

Sheila grew up in Osoyoos as the wine region grew up around her. She moved to Ottawa to pursue a Bachelor in Journalism and from there traveled, lived and worked in Japan, Greece, Ireland, Scotland, Montreal and Vancouver before returning to her hometown and joining Nostalgia Wines as the General Manager in March 2019.

She wrote professionally for ten years and worked for a large wine import agency as a marketing director for seven years. Like her appetite for great food and wine, her thirst for knowledge is also insatiable. Her studies in wine include the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, French Wine Scholar and Italian Wine Scholar.

She first met Gina in Osoyoos Primary School Kindergarten, and they worked together many times growing up (walking dogs, babysitting, scooping ice cream, picking apples and more). After many years of friendship, it was wine that brought them back together in a working relationship.

Sheila has a great love for all wine, and at Nostalgia Wines the savoury, characterful Syrah is her favourite. “I have an ongoing conversation with our Syrah. Every time I try it, it tells me something new about itself. I keep coming back to learn more!”

Colleen Madill graduated from the University of Toronto and was ready for an overseas adventure, but due to the pandemic, she decided a Canadian adventure was the better bet. She drove from Toronto to see the Okanagan for the first time, and to start work at Nostalgia Wines in 2021.

Colleen’s interest in winemaking and strong interpersonal skills make her a great asset to the team, and we’re excited to have her join our cellar team for Harvest 2022.

Jack left Toronto in search of sun, and when doing his research he discovered that the South Okanagan was not only the warmest place in Canada, but Oliver was the Wine Capital! He was sold and made the move.

Once here in 2020, he joined us for a tasting on our patio and Teresa knew he’d love our Kerner. She was right!

“It is the most fantastic grape varietal wine I’ve had in my entire life,” he says with enthusiasm. He knew then he wanted to work with us, and he was the first person to apply in 2021.

In his previous life he worked in film production, from production assistant to management, sound recording and camera work. A Jack of all trades, one might say!

Besides being a hard core Kerner fanatic, Rockabilly Red with a great food pairing tops his list. He loves to sip this big red alongside a BBQ Portobello mushroom sandwich.

Alesha is a born-and-raised Oliver girl and she joined our team in the summer of 2021.

“Gina and I were waiting to pick our kids up at school and I mentioned the tasting room … Gina said ‘work for Nostalgia!’ and the rest is history!” she remembers with a laugh.

Alesha is the proud Mom of two boys and keeps very busy with work, family and she loves a great walk.

“I was drinking Nostalgia Rosé all summer and it is always so refreshing and never too sweet,” she says. For autumn, Alesha’s pick is Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, which is the perfect combination of fruity and cozy.

Karalee had visited Nostalgia Wines and loved the vibe. “It was the people, the feeling you get when you walk in … and, of course, I love the wine!” She joined our team in the summer of 2022.

She’s been in the Okanagan since 2018, after spending 25 years in Grand Forks raising her two kids. She is now grandmother to three granddaughters and her first grandson is due to arrive in January, 2023.

We hold Karalee responsible for selling out our 2021 Pinot Gris so early. “The 2021 Nostalgia Pinot Gris is my absolute favourite — it’s exceptionally better than most Pinot Gris I’ve had!”