GENERAL MANAGER

Christle oversees all facets of Unsworth Vineyards with a calm, thoughtful approach shaped by more than two decades in the hospitality industry. Her career began in restaurants across British Columbia, where she honed her leadership and operational skills before running her own catering company and developing a strong foundation in administration and finance.

In 2013, Christle joined Unsworth to launch and manage The Restaurant at Unsworth, helping establish it as a cornerstone of the Cowichan Valley’s food and wine scene. Her role soon expanded beyond the restaurant, as she transitioned into administrative management and learned the many facets of the winery under the mentorship of founder Tim Turyk.

Today, Christle leads Unsworth with care and collaboration, continuing to build on its reputation for genuine hospitality, thoughtful stewardship, and connection to community.

WINEMAKER

Part of Dan’s story begins with looking for a cool-climate region to pursue Pinot Noir. The full story is a mixture of luck and timing. And, of course, there was a girl: his wife landed a job on Vancouver Island while Dan was working the hot 2015 vintage at Beaux Frères in the Willamette Valley.

Dan describes two big waves of luck in his career (so far): one with the Turyk family taking a chance on a young winemaker knocking on the door for a job in late 2015, and the second that came with the opportunities following the purchase of Unsworth in 2020 by Barbara Banke and Julia Jackson. Since then, Dan has been involved in developing a new 40 acre vineyard and the construction of a new state-of-the-art winery, all while taking Unsworth wines to new heights and recognition.

Dan holds an Oenology and Viticulture certificate from Brock University and a BSc in Biochemistry from University of Guelph. Prior to moving to Vancouver Island, Dan worked vintages in Orange, Australia; Niagara, Ontario; Marlborough, New Zealand; and Willamette Valley, Oregon.

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR

After studying at The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and The Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, Chris's passion for food and wine matured into a way of life. After deciding to focus on wine, Chris worked as a Sommelier at Hawksworth Restaurant; received a sommelier scholarship from the BCHF; was featured in McLean’s Magazine; and travelled around North America for Sommelier course exams and competitions. Chris has played a significant role in growing Unsworth Vineyards since its inception in 2009. From installing vineyards and working with the winemaker, to working closely with his father, Tim, on business phases, his penchant for farming has extended to competing in the 2018 UBC Farm Practicum in sustainable agriculture.

HEAD CHEF

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Dan started working in Cowichan Bay kitchens when he was 15. Though largely self-taught, Dan trained at Camosun Culinary School then honed his skills at restaurants in Victoria. Committed to inspiring his team and "always wanting to do better," Dan gets his inspiration from a combination of his culinary travels and Vancouver Island's bounty of seafood, meats, and farm-fresh ingredients.

RESTAURANT MANAGER + SOMMELIER

David Kurka, the new manager and sommelier at The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards, is originally from Toronto but sharpened his skills in the States training under Master Sommeliers Kathy Morgan, Andy Myers and Jarad Slipp. Kurka received his Advanced Sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2013. He went on to run some of the most prestigious wine programs in Washington, D.C. for Michelin starred chefs Nicholas Stefanelli, Eric Ziebold and Robert Wiedmaier.  Returning to Canada in 2020 Kurka was ecstatic to jump into the burgeoning Vancouver Island wine scene. Before coming onboard at Unsworth Kurka was operations manager at Church and State wines in Brentw

VITICULTURIST

Don't be surprised if you find Felix digging around in vineyard soil, sniffing compost piles, or wandering around the gardens and vines snacking on veggies and covercrop plants. Felix believes in treating farm ecosystems as living, breathing things and champions holistic approaches to leadership and agriculture. The vines themselves are only one part of the story: the soil and the microscopic life it contains are what feed everything. Without them, nothing grows. To Felix and his team, working at Unsworth is as much about viticulture as it is about stewarding ecosystems that are balanced, vibrant, regenerative, thriving, and humming with life.

Originally from Germany, Felix joined Unsworth in late 2022. He has now made the Cowichan Valley his home after several years of viticulture in the Okanagan Valley, wine harvests around the globe, and years spent studying all things wine, vines, and agriculture at UC Davis and Geisenheim University.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICS MANAGER

Jenny joined Unsworth Vineyards in 2023, bringing over a decade of winery experience and a lifelong passion for hospitality. Before joining Unsworth, she spent ten years at Blue Grouse Winery, where she developed a deep understanding of both the guest experience and the behind-the-scenes operations that keep a winery running smoothly.

At Unsworth, Jenny wears many hats — from bookkeeping and payroll to inventory, IT, and office management — keeping everything organized and running efficiently.

Originally from Washington State, Jenny moved to the Okanagan before settling on Vancouver Island in 2012. When she’s not at the winery, she enjoys family time with her husband, a winemaker, and their two kids — one who’s always at the rink, and one in the pool.

HOSPITALITY & WINE CLUB MANAGER

After obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Food Administration at the University of Guelph, Karen spent several years working in Niagara-on-the-Lake where she further developed her strong love for both wine and cheese. In 2016, she headed west to the Cowichan Valley to explore the area as an up-and-coming wine region. After a 4-year venture into the cheese-making world, Karen joined Unsworth in 2021. She and her husband, now live in Duncan with their two little girls.