Meet the Wine Whisperers!

Give it up for Mark, Cynthia, Van Doren & Robert!

Mark Shipway

Cynthia Opsal

Van Doren Chan

Robert Stelmachuk

Mark Shipway, DipWSET

Mark is a UK born Vancouver based wine & spirits professional. Considered one of Vancouver’s top wine educators, Mark is a certified sommelier, the education chair for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers BC Chapter and the lead instructor with the Wine Scholar Guild.

Thursday night international wine sessions here at Good Wine Gal wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for Mark. He is a passionate wine guy that has spent many hours perfecting his presentations and many years tasting, teaching and inspiring wine lovers in the wine direction. He's a walking encyclopedia of wine knowledge. If you want to learn more about wine - there's no better guy to teach you.  Sign up for Thursday night session and learn from the best!

Cynthia Opsal

Cynthia is the Brand Manager for The Fladgate Partnership in Western Canada and has been involved in the wine and spirit industry for over 25 years. Cynthia is an inducted member of La Confraria do Vinho do Porto - an honor only a few in the world share.

Can you say "wine gal"? Cynthia has been inspiring others to sip good wine and most recently in the "Port Wine" direction. She has a great palate and a passion for wine and people.  Because of her dedication to Port, she's often traveling to Oporto and the Douro River Valley. Her love of travel and knowledge of the region has inspired her to organize a river cruise of the Douro  Valley. Check out our Port Wine Sessions here. Sign up for the newsletter if you are interested in the tour!

Van Doren Chan

Van Doren has won several Gold and Platinum awards from the Vancouver International Wine Festival for her wine lists. She is also a noted food and wine educator, speaker, judge, television and radio guest. She was the recipient for Les Dames d'Escoffier International Legacy Award in 2015. Her recent projects include Champagne Global, Canada’s premier Grower Champagne Festival, Theoria and Dumpling in a Box (which you can order online and follow on instagram @dumplingsinabox).

Can you say "bubbles"? Van Doren Chan is a not only the Champagne queen of Vancouver, a wine gal who has taken the next step - making her own wine and producing her own label. She loves food, wine and turning her passion into a livelihood. She has a great palate, a big heart and a kind word for anyone who's in need of wine inspiration. Champagne sessions ahead in June. Sign up for our newsletter and stay tuned.

Robert Stelmachuk

Robert has crafted some of the country's best wine programs. He is the recipient of Vancouver Magazine's Sommelier of the Year 2020. On top of this he has curated top wine programs for Mott 32, Le Crocodile, Blue Water Cafe, Chambar and The William Tell. He has also contributed to  global wine programs in Las Vegas, Singapore and Hong Kong. He is a graduate of the WSET, ISG and Grand Prix du Sopexa, Robert is currently working towards his Master Sommelier designation.

Robert is a wine guy who never stops learning or challenging himself. He's passionate about flavour! He loves matching dishes with interesting outside the box wines that surprise and delight. While he's had the privilege to taste some of the most expensive bottles in the world, he finds pleasure in shining a light on "good value" and "awesome food and wine pairings". If you are interested in learning how to pairing food and wine follow this guy. It'll go from sublime and outrageous, or the more traditional and classic with no better teacher. Sign up for DimSomm and it's going to take Vancouver's favorite meal into the future.

Thanks for stopping by.

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