Discovering Domaine Artema & the Woman Behind the LabelWait... What Did I Just Taste? It was the 2025 Osoyoos Oyster Festival. Coastal briny oysters, warm Osoyoos sunshine, and somewhere between slurping the shells and sipping wine, a table of bubbles and whites on ice stopped me in my tracks. Stefanie Dylla, WinemakerStéfanie Dylla, originally from Ottawa, is the winemaker and host of my tasting at Domaine Artema. As I was about to discover, she is one of the most focused, technically gifted winemakers currently working in BC. The wine had already told me something at the festival; now Stéfanie was going to tell me the rest.  Let me taste this again. I took a sip. Put it down. Picked it up again. The sign said “Domaine Artema”—decidedly French in its branding. But who was behind this label? In a valley still finding its footing after years of frost and fire, someone launched a new brand with much poise. Craft. The wine was bright, fresh, and polished in a way that felt deliberate—not lucky. So, I did what any self-respecting wine gal would do. I asked questions, found the website, and discovered the winemaker was a woman: Stéfanie Dylla. This year, ahead of the 2026 festival season, I made an appointment to visit the winery and the maker behind the mystery. I’ll be honest, the drive to this Oliver estate on the Black Sage Bench, I was expecting a new winery discovery. What I found was a familiar location with a completely fresh look and a woman who had quietly, methodically, and very intentionally built something special right under the valley's nose. A Beautiful Vibe - Art, Music & Wine The location felt familiar. I’d stood on this sandy soil before, back when it was Desert Hills. It was to meet Anthony Buchannan for the first time. But this era has passed and the energy has shifted. Gone is the big dog, big SUVs and bright colors; in its place its a landscape of white walls, bearing the Fleur de Lys, something that signals an homage to iconic, "Old World" classics. Wow, I find this serendipitous. I host the BC Wine Tasting Challenge where BC wine challenges French classics. Here is a BC winery honouring the birthplace of wine. Stéfanie is doing something bold: she is focusing almost exclusively on Gamay and Chardonnay. On the Black Sage Bench, which is traditionally known for its heavy-hitting reds and blistering heat, choosing Gamay is a statement. It’s a move that says, "We aren't just making what's easy; we’re making what's elegant." Yes there is also Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. But it's the focus on Gamay that strikes a chord. Differentiation. Black Sage Bench As we walked through the vineyards, it was clear this wine gal had a foundation, decades in the making. Stéfanie didn't just wake up one day and decide to make wine on the Black Sage Bench. She paid her dues. From her early days at Everything Wine in North Vancouver to a degree in Viticulture and Oenology at Brock University, her journey has been one of pure grit. She’s worked the harvests in New Zealand and Ontario, but it’s her time in the Okanagan that sharpened her edge. Mentored by industry veterans like Dave Carson at Laughing Stock Vineyards and having refined her craft alongside the likes of Rajen Toor, she brings a "boots-on-the-ground" perspective to every bottle. The Tasting: Village vs. Cru
We sat down to go through the current flight, and the distinction between her labels is where the "Frenchy-French" influence really shines. Stéfanie has adopted the terms of Village and Cru to distinguish styles and price. The Village Wines: These are the "fresh and fruit" expressions. The 2024 Village Sparkling Rosé , 2024 Village Pinot Gris and 2024 Village Gamay Noir are built for the moment—bright, accessible, and singing with the vibrancy of the vintage.
The Cru Wines are the age-worthy selections, crafted from the best plots of the vineyard. The 2022 Gamay Noir Cru is a revelation—deep garnet in color, structured, and a far cry from the "bubblegum" notes that people often associate with Gamay. My apologies for "no picture". I was completely immersed in this tasting and fell in love with these wines. For those who think "the Beaujolais era" ended in the 80s, Stéfanie is here to prove you wrong. By using modern methods—hand-harvesting, careful selection, and thoughtful barrel aging—she is elevating Gamay to a noble status in the Okanagan. Momentum Building The momentum is building. As the 2025 VQA labels roll out, the production is scaling from a boutique 6,000 cases toward a 10,000-case vision. But for the "Good Wine Gal" community, the real excitement is the "what's coming" to the estate. This May, Domaine Artema will open its Bistro, complete with a pizza oven and Frosé. The perfect pairing? Let me know. Make Plans to Visit Domaine Artema Address: 4078 Black Sage Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1 Website: Domaine Artema Phone: (236) 312-6710 Wine Club & Wine Shopping Where You Can Buy Domaine Artema Wine My mission is to find "Good Wine," and sometimes that means looking past the big names to find the quiet craftspeople. Domaine Artema isn't just a new winery; it’s a fresh perspective. If you haven't heard of them yet, you will. Keep an eye out for Stéfanie and her loyal sidekick, Winston (the Lab-Aussie who rarely leaves her side).
You can find their bottles at Save-On-Foods and select private wine stores. If you can make the drive to Oliver and find your place under the gazebo, looking out over the sandy, flat heat of the Bench, with a glass of 2024 Sparkling Rosé in hand. Support our local wineries by visiting, joining the wine club and shopping for BC Wine. Thanks for reading. If you liked this story, please share it with your wine loving friends.
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I'm Good Wine Gal.
I blog about "good wine" and how to find it! Join me on my adventures of finding beautiful wine loving places, people and those special bottles we all get excited about. Archives
May 2026
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Photos from Magnus Reuterdahl, wuestenigel, Fareham Wine