Before becoming Canada’s first (and potentially only!) South Asian female head winemaker at age 26, Manpreet Dhaliwal was studying nursing at Okanagan College. She was managing the tasting room at her family’s business, Kismet Estate Winery, during her summers, but was more focused on her medical career and her side hustle making custom cakes.
But in 2022, an unusually heavy harvest meant Dhaliwal’s uncle, then Kismet’s winemaker, needed all hands on deck, landing her in the cellar learning everything from the ground up. She fell in love with winemaking and went on to complete her WSET Level 3 award in wines. When her uncle stepped back in 2023, Dhaliwal was ready to take over.
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Now at 28, she’s bringing more than representation to the male-dominated industry. In her first few years as head winemaker, she’s seen major success. Beyond producing award-winning wines, Kismet has grown its wine club by 35 percent under Dhaliwal’s leadership. “The recognition I received very early on helped knock off some of the imposter syndrome,” she says. “It helped validate that this isn’t a space for just men.”
Kismet Estate Winery, a family-owned and operated winery in Oliver, blends Punjabi heritage with Okanagan terroir. The winery plans to expand the wine club and direct-to-consumer channels by 50 percent in the coming years, while continuing to push new vintages—like their first sparkling wine, Sitara, among others. Dhaliwal hopes to see Kismet become a household name with a reputation for commitment to excellence and diversity.
On breaking barriers
“You will be challenged at first. You will be questioned. But you do deserve it and can do it. No one’s going to invite you to the table. It’s there for you to go and take that seat.”
See the full list of our 2026 30 Under 30 winners here.
