Rebecca Ruggeri, Winemaker

Rebecca grew up in Toronto and after graduating with a Degree in Criminology from Carleton University found her love for winemaking while travelling in New Zealand.

She returned to Ontario to complete the Wine & Viticulture Program at Niagara College and completed her first vintage at Pondview Estate Winery in Niagara on the Lake. She incorporated her passion of travel and winemaking to experience vintages at premium wineries all over the world, including Pipers Brook and Devil’s Lair in Australia, Oyster Bay in New Zealand and Gary Farrell in California. Rebecca settled in British Columbia in 2017 with a harvest at Checkmate Winery and spent the last 4 years as the assistant winemaker at Hester Creek Estate Winery.

Rebecca joined Play Estate Winery in May 2022 with an extensive knowledge of cool climate winemaking. She has diverse experience working with many different varietals focusing on small lot premium winemaking.  Rebecca is inspired by the distinctive sense of place of the Okanagan and allowing the fruit to express the unique character of the vineyards. 

Rebecca Ruggeri can be contacted at cellar@playwinery.com.