Kismet Estate Winery’s Manpreet Dhaliwal Named to the
BCBusiness 30 Under 30 Class of 2026
Canada’s first and only South Asian female head winemaker recognized for
leadership shaping Kismet’s next chapter in the South Okanagan
Kismet Estate Winery announces that Head Winemaker Manpreet Dhaliwal has been named a BCBusiness 30 Under 30 honouree, recognizing British Columbia’s emerging leaders and changemakers. The announcement comes ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, spotlighting Dhaliwal’s leadership as Canada’s first and only South Asian female head winemaker.
Dhaliwal leads winemaking at Kismet, the family-run, BC VQA-certified winery in Oliver, B.C., where the Dhaliwal family farms 600+ acres of vineyards across the South Okanagan. Her path into wine began with a pivotal moment for the family business. Trained as a practical nurse and working in health care during the pandemic, she returned home to support Kismet during a demanding harvest and stepped into the cellar to learn winemaking from the ground up. In 2023, she became Head Winemaker at age 26, bringing a focused, detail-driven approach to Kismet’s estate-grown portfolio.
Under her leadership, Kismet’s wines have earned strong early momentum, with recent vintages receiving Platinum, Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition across multiple releases, including 2024 Phulkari Rosé, 2022 Cabernet Franc Reserve, 2021 Moksha, 2024 Sitara Frizzante, and 2022 Mantra. Kismet has also seen continued growth in direct-to-consumer performance, including increased wine club membership and year-over-year gains in on-site visitation.
“Being named to BCBusiness 30 Under 30 is an honour, especially because this work is so connected to family, place, and the people who show up for us,” says Manpreet Dhaliwal, Head Winemaker, Kismet Estate Winery. “I’m proud of what we’ve built so far, and I’m even more excited about what’s ahead this season as we release new wines and welcome guests back to the winery and Manzil.”
“Manpreet has always had a calm confidence, and a level of precision that you cannot teach,” says Balwinder Dhaliwal, Co-Founder, Kismet Estate Winery. “She cares deeply about quality, and she’s raising the bar for what Kismet can be. We are proud to see her recognized, and proud of the leadership she brings to our family business every day.”
To mark Dhaliwal’s 30 under 30 recognition, Kismet Estate Winery will host a ticketed Red Carpet Winemaker’s Dinner on Friday, April 18, 2026 at 6pm in The Hangar event space at the winery. The evening will feature a seated, multi-course dinner from Manzil Restaurant with paired wines, a red carpet photo opportunity, and a signed bottle of wine for each guest. Tickets are $150 per person and are available here.
CBC: Uncorking Tradition
Marking International Women’s Day, CBC is releasing a feature on the Dhaliwal sisters, hosted by Raj Thandhi, a Surrey-based food storyteller whose work celebrates South Asian stories rooted in heritage and place. The segment highlights how Neelam and Manpreet Dhaliwal are honouring Punjabi culture through their work at Kismet and bringing a new voice to the South Okanagan wine landscape.
What’s Ahead in 2026
The 2026 season marks a major hospitality and product chapter for Kismet. This spring, the winery will introduce the Virsa Series, a limited, annual release that reflects Dhaliwal’s most personal expression as a winemaker and Kismet’s quality-first, vineyard-led approach. Virsa, meaning “heritage” or “legacy,” is crafted from the top 1% of each vintage and will change year to year based on growing conditions and winemaking decisions, rather than a fixed varietal or blend. The inaugural release will be limited to 58 cases.
“The wines we’re bottling now are tasting so expressive. The whites and rosés are aromatic and vibrant, with bright tropical fruit character from a hot, sunny vintage,” says Dhaliwal. “I’m especially excited about our new 2025 Viognier Reserve, a 50-case, wine club-only release fermented cold in stainless steel for a fresh, fruit-forward style. And yes, the rosés are back, including Phulkari by popular demand. On the red side, the 2022 Syrah is bold yet polished, with great ageing potential.”
Guests can also expect refreshed tasting experiences built around the meaning and inspiration behind Kismet’s wine names, along with continued momentum at Manzil, the winery’s on-site Indian restaurant and patio, with pairing-driven programming throughout the season. This summer will also see the addition of on-site accommodations.
Now open for the season, Kismet Estate Winery is open for wine purchases Monday to Friday (12:00pm to 4:00pm). Weekend wine tastings and small bites are available at Manzil Indian Restaurant Saturday and Sunday (12:00pm to 7:00pm).
About Kismet Estate Winery:
Kismet Estate Winery is a family-owned winery in Oliver, B.C., the Wine Capital of Canada, producing award-winning wines from estate-grown fruit farmed by the Dhaliwal family across 600 acres in the South Okanagan. Kismet was founded with a clear focus on quality over quantity, selecting the top 10% of fruit from across the family’s vineyards to craft premium BC wines that reflect both the region and the people behind them.
Head Winemaker Manpreet Dhaliwal leads Kismet’s winemaking program, bringing a precise, thoughtful approach that balances tradition with innovation. Guests can experience Kismet through the tasting room, wine clubs, and Manzil Restaurant, the winery’s on-site culinary destination.
Rooted in Indian hospitality and designed for B.C.’s wine country, Manzil is led by a South Asian female-driven team, including Operations Manager Neelam Dhaliwal and Winemaker Manpreet Dhaliwal. The restaurant features regional Indian dishes that are rare in North America, made with local ingredients and layered, vibrant flavours. Shared plates, wine pairings, and craft cocktails make Manzil a natural extension of the Kismet experience.
Learn more at kismetestatewinery.com and follow @kismetwines.