People Behind the Passion

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars has always been a family operation, started by Jane and Ian Mavety in 1971. Today the passion for their métier is shared by two generations of Mavetys, an assurance that a key principle of the family's viticulture and wine-making practices is carried on - that of consistency. Everyone participates in both vineyard and winery work, sharing talent and knowledge with each other. Here we offer a peek into the lives, philosophies and motivations of the people behind the passion.

Ian Mavety
Ian was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. A self-taught winemaker, Ian practices the adage that "wine-making begins in the vineyard" and that's where he began. As a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, he and his wife Jane immediately went into grape growing, rather than other traditional Okanagan crops that could have thrived on the land that is now Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars.

Ian's style of land husbandry makes him a perfect viticulturist. Years of gained knowledge in how to adapt to annual weather changes and produce fruit of similar character and concentration annually is how he achieves the highest level of consistency and quality in the wine.

His sense of curiosity and pursuit of knowledge lead him beyond the farming and into the crafting of wine itself. Ian would say that he could not have mastered that craft without the intimate awareness of the viticulture. With the scent of the ripened fruit in his mind, he is able to reflect its essence as honestly as possible in the finished wine.
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Jane Mavety
Soon after acquiring their land in 1971, Jane joined in planting it to vineyard. She was an integral part of the farming operations in the early years, completing any tasks that needed doing. When the company was providing grapes to valley wineries, Jane managed the sales operation. As Blue Mountain started to produce wine, then as today, both Jane and Ian shared jobs in vineyard and cellar. Jane spearheaded the marketing activities of the company as the first vintage was to be released and sold, and continues to be the marketing and administrative strength in the operation.

Jane and Ian raised their children on the estate. The vineyard and adjacent forest preserve served as Matt and Christie's playground throughout their childhood.
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Matt Mavety
Matt's first serious work in the vineyard started at age 14 as a part-time job while in high school. Hooked by the field, so to speak, Matt followed his father's course, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of British Columbia. He majored in Agricultural Economics. Matt had the good fortune to study viticulture and oenology on a student exchange at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. Upon graduation from university in 1997, he started working full-time with Blue Mountain.

A favored aspect of Matt's work is the time spent in the vineyards, but he says it wouldn't have as much meaning if it wasn't part of "the complete package" - the full process of turning fruit to wine and capturing the season in its qualities. When he tastes a vintage, the memory of the particular season is recalled.
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