Brand owner Vladimir Skok's education and public sector career in Canada and abroad in culture, development and international relations made its mark. It ignited his deep interest in the conviviality of food, wine and the art of the table. He would often repeat the quote that more has been accomplished with knives and forks than swords and guns.

Stints working in restaurant kitchens, part owner of a ski town restaurant as well as a grape and barrel company deepened his food and wine passion and knowledge. Not being able to keep still, he also organizing international networks, meetings and in fundraisers. All of this reinforced an ease and a flair for engaging people and making them happy, preferably with the help of good local food and wine.

He chose to retire a fulfilling career early, undertook professional develop at University of California’s wine school at Davis and then moved to Niagara wine country. There, while starting to work for various wineries he continued studies at Niagara College Food and Wine Institute. 

This led him to go deeper and establishing a virtual winery, Studio Gamay, as well as pursing the licensee channel for various small Ontario wineries. For now, his focus is on the production of approachable and stylish red wine from the Gamay grape that flourishes so well in the Niagara terroir. Moving his little small-lot operation to the novel and nurturing Niagara Custom Crush Studio, he also acts as the Senior Wine Educator providing laughter-infused tutored wine and charcuterie tastings with visitors. On the road, he works fairs, club tastings and LCBO briefing sessions.