Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Featured Winemaker

Sandy Leier

Yes, the power of a female winemaker. Skill, dedication and hard work has brought Sandy to the top of winemaking in the Okanagan.

"I always knew I wanted to work with nature to create something but it wasn’t until I started working with a team of passionate winemakers that I fell in love with making wine.”

Sandy grew up in Kelowna Being surrounded by the abundant fruit trees, vineyards and forests of the Okanagan Valley was her catalyst to pursuing a career in Winemaking. She has a chemistry degree from UBC Okanagan. Today Sandy is the head winemaker at Laughing stock. located on the Naramata Bench.

Laughing Stock was originally founded by David and Cynthia Enns in 1017 they sold the winery to Arterra Wines Canada, Inc. When the results of the Align 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada top wineries was announce Laughing stock came second with
2 Platinum, 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

Platinum – Laughing Stock 2022 Blind Trust Red

Platinum – Laughing Stock 2022 Syrah

Gold – Laughing Stock 2022 Pinot Noir

Gold – Laughing Stock 2022 Portfolio

Gold – Laughing Stock 2020 Market Bubbles

Laughing Stock Vineyards was named Best Performing Small Winery of the Year at the 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada (aka the "All Canadians"). Their medal haul was impressive:

�� 2 Platinum medals

�� 3 Gold medals

�� 1 Silver medal

�� 2 Bronze medals

This recognition highlights their continued excellence, especially as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their flagship Bordeaux-style blend, Portfolio. Not bad for a winery that started with a tongue-in-cheek name and a serious commitment to quality.

In Sandy’s 16 years of winemaking experience, she’s traveled to many wine regions around the world and has had the opportunity to learn from winemakers working with different varieties and terroir. The premium vineyard sites and unique small batch wines here at Laughing Stock drew Sandy to take the role of Winemaker in July of 2022 where she’s excited to experiment with the amphora and concrete eggs to shape some interesting small lots.

Before joining Laughing Stock, Sandy spent 16 years with Andrew Peller Ltd., gaining broad, hands-on experience across multiple brands. She began her career at Sandhill in 2006 as an assistant to winemakers under the mentorship of the legendary Howard Soon. She was soon in charge of managing brands like Peller Estates and Wayne Gretzky Okanagan, and eventually taking the reins at Sandhill when Soon left in 2017.

The assistant winemaker at Laughing Stock is Kaitlyn Berendt . Kaitlyn is an Ontario Gal who sought out the warmer BC sun obtaining a a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from UBC Okanagan. With a love for wine, that we all share, the intersection of science and artistic style lead her to study Enology at Washington State University propelling her forward in her winemaking career. Kaitlyn gained a wealth of international experience working in both New Zealand and Australia, but the draw of the Okanagan was strong, and she found her way back to her new home, excited to put her passion for wine and science to good use focusing on premium wine at Laughing Stock

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Wines of Canada was developed and designed by Robert (Bob) Bell of Whi make or sell wine. Support is welcome as are suggestions and comments; should you see something that needs to be corrected please let us know.