About Us
Lightning Rock Winery has an exceptional reputation both locally and beyond, with highly regarded wines featured in some of Vancouver's top restaurants.
Our guests' five-star reviews are the true testament to our commitment to exceptional wine and hospitality.
When you visit our winery in Summerland, our friendly staff will greet you with open arms, share stories of the wine and winery, and pour some great wine to create a fun and memorable experience.
Our tasting areas offer breathtaking views of the surrounding area, making your visit even more special.
As an independent and small-scale producer, our wines are natural and unique, reflecting the distinct qualities of Summerland and the Okanagan Valley. Our team works with nature and employs natural and organic farming methods to ensure that our grapes are healthy and clean. Our vineyards are all located nearby, with each having its own unique qualities.
We produce less than 3,000 cases of great-tasting wine each year from grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Gamay, and Syrah.
Our winery is situated at the Elysia Vineyard, where we discovered a huge granite rock split in two, rumoured to have been hit by lightning. The rock sits halfway up a volcanic ridge and symbolizes our goal to create exciting and flavorful wines.
Join us at Lightning Rock Winery for an unforgettable experience, where you can enjoy stunning views, delicious wine, and the warmth of our welcoming family atmosphere.
Our Team
Ron Kubek
Owner
Ron stands at the helm of the team as our fearless leader, sales expert and the founder of 3 operating companies. Ron acquired the winery's vineyard sites, overseeing the gradual build of our state-of-the-art facilities on the main property where he and his loving wife, Tracy, reside. He is best known for his pragmatic, lively, can-do (quickly!) approach.
Sébastien Hotte
Vigneron
Sébastien, or Seb for short, is a Washington State University graduate, and certified sommelier from the École Hôtelière des Laurentides who believes in low-intervention winemaking. Seb has worked in the wine industry for several benchmark wineries, is an acting consultant, and also created his own wine label - Sebastien Laurent.
Katrice Sutherland
General Manager
Katrice oversees Lightning Rock's daily operations in the tasting room, wine club and wholesale. She has worked in various positions throughout the wine industry since 2017 specializing in marketing and club management. Katrice is a sommelier in training, with a background in Small Business, and Journalism/ Multi-media Design.
Tracy Kubek
Events Manager
Tracy is an adminstrative professional, the hostess with the mostess, and an incredible mother of four. Tracy manages venue weddings and events, and works in the tasting room. She has an insatiable need to feed everyone her delicious baking, and her contagious laughter is remembered by all who visit our winery.
Kaitlyn Gelbloom
Vineyard/Cellar Team
Kaitlyn is a WSET certified sommelier who has seen various positions in breweries and wineries from service to production. After working in sales in Ontario, she moved to the Okanagan, eager for hands-on experiences. She loves the endless knowledge of the wine industry and the way it connects people.
Kristen Antypowich
Vineyard/Cellar Team
Kristen worked in natural grocers for many years, and understands the importance of quality care. She recently began her career as a wine club manager for a neighboring winery and realized her preference to learn more in the vineyard. She is happiest outside, active, tending to our vines.
Yazid Machane
Vineyard/Cellar Team
Yazid is a pensive, polyglot, philosophical gentleman hailing from Algeria. He famously helped plant the original Canyonview Vineyard site in 2003 and has returned to carefully steward it years later. Give him a wave if you see him enjoying one of his long walks along the winding roads of Summerland.
Stella Oosterhoff
Tasting Room Team
Stella has worked in hospitality across BC for many years. With extensive study, she made her career as a school educator working overseas and in her hometowns of Revelstoke and Nakusp. After maternity leave, she joined the Lightning Rock team part-time, so she can spend ample time with her little one.
Angie Matthews
Tasting Room Team
Angie, short for Angelina, grew up making wine alongside her Italian grandfather. For years, she owned a spa in the Vancouver area and was an avid educator in the wellness industry. She recently moved to the Okanagan and was inspired to return to her roots, completing her WSET1 and Level 2 Masters of Wine.