Winemaking at Featherstone
Winemaking and grape growing are both scientific and intuitive processes. Featherstone wines reflect the special character of the grapes, as well as the artistry of the winemaker, and are pointedly food-oriented, rich, clean and brisk.
As both vineyard manager and winemaker, Kevin Qin is able to work throughout the growing season to enhance the grapes’ natural attributes, ensuring that at harvest he can create exceptional wine with minimal winemaking embellishments.
The vineyard will only yield enough grapes to produce limited amounts of small- lot wines. It is not our goal to buy more vineyard or to expand our production beyond our current level of hands-on, artisanal wine production.
Featherstone was one of the first wineries to embrace Canadian oak barrels, producing an exceptional barrel-fermented Canadian Oak Chardonnay in 2002. Until recently, oak from Canada had rarely been considered for winemaking, making the integration of wine and oak grown within the same climate and region an exciting and pioneering concept.
Under the ownership of Rayla and George Myhal, Featherstone has continued to expand this vision and now holds the winery’s largest purchase of Canadian oak barrels to date. Featherstone is also proud to work with the only Ukrainian oak barrels currently in use in North America, a meaningful connection to heritage, craftsmanship, and the winery’s ongoing spirit of innovation.
Head Winemaker | Cellar Captain & Grape Whisperer:
Kevin Qin
Kevin Qin is the Head Winemaker and resident liquid alchemist at Featherstone Estate Winery. A proud graduate of the Niagara College Winery & Viticulture program, Kevin joined the Featherstone family back in 2014 and has practically grown alongside the vines ever since.
He actually started his journey greeting guests in retail, meaning he knows the property inside and out, before steadily trading the tasting bar for the cellar floor and harvest leadership. Over the last decade, Kevin has masterminded production, playing a pivotal role in shaping the award-winning wines that define Featherstone today.
During the chaos of harvest, Kevin is famously the first one to dive into the cellar in the morning and the absolute last to leave at the end of a long crush day. He brings a hands-on, detail-obsessed approach to every single vintage, perfectly balancing technical wizardry with a deep respect for the unique character of the Twenty Mile Bench.
Kevin also brings a massive amount of heart to the team. After more than ten years of pure dedication, his evolution to Head Winemaker is the ultimate, well-earned next chapter—and he’s ready to keep pouring his passion into crafting expressive, unforgettable Niagara wines
Junior Winemaker | Gamay Guru & Cellar Hustler:
Bruce Sawchuk
Bruce "Gamay" Sawchuk is the Junior Winemaker and rising star of the cellar at Featherstone Estate Winery. A graduate of the Niagara College Winery & Viticulture Program, Bruce first rolled into Featherstone as an eager practicum student and fit in so perfectly that Rayla simply refused to let him leave.
From his very first day handling barrels, Bruce became legendary for his unstoppable curiosity, powerhouse work ethic, and a fearless willingness to tackle any task—especially when the fast-paced madness of harvest hits. Working side-by-side with the winemaking crew, he’s had his hands in every single part of the process, from the first fruit intake and bubbling fermentations to the final magic of blending and bottling.
In April 2026, Bruce earned a well-deserved promotion to Junior Winemaker, a testament to his incredible growth and cellar dedication. He brings a thoughtful, hands-on energy to the winery, perfectly blending his technical school smarts with real-deal, muddy-boots experience.
Bruce continues to master his liquid craft and is an essential part of the engine crafting precise, high-quality wines that show off the absolute best of the Twenty Mile Bench.