It was another sold-out event for this past Fireside Chat at the beautiful Shangri-La Hotel with David and Cynthia Enns, owners of Laughing Stock Vineyards!

David started his career as a financial planner before focusing on mutual fund distribution and sales management with United Financial Management and BPI Mutual Funds. Cynthia has a background in marketing and finance, having worked as a mortgage pool advisor at Samoth Capital Corporation before joining Discovery Capital, a Vancouver-based venture capital firm, as marketing manager. In 20013, David and Cynthia purchased a 5-acre plot on the Naramata Bench in 2003 in pursuit of their dream to open a winery.

Now, a decade later, Laughing Stock’s wines routinely place in top award competitions among producers of premium BC wine. Laughing Stock Vineyards has been named as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine’s 2012 PROFIT 200 ranking and included in PROFIT Magazine’s 2008 Hot 50 List.

Our guests were entertained and inspired by David and Cynthia’s story of transition from finance to viticulture and their path to becoming one of British Columbia’s top wine producers.

David and Cynthia’s shared with guests their top 10 lessons they have learned in the wine business, which included the following highlights:

• Lesson #1 - Working with your spouse can be a bit of a challenge
• Lesson #2 - In the wine business, location is everything
• Lesson #3 – Doing things differently
• Lesson #4 – Ask for help from professional when you need it
• Lesson #5 – Sold out means sold out
• Lesson #6 – Making serious wine with a lighthearted attitude

Our guests at this event were treated to an exquisite wine tasting by Laughing Stock Vineyards which included their flagship wine, Portfolio.

Thank you to the tremendous support from our community and our sponsor, Macmillan, our Fireside Chat was again a complete success!