Winemakers • Chaberton Estate Winery
Meet Our Winemakers.
Gary (Gennadi) Zhygailo
Winemaker
Snapshot
- 2002—Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science
- 2003—Master’s Degree in Fermentation and Winemaking Technology
- 2016—Joined our Team
biography
Gary joined the Chaberton Team as a cellar assistant in August of 2016 and has now taken the position of winemaker here at Chaberton Estate Winery.
Growing up in the south of the Ukraine in a wine region not far from the Black Sea, Gary has always loved the beauty in living and raising a family surrounded by vineyards. He has a passion for new world Sauvignon Blanc with notes of tropical fruits and the big bold Bordeaux style reds.
Graduating from Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science in 2002 and a Master’s Degree in Fermentation and Winemaking Technology in 2003, Gary was hired on as a cellar hand at one of the largest wineries in the Ukraine. During his tenure from 2003-2009 he was promoted to assistant winemaker and then to cellar manager.
Before joining us at Chaberton, he worked in several areas of the wine industry, including as an oenologist and technical sales representative for a French producer of oenology equipment.
Outside of work, Gary loves to spend time with his family, including his three young children, camping, playing soccer, and watching hockey. He is a big fan of Dynamo Kyiv and, of course, the Vancouver Canucks.
Simi Bering
Assistant Winemaker
Snapshot
- 2016—Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, University of Victoria
- 2021—Joined our Team
- 2025—Winemaking Certificate, UC Davis
biography
Simi’s journey into winemaking is guided by both science and heart. She joined Chaberton Estate Winery in the summer of 2021 as a cellar hand, eager to learn every detail of the vineyard-to-glass process. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology from the University of Victoria (2016), she was naturally drawn to the precision and chemistry behind fermentation. In 2025, she completed her Winemaking Certificate through the University of California, Davis, further deepening her technical knowledge and confidence in the cellar.
Born and raised in Surrey, BC, Simi comes from a family who immigrated from Punjab, India in the 1970s. She credits them for her resilience, curiosity, and the strong work ethic that continues to shape her path.
In 2024, she crafted her first solo wine, the 2024 Madeleine Angevine — a milestone she describes as both humbling and empowering. She’s especially inspired by wines that tell a story, from the elegance of Barrel Aged Chardonnay to the layered complexity of Meritage.
Outside the winery, Simi loves snowboarding, travelling, and exploring new restaurants and recipes with her husband — always finding new ways to connect people through food and wine.