With an issue filled with confident female entrepreneurs in and around the world of wine, it seemed only fitting for TN to shine its spotlight on the winery's very own dynamic duo, sommeliers Marnie Harfield and Jackie Cooke. The pair run the Estate Room Tasting Salon and are key to our wine education program. Harfield last worked as an instructor with the International Sommelier Guild and Cooke joined Mission Hill from Whistler's renowned Bearfoot Bistro, a Wine Spectator Grand Award Winner.

The ladies caught the wine bug in very different ways. Harfield's passion evolved during her restaurant career. Ensconced in a small fine dining establishment, she took the opportunity to learn everything she could. That led to her volunteering her time with Richard Harvey, one of Calgary's best-known premium wine retailers/educators. He saw her potential and encouraged her to pursue wine education. Cooke decided the best way to find out more about wine was to embark on an ambitious road trip. After visiting some 55 wineries from the Okanagan Valley to Santa Cruz, she was hooked.

Both women remember that special first glass of wine that led to their new calling. For Harfield it was a glass of Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages sampled in her early 20s. After a long, tiring day, Cooke was blown away by a glass of Campofiorin. She never looked back.

In terms of philosophy for food and wine pairing, the duo have different approaches, but they get to the same place in the end. The more technically trained Harfield believes in two simple guidelines..."match power with power" and "flavour intensity with flavour intensity." By following those principles, she consistently designs successful pairings. Cooke, surely the comedian in the group, believes that successful wine and food pairing works best when "you have dinner with friends who have big wine cellars."

Off duty, Harfield loves to cook. She's a marathon runner, an avid reader and music fan. This summer Cooke has taken to rollerblading and outdoor concerts, not necessarily in that order. TN asked the pair what they wanted to be when they grew up. Harfield said that if she could wave a magic wand, she'd want to be a negociant or perhaps a pilot. Without benefit of the wand, she plans to tackle the difficult Master of Wine (MW) program. Ever practical, Cooke opted for early retirement with a cellar dominated by champagne (which, incidentally, she opens the old fashioned way...with a SWORD, so TN doesn't intend to cross her, ever).