It was 2004 when proprietor Eric Savics first visited this vineyard site and tasted the Rieslings being made at the time. He quickly fell in love with the wines and the quiet ravine and forest that anchor this unique piece of land.

The following year the first vintage of Tantalus was released, and since then we have grown from a focused Riesling house to crafting quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and fine sparkling now, too. Wines that Eric and our team are proud to share each year with family, friends and of course, our loyal customers.

Born in Latvia but raised in Western Canada, Eric's successful investment career spanned years in Toronto and Vancouver and coexisted with a passion for mountaineering in Canada, Europe, and the Chinese Himalayas. (Thus, the affinity for B.C.'s Tantalus mountain range.)

Before diving into B.C.'s wine world, Eric had a first foray into the hospitality business as partner in Toronto's Palmerston Restaurant with celebrated Chef Jamie Kennedy. Fond days with a great and now close friend.

Fast forward to a return to the west coast and it was his time on the Vancouver Art Gallery board that connected him to Dempsey Bob and, as we've shared before, this friendship became the inspiration for our labels.

Splitting his time now between Vancouver (where he is Honorary Consul to Latvia), Kelowna and travels abroad, it's Eric's passion for art and wine that remain the foundation for winemaker David Paterson and our team to grow and craft expressive and distinctive wines here in the Okanagan.

It takes steadfastness and great vision to move forward in a business so defined by the risks of farming (good wine helps, too!) and we couldn’t ask for a more supportive guide.

As Tantalus' General Manager and Winemaker, David Paterson brings a unique blend of Kiwi roots and Canadian ties to the world of winemaking. Born in Vancouver but raised in New Zealand, he earned his winemaking degree from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ. After gaining hands-on experience at Neudorf Vineyards in the local NZ industry, David embarked on a global wine journey, refining his craft at renowned wineries.

Throughout his international adventures, David had the privilege of learning from esteemed mentors, including Anna Matzinger at Oregon's Archery Summit, Blair Pethel at Burgundy's Domaine Dublère, and Stephen Henschke and Paul Hampton at South Australia’s Henschke Cellars.

With a wealth of knowledge accumulated from these diverse experiences, David joined Tantalus in 2009, stepping into the role of winemaker. His tenure saw multiple successful vintages, leading to his expansion of responsibilities to include the position of General Manager in 2016.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Stephanie Mosley found her way to Tantalus in 2010 following work and travels through some of the world’s great wine regions. With a background in journalism and publishing, she joined the team during a key stage in the winery’s growth, helping shape Tantalus’ marketing, design, and communications.

As the winery expanded, so did her role. Today, Stephanie also oversees sales and distribution—nurturing trade and media relationships and ensuring Tantalus wines reach key markets.

Her passion for brand-building extends beyond wine. During her time at Tantalus, she co-founded two breweries—one in Melbourne and another locally in Kelowna—where she served as co-owner and brand manager.

This mix of experience across wine, beer, media, and sales gives Stephanie a unique perspective on connecting people with the authentic stories behind the glass.

Originally from Victoria, Scott’s academic studies took him
to Montreal in 2008 to study Environmental Sciences. Discovering a passion for wine, he then relocated to Niagara in 2013 to continue his education in the Viticulture and Oenology program at Brock University.  

He joins the Tantalus team after nearly a decade in the industry, learning his trade in the cellar and vineyard from several well-regarded Niagara wineries such as Malivoire, Tawse, Henry of Pelham, Leaning Post Wines and Angel’s Gate. He complemented these experiences with overseas vintages at Terindah Estate in Australia in 2017 and 2018. Passionate about wine, and especially Riesling, Tantalus offered the opportunity he had been seeking to expand his horizon westward, back to beautiful BC.

Growing up in Calgary and following a stint in Victoria for university, Alexa moved to Kelowna and officially made British Columbia her home in 2020, initially coming to the area to pursue a teaching degree. Very quickly she fell in love with the region and the access to great wines and amazing vineyard experiences and got her start in tasting rooms soon after. 

After contributing to the hospitality experiences at a number of other reputable producers in the region from 2020 until 2024, Alexa made her way onto the Tantalus team in the Spring of 2025 after deciding it was finally time to pursue a full-time career in wine. It didn’t hurt that she had also been a fan of Tantalus since moving to BC.  In the Winter of 2026, she was given the opportunity to become the Tasting Room Manager which she eagerly took on. 

Alexa loves people, both the people she works with and guests who come to the winery. While she does not necessarily use her teaching degree, the skills she built from that experience as well as her background in literature and history allow her to share her passion for wine in an informative and engaging way. She tries her best to lead with kindness, and grace, while creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both guests and employees. 

Born and raised in Kelowna, Ben joined Tantalus in 2019 after a brief career in Calgary’s corporate jungle. New to the world of wine, Ben quickly fell in love with helping visitors in the Tasting Room and learning about viticulture and oenology from our passionate team. What began as a temporary position has blossomed into an integral role with various responsibilities both front and back of house. On any given day, you can find Ben wearing several hats here at Tantalus, from pouring wine for customers and coordinating our private orders to handling our HR needs and on-site safety protocols.