Person stomping grapes in a large fermentation tank at Echo Bay Vineyard.

Meet The Team

Kelsey Rufiange inspecting a wine barrel at Echo Bay Vineyard during sunrise, with a barn and trees in the background.

Kelsey Rufiange

Kelsey leads the small team of Echo Bay in the vineyard and the cellar. Her interest in the wine industry peaked when the family decided to turn the farm into a grape-growing business.

In 2013, as Kelsey travelled to New Zealand to study Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University, the vineyard planting at Echo Bay began. She continued her wine education with subsequent harvests in New Zealand, Australia and the US before returning home. Building upon this knowledge, Kelsey’s curiosity about the natural world leads her to continually experiment with different holistic farming techniques focused on building soil health.

Alongside the classic Bordeaux-style wines Kelsey makes for Echo Bay, she created Else Wines, a side project that satisfies her experimental side in the cellar.

Vineyard landscape with a smiling woman in the foreground, lush grapevines, and scenic mountains in the background.

Kathy Rufiange

Kathy is our vineyard mama! You can find her caretaking amongst the vines or toiling away in the garden. She is the lead family and social convener – and in general, the voice of reason and support around an ever-dynamic and busy vineyard. You’ll most likely get to meet her at the tastings.

Scenic view of Echo Bay Vineyard with lush grapevines and rolling hills under a clear sky.

Mark Rufiange

Mark leads up our business end of things, but this is not to say he doesn’t get his hands dirty! He is our fix-it-man, irrigation expert, logistics ace and arguably his most important role: our head coffee roaster.

Woman smiling at Echo Bay Vineyard with lush grapevines in the background.

Lynda Wallich

Lynda is a nurturer, whether that be the land, the vines or creating tasty treats that make the bellies of the Echo Bay team very happy.

Bryan Wallich

Bryan is a jack-of-all-trades, always curious to build something new or fix anything that breaks. His new expertise is creating fantastic biochar and compost from materials around the property.