AUDREY SURRAO


Audrey Surrao has built a strong foundation in the food and wine industry working in key management positions with some of Canada’s leading hoteliers.


She was part of the opening team, with Chef Butters, at the world-renowned Chateau Whistler where she held the position of Director of Catering and Conference Services.  Her hospitality and organizational talents were challenged with coordinating and creating high-end guest experiences for clients ranging from big business to celebrity visitors at the resort.  With 18,000 sq. feet of conference and dining spaces, and parties ranging from intimate to thousands, Audrey’s task was to organize and ensure that their dining experience was second to none.

Audrey was also part of the transitional team for Metropolitan Hotel when they took over the Delta Hotel in Vancouver.  As Director of Catering she helped to facilitate the food and beverage departments and was recognized for both her creative solutions and organizational ability at the hotel.


One of the most inspiring landscapes was to be the background for her role as a key member of the Executive Management Team at the Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island.  Both she and Chef Butters were integral to creating the foundation to establish the Wickaninnish Inn as one of the finest hotels & restaurants in the world.


One of her proudest moments has been working with Chef Butters to  establish Fresco, an award-winning, critically acclaimed restaurant here in Kelowna that was a success story for 8 years and now, to bring RauDZ© to the Kelowna dining scene.


She holds her WSET certification, an Internationally recognized wine and spirits certification. This certification is designed to give thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the principal wines and spirits of the world combined with commercial factors and a thorough system for the professional evaluation of wines and spirits.


Passionate about the local wine industry, Audrey can be found conversing with winemakers throughout the region, constantly on the lookout for the “next great wine.”  She maintains 150+ wine labels in the RauDZ© cellar with 90% local wines.


Audrey’s palate is recognized with area vintners and organizations requesting her presence on wine judging panels, and she recently participated in a twitter wine tasting event where she was able to share her enthusiasm for wine with not only the panel on twitter but her guests in the restaurant.