Our Team

Shauna Hansen – MANAGING PARTNER​

Shauna has been in the beverage business (primarily wine) her entire career. She first developed her passion for the wine business working in the cellars of a local winery while attending University of Calgary, and upon graduation, she was one of the first Gallo employees in Canada and worked in several positions across BC and Alberta. While living in BC, she also spent 5 years working for a national domestic winery. Shauna has gained valuable experience on the marketing side of the business having spent time with Coors Canada where she managed trade and grassroots marketing programs in the province of Alberta for the Coors Light brand. In 1999 she joined Rosemount Estates to manage their business across Western Canada as the Australia category was starting to explode. She then continued on in Vice Presidential sales and marketing positions as the company evolved to Southcorp and Foster’s Wine Group until 2008.

Shauna believes that the corner stones of success in the wine business are strong customer relationships, a solid business understanding of the industry and trade channels and a never-ending desire to continue learning and improving.

Every bit of her free time is spent riding her horses in the mountains of Alberta, walking with her dogs and enjoying the great outdoors.

Matt Thirlwell – MANAGING PARTNER​

Matt’s career in the drinks industry began in 1997 in a private retail shop in Alberta, where he quickly developed a passion for the business. In 1999 he joined a large and successful national sales agency where he learned about the business from the ground up and travelled internationally visiting suppliers and vineyards in key wine producing countries. 

Matt has been an integral part of the western Canadian drinks industry in leadership roles for over 20 years. He spent 10 years with the global wine group Southcorp/Foster’s Wine Estates in various positions including National Accounts, Sales Management and Vice President of Sales for Western Canada. Matt and Shauna founded Vintage West together in 2009 and are proud to have built a successful business throughout western Canada with their loyal and driven sales teams and fantastic supplier partnerships from around the world. Matt’s strengths include a strong business acumen, a results-orientated approach and a collaborative outlook that has been the foundation of his success in the business. Matt’s excitement and enthusiasm for the wine & spirits world makes him one of the lucky few to have fallen into a career he loves.

Tammy Hutton – Director of Marketing

Tammy is a marketing and brand professional who thrives at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and relationship-building. With over a decade of experience, she has built a career on elevating brands, supporting teams, and creating meaningful connections between products and the people who experience them. Whether she’s analyzing data, or working closely with brands and clients, she brings a combination of precision, creativity, and genuine care to everything she does.

Her previous roles include Senior Marketing Manager with Pacific Wine & Spirits, Marketing Co-Ordinator for the University of Calgary Downtown Campus, and Member Services Manager with World Health.

Tammy holds a Certificate in Professional Management and a Marketing Certificate from the University of Calgary, along with the WSET Level I Certificate, reflecting her passion for continuous learning.

Outside of the office, Tammy enjoys spending time with her dog Linkin, being active either at the gym or on the golf course, reading, and experimenting in the kitchen with dishes that inspire her creativity.

Andrea Smeke – Marketing Manager

Andrea’s journey in the marketing realm spans across various global companies, where she has adeptly managed brands in Latin America, the US, and Canada. With a diverse portfolio ranging from spirits to wines, Andrea has honed her expertise in brand management, having steered major tequila brands, flavored spirits, ready-to-drink beverages, and wines for well-known companies such as Casa Cuervo (Proximo Spirits) and other prominent players in the industry, as well as obtaining her certification for WSET Level 1 and 2 in Wines. Her recent endeavors have seen her orchestrating the success of numerous alcohol brands across the US and Canada, crafting each with a distinct narrative and curating unforgettable consumer experiences.

Andrea’s skill set extends beyond conventional marketing strategies; she seamlessly navigates the digital landscape while excelling in traditional marketing, event management, and public relations.

Outside the boardroom, Andrea finds solace in the outdoors, often accompanied by her beloved dogs and partner. Whether it’s exploring Vancouver’s scenic seawall or embarking on invigorating runs, Andrea finds inspiration in nature’s embrace.

Patricia Casanova – BC Sales Director

Patricia brings over 30 years of experience within the beverage alcohol industry – touching on all 4 Western Canadian provinces. Her career began at Andres Wines as a promotions coordinator, but quickly morphed into a sales rep role, where her love of wine sales took her to Medallion Wines and Southcorp. From there, she then assumed greater responsibility at Maxxium Canada, and then at Dandurand, first as BC Sales Director and later as GM Western Canada, where she remained for 14 years. After a very brief stint developing the Dandurand-Cannabis business in Western Canada, she returned to the wine world, this time managing an Italian wine importer – Ethica Wines – across Canada.

Patricia claims the very best part of her job has been meeting, working with, and being inspired by the incredible people in the industry across the globe. Next to that has been the privilege of visiting wineries/distilleries in over 11 countries spanning 4 continents and meeting some of the world’s most renowned wine makers.

Paul Lymer – Prairies Sales Director

Paul brings over 15 years of experience within the alcohol beverage industry spanning across all four Western Canada provinces. His career started with Fosters/Treasury Wine Estates where he quickly assumed roles with increasing responsibility including Director of Sales for Western Canada. Paul then transitioned into an Agency model where he managed a portfolio of over 50 suppliers for Western Canada. Most recently Paul gained valuable experience with the domestic wine business representing several wineries from the Okanagan Valley.

During Paul’s career he has had the opportunity to sell some of the world’s most recognized wineries, as well as small local wineries. This has also provided Paul with the opportunity to visit several wine regions around the globe, including Australia, Italy, France, USA, and of course Canada. Paul has also previously served as a Board member for the Alberta chapter of the IVSA.

In Paul’s spare time you can find him enjoying spending time with his family, hanging out in the kitchen trying to improve his culinary skills, or discovering another great bottle of wine. Paul is also an avid walker and sports fan. If he’s not talking about wine or spirits, then he’s probably talking about football.

Leanne Andrews – Financial Administration

Leanne’s background is in the financial services industry.  After a career of 22 years in administration and management roles with BMO/BMO Private Banking, and a 7-year hiatus as a stay- at- home mom, she joined Vintage West in 2015. Working closely with Matt and Shauna, as well as with our partner suppliers, Leanne manages ‘all things financial’. Her eye for detail, love of numbers, and impeccable organizational skills means she has a keen eye on the bottom line, ensuring no penny gets left behind. Leanne lives in Calgary with her artist husband Keith, 2 adult children Lauren and Brendan and dogs Tessa and Coco. When away from her desk she enjoys travel, good food, great wine, and the company of close friends.

Siddhant (Sid) Kushare – Logistics and operations Manager

With over seven years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry, Sid brings deep expertise in logistics, procurement, and regulatory compliance. After earning his master’s degree in business management, he began his career with leading organizations such as ContainerWorld and Direct Tap, where he built a strong foundation in import/export operations, supply chain management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Sid has worked closely with key regulatory bodies including CBSA, BCLDB, AGLC, and various provincial agencies, developing extensive knowledge of alcohol regulation and compliance across Canada.

A people-first leader, Sid thrives in team environments that value communication, collaboration, and mutual respect. His approachable, solution-oriented mindset fosters positive work cultures where teams feel empowered and supported. Known for his strategic thinking and operational excellence, Sid consistently drives strong results in inventory and supply chain management.

Beyond work, Sid enjoys the outdoors — hiking, playing cricket and soccer. Also, continues to pursue his lifelong passion for vintage cars.