Paph Paradise Orchids
Owner
After earning a degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, Dave Sorokowsky took an unexpected path and spent eight years operating a tropical fish import business. He later returned to school and completed a degree in enology and viticulture at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Dave’s interest in orchids began during his time at Brock, where he started collecting plants “one 2-inch pot at a time.” By the time he graduated, his collection had grown to more than 100 orchids. His combined passions for winemaking and orchids eventually led him to relocate to California, seeking a climate more suitable for both pursuits.
Dave has been growing Paphiopedilum orchids for approximately 20 years and has been actively hybridizing for more than a decade. An accredited American Orchid Society judge, he has earned over 100 awards from both the AOS and the CSA, with many of his award-winning plants serving as key components in his breeding program. In 2018, Dave transitioned fully from winemaking to dedicate himself to running Paph Paradise Orchids, where he continues to focus on breeding and growing exceptional Paphiopedilum hybrids.