On July 19, Wine Growers Canada (WGC) held its annual Canadian Wine Industry Awards, to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support and enhance the wine industry in Canada.
They celebrated the success, leadership and outstanding commitment in Canada’s grape wine industry. The industry was thrilled to hold the awards ceremony in-person for the first time since 2019, with industry professionals from across the country in attendance, as well as wine country Members of Parliament to celebrate the recipients’ achievements.
This year’s distinguished recipients were:
- Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – Jay Wright and John Howard
- Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award – Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau and the Parliamentary National Wine Caucus
- The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award – Jean-Laurent “J-L” Groux
The Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction is regarded as the highest form of peer recognition and appreciation in the Canadian wine industry. The award is presented to an individual or family who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and passion for the advancement of the Canadian wine industry. The 2023 award was presented jointly to Jay Wright, former president and CEO at Arterra Wines Canada, and John Howard, owner and founder of Megalomaniac Winery.
“This being the first in-person Canadian Wine Industry Awards in a number of years, Wine Growers Canada was overwhelmed by the quality and number of nominations received this year,” said Kelly Brown, chair of WGC. “This year, our national industry committee unanimously voted to have two individuals receive the Award of Distinction: Jay Wright and John Howard.”
Over the past two decades, Wright’s pioneering legacy has helped take the Canadian wine industry to new heights. A passionate advocate and champion for VQA wine, Wright played a key role in growing the VQA premium Canadian wine category and supporting the overall growth of the entire Canadian wine industry.
Howard’s background in business and his entrepreneurial attitude led to the growth of two of Niagara’s most respected and well-known wineries – Vineland Estates Winery and Megalomaniac Winery – from small start-up businesses into iconic brands and destinations known for their award-winning wines and superb hospitality. He has been an integral part of the development of the Niagara Escarpment as a coveted viticultural area and a must-visit tourism destination in Niagara wine country.
The Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award is presented to an individual who has provided exemplary support to the Canadian wine industry through media, research, policy or advocacy, significantly contributing to the overall strength and long-term viability of the industry. The award recognizes the extensive community of Canadian wine champions who are passionate about Canadian wine and industry prosperity beyond those employed directly in the industry. The 2023 award was presented jointly to Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau and the Parliamentary National Wine Caucus.
“This year, our national industry awards committee knew that, if there was one sole initiative that made the greatest impact on every grape winery across Canada, it was the implementation of the federal government’s Wine Sector Support Program,” said Dan Paszkowski, president and CEO of WGC. “The Wine Sector Support Program is the direct result of the unwavering support and dedication from the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and a long list of Members of Parliament from every political party in wine ridings across Canada.”
Minister Bibeau is passionate about the prosperity of rural Canada, rural tourism and destination development, and is the first woman to hold the role of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
At the awards ceremony, which took place at the White Oaks Hotel & Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Francesco Sorbara, MP for Vaughan-Woodbridge and chair of the Parliamentary National Wine Caucus, thanked the industry for this coveted award on behalf of the wine caucus and Minister Bibeau, who was in Eastern Canada attending the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers’ Conference.
“Wine Caucus chair Francesco Sorbara’s support has been instrumental not only in the establishment of the Wine Sector Support Program, but across a range of policy files,” said Paszkowski. “He has been resolute in his support of the Canadian wine industry and is so incredibly deserving of this award.”
The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award was created in 2018 to celebrate great Canadian winemakers, in honour of the legacy of the late Karl Kaiser, a Canadian wine industry pioneer and one of the founding winemakers of the modern Canadian wine industry. The 2023 award was presented to Niagara-based J-L Groux, the founding winemaker of Stratus Vineyards.
Groux’s contributions to the Canadian wine industry have made him a Canadian wine legend. He has introduced new grape varieties to Canadian vineyards, and experimented with a range of viticultural practices and winemaking techniques that have benefited winemakers across Canada. His passion for sustainable practices is something he readily shares with fellow winemakers.
“His passion for precision viticulture, sustainable practices and the art of blending have made a critical mark on terroir-driven, appellation-focused wines across Canada,” said Paszkowski.
