This year’s distinguished recipients are:

• Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – the Stewart Family
• Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award – Miles Prodan
• The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award – Andrzej Lipiński
• WGBC Leadership Excellence Award – Rhys Pender
• WGBC Ultimate B.C. Wine Ambassador Award – Brynne Dickson
• WGBC Master Marketer Award – Jenna White, That BC Wine Girl

2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards

The Canadian Wine Industry Awards, sponsored by the national accounting, tax and business firm MNP, are presented annually by WGC. They recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support and enhance Canada’s wine industry.

“[The 2026] Canadian Wine Industry Awards have showcased our diverse industry, and everyone at WGC is honoured to recognize the outstanding contribution, dedication and expertise of the winners…. These annual awards celebrate these individuals who have contributed so much to our industry and helped it grow to the $11.5 billion industry it is today,” said Dan Paszkowski, president and CEO, WGC.

The winner of the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction, regarded as one of the highest forms of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry, was the Stewart Family from Quails’ Gate Winery in West Kelowna, B.C. “Early adopters of vinifera in the Okanagan Valley, this fourth-generation farming family, through their dedication to premium quality wines and unique culinary experiences, helped establish the Okanagan Valley as one of North America’s most compelling cool-climate wine regions,” said Paszkowski.

The Wine Industry Champion Award, presented to an individual who has provided exemplary support to the Canadian wine industry through media, policy or advocacy, was given to Miles Prodan.

“[Prodan] led [WGBC] for 14 years, bringing a strategic vision to the role, that connected wine, tourism and regional economic growth. Nationally, he was tenacious in his advocacy supporting interprovincial ,” said Paszkowski. “We’ve seen considerable provincial momentum this past year to permit interprovincial direct-to-consumer wine sales, but it’s important to remember the efforts of all of those, including Miles, who advocated in support of that over many years.”

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 viticultural visionary. The recipient of this year’s award was Andrzej Lipiński of Big Head Wines in Niagara, Ont.

“Founder of Big Head Wines, [Lipiński’s] wines have won medals around the world, most recently winning the prize for the Best Chenin Blanc at Wine Paris 2024,” said Paszkowski. “His pioneering work using appassimento, wild fermentation and a range of other techniques stands out, as do his contributions to the Niagara wine industry more broadly.”

2026 British Columbia Industry Recognition Awards

The WGBC Industry Recognition Awards are presented annually in acknowledgement of outstanding achievements and contributions to the B.C. wine industry. The categories of Leadership Excellence, Ultimate B.C. Wine Ambassador and Master Marketer celebrate individuals who exemplify visionary leadership, champion B.C. wine with passion and authenticity, and set the standard for creativity and impact in marketing and promotion.

“Behind every bottle of B.C. wine is a passionate individual helping to shape something bigger,” said WGBC CEO and president Jeff Guignard. “These awards are about recognizing those who are championing our industry today while building the future of B.C. wine in real time, driven by a shared belief in its incredible potential.”

The Leadership Excellence Award honours a non-winery individual, business or organization whose work has meaningfully advanced the B.C. wine industry and B.C. VQA wine through media, research, policy, regulation, education or advocacy. Past recipients include respected winemakers Séverine Pinte (Le Vieux Pin & LaStella) and Michael Bartier (Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery). This year’s recipient was Rhys Pender, co-owner and winemaker of Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley.

The Ultimate B.C. Wine Ambassador Award celebrates a frontline winery professional who brings passion, knowledge and authenticity to every guest interaction, creating memorable experiences while fostering a positive and engaged team environment. Past recipients include Bram Bolwijn and Robbie Hundertmark. This year’s recipient was Brynne Dickson of CedarCreek Estate Winery.

The Master Marketer Award recognizes an innovative individual or organization that has demonstrated creativity and impact in promoting B.C. wines. Open to wineries, regional wine associations, retailers, restaurants and tourism organizations, this award celebrates those who think beyond the expected to elevate B.C. wine. The 2026 recipient is Jenna White, creator of the brand That BC Wine Girl.

To learn more about the Canadian Wine Industry Awards, visit winegrowerscanada.ca/canadian-wine-industry-awards, and for more details about the WGBC Industry Recognition Awards, visit winebc.com/industry/industry-recognition-awards.

This year’s distinguished award winners are:

• Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – The Founders of Inniskillin
• Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award – Richard Linley
• The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award – Thomas Bachelder

The joint winners of the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – regarded as one of the highest forms of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry – are the founders of Inniskillin: Donald Ziraldo, Karl Kaiser, Gerald Klose and Debi Pratt.

Founded 50 years ago, in July 1975, Inniskillin made history as the first winery in Canada to be granted a winery license since Prohibition. Ziraldo and Kaiser planned and planted the winery’s first vinifera vineyard in 1974, at a time when Canadian wine production was limited to labrusca grapes. Pratt and Klose then joined them, respectively playing pivotal roles in marketing and sales, and in viticulture.

“The complementary skills and knowledge of these four visionaries laid the groundwork for what would become an industry-defining winery, which went on to gain international recognition,” said Dan Paszkowski, president and CEO of Wine Growers Canada. “Winning the prestigious Grand Prix d’Honneur at VinExpo in Bordeaux, France, marked a significant turning point for the industry, showcasing the world-class potential of Canadian winemaking.”

The Wine Industry Champion Award is presented to an individual who has provided exemplary support to the Canadian wine industry through media, research, policy, education or advocacy. The recipient of the 2025 Wine Industry Champion Award was Richard Linley. “[Linley] led industry association Ontario Craft Wineries for 10 years, contributing hugely to the success of Ontario wineries over that period,” said Paszkowski.

The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award celebrates greatly talented Canadian winemakers, in honour of the legacy of the late Karl Kaiser, a Canadian wine industry pioneer and viticultural visionary. The recipient of this year’s award was Thomas Bachelder, an internationally recognized Canadian winemaker and the founding winemaker of Le Clos Jordanne.

“[Bachelder’s] exceptional experience and genius in the production of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay has truly put him on the global winemaking map,” said Paszkowski. “Not only do his wines excel, but further, he is genuinely invested in equipping and mentoring the next generation of winemakers, having been instrumental in the establishment of Ontario’s International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) and always making time for fellow winemakers.”

To learn more about the Canadian Wine Industry Awards, visit winegrowerscanada.ca/canadian-wine-industry-awards/.

The nomination process for the awards is open to all organizations, businesses and individuals in the Canadian grape wine industry. This year, several outstanding nominees were considered for all three award categories, reflecting the dedication and enthusiasm for Canadian grape wines across six provinces from coast-to-coast.

This year, the awards went to a well-known B.C. winery family, an acclaimed wine writer and author, and a winemaker from Nova Scotia who was also recently awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal in recognition of her significant service. WGC president and CEO, Dan Paszkowski, was proud to announce the deserving recipients of the 2024 Canadian Wine Industry Awards:

• Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – The Wyse family, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
• Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award – Natalie MacLean, accomplished Canadian wine expert and journalist
• Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award – Gina Haverstock, Head Winemaker, Devonian Coast Wineries

The Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction

Regarded as the highest form of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry, the winner of the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction was the Wyse family, of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C.

The Wyse family established their vineyard in 1993 and their winery, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, a few years later. Their focus on premium Vintners Quality Alliance wines, environmental stewardship and a welcoming tourism destination has led to praise among their peers, and from consumers and tourists alike. Their use of solar and geothermal energy, installation of electric vehicle charging stations on-site, employment of energy efficient building standards, wine production practices and ultra-efficient irrigation systems, and efforts to promote the conservation of the burrowing owl, are just a few examples of their ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

“The Wyse family’s unwavering focus on premium quality wines, along with their pioneering commitment to the environment, has made an enduring mark on the B.C. wine industry,” said Paszkowski. “The dedication of three generations of their family to an innovative, energy efficient winery, a culinary and wine tourism destination, and to the conservation of the burrowing owl, their winery namesake, leaves a huge legacy on the wider wine industry in British Columbia and across Canada.”

The Wine Industry Champion Award

The Wine Industry Champion Award, presented to an individual who has provided exemplary support to the Canadian wine industry through media, policy or advocacy, was awarded to Ontario-based author and wine expert, Natalie MacLean.

MacLean is a certified sommelier and the author of three best-selling books on wine, lifestyle and responsible wine consumption, as well as a wine instructor, reviewer and frequent guest on all things wine on breakfast and daytime television. She appears regularly on CTV and has won several awards for journalism. She is passionate about demystifying the world of wine and advocating for moderate and responsible wine consumption, actively supporting The Right Amount, an initiative aimed at informing Canadians about drinking in moderation, including how to calculate how many standard drinks are in their glass of wine.

The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award

The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award, which celebrates great Canadian winemakers, was awarded to Gina Haverstock, the head winemaker at Devonian Coast family of wineries located in Nova Scotia.

Haverstock was not only the first woman to win this distinguished award, but was also the first winemaker based in Nova Scotia to be the recipient of this award. Equipped with a humble approach to leading the winemaking and vineyard team she oversees, Haverstock is also well-known to have a one of the best palates in Eastern Canada, and for her pioneering work with vinifera in Nova Scotia, specifically Riesling.

When I look down the list of past recipients of this award … I see a list of accomplished winemakers who I respect. To be associated with this group of people and to think of the very long list of accomplished Canadian winemakers that could have received this award, I am humbled.

Gina Haverstock, Devonian Coast Wineries

Receiving the award, Haverstock thanked the Jost family for giving her a start in the industry, and the Sparkes family for allowing her creative freedom in a job she is so incredibly passionate about.

As she accepted the award, she said, “When I look down the list of past recipients of this award … I see a list of accomplished winemakers who I respect. To be associated with this group of people and to think of the very long list of accomplished Canadian winemakers that could have received this award, I am humbled.”

The awards were presented in concert with the British Columbia Industry Recognition Awards at the Penticton Convention Centre as part of an evening reception as industry gathered to celebrate the ongoing momentum of Canada’s wine industry.

This year’s distinguished recipients are:

• Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction: The Wyse Family
• Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award: Natalie MacLean
• The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award: Gina Haverstock
• Wine Growers British Columbia Leadership Excellence Award: Severine Pinte
• Wine Growers British Columbia Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador Award: Bram Bolwijn
• Wine Growers British Columbia Master Marketer Award: UncorkBC, Kayla Bordignon

The Canadian Wine Industry Awards, sponsored by national accounting, tax and business firm MNP, are presented annually by WGC and honour those who have gone above and beyond to support the growth of the wine industry in Canada.

“Today’s Canadian Wine Industry Awards have showcased our diverse industry, and everyone at Wine

Growers Canada is honoured to recognize the outstanding contribution, dedication and expertise of all of our nominees and winners. Recognizing and celebrating these accomplishments is very important, and showcases the commitment of our deserving winners to Canadian wine and to our industry’s continued growth,” said WCG president and CEO, Dan Paszkowski.

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.