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.

The letter, signed by WGC, Wine Growers British Columbia, Wine Growers Ontario, Wine Growers Nova Scotia and Ontario Craft Wineries, reads:

“Canadians are facing real economic pressure. At a time when affordability, consumer choice, and domestic economic resilience matter more than ever, your collective efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers are both timely and necessary. Through the Council of the Federation, Premiers have shown leadership in recognizing that Canada’s internal market should work better for Canadians, and that goods produced here should be easier to buy here.

One of the clearest and most practical opportunities to deliver on that promise is the creation of an open national wine sales market including a harmonized direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine delivery agreement made in July 2025 to develop DTC operating agreements/frameworks by May 2026.”

Established in 1989, Quails’ Gate is one of the oldest and most-awarded wineries in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Just as it was in those early years, the winery is still owned and operated by the Stewart family, who have turned their dream into a globally recognized wine and culinary destination.

Ben and Ruth Stewart started Quails’ Gate on a plot of land in West Kelowna, on the gentle slopes below Mount Boucherie. Over the next couple of decades, the entire Stewart family became involved in building the winery into what it is today.

The Stewart family’s relationship to the land in B.C. dates back much further than the winery. In 1908, Richard Stewart, Sr., came to Canada from Ireland and settled in the Okanagan Valley. A horticulturalist, he established one of the largest and most successful tree nurseries in the region and passed his love for the land on to subsequent generations. His son, Dick Stewart, (Ben’s father) planted the first grape vines on the family’s land in 1961.

The family now farms 400 acres of land, including property in South Kelowna and Osoyoos, and two restaurants located on the Quails’ Gate estate, Old Vines Restaurant and The Market at Quails’ Gate.

The corporate structure revolves around, but isn’t exclusive to, family. About 100 people work within the business full-time year-round, and another 100 or so join the team temporarily in summer and early fall, to help with the tasting room, restaurants and harvest. Under the leadership of the new Quails’ Gate CEO Jennifer Cudlipp, the team continues to embody the Stewart family’s dedication to excellence while fostering innovation and growth.

A few years ago, the Stewarts created the company BACAS Family Wines to consolidate their myriad brands; Quails’ Gate is part of that portfolio, as are several other labels including Lake Sonoma Winery and Plume. Jeff Del Nin is senior winemaker for BACAS Family Wines, Kailee Frasch is Quails’ Gate winemaker and she is assisted by Rowan Stewart, who is the son of Tony Stewart, the winery’s CEO for two decades.

The Stewarts have a family council and the family also participates on the Quails’ Gate board. Indeed, Rowan is just one of the fourth generation of Stewarts now actively involved with the winery. Others include Llane Dobbener (Ben Stewart’s daughter) who works in human resources. Benjamin Walker is now on the winery board; mother, Cynthia Walker, is Tony’s sister and Dick’s daughter. Benjamin’s cousin, Rory McFadden (Andrea Stewart’s son), is on the board, too. Confused yet? Don’t be. The takeaway is that many Stewarts are involved in the winery business, in many ways.

“There’s a lot of work that takes place to ensure the family aspect of the business is represented,” said Angela Lyons, vice president of sales and marketing. She isn’t part of the Stewart family, but says she appreciates what they are doing. “It’s about building for the future,” she said. “They have done a really great job of setting things up for the next generation and they have a good long-term view for the industry in the future.”

The quail took flight and found a new field. It’s a tale of discovery and adventure.

Angela Lyons, Quails’ Gate Winery

While Quails’ Gate is primarily about Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they also grow several other varietals including Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Syrah, Marechal Foch and Chasselas, which is a white grape found mostly in Switzerland. The Chardonnay, in particular, has been recognized internationally over the years, including gold medals at France’s prestigious Chardonnay du Monde awards, most recently in 2024, with the 2021 Stewart Family Reserve.

They’ve experimented with different grapes, too, as well as winemaking techniques and types of oak. The 2022 Quails’ Gate Quorum is a blend of Gamay Noir and Gamaret, an unusual red French grape created in 1970. They’ve fermented Chenin Blanc in concrete eggs and for the past seven years, they’ve released a piquette in cans, a carbonated low-alcohol alternative to beer and wine that has been incredibly popular, Lyons says. “We’re really proud of it and we’ll continue to expand that offering as well,” she said.

In 2013, the Stewarts purchased Lake Sonoma Winery in California and launched a new label called Plume. The primary Plume wines include a Napa Valley Chardonnay, as well as Cabernet Sauvignons from grapes grown in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley and B.C.’s Similkameen Valley. In 2025, they will release a Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

New sparkling wine label

In 2015, the Stewart family saw an opportunity to adapt the 200-acre South Kelowna tree nursery that had been in the family since the 1950s into a vineyard.

Like Quails’ Gate and Plume, the new project would have its own identity and personality, but instead would focus on sparkling wines made using the traditional method, where every bottle undergoes its secondary fermentation in the bottle, the same way that Champagne is made in France.

After some debate, the team came up with the name Ailm Estate. The word “ailm” comes from an ancient Irish tree language and means “pine tree,” which pays a nod to both the family’s roots in Ireland and their history as tree nursery owners and growers in B.C. “They wanted the name to be about family, but didn’t want it to have their name,” Lyons said. “They wanted it to be about the next generation and the Kelowna community.”

The first wine released was the 2020 Ailm Reserve Vintage Brut (82 per cent Pinot Noir and 18 per cent Chardonnay), which was aged on its lees for more than 40 months and undergoes a dosage of Chardonnay and 6.5 grams of sugar per litre. It was followed by the inaugural release of the 2021 Blanc de Blanc, and this year, they will add two more wines to the lineup: a non-vintage Brut to be released in late spring and a rosé sparkler in November.

“This project started long before the COVID-19 pandemic. To see it officially launched now has been especially rewarding,” Lyons said. “It’s been a great journey so far.”

Challenging vintages

The past few years haven’t been without challenges, including the pandemic, a devastating heat wave, wildfires and extreme cold. Like nearly every winery in B.C., Quails’ Gate was hit hard by the sub-zero temperatures in 2023 and 2024. January 2024 was particularly bad, with temperatures below -20°C for days. Many of the vines died, unable to recover from the cold. Very little was harvested in 2024; just Marechal Foch and a little Riesling, which will be released in 2025.

At Quails’ Gate, they’ve chosen to look on the bright side and, like many B.C. wineries, they’ve temporarily set their sights elsewhere, sourcing grapes from the Pacific Northwest. Instead of trying to fit those wines into the estate line, they’ve chosen a new label.

In late-2024, they rolled out Field & Flight, a new range made from grapes grown mostly in Washington, Oregon and California. There are four single-varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Gris. Each is clearly labelled, so that consumers know exactly where the grapes came from. “The quail took flight and found a new field,” said Lyons, with a laugh. “It’s a tale of discovery and adventure.”

They’re also taking the opportunity to replant vineyards with better clones and more suitable varieties. A south-facing Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in West Kelowna has been replanted to Pinot Noir, which the team believes will do better on the site. Some of the Chardonnay has been replanted with top new clones from Burgundy. Forty-six acres were replanted in 2024. Another 72 will be replanted in spring 2025, and a third round of planting will take place in 2026.

“It’s been very challenging,” said Lyons. “But the family believes in this region, and that this replant will help us create even better wines in the future.”

As there is less wine, the team made the decision to pull back from selling nationally. Some wines are for sale in Alberta, and there’s a little Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Quebec market, plus a bit in the U.K., but the focus is on maintaining stock for the winery’s tasting room and restaurants. “We wanted to be sure we had Okanagan Valley VQA wine to sell at Quails’ Gate, so that when people come visit, we have a good supply of wines for them to try from this region,” Lyons said. “That is very important for us.”

Community and caring

The community in B.C. and beyond has long been important for the Stewart family and Quails’ Gate in general. Charities and non-profits that they support monetarily and through volunteer time include the Nature Conservancy of Canada, BC Hospitality Foundation, the Central Okanagan Food Bank and the West Kelowna Firefighters Relief Fund.

During the West Kelowna fires in summer 2024, the winery’s two restaurants were closed so the culinary team pivoted and prepared meals – 600 meals a day at the height – for firefighters working in the region. “We look for opportunities to support our community wherever possible,” Lyons said.

Connecting with other wineries is also important. They are actively involved with the Wine Growers British Columbia industry group, and in 2023, they were certified sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing BC. “The land supports us,” Lyons said. “We want to support it, too.”

Tony was on the Wine Growers Canada board for many years, retiring in April 2024. Continuing the Stewart family’s commitment to industry leadership, Cudlipp stepped up immediately and joined the national organization. Her involvement underscores Quails’ Gate’s ongoing dedication to advocating for the wine industry nationally. “Wine Growers Canada is very important for us,” said Lyons. “They represent the industry through government advocacy and sharing information about what’s going on in the industry nationally. It’s an important organization and one we’re committed to supporting.”

Looking ahead

As the Stewart family and the Quails’ Gate team look ahead to the future, one thing is certain: they will continue to push toward making better and better wines, whatever the universe throws their way. “It’s about finding ways to work through the challenges,” Lyons said. “The team is always talking about how we haven’t made our best wine yet. We know there is always room for improvement.”

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.