A fourth-generation West Kelowna farming family has been awarded the highest peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry.
The Stewart Family of Quails’ Gate Winery received the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction on Tuesday evening at a ceremony in Penticton. Wine Growers Canada and Wine Growers British Columbia handed out six annual awards recognizing contributions across winemaking, marketing, advocacy and hospitality.
“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 Dan Paszkowski, president and CEO of Wine Growers Canada.
Among the other honourees, Miles Prodan received the Wine Industry Champion Award for his 14-year tenure leading Wine Growers British Columbia, including sustained advocacy for interprovincial direct-to-consumer wine shipping.
Andrzej Lipiński of Big Head Wines in Niagara, Ont., was named this year’s Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker in recognition of his international medal-winning work and pioneering techniques, including appassimento and wild fermentation.
“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.”
On the provincial side, Rhys Pender of Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley took home the Leadership Excellence Award, Brynne Dickson of CedarCreek Estate Winery was named Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador, and Jenna White, known online as ThatBCWineGirl, received the Master Marketer Award.
“Behind every bottle of BC wine is a passionate individual helping to shape something bigger,” says WGBC CEO and president Jeff Guignard. “These awards are about recognizing those who are championing our industry today while building the future of BC wine in real time, driven by a shared belief in its incredible potential.”
Article sourced from Castanet
