Sip, sip, hooray! Vanessa Vineyards’ Howard Soon Wins Winemaker of The Year

Howard Soon Wins Canadian Winemaker of The Year, 2021

Howard Soon, Master Winemaker at Vanessa Vineyard is the recipient of The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award, presented by the Wine Growers British Columbia and Wine Growers Canada at the Wine Growers British Columbia Industry Recognition Awards’ virtual ceremony on July 21, 2021.

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.

“We are proud of Howard and excited that his commitment to the wine industry is being recognized.” Said Suki Sekhon, Owner of Vanessa Vineyards “Howard was specifically selected to lead Vanessa Vineyard as our Master Winemaker because of his expertise, vast experience and his passion to elevate others through mentorship. Howard’s interest in Vanessa’s terroir played in important role in the development of our site and the selection of our varieties. With his guidance, we have been able to produce award-winning wines that have rich smooth tannins, and subtle minerality which is our trademark.  Not only does this award exemplify Howard’s character, it speaks to his dedication to be a viticultural visionary.”

Since joining the wine industry in 1980, Howard Soon has earned innumerable awards and accolades. Since Vanessa Vineyard welcomed Howard to the team as Master Winemaker we have been able to produce some of the most profound reds in Canada. A true pioneer in the BC wine industry, Howard has been on the leading edge of winemaking innovation for over three decades, one of the first people to be named to the Order of Canada for everything he’s accomplished and contributed to the wine industry, and continues to create the most precise flavour profiles that reflect our unique vineyard.

ABOUT VANESSA VINEYARD
On the hillside overlooking the Similkameen Valley, Vanessa Vineyard grows its grapes on 75 acres of sloping, well drained, rocky terrain. The terroir of the site, our extraordinary viticulture team along with our award-winning Master Winemaker, create the perfect blend for making truly distinctive wines. Vanessa Vineyard lies within the territory of the Smelqmix (Similkameen) Nation. We acknowledge the Smelqmi (Similkameen) people and share a deep respect for nature and our unique terroir.

Media release and images provided by the winery.