CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: VIWF ANNOUNCES 2025 TRADE COMPETITION WINNERS

The Vancouver International Wine Festival announced the 2025 trade competition winners on Friday, February 28 at Celebrating Excellence: 21st Annual Awards Lunch, presented by ContainerWorld. The Celebrating Excellence program is part of VIWF Trade Days; the event honours those professionals who contribute to this region’s exceptional wine and food culture. Guests enjoyed a meal prepared by Vancouver Convention Centre executive chef Nandakishore Rangan, exquisitely matched with a selection of 20 wines from Italy.

2025 SPIRITED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL AWARD

The annual Spirited Industry Professional Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The 18th annual award goes to wine writer and educator Michaela Morris.

Michaela Morris is an international wine writer, educator and speaker based in Vancouver. She contributes regularly to Decanter, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Quench, Vintec Club and Taste magazine. She also judges at global competitions such as Decanter World Wine Awards and Vinitaly’s 5StarWines. Michaela holds the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma and is a Certified Italian Wine Expert through Vinitaly International Academy. During university, an exchange program in France opened her eyes to the world of wine. She has since worked in various capacities of the industry for 25 years. From her start in fine dining restaurants, she went on to source wine and manage communications for Marquis Wine Cellars and then took on the role of Marketing/Logistics Manager for import company Liquid Art Fine Wine. She also founded and co-owned house wine, a consulting company which offered private and public wine tastings and cellar management for collectors.

2025 SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR

The Sommelier of the Year Award recognizes working sommeliers who consistently demonstrate an outstanding passion for marrying wine with food and a dedication to exceptional service. This year’s winner, Andrew Forsyth, Head Sommlier, L’Abattoir,was selected through a hands-on competition organized by the BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, held on January 28.

Andrew Forsyth brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for wine to the dining experience. His journey began while working as a Dining Room Manager at The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, where he started studying wine through WSET and later through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Andrew’s expertise was further honed through his participation as the Canadian representative in the Wines of South Africa Sommelier Cup in 2019, his first competition. His commitment to creating an amazing guest experience and discovering unique wines has made him an influential figure in Vancouver’s vibrant wine scene.

2025 WINE PROGRAM EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

Celebrating the best food and wine pairings in the business, restaurants throughout British Columbia and Alberta have been recognized for creating wine lists that complement their establishment’s unique menu and concept. Candidates submitted their wine and menu lists, and were then visited by judges who reviewed their programs. The key judges were Kaela Augustine, Ian Casterton, Tom Doughty, DJ Kearney, Jonathan Lai, and Chris Turyk. The top restaurants were awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or commended with an Honourable Mention.

METRO VANCOUVER

Platinum
L’Abattoir
AnnaLena
Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Botanist
Dachi
Elisa
Hawksworth Restaurant
Nightingale Restaurant
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine

Gold
Burdock & Co
Chambar
CinCin Ristorante + Bar
Dear Gus Snack Bar
Mott 32
Osteria Elio Volpe
Savio Volpe
Tap Restaurant

Silver
H Tasting Lounge
Wildlight Kitchen + Bar

Bronze
Acquafarina
Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge
Delara
Honourable Mention
Folke
La Piazza Dario Ristorante Italiano

INTERIOR

Silver
Waterfront Wines Restaurant

WHISTLER

Gold
Alta Bistro
Bar Oso
Il Caminetto
Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar

Silver
Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar

Bronze
Quattro Restaurant Whistler

VANCOUVER ISLAND

Platinum
The Courtney Room

Gold
Marilena Cafe & Wine Bar

Bronze
Boom + Batten
Fathom

ALBERTA

Platinum
RGE RD (Edmonton)

Gold
Major Tom (Calgary – Best New Entry)
Vin Room YYC Airport (Calgary)

2025 TERRY THRELFALL SCHOLARSHIP

The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to partner with the BC Hospitality Foundation, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Meyer Family Vineyards, and the Threlfall family on a scholarship in the name of our beloved friend and colleague, Terry Threlfall, who passed away suddenly in October 2020. The scholarship is awarded to a candidate seeking to make a difference in mentorship and leadership in the British Columbia wine trade. This year’s winner is Kaede Suzuki, Sales Associate/ Service Specialist, Sutton Place Wine Merchant.

Kaede has more than four years of experience in the wine and spirits industry, both in Japan and Canada. In Japan, she managed wine lists at a prestigious Northern Italian restaurant, but it was once she moved to Vancouver that she discovered her passion for leadership and mentorship in the wine community. Her work at Liberty Wine Merchants and Sutton Place Wine Merchants sharpened her customer service skills, and she has been pursuing her WSET Diploma in preparation for joining the sommelier team at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar.

2025 WINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Wine Retailer of the Year Award, presented by the Import Vintners & Spirits Association (IVSA), recognizes outstanding retail locations that exemplify excellence in promoting the enjoyment of wine within our community. The festival solicits nominations from across the province to recognize a deserving location that demonstrates exceptional selection, knowledge, service, engagement and social responsibility. The inaugural winner is BCLIQUOR – 39th and Cambie store.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Online: VanWineFest.ca 24/7
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Ticket prices include wine, food, gratuities, taxes and service charge.

STAY IN TOUCH
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca and read our Quick Facts.

For a snapshot of event availability, click on the Festival at a Glance. Browse the Tasting Room Program for information on what wines are being poured at the International Festival Tastings and Trade Tastings.

X: Follow @VanWineFest for announcements, including e-news, festival updates & media releases. Join the conversation at #VIWF.
Facebook / Instagram: @VanWineFest
Youtube: @Playhousewine
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vancouver-international-wine-festival

ABOUT TRADE DAYS
The three-day 12-event Trade Days is the wine business component of the Vancouver International Wine Festival. 2025 events include seminars featuring sponsored by California Wines, Oregon Wine Board, Washington State Wine Commission, Consorzio DOC delle Venezie, Sonoma State University, Okanagan College, Coferment Management; Principals Welcome Lunch, presented by Hillebrand Gori; Celebrating Excellence: 21st Annual Awards Lunch, presented by ContainerWorld; and two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld. Other Trade Days sponsors and partners include information technology company ITS Consulting Inc and the participating event wineries. Trade Days extends special thanks to the Import Vintners Spirits Association, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and BC Hospitality Foundation.

ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show marks its 46th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 22-March 2, 2025. The festival is showcasing 120 wineries from 15 countries, featured in 43 events over eight days. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, is the main fundraising event of the festival and kicked off the festival on Saturday, February 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Trade Days takes place Wednesday, February 26-Friday, February 28. The festival is consistently ranked the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash and was named one of the world’s top 10 wine trade shows by Wine International Association. The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised more than $10.2 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and The Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BCLIQUOR, and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. The Vancouver International Wine Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals, presented on the waterfront at Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park. The festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. Over 2 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception, growing to annual attendance close to 100,000. Next year’s festival runs June to September 2025, and scheduled plays include Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised][again], and The Dark Lady. Bard also offers a range of education programs for learners from eight to 80. Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.

Media release provided by Ruby Gillett, MILK Creative Communications.