CANADIAN AND BC WINE INDUSTRY LEADERS
HONOURED AT THE 2026 WINE INDUSTRY AWARDS
Wine Growers Canada (WGC) and Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) are proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards and BC Wine Industry Recognition Awards, which were all presented live at the awards ceremony in Penticton Tuesday evening.
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
BC Wine Industry Leadership Excellence Award – Rhys Pender
BC Wine Industry Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador Award – Brynne Dickson
BC Wine Industry Master Marketer Award – Jenna White, ThatBCWineGirl
2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards
The Canadian Wine Industry Awards, sponsored by national accounting, tax and business firm MNP, are presented annually by WGC and recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support and enhance the wine industry in Canada, celebrating the success, leadership, and outstanding commitment in Canada’s grape wine industry.
“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 the winners of the 2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards. 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 & CEO of Wine Growers Canada.
The winner of the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction – regarded as the highest form of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry – is The Stewart Family from Quails’ Gate Winery in West Kelowna, British Columbia.
“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, is presented to an individual who has provided exemplary support to the Canadian wine industry through media, policy or advocacy, was awarded to Miles Prodan in recognition of his 14-year tenure as a leader of the BC wine industry.
“Miles led industry association Wine Growers British Columbia for fourteen 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 direct-to-consumer wine shipping,” stated 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,” he added.
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 is Andrzej Lipiński of Big Head Wines in Niagara, Ontario.
“Founder of Big Head Wines, Andrzej’s wines have won medals around the world – most recently winning the prize for the Best Chenin Blanc at Wine Paris 2024,” remarked 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,” added Paszkowski.
2026 British Columbia Industry Recognition Awards
The Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) Industry Recognition Awards are presented annually in acknowledgement of outstanding achievements and contributions to the BC wine industry. The categories of Leadership Excellence, Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador, and Master Marketer celebrate individuals who exemplify visionary leadership, champion BC wine with passion and authenticity, and set the standard for creativity and impact in marketing and promotion.
“Behind every bottle of BC wine is a passionate individual helping to shape something bigger,” says WGBC CEO & 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.”
The Leadership Excellence Award honours a non-winery individual, business, or organization whose work has meaningfully advanced the BC wine industry and BC 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). We are pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is Rhys Pender, co-owner and winemaker of Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley.
The Ultimate BC 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 is Brynne Dickson of CedarCreek Estate Winery.
The Master Marketer Award recognizes an innovative individual or organization that has demonstrated creativity and impact in promoting the Wines of British Columbia. Open to wineries, regional wine associations, retailers, restaurants, and tourism organizations, this award celebrates those who think beyond the expected to elevate BC wine. The 2026 recipient is Jenna White, creator of the ThatBCWineGirl channel.
Congratulations to this year’s worthy recipients and thank you for your extraordinary contributions to the BC and Canadian wine industry.
To learn more about the Canadian Wine Industry Awards, visit WineGrowersCanada.ca, and for more details about the Wine Growers British Columbia Industry Recognition Awards, visit WineBC.com.
Feature image: From left to right: Miles Prodan, Rhys Pender, Jenna White, Brynne Dickson, Andrzej Lipiński, Rowan Stewart