Local wine leaders honoured at 2026 Wine Industry Awards

A big honour for a local winery.

Leaders from Canada’s wine industry were celebrated Tuesday night in Penticton at the 2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards and BC Wine Industry Recognition Awards.

The Stewart Family of Quails’ Gate Winery in West Kelowna received the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction, the industry’s top honour, recognizing their decades-long commitment to premium wines and shaping the Okanagan as a cool-climate wine region.

Miles Prodan, former head of Wine Growers BC, was named Wine Industry Champion for his advocacy, including interprovincial direct-to-consumer wine shipping. Andrzej Lipiński of Big Head Wines in Niagara took home the Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award for his award-winning wines and innovative techniques.

In British Columbia, Rhys Pender of Little Farm Winery received the Leadership Excellence Award, Brynne Dickson of CedarCreek Estate Winery won the Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador Award, and Jenna White, creator of ThatBCWineGirl, earned the Master Marketer Award.

“This year’s awards celebrate the dedication, creativity, and leadership that drive the Canadian and BC wine industries,” said Dan Paszkowski, president of Wine Growers Canada. “These individuals help grow our $11.5-billion national industry and the $3.75-billion BC sector.”

For more information on the Canadian Wine Industry Awards, visit WineGrowersCanada.ca