BCGA Grower & Viticulture Awards
The BCGA Grower & Viticulture Awards celebrate the people whose dedication, leadership, and expertise help make British Columbia’s wine grape industry stronger.
From exceptional vineyard management and innovation to decades of service and industry leadership, these awards recognize individuals who have made a meaningful impact on wine grape growing in BC.
The awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding achievements, share success stories, and recognize the growers, viticulturists, and industry champions whose contributions support the long-term success of BC’s wine grape sector.
Nominations close on July 31 each year. The judges visit and tour the vineyard managed by each nominee in early August, and the award is presented at the BCGA AGM in mid-August.
We encourage members of the grape and wine community to nominate deserving individuals and help us celebrate excellence in viticulture.
Lifetime Achievement
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to British Columbia wine grape growing. This award honours those whose dedication, leadership, knowledge, and service have helped shape and strengthen the industry over many years.
Recipients may have contributed through vineyard development, research, mentorship, industry leadership, advocacy, education, innovation, or volunteer service. Their efforts have left a meaningful and lasting impact on wine grape growers, vineyards, and the continued success of the BC wine industry.
This award celebrates not a single achievement, but a lifetime of commitment to advancing BC wine grape growing and supporting future generations of growers. It recognizes individuals whose work has helped build the strong, resilient, and collaborative industry we all benefit from today.
Grower or Viticulturist of the Year
Do you know a grower or viticulturist who consistently goes above and beyond?
We encourage you to submit a nomination and help us recognize the individuals who make a lasting impact on BC wine grape growing. These awards recognize those in our industry who strive to grow the very best wine grapes. These are the people responsible for each bunch that comes off the vines at harvest, and whose decisions directly guide the vineyard's daily operations.
The Grower or Viticulturist of the Year Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in wine grape production and a commitment to advancing vineyard management in British Columbia. This award celebrates the growers and viticulturists whose knowledge, dedication, and day-to-day decisions contribute to producing outstanding wine grapes and strengthening the BC wine industry.
Recipients are recognized not only for the quality of their vineyards and fruit, but also for their leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship, and contribution to the broader grape-growing community. Their work serves as an example of excellence and helps move the industry forward.
All nominations are evaluated, then capped at five per year to allow time for full evaluations of the selected nominees. At a time that is suitable for the nominee, site visits are conducted in early August as part of the judging process.
The award includes a bursary of up to $2000 to attend an educational program.
Requirements:
Nominees must be a member or employed by an organization that is a member of the BCGA at the time of nomination.
The nominee must be responsible for the day-to-day operational decisions for the vineyard.
Nominations are for individuals only.
BCGA Board members cannot be nominated while they are active directors.
A person may be nominated annually until they are the winner of the award. Once a person wins the award, they must wait 3 years before being nominated again.
Self-nomination is encouraged.
Nominees are asked to provide two references from industry, at least one being from a winemaker who uses their fruit.
Judging Criteria:
Vineyard Management Best Practices (30 points)
Environmental Stewardship (25 points)
Fruit Quality (20 points)
Equipment & Infrastructure Management (5 points)
Human Resources (20 points)
Innovation (5 points)
Industry Participation (10 points)
Nominee Interview & Site Visit (20 points)
Three judges - Industry Member / BCGA Board Member / Previous Award Winner - will conduct a site inspection and interviews with the nominees. Each judge will rate the nominee separately, and the combined totals will be used as the final score.