Photo: Contributed
A 50-year veteran of the Okanagan Valley wine industry was awarded the Vancouver International Wine Festival’s coveted Spirited Industry Professional Award last week.
Harry McWatters, CEO and president of Encore Vineyards Ltd., was recognized in front of a crowd of his peers at an awards lunch Feb. 17.
The SIP Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to British Columbia’s wine industry.
McWatters entered the BC wine industry in 1968 as a sales manager at Casabello Wines in Vancouver. He moved to the Okanagan in 1977, where he founded Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and, later, See Ya Later Ranch.
“Harry has been instrumental in building the B.C. wine industry into something that is producing serious, quality wines that are growing in reputation around the world,” noted Rhys Pender MW, a wine educator, judge, writer and winemaker.
Upon receiving the award Feb. 17, McWatters was nearly speechless.
“I’m humbled, I’m honoured, and very proud of all you producers and merchants for making Canada a great wine producing country,” he said.
All BC Biz Stories
