Harry McWatters
VanWineFest's Highest HonourThe Vancouver International Wine Festival’s coveted Spirited Industry Professional (SIP) Award has been presented to Harry McWatters, CEO and president of ENCORE Vineyards Ltd.
Hailed as the Okanagan Valley’s great wine pioneer, McWatters, a 50-vintage veteran of the wine industry, has been credited with building BC’s wine industry into the award-winning, internationally-recognized business it is today.
The annual SIP Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia.
McWatters was recognized in front of a crowd of 340 peers in the Canadian wine industry at Celebrating Excellence: the 14th annual Awards Lunch on February 17.
Upon learning he won the award, a nearly speechless McWatters said, “I’m humbled, I’m honoured, and very proud of all you producers and merchants for making Canada a great wine producing country.”
“Harry McWatters is, quite simply, the Robert Mondavi of British Columba wines,” said Tony Aspler, Canadian wine journalist and wine competition judge.