The annual Spirited Industry Professional Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The Festival solicits nominations from across the province to recognize Spirited Industry Professionals who have made a significant and indisputable impact upon British Columbian wine culture.

2010 Spirited Industry Professional Award Winner

ANTHONY GISMONDI

Anthony Gismondi has been writing on wine since 1983 and has been the weekly wine columnist for the Vancouver Sun since 1989. He is also editor-in- chief at Wine Access, co-host of the weekly Best of Food & Wine show on AM650 in Vancouver and the man behind www.gismondionwine.com.

2009 SIP Award

John Schreiner is Western Canada's most prolific wine writer and is the authority on BC wines.  Not only does he write, taste and judge wines, he also makes wine. 

2008 SIP Award

Christine Coletta of Coletta Consultants, providing marketing, strategic and special event services to the food and wine industries since 1986 and winner of the 2008 Spirited Individual Professional Award. 

2007 SIP Award

David Scholefield, wine speaker, teacher and international wine competition judge, winner of the Second Annual 2007 Spirited Industry Professional Award.

Darryl Weinbren, a partner at Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants and a co-founder of the Playhouse Winefest, displays the inaugural Spirited Industry Professional Award presented to him at the 2006 Festival.