Wine Growers British Columbia

Samantha Ford Collins is an award-winning brand marketer who previously held senior leadership positions at Treasury Wine Estates and Diageo North America. Notably she served as Vice President of Brand Marketing for Treasury where she led strategy for such brands as Beaulieu Vineyard, Stags’ Leap Winery and Penfolds and served as Global Director for 19 Crimes as it grew to over a million cases and launched the Living Wine Labels App. Samantha’s work has been awarded a Super Reggie for 19 Crimes, a Gold Reggie for Penfolds and numerous other industry accolades. As a Director on the WGBC Board, Samantha first assumed an open seat in May 2021, then was elected to serve the remainder of the one-year term that September. She was next elected to serve her current term (three-year) in September 2022. She continues to bring her passion and expertise to the BC wine community, recently attending our AGM. "I am proud to be part of this group of passionate, driven, and talented vintners," she shared.

Resharing the Wine Growers BC 2024 Vintage Resource Guide to ensure all BC wineries have access. This comprehensive guide offers valuable tools and insights to help navigate the unique challenges of the 2024 vintage. Access the guide here and check back regularly for updates 👇 https://lnkd.in/ga_qASyf

The BC Hospitality Foundation has announced the return of the Spirit of Hospitality Lottery which aims to provide crucial support to hospitality and tourism industry workers facing financial challenges due to health conditions. The lottery is open NOW until November 25 and features more than $31,000 in luxury travel prizes! From city escapes to mountain adventures, the prizes include incredible hotel stays, gourmet dining, and unique experiences from across BC and around the world. You can win big AND feel good about it as the proceeds of your ticket purchase go to a great cause. Enter now for the Early Bird draws 👇 https://lnkd.in/gUK4nFGB

The Wine Grape Industry Task Force (WGITF) was established to address critical challenges facing the British Columbia wine and grape industry, such as climate change and grapevine diseases. The goal of the WGITF is to create a sustainable, resilient future for the industry, aligning industry stakeholders to implement long-term strategies for success. The task force currently has an opening for a full time Program Manager to provide leadership and support to all aspects of the program. This is a multi-dimensional role that will be involved in project management, stakeholder engagement, and planning.  Learn more here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gtSK_NJD

Ignite your senses and spark your curiosity! Part of the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival events lineup, meet and mingle over delicious pairings and live music, then sit back and enjoy storytelling from renowned local innovators passionate about Okanagan food, beverage and tourism at OC Cultivates. Don't miss this exciting evening Friday, October 25 at Okanagan College Penticton campus, tickets available now 👇 https://lnkd.in/gWNVb7uU Innovators in conversation include Justin Hall, and Kathy Malone 🥂

We are looking to shine the spotlight on a member of our Board of Directors - Paul Sawler. Paul Sawler was first elected to the WGBC Board of Directors in 2021, securing a three-year term. Over the past year, Paul has served as Board Chair. This September he was re-elected by the membership to serve an additional two-year term. Following the AGM, the newly convened Board of Directors voted to have Paul continue in his role as Board Chair, representing the interests of all WGBC members. Thank you for your continued dedication Paul!

Please join us in welcoming back Laura Kittmer from maternity leave, rejoining the Wine Growers British Columbia team in her role of Communications Director. Laura is hitting the ground running with fall programming aimed at promoting BC wine and wine tourism and looks forward to executing communications objectives outlined in the Fiscal Year 2025 Operational Plan. Thank you to the outgoing Lindsay Kelm, who worked tirelessly on behalf of BC wineries and Wine Growers British Columbia members during her tenure as Acting Communications Director. Lindsay is returning to her consulting through Kelm Communications where she helps businesses with their marketing, communications and PR needs. She can be reached anytime at lindsay@kelmcommunications.com.

Possibilities of Pinot #Seminar at #SwirlBC 2024. Unsworth Vineyards, Stag's Hollow Winery, Fort Berens Estate Winery Ltd, JoieFarm Winery PinotNoir https://wp.me/p1rfI3-ajw

In our latest blog, Rhys Pender MW explores how winegrowers are tackling recent challenges, the effects on the 2024 vintage, and what the future holds. https://lnkd.in/gscyqPva

At our recent Annual General Meeting we welcomed new faces to the Wine Growers British Columbia Board of Directors, representing small, medium, and large wineries across the province. Join us in congratulating Lauren Skinner Buksevics, Mark Sheridan, and Vincent Ong as they step into their roles, ready to help shape the future of BC wine. We also welcome back Angela Lyons, Paul Sawler, and Josh Stewart who were re elected to the board, and thank Adam Woodward, Samantha Ford Collins, and Mike Dowell whose terms continue. Cheers to our outgoing members for their dedication, and here’s to the year ahead! Read the media release 👇 https://lnkd.in/g6ZyvN_q