Retirement is not an option for Donald Triggs, a key player in the blossoming of Canada’s modern wine industry and co-owner of soon-to-be launched Culmina Family Estate Winery.
A native of rural Manitoba, representing the sixth generation on the family farm, Don left the nest to complete a degree in agriculture from the University of Manitoba and an MBA at Western. He started his career in Ontario doing sales and marketing with Colgate Palmolive. In 1972 he moved to John Labatt’s wine division where his experience ranged from fixing troubled sectors of winery operations to running large wine producers in Canada and abroad.
In the hope of staying in Canada with his family, Don joined Fisions PLC based in Vancouver, taking their troubled North American horticultural division from money loser to industry leader. With the 1989 North American Free Trade Agreement around the corner, Don risked everything. He joined forces with Alan Jackson and former Labatt colleagues who pooled their life savings to buy the brewer’s wine division.
Renamed Vincor International with Don as CEO, it grew to become the biggest wine enterprise in Canada and seventh largest in the world. When Constellation Brands US acquired Vincor in 2006, Don resigned and set out to build Culmina with wife Elaine as partner and daughter Sara as sales and marketing manager.
Don has lured Bordeaux-trained Pascal Madevon (formerly winemaker at Osoyoos Larose) to the promising scenario at Culmina.
Read more of the original stories celebrated in our 30th-anniversary issue.
Reminder to stay clear of tree wells
As we enter a new year, Big White Ski Resort has an old reminder: stay clear of tree wells.
Olympic hopeful gets lift from Okanagan College donors
In November, nearly $500,000 was handed out to students at three awards ceremonies in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon.
Theatre Kelowna Society and Why Not Theatre present award-winning musical
In coordination with Theatre Kelowna Society, Megan Edwards and Thomas Fournier are taking on Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years from January 3 to 5, and 10 to 12, under the newly created Why Not Theatre.
Realities of poverty necessitate holiday giving
A group of UBCO students from the JDC West program volunteered at a Day of Caring for Karis Support Society, a home for women in recovery.
2019 Property Assessment reflects BC’s house markets
After years of dramatic increases in British Columbia’s annual property assessments, we are now seeing signs of moderation as the real estate market softens in some areas of the province.
Kelowna recreation opens registration for Winter programs
Get out and get active this winter! The City of Kelowna 2019 Winter Activity & Program Guide is full with fitness, art and music classes, sports leagues, and a variety of activities for all ages and abilities at over 25 locations across Kelowna. From fitness and...
