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.
Fire & Ice: Encounter Iceland at Mission Hill Winery
‘Encounters with Iceland’ features life-sized works of acclaimed Icelandic artist Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir until October The ‘land of fire and ice’ comes alive at Mission Hill Family Estate with 'Encounters with Iceland', a major sculpture exhibition devoted to the...
International team collaborating on a better helmet for contact sports
Imperial College London researchers visit partners at UBC Okanagan A partnership between UBC Okanagan and Imperial College London (UK) is focused on development of a new helmet that could one day reduce sports-related concussions. Professors Peter Childs and Dan...
Winery hosts world’s first water ballet
On a warm South Okanagan summer’s night, Black Hills Estate Winery, a modern oasis in the desert, converted into a Miami-style vineyard ultra lounge. The winery was host to an incredible water ballet performed by the glamorous swimming entertainment company,...
Okanagan Life Magazine Takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
The Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media-based campaign that aims to raise awareness for ALS (more commonly known as Lou Gherig’s Disease), has made its way into the Okanagan Valley. Essentially, when you’ve been challenged, you have 24 hours to pour ice water on...
Penticton Farmers’ Market welcomes wineries
Want a great wine to pair with some fresh, local produce? Following changes in BC liquor laws, the Penticton Farmers' Market has two news stalls offering Okanagan wines and brews. Marketing Manager Erin Trainer says space limits them to only two vendors, with...
Shuswap wineries showcase distinct character of an emerging wine region
Sprinkled widely over the rural countryside around Salmon Arm, the Shuswap’s five welcoming wineries are artisanal, family-owned-and-run operations where the farming lifestyle still reigns.
0 Comments