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.
Prop Man Dean Goodine
Property master Dean Goodine learned hands-on from some of the best in the industry on sets like Unforgiven. He ensures anything an actor moves or uses is ready, era-authentic and fits how the character. It can be nerve-racking…
Valley Voyageur
“Preparez!” I raise my paddle over the water. “En avant!” Down it goes in time with the lead stroke, Laurie Bowen, who sits alone in the bow. Jordie, her husband and partner in Selah Outdoor Explorations, is calling orders from the stern of a 29-foot freighter canoe that’s dressed in the finery of the Hudson’s Bay Company fur brigade. It’s timely that I’m paddling Okanagan Lake with the rest of the 11-person crew. This year marks the bicentennial of David Stuart’s trek through the Okanagan and the opening of a vital fur trade route that flourished for decades.
Retro Music
I call him Collard. He’s a gorgeous hunk of piano, an 1864 product of the British piano maker Collard and Collard Company. When we met, the choice was this parlour grand or a molar implant. I don’t miss the tooth.
Teen Mental Health
These haunting words are true statements made by young people who went on to commit suicide.
Astronomers Show ‘n’ Shine
I’m always up for a new adventure, so when I heard about the Mount Kobau Star Party, near Osoyoos, I phoned a photo buddy of mine who has a camper van and we hit the road. Sleeping bag, foamy, pillow, camera, tripod, scope and Klutz guide, Backyard Stars.
Photo Contest Winners
Our readers have voted and Leah Campbell’s great shot of this little cutie at Davison Orchards is the winner. Leah gets a free 1-year subscription to Okanagan Life. And for casting her vote and “Liking” Okanagan Life, Crystal Wilson is the winner …
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