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.
City gives green light for final homes at Central Green
Kelowna City Council has approved the development permit for Urbana at Central Green. The collection of 55 new homes developed by Mission Group is the third and final phase of condominiums at Central Green. More than 160 homes have been sold in less than two years...
Embracing the routines of a third act
Creatures of habit Have I always been a creature of habit, I wonder? When I was young, my routine revolved largely around school, and I was habitually asked, “what did you do today?” As a young adult, where weeks followed predictable routines, it was, “how’s work...
Michael Bublé set to entertain and delight audiences as host of The 2018 JUNO Awards, March 25
Prepare to be entertained by the one and only Michael Bublé. The 12-time Juno Award winner and beloved Canadian crooner is set to host the 2018 JUNO Awards, which will be held at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Sunday, March 25, 2018 and broadcast live across Canada...
Penticton to host Wild Card game at 2018 Scotties
Wild Card game set, rest of field confirmed, for 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton There will be a blend of experience and youth heading to B.C.’s beautiful Okanagan region for the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, beginning on Jan. 27 at the South...
Van Osch sisters to represent BC at 2018 Scotties
The Van Osch sisters are the top women’s curling team in the province. Kesa, Kalia, and Marika Van Osch along with teammate Amy Gibson will represent BC at the 2018 Scotties in Penticton BC later this month. Skip Kesa Van Osch has been on the big stage before,...
Olympians prepare for PyeongChang; chefs prep for battle of the plates in Kelowna
With the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics just one month away, chefs and organizers of the 2018 Canadian Culinary Championships are getting ready for a battle of the plates on February 2 and 3 in Kelowna. “Net proceeds from the Canadian Culinary Championships are...