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.
UBCO students give back during reading week
UBC Okanagan students once again volunteered time during their reading week break to help local charities through the Pushor Mitchell United Way Day of Caring® Program.
Lake Country Children’s Festival features more activities this year
The Lake Country Indoor Children’s Festival (presented by TD Bank) event happens at the Lake Country Community Complex on March 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Okanagan College launches Indigenous professional cook training
Okanagan College turns to Indigenous knowledge keepers, chefs and foragers to help incorporate traditional knowledge and practices into an intake of its professional cook training program this spring.
West Kelowna’s first cidery hosts Okanagan Cider Festival
West Kelowna’s first craft cidery, Truck 59 Cider House, hosts the 3rd annual Okanagan Cider Festival on May 4 from 4-8 p.m.
Serena Ryder announced for Sun Peaks’ free summer concert
Canadian singer-songwriter, and six-time JUNO award winner, Serena Ryder will perform a free concert at Sun Peaks’ open-air stage on Saturday, July 27, 2019. An accomplished musician, Serena Ryder is decorated with awards including the 2014 JUNO Songwriter of the Year...
UBC researcher adopts method to understand how counsellors can promote health
Videos help anazlyze how people can change their behaviours Using a page from a coach’s playbook, UBC researcher Heather Gainforth has come up with a method to analyze behaviour change counselling sessions and determine what makes them work. It’s common for sports...
