WHAT better way to recognize the hard-working individuals who promote, in an exemplary manner, VQA wines in Ontario? This is your opportunity.
WHO can nominate? YOU can.
WHO qualifies to receive a nomination?

Categories include:

EDUCATION: Honours teachers, in formal or informal settings, who educate and inspire their learners about Ontario VQA*.

FRONT LINE RETAIL: Honours a frontline professional who goes above and beyond to champion the Ontario VQA* ‘neighborhood’.  If the nominee works in a winery, the award celebrates an individual who promotes Ontario VQA for the benefit of the broader industry, not just their own brand. This could be accomplished through organizing events or creating campaigns for buying local. (Category includes winery, LCBO, bottle shop, grocery, and convenience store employees)

HOSPITALITY: Honours an individual who presents Ontario VQA* with knowledge and enthusiasm to the dining public. (Category includes sommeliers, restaurateurs, servers, and chefs.)

MEDIA: Honours a member of the media who goes above and beyond to understand and share their knowledge of Ontario VQA* with enthusiasm, authenticity and passion. (Category includes content creators, communicators, podcasters, bloggers, social media voices, as well as TV, radio, and print.)

PROMOTER-AT-LARGE: Honours an individual who finds innovative, unexpected or pioneering ways to promote Ontario VQA*, creating new opportunities for awareness and appreciation.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Honours someone whose long-standing contributions have significantly advanced the growth, awareness, and appreciation of Ontario VQA*.

Nominations are welcome, in all categories, for individuals within and outside Ontario who actively promote Ontario VQA* within and beyond the province. Note that awards may not be given in all categories every year.

HOW do I submit? Using this form, you can submit as many nominations as you like.

NOMINATED IN THE PAST? If you’d like to re-submit, please simply email your request to [email protected].

PAST RECIPIENTS may be eligible to win in a different category. For example, a past winner in the LCBO category may now be considered for Lifetime Achievement. To be eligible a minimum of 3 years must have passed between the Nominees first win and subsequent nomination in another category.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

1. Help the judges get to know your nominee.

Don’t assume the adjudication committee already knows them! Tell us why you are nominating this individual, share examples of their work, their innovative approach, and how they’ve gone above and beyond to promote Ontario VQA.

Include testimonials or letters of support whenever possible, they go a long way in showing your nominee’s impact and reach).

2. What the judges are looking for.

The committee values detailed examples that show how your nominee:

• Promotes Ontario VQA with passion and excellence.
• Contributes selflessly to the industry as a whole, beyond their own workplace or brand.
• Demonstrates creativity, leadership or a lasting positive impact on awareness and appreciation of Ontario VQA wines.

These awards recongize the hard-working individuals who promote Ontario VQA in an exemplary manner.

*Please note that the committee reserves the right to change the category of the nomination as deemed appropriate or necessary.

A small thank-you for your effort.

We know this takes time out of your day, but what better way to say “thank you” to someone who makes a difference for Ontario VQA? If your candidate is selected, you’ll be invited to attend the annual Experts Tasting at Brock University, where the award is presented. (If there is more than one nominator for a successful candidate, names will be entered into a draw. Only one nominator may per award recipient).

Selection process:

A five-member panel of industry professionals, chaired by the Manager of Outreach at CCOVI, reviews all nominations. Winners will be notified in advance of the presentation at the annual Experts Tasting at Brock University.

Nominations are held in confidence with:
Barb Tatarnic, Chair, VQA Promoters Committee
Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute
Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1

Email: [email protected]

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

To help the judges understand your contributions, please include any, or all, of the following:

• • 1. A short statement explaining why you believe you deserve this award.
    2. Your resume/curriculum vitae.
    3. Testimonials, letters of support or reviews related to your support of Ontario VQA.
    4. Articles written by you or about you, wine lists, event programs or other relevant materials.

Supporting items can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Barb Tatarnic (address above).