The Winners of the VIWF Wine Program Excellence Awards 2026

Winemakers get enough attention at the Vancouver International Wine Festival—but what about the spots that bring those great bottles directly to the table? The annual Wine Program Excellence Awards at VIWF celebrate the best of the best of the best in Western Canadian wine programs, selected by an independent panel of Canadian sommeliers and industry professionals. Here are the B.C. rooms that earned top marks in the WPEA’s 2026 competition.

Best Wine Program in an Upscale Restaurant

The convergence of fine dining and fine wine.

Gold: Elisa, Vancouver

Silver: Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Bronze: Marilena, Victoria

Honourable Mentions: Hawksworth, Vancouver; Wild Blue, Whistler

Best Wine Program in a Contemporary Restaurant

Chill and relaxed, while always being intentional and exciting.

Gold: Nightingale, Vancouver

Silver: L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Elio Volpe, Vancouver; Wind Cries Mary, Victoria

Best for a Glass

…Or maybe two.

Gold: Dachi, Vancouver

Silver: The Courtney Room, Victoria

Bronze:  The Stable House, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Dear Gus, Vancouver; Chulo, Penticton

Best Food and Wine Pairing

A world-class collaboration between kitchen and somm.

Gold: Mott 32, Vancouver

Silver: AnnaLena, Vancouver

Bronze: L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Honourable Mention: Delara, Vancouver

Best Wine Service

Excellent storytelling and advice, tableside.  

Gold: AnnaLena, Vancouver

Silver: Kissa Tanto, Vancouver

Bronze: L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Mott 32, Vancouver, Burdock and Co, Vancouver

Wine Program Excellence of the Year

Unparalleled service, selection and pairing.

Gold: Elisa, Vancouver

Silver: Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Bronze: Nightingale, Vancouver

Honourable Mention: Mott 32, Vancouver

Best Micro Wine List

Think mini lists, verbal pairings, rotating wines and chalkboard specials.

Gold: Burdock and Co, Vancouver

Silver: Yuwa, Vancouver

Bronze: Bistro Lapin Perdu, Naramata

Honourable Mentions: Delara, Vancouver; Caffè La Tana, Vancouver

Best Boutique Wine List

Tightly edited and distinctly expressive.

Gold: AnnaLena, Vancouver

Silver: The Stable House, Vancouver

Bronze: Dear Gus, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Wind Cries Mary, Victoria; Savio Volpe, Vancouver

Best Premier Wine List

Balance meets breadth.

Gold: Nightingale, Vancouver

Silver: L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Dachi, Vancouver; Waterfront Wines, Kelowna

Best Grand Wine List

Deep cellars, global reach and coveted vintages.

Gold: Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver

Silver: Elisa, Vancouver

Bronze: Marilena, Victoria

Honourable Mentions: Hawksworth, Vancouver; Mott 32, Vancouver

Best B.C. Wine List

A celebration of our backyard.

Gold: Waterfront Wines, Kelowna

Silver: Sonora Resort, Sonora Island

Bronze: The Arbutus Room, Brentwood Bay

Honourable Mentions: Wildlight, Vancouver; 15 Park Bistro, Osoyoos

Other Regional Specialties

Best Italian: CinCin, Vancouver

Best French: L’Abattoir, Vancouver

Best Sake: Yuwa, Vancouver

Best Spain: Bar Oso, Whistler

Best Wine Program for Discovery

Inviting guests off the beaten path with uncommon grapes and rare regions.

Gold: Dachi, Vancouver

Silver: Botanist, Vancouver

Bronze: Niwa, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: Dear Gus, Vancouver; The Acorn, Vancouver

Best Wine Program in a Wine Bar or Lounge

Flexible, creative programs thriving outside traditional dining spaces.

Gold: Dear Gus, Vancouver

Silver: Boulevard, Vancouver

Bronze: Bacchus, Vancouver

Honourable Mentions: H Tasting Lounge, Vancouver; Bar Oso, Whistler

Best Value Wine Program

A great deal and a great glass..

Gold: H Tasting Lounge, Vancouver

Silver: The Arbutus Room, Brentwood Bay

Bronze: Pizzeria Tratto, Penticton

Honourable Mentions: Boom and Batten, Victoria; Delara, Vancouver