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
