The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to partner with the BC Hospitality Foundation, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and the Threlfall family on a scholarship in the name of our beloved friend and colleague, Terry Threlfall, who passed away suddenly in October 2020.
The scholarship is awarded to a candidate seeking to make a difference in mentorship and leadership in the British Columbia wine trade. Terry was the 2012 VIWF Sommelier of the Year, and the festival hopes this scholarship will continue his legacy of excellence and service.
The 2024 winner is Dawn Schultz, front of house manager, educator, and consultant at Designer Grapes Consulting.
Meyer Family Vineyards generously provided seed money for the scholarship fund through sales of the winery’s Tribute Series Chardonnay – Terry Threlfall. Andrew Peller Import Agency is sponsoring the 2024 scholarship. The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), which will administer the scholarship, invites others to donate online in order to ensure Terry’s legacy lives on for many years.
Born and raised in BC, Terry Threlfall was influential on the local, national, and international wine scenes. Career highlights included:
- Developing a groundbreaking wine program as Wine Director at Hawksworth
- Repeatedly holding the position of Festival Sommelier at VanWineFest
- In 2012, being named Sommelier of the Year by Vancouver magazine, the VIWF, and California’s Sunset Magazine
- The first Canadian Sommelier to be a regular Decanter panelist
- Six years as Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at London’s Michelin-starred Chez Bruce
- Five years as Wine Buyer at London’s prestigious Selfridges
Terry passed away unexpectedly in October 2020, at the age of 43. He continues to be missed by his family, friends, and colleagues in the industry, who remember him as much for his warm personality, intelligence, and integrity as for his consummate professional skills and knowledge.
The Terry Threlfall Scholarship will be awarded annually to an individual pursuing further wine knowledge at an eligible BC post-secondary institution. The scholarship will be presented at the Vancouver International Wine Festival Awards Lunch.
Terry’s brother, Dan Threlfall, notes, “It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since we lost Terry. Speaking on behalf of our whole family, we think it’s a wonderful thing to have this opportunity to create a legacy in his memory. Terry always welcomed the chance to act as a mentor for others in the wine community, so I’m sure the idea of a scholarship in his name would have pleased him very much.”
List of winners:
Dawn Schultz, 2024
Chris Turyk, 2023
Kelcie Jones, 2022
