2023 Spirited Industry Professional

The annual Spirited Industry Professional Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The 16th annual award goes to John Bishop.

Welsh-born John Bishop began his career at the age of 15, filling creamer jugs and delivering breakfast trays. After ten years as chef at a restaurant in Kinsale, County Cork, he came to Canada in 1973. In 1985, he launched the iconic restaurant that bore his name for 36 years. Bishop’s was synonymous with farm-to-table ingredients, west coast hospitality, and great food and wine. John retired in August 2022 to spend more time with his family and write. He has already authored four cookbooks on everything from the importance of fresh, local ingredients, to favourite family recipes from his own home kitchen.