The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to partner with the BC Hospitality Foundation, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Meyer Family Vineyards, 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 offers a rare and immersive opportunity for the winner of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) BC & Vancouver International Wine Festival Sommelier of the Year award: a unique multi-day wine experience in London, England, designed to expand the winner’s knowledge, skills, and exposure to the international wine scene. This scholarship celebrates Terry’s passion for wine, mentorship, and excellence, providing an experience that goes far beyond the classroom or the tasting room.
The 2026 winner is Michael Littleford, This is Wine School.
Meyer Family Vineyards generously provided seed money for the scholarship fund through sales of the winery’s Tribute Series Chardonnay – Terry Threlfall. 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.
Terry’s brother, Dan Threlfall, notes, “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:
Michael Littleford, 2026
Kaede Suzuki, 2025
Dawn Schultz, 2024
Chris Turyk, 2023
Kelcie Jones, 2022