After 37 years in the wine industry, Howard Soon said it was the magic age for him to retire.

The master winemaker at Sandhill Wines has won numerous awards for his wines, most recently, the Howard Soon Red 2014 earned red wine of the year at the 2017 All Canadian Wine Championships.

91裸聊视频淚 always say the wine won the award. We have a team of five winemakers, in fact we all taste the wine together,91裸聊视频� he said.

The 65-year-old could stay longer, but he wants personal time to spend with his wife. Currently, Soon is the longest serving winemaker in Canada.

91裸聊视频淵es, I could stay longer, but it91裸聊视频檚 a good time to jump aside. My wife has always put up sacrifices and personal time,91裸聊视频� he said.

He has four children, three of whom were born and raised in Kelowna.

Soon started in the industry by working with Labatts Brewery for five years in Winnipeg, before moving to the Okanagan and knocking on the door of Calona Wines in 1980.

He started as a quality control supervisor, before becoming a wine maker in 1989.

91裸聊视频淭he (wine) perspective is different from beer and I love it, it91裸聊视频檚 all agricultural,91裸聊视频� said Soon.

Wine is dependent on Mother Nature, if you don91裸聊视频檛 have good grapes one season, you have to wait a year for the next batch, he said.

Soon91裸聊视频檚 attention to detail and his enjoyment of working with people has allowed him to excel in his position. Wine is always on his mind.

91裸聊视频淚 think one of my strengths is bringing across 91裸聊视频榳hat is wine?91裸聊视频� to the public,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think I91裸聊视频檇 like to say I91裸聊视频檓 an interpreter.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 not about the gold medals, he said, it91裸聊视频檚 about the taste. As a mentor for younger winemakers, he gives advice and asks them questions, training them to become independent thinkers while tasting wine with them.

91裸聊视频淭o be a successful winemaker, you have a vision of what you want to do,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou have to love this work so much, you91裸聊视频檇 pay to do it.91裸聊视频�

Soon said his biggest accomplishment in the industry has been Sandhill91裸聊视频檚 dedicated single vineyard wines which may have defined 91裸聊视频渢erroir91裸聊视频� in B.C.

91裸聊视频淭erroir (a French term) is defined as having a sense of place, which means where is the grape grown and you can taste that in the wine,91裸聊视频� said Soon.

91裸聊视频淗is non-interventionist approach has led to countless awards and accolades, including the Founder91裸聊视频檚 Award from the 1998 Okanagan Wine Festival, the first B.C. winemaker to receive a gold medal at the Chardonnay du Monde in France and most notably a clean sweep at the 2009 Canadian Wine Awards with Best Red and Best White wine of show and best Canadian winery,91裸聊视频� reads a Sandhill Wines release.

91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 think of anyone who has had a more profound impact on the Canadian wine industry than Howard Soon. For those of us who know and believe that great wines are made in the vineyard, Howard has been our passionate crusader and proof point,91裸聊视频� said John Peller of Andrew Peller Ltd.

Soon also has a great love for the symphony and sits on the Okanagan Symphony board of directors. He practices piano once a week. He retires July 24.