TIME Family of Wines
Darrien and Christa-Lee McWatters r
Darrien and Christa-Lee McWatters recognized for their positive impact on North American Wine Culture.
Okanagan sisters Christa-Lee and Darrien McWatters have been named as two of the Wine Industry Network’s ‘Most Inspiring People of 2021’.
The McWatter sisters are the daughters of Okanagan wine pioneer Harry McWatters, who sadly passed away last year. Both also work at TIME Family of Wines, which they co-founded with their legendary father.
WIN annually selects 10 industry individuals who exemplify leadership, innovation, and inspiration.
In 2021, WIN received more than 100 submissions, with the editorial team narrowing it down to the 10 finalists who positively impacted North American wine culture. For the first time ever, two sisters cracked the top 10!
Christa-Lee and Darrien work as the general manager and operations manager respectively at TIME Family of Wines. Both are very are well known in British Columbia, but now the wider wine world will know their names.
This award validates what many people in the BC wine industry have already noticed, and proves that the McWatters sisters are celebrating the work first started by their father.
“Christa-Lee and Darrien McWatters manage to honour their family’s incredible history and legacy in Canadian wine, while fearlessly pushing their brands into the future,” said Kathleen Wilcox of the Wine Industry Network.”
As Wilcox explains in the recognition article, the sisters received this accolade for their ability to be adaptable and innovative, while paving the way for others.
Throughout the pandemic, the two worked to sell the winery to new owners Ron and Shelley Mayert, and update the winery with new brands, fresh new packaging, and a solid plan for expansion of the business.