VANCOUVER — A new scholarship is being launched to honour the memory of B.C.’s top sommelier and wine professional Terry Threlfall, who passed away in October 2020 at the age of 43. The Terry Threfall Scholarship is the result of a partnership between the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) and the Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF).
Seed money comes from Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute series program. The winery donated the funds to the Threfall family, who have requested the donations be directed to the BC Hospitality Foundation. The scholarship will be presented annually at the VIWF Awards Lunch.
Threlfall had a strong influence on the local, national and international wine scenes. Some of his career highlights include developing a wine program as wine director at fine-dining restaurant Hawksworth, being the first Canadian sommelier to be a regular Decanter panelist and, in 2012, being named Sommelier of the Year by Vancouver magazine, the VIWF and California’s Sunset Magazine.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since we lost Terry,” says Dan Threlfall, Terry’s brother. “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.”
