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A lot has changed since Top Drop’s inaugural vintage, back in fall 2014, but the mandate set forward by founders Kurtis Kolt and Jeff Curry remains the same.
“Our focus is terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines, and the people behind them. We believe in the importance in farming one’s own fruit and/or being constantly engaged with grape-growers to ensure sustainability and a high standard of viticultural practices. We believe in wines that reflect their vintage, and wines that aren’t suffocated by vinicultural trickery. We believe in winemaking decisions that are made by a winemaker, and not by a board of directors or marketing team. We believe in those who take chances. We believe these kinds of wines, honest wines of integrity, need a time and place to have their story told.”
Now, comfortably shifted into spring, and having expanded into Calgary since 2018, the independent wine festival has proven itself the must-attend wine event in Canada. It’s certainly the only North America wine festival in my annual calendar, and 2025 was a beautiful whirlwind discovering some new gems (Château Penin, Albino Rocca) and reconnecting with trusted favourites (Soalheiro, Lightfoot & Wolfville, Domaine Rolet).
This year the Roundhouse saw a full capacity of 500 guests (split between the afternoon trade and the evening consumer tastings) attend Vancouver’s Main Event, with 49 international wineries and principals in attendance. Even with the absence of American wineries this year, that’s the highest number of producers to date. The Main Event was preceded by a series of ticketed Monday Night Wine Parties throughout Yaletown, as well as a full slate of trade seminars led by local sommeliers and educators. Though there have been celebrated international speakers over the years, including Dr. Jamie Goode, and Elaine Chukan Brown, one Top Drop tenet has been to give and grow local wine talent, giving seminar space and experience to the skilled local wine community. Top Drop Canada today is owned and overseen by Kolt, Jason Yamasaki, Jenna Briscoe, and Erin Loader, aided by a loyal team of volunteers including a dizzying number of Vancouver’s top somms, retailers, importers, and winemakers.
And speaking of giving back, entrance for the trade tasting requires a minimum $10 donation going directly to the BC Hospitality Foundation, an important local resource providing financial support to individuals from the hospitality industry facing a major medical crisis. This year around $5000 was raised for BCHF, which is a beauty way for trade to support each other.
Below are some of the producers present in Vancouver this year, and wines recently tasted by the GOW team, just to provide context for the diversity and quality in the room. Watch for Top Drop Canada 2026 dates to be released – I will see you there.
