A who’s who of wine & business experience.

BC Wine Country is ripe for investment
Rob Ingram, BC Wine Industry Investment

Rob Ingram,
President and CEO CPA, CA

Rob Ingram is a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary in the wine industry, renowned for his innate ability to scale businesses and exceed industry standards. He was the founder of Terrabella Wineries Ltd (TWL), which launched esteemed brands such as the hatch and Perseus Wineries. Under his guidance, TWL achieved numerous accolades and remarkable growth metrics within a span of six years:

Elevating production to 45,000 cases in 2017 and successfully selling 30,000 cases the following year.
Attaining an industry-leading profit margin of 58% by the end of 2018.
Managing very high inventory levels despite market constraints.
Securing a seven-digit EBITDA and an eight-digit company valuation.

His acute understanding of market trends and consumer preferences positions him as a thought leader in the industry. At present, Vinpatico Wines Ltd is initiating a fundraising venture to acquire 2-4 wineries. With a robust sales record of 25,000 cases annually, the company comfortably surpasses the wine industry’s perceived breakeven point. They are in the active phase of identifying opportunities for acquisitions, mergers, grape sourcing along with financing and are welcoming investors to participate in this exciting journey.
You can connect with Rob here with at his LinkedIn profile.

Grant Lawrence brings his experience to the BC Wine Industry

Grant Lawrence,
CFO B. Comm HonoursMarketing

A seasoned professional with international business experience. Grant’s career started in enterprise sales and expanded into various senior roles over the past three decades, providing solutions for some of the largest customers on the planet (the largest at 1.4m staff).

Grant currently runs Valhalla Angels groups in BC which includes continuous interaction with founders (mentoring, advisory positions) and community involvement (panelist, judge, guest lecturer…). Grant is also a co-founder of Valhalla Private Capital.

Grant is a Board Partner at Startup Studio (startupstudiovc.com), helping companies drive business development and sales with their capital raises. He is VP of Investor Relations at UpCapital (upcapital.ca) where they take companies public.

Recently Grant has taken the position of Investor in Residence with Accelerate Okanagan (accelerateokanagan.com)

You can connect with Grant over at his LinkedIn profile here.

Michael Bartier Legendary BC Winemaker

Michael Bartier
Chief Winemaker and OPS Manager

Michael Bartier, a native of the Okanagan Valley, pursued his education at the University of Victoria before embarking on a career in wine sales on Vancouver Island. Michael advanced his winemaking expertise through on-the-job training, university extension courses, and distance learning at Washington State University and the University of California, Davis. He quickly established a reputation for excellence, earning two Canadian White Wine of the Year titles within three years and several consecutive Lieutenant Governor’s awards for his red wines.

His career includes notable positions at Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards, Township 7, and Road 13. Currently, Michael serves as a consulting winemaker for an esteemed client list across North America, a testament to his renowned expertise. Michael Bartier continues to contribute significantly to the Okanagan wine industry, producing exceptional wines that truly represent the region.

Find out more about Michael over at his LinkedIn profile here.

Andrew Melville Marketing and Design Expert

Andrew Melville
Director of Wine Marketing & Design

With a rich background in design and extensive expertise in sales, marketing, and management within the wine industry since 2002, Andrew was a vital member of Rob's leadership team at Terrabella. His design training has been instrumental in conceptualizing and creating three cutting-edge tasting rooms, each enhancing customer experience and engagement to new heights.

Andrew's strategic vision and innovative approach have led to remarkable achievements, including a dramatic surge in sales and a significant expansion of the wine club membership. In just one year, the membership base grew to over 900 members, showcasing his ability to cultivate loyal customer relationships and drive substantial business growth.

By blending his design acumen with a keen understanding of market dynamics, Andrew has consistently delivered impactful results. His long history in sales, marketing, and management further underscores his comprehensive skill set and dedication to excellence.

You can connect with Andrew over at his LinkedIn profile here.

  • Randy Brown

    Randy Brown

    DIR OF REGULATORY AND POLICY

    Industry specialist in liquor licensing and compliance in BC for the past 14 years, including a decade with the Liquor Manufacturing Industry in BC overseeing 550 manufacturers.

  • Joseph Luckhurst

    Joseph Luckhurst

    BOARD ADVISOR

    As General Manager of a successful winery, Joseph grew production from 700 cases to 40,000 cases, ensuring a highly successful exit for investors.


  • Gordon Coombes

    Gordon Coombes

    CONTROLLER, CPA, CGA

    A full career in the finance space including 7 years at Telus as Director Financial Operations.