Intensity, infectious passion, overcoming obstacles by innovation, and an unwavering commitment to his vision led Anthony von Mandl to begin his journey four decades ago. Without resources, Anthony founded a wine importing firm in Vancouver at the age of 22. Despite difficult initial years, he successfully grew Mark Anthony Wine Merchants, and in 1981 began to realize his audacious dream: to produce world-class wines in BC’s then unknown Okanagan Valley. Little did he know that in order to selffinance his vision he would build a half-billion dollar corporation from the ground up without outside financing.

Having risked everything to purchase a near bankrupt winery, he created other businesses and new industry categories in the drinks trade, including the iconic Mike’s Hard Lemonade to generate the capital required for the winery. In addition, he created the largest private national fine wine and beer distribution business in Canada and built Canada’s first sustainable and most advanced craft brewery, Turning Point, best known for its Stanley Park Belgian style beers.

Mission Hill Family Estate, which he conceived and built to endure for centuries, has become internationally known, and has been called “the gold standard of wineries” by Condé Nast Traveler.

In 2013, Mission Hill was named ‘Canadian Winery of the Year’ for the third time at the National Wine Awards.

In February 2014, VMF Estates—the von Mandl Family’s collection of prestigious wineries & estate vineyards and the soul of his businesses—assumed ownership of CedarCreek Estate Winery, (twice recognized as ‘Canadian Winery of the Year’) from the Fitzpatrick Family. CedarCreek joins Mission Hill Family Estate and the as-yet-unreleased CheckMate Artisanal Winery in the VMF Estate Collection.

In September 2013, the Family’s Martin’s Lane Pinot Noir won the Trophy for ‘World’s Best Pinot Noir’ in London at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the world’s most prestigious wine competition. Last month, Martin’s Lane Riesling was the only wine served at a reception in honour of Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.

A former Canadian YPO Chairman and International Board Member, von Mandl has served on the Advisory Boards at the University of Western Ontario and the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. In 2005, he was awarded British Columbia’s highest distinction, the Order of British Columbia. In 2011, he was the recipient of the ‘Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence’ alongside A.G. Lafley, President & CEO of Procter & Gamble. Previous winners include Mikhail Gorbachev, Benazir Bhutto, and Howard Schultz, Founder, Chairman and & CEO Starbucks.