Howard Soon is an engaging, charming and often funny public speaker on the subject of making wine. He really is one of BC’s great ambassadors for our wine industry. I have a couple of videos of Howard speaking, and this one suffers only because you basically see the back of his head for most of it. It’s what he has to say, in response to a question from Anthony Gismondi, that makes it worth viewing.
Howard describes BC’s success in making Pinot Gris wine. It has a reputation as a fresh, fruitful, crisp wine, with good acidity that distinguishes it from other wine regions.
Enjoy!
Photo album: Playhouse Wine Festival 2009 BC Wine forum
Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.
In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.
His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.
