Arnica Rowan

BCom, MA, DipWSET, LLAg

Education & Credentials

Limited License Agrologist, 2024+. BC Institute of Agrologists. Specific to viticulture, wine and  beverage production. British Columbia, Canada.

Current Master of Wine Stage 2 Student, 2022 ongoing. Institute of the Masters of Wine, UK.

WSET Diploma, 2022. Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) School, London, United Kingdom.

Master of Arts, 2005. Environmental Education & Communication. Royal Roads University, Canada. 

Bachelor of Commerce, 2002. Distinction. Major in Management, minors in Marketing and Environmental Conservation. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

 

Recent Continuing Education

Certificate in Indigenous Awareness, 2025, Indigenous Awareness Canada

MW Symposium attendee, 2023, Institute of Masters of Wine, Mainz, Germany.

BC Wine Ambassador 1&2, 2021, Wines of British Columbia. Kelowna, Canada.

Certified Rioja Wine Educator, 2018 (expired), DOCA of Rioja. Logroño, Spain.

Introduction to Soil Sciences, 2018. Audited. Okanagan College, Kelowna, Canada.

Wine Geographies, 2017. Audited. University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.

Wine Educational Tours & Self Study: France’s Alsace, Bergerac, Bordeaux, Burgundy; Germany’s Franken, Rheingau, Rheinhessen; Hungary’s Balton, Badacsony; Italy’s Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Piemonte; Spain’s Rioja, Penedès; Portugal’s Duoro River Valley; the UK’s West Sussex; the USA’s Oregon, Washington, California. 

Professional Experience

Co-Owner/Partner, 2019+, dba Terroir Consulting. Consumer, marketing and export research, strategy, planning, viticulture, mapping, winemaking, and marketing, for Canadian and international wineries, regional and national associations, wine technology, research council, and government. With business partner, lead multidisciplinary teams of viticulture, winemaking, operations and business specialists.

Contributing Writer, 2020+, JancisRobinson.com. U.K. 2022-2023, Fondata Media. U.K.

Co-Owner/Manager, 2014-2023 , Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital, Kelowna, Canada. 

Wine Educator, 2017-2018, Start Fresh Kitchen. Culinary school in Kelowna, Canada.

Professor, 2008-2014, Okanagan College School of Business. Taught Marketing, Management, Change and Non-Profit Management, Sustainable Business.  Kelowna, Canada.

Owner/Lead Consultant, 1997- 2017, dba Cross Country Consultants. Environmental conservation, land use, strategy, tourism marketing, sustainability. Fort St. John, Edmonton, Vermilion. Canada.  

Owner/Manager, 2011-2014, dba Africa Sleeps Hair and Bodycare, Kelowna, Canada. 

Associate Professor, 2009, Antioch University. Taught Marketing for Green MBA program. Keene, USA.

Instructor, 2003-2008, Lakeland College. Taught Business and Project Management to environmental associate degree and tourism diploma students. Supervised biodiesel project. Vermilion, Canada.

Recreation Manager, 2001, City of Edmonton. Canada.

Teaching Assistant, 2000-2002, University of Alberta. Edmonton, Canada.

Youth Coordinator, 1999-2000, Town of Beaumont. Canada. 

Development Manager, 1997-1998, North Peace Cultural Centre. Fort St John, Canada.

Mapping Technician, 1998-1999, McElhanney Associates. Fort St John, Canada.

Awards

67 Global Wine Communication Awards, Finalist 2024 and 2025 in Long Form Writing category.

IWSC International Wine and Spirit Competition, Shortlist 2025, Emerging Talent in Wine Award. 

Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy, Scholarship winner and competition judge, 2025.

CittaSlow Chiociolla Orange Awards. Terroir Consulting project for Discover Naramata awarded the best agricultural, touristic, and artisan policy project in the world for slow communities in 2024. 

Innovation Awards, Okanagan College. Awarded multiple study leaves for applied research. Presented in the USA, Canada and Morocco.
Emerald Award, 2009. Emerald Award for Environmental Leadership. Alberta, Canada.

Innovation in Teaching Award, 2008, Colleges and Institute Faculty Association. Alberta, Canada.

Paul Harris Fellowship, 2007, Rotary International. Awarded for international humanitarian service. 

Alberta’s Most Enterprising Employees, Finalist 2007, for workplace leadership, innovation, service.

National SSHRC Scholarship 2005 for achievement in Master’s degree student research. Canada.

Community Service

Co-Founder and (Previously) President, 2019+, Vinica Education Society. Supports BIPOC wine professionals to enter and advance in the wine industry. Canada. 

Member and Presenter, 2017+, University of British Columbia Okanagan Wine Club, Kelowna, Canada.

Co-Founder, 2020, Tasting Games. Competitive tasting for wine industry. British Columbia, Canada.

Co-Founder and President, 2010-2020, Vulnerable Children Society. Supports orphaned, impoverished and HIV+ children. Ethiopia. 

Director, 2015-2020, Pandosy Village Business Association. Kelowna, Canada. 

Host parent, 2005 – 2017, Rotary and School District youth exchange programs. 

Volunteer organizer/participant, 2010-2020, Harambee Cultural Society, a weeklong camp for families with children of African heritage. Sorento, Canada.

Volunteer member, 2004 – 2010, Rotary Club International.  Local and international humanitarian work and exchange student counselling. Vermilion, Kelowna, Canada.

Advisor / Judge, 2009-2010, 2016, Chamber of Commerce Green Business Awards, Kelowna, Canada.

Judge, 2010 – 2012, BC Green Games. British Columbia, Canada.

Key Public Presentations

Rowan, A. (2024). Tasting Terroir. Guest lecture, Wine Geography. UBC Okanagan. Kelowna, BC.

Rowan, A. (2024). Winery Tasting Fees and Value-Added Experiences. BC Wine Insights Conference. Penticton, BC. 

Rowan, A. & Scott, J. (2024). The styles, farming and business of Champagne. University of British Columbia Okanagan. Kelowna, Canada.

Rowan, A. (2023). Introducing the complicated world of Sherry. University of British Columbia Okanagan. Kelowna, Canada.

Esau, D. & Rowan, A. (February 3, 2023). Key Consumer Segments in the BC wine industry. BC Wine Insights Conference. Penticton, BC. 

Rowan, A. (April 20, 2022). The Canadian wine market. Guest lecture for Geisenheim University Wine Business students. Geisenheim, Germany.

Esau, D. & Rowan, A. (March 8, 2022). Exporting BC wine: market intelligence reports and step-by-step guides. Insights Conference for Wine Growers BC. Penticton, Canada.

Rowan, A. (2020). Wines of Piedmont. University of British Columbia Tasting Club. Kelowna, Canada.

Elton, C., Esau, D. Lang, E. & Rowan, A. (2017). Spallumcheen, Ogopogo Ridge, Coldstream and Kalamalka Lakes Appelation Report for Wine Growers BC. Penticton, BC.

Rowan, A. (2013). Integrating Sustainability across higher education curriculum: A systems approach for institutional deep change. World Environmental Education Congress, Marrakesh, Morocco.

Rowan, A. (2013). Communities of practice for green economy entrepreneurs: Learning together and building a subculture’s identity. World Environmental Education Congress, Marrakesh, Morocco.

Rowan, A. (2012). Sustainability Education Across the Province. Webinar for the province of British Columbia. 

Rowan, A., Marcus, J. & Neal, V. (November, 2011). Formalizing Sustainability Course Designations at Post-Secondary Institutions. Assoc. for Applied Sustainability in Higher Education, Pittsburgh, USA.

Burns, D., Neil, V. & Rowan, A. Sustainability Course Inventory as a Foundation for Sustainability and Environmental Program Development Using STARS.

Rowan, A. (2010). How your organization can take three steps forward towards sustainability. Chambre of Commerce Green Business Awards, Keynote, Kelowna, Canada. 

Rowan, A. (2008). Business and scenario planning: identify the future of your career and take the best path forward. Unlisted Summit: Professional Development for a New Business Culture, Banff, Canada.   

Key Publicly Available Reports 

Terroir Consulting. (2024). Grape Gap Analysis. BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan, with Galen Barnhardt and Ruth King. 

Terroir Consulting. (2024). Enhanced Re-Plant Funding Recommendations. BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan, with Galen Barnhardt and Ruth King.

Terroir Consulting. (2022a,b,c). Market Intelligence Reports for Korea, Singapore, Taiwan. Wine Growers Canada. Editors Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan.

Terroir Consulting. (2022a,b,c). Step-by-step Export Guides for Korea, Singapore, Taiwan. Wine Growers Canada. Editors Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan.

Terroir Consulting. (2021a,b,c,d,e,f). Market Intelligence Reports for Denmark, Hong Kong, London, Norway, Seattle, New York. Wine Growers BC. Editors Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan.

Terroir Consulting. (2021g,h,I,j,k,l). Step-by-step Export Guides for Denmark, Hong Kong, London, Norway, Seattle, New York. Wine Growers BC. Editors Darcen Esau and Arnica Rowan.

Feinstein, A. (March, 2010). BC’s Peace River valley and climate change: the role of the valley’s forest and agricultural land in climate change mitigation and adaption. Ed. Arnica Rowan.

Chillborne Environmental. (July, 2009). The living Peace River valley: an overview of the Peace River valley’s natural and cultural values. Ed. Arnica Rowan.