Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Anthony von Mandl O.C., O.B.C.

The man who help changed an Industry

“First of all, you have to believe in yourself,” says von Mandl. “Begin with a purpose that is not about making money. Money is the byproduct of doing something you love and believe in. Every person can accomplish so much if they embrace life, they’re curious and courageous.”

A true entrepreneur. Mr von Mandl started from humble beginning to establish a billion dollar beverage company and create one of Canada's most respect wineries Mission Hills Family Estate Winery.

It all began back in 1972 as a one man wine import business. Today the Mark Anthony Group is a diversified beverage alcohol company with three major pillars:

Mark Anthony Brands International — creator of iconic ready‑to‑drink beverages such as White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, two of the most successful alcohol brands in North America

Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits — one of Canada’s leading importers and distributors of premium wines, spirits, and beers, representing producers from nearly 20 countries.

Ionic Wineries of British Columbia — a collection of luxury estate wineries in the Okanagan Valley, including Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek, Martin’s Lane, and others, known for award‑winning wines and architectural landmarks.

He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1950. His Austrian father and Czech mother fled Nazi-occupied Europe, and he has often spoken about how grateful he is that their journey ultimately brought them to Canada. his history of survival and resilience became a defining part of the family’s identity and shaped von Mandl’s sense of gratitude for being born in Canada.

Anthony’s mother would frequently recall the moment when they finally reached the border and a Canadian immigration official greeted them and said, “Welcome to Canada.” Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, she couldn’t hold back her tears, turned towards his Father and said, “At last we are safe….”

“Their story has made me an incredibly proud Canadian,” Anthony says. “One who cares deeply and has immense gratitude for our country.”

Although he spent part of his childhood overseas. During this time he was exposed to European art,music cuisine and wine culture. He soon realized that his passion lay in wine and food not economics. He apprenticed in the European wine trade, gaining firsthand experience in the traditions and craftsmanship of winemaking. This training shaped his belief that British Columbia—though then unknown in the wine world—could one day produce wines of international caliber.

Anthony reflects on his early experiences, recalling his first job as a 7-year-old collecting bottles as an intriguing hint of what was to come. However, it was his position as a busboy at a hotel in Vancouver that marked his initial venture into the world of work. This opportunity taught him valuable lessons about the significance of precision, from the meticulous setup of everything to the proper conduct expected of him.

At the age of 16, Anthony worked the graveyard shift at a sawmill in Vancouver on Friday nights after school. The following summer, he worked as a labourer on the construction of a dam in Northern British Columbia. Through these formative experiences, he not only learned to deeply respect and value those that do challenging physical labour but the importance each and every role plays in our society.

At the age of 22 without a dime, Anthony von Mandl founded and built a multi-billion-dollar drinks company from the ground up in British Columbia with no outside financing or major acquisitions. He accomplished this by creating ‘new-to-world' drink categories and iconic brands that completely transformed the industry.

When he first opened his wine merchant business at the age of 22, von Mandl was shocked to find he could not sell his European wines in Canada. For the first six years of his business, he recalls he could not afford to pay himself and was barely making ends meet. His first success came when he discovered he could sell his wines directly to Canadian airlines, which yielded just enough revenue to pay his bills.

During the global pandemic Anthony invested $2B to build the most technologically advanced breweries in North America in the past 30 years. These state-of-the-art facilities are without parallel anywhere in the world, purpose designed and built to produce his breakthrough iconic White Claw Hard Seltzer — the most successful new beverage launched since prohibition — along with a diverse portfolio of leading beverage brands, which he is now expanding internationally.

Mission Hill was originally founded in 1966 in West Kelowna, British Columbia. At that time, the Okanagan Valley was still known primarily for orchards rather than wine, and the early winery operated on a modest scale.
This early version of Mission Hill laid the groundwork but did not yet resemble the world‑class estate it would become.

The BC wine industry was still in its infancy when he purchased the winery in 1981 Mark Anthony saw the potential of the Okanagan. Under his leadership, Mission Hill evolved from a small regional winery into an internationally recognized estate.

When an economic recession hit one year later, he had no choice but to get creative with his products, using apples grown on the property — thus marked the beginning of the Okanagan Cider Company. To keep up with his 25% interest payments on the property, he created the world’s first flavoured ciders, based on the Okanagan’s incredible fruit growing reputation.

His flavour innovations were later copied by the major British and European cider makers. His remarkable success with flavoured ciders was just a glimmer of the breakthrough he later achieved with his other ready-to-drink beverage brands. What he started as a function of financing his winery opened a new beverage landscape with global impacts.

He commissioned world‑renowned architect Tom Kundig to design the iconic bell tower, barrel cellar, and amphitheater, turning Mission Hill into a cultural landmark. He invested heavily in vineyards, technology, and talent, leading to global awards and recognition.

In 1994, Mission Hill Family Estate was awarded the Avery Trophy for “Best Chardonnay Worldwide” at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. This honor was awarded to the Mission Hill Grand Reserve Chardonnay 1992, and it marked a major moment for Canadian wine on the global stage. Mission Hill has since won international awards for best Pinot Noir in 2013 and best Canadian red in 2017, and has been voted one of the top 50 vineyards in the world. won best chardonnay at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. Mission Hill has since won international awards for best Pinot Noir in 2013 and best Canadian red in 2017, and has been voted one of the top 50 vineyards in the world.

The von Mandl Family Foundation is a Canadian private foundation based in Vancouver, BC, focused primarily on education, arts, and broader community development. It is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and operates as a qualified charitable organization.

He has received multiple honorary degrees acknowledging his leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural contributions:

Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Capilano University (2021) — Awarded for his economic impact in BC, his leadership in agri‑tourism, and his support of the arts

Honorary Doctorate, Royal Roads University (2024) — Recognized for building internationally successful beverage brands (including White Claw and Mike’s Hard Lemonade) and for his creative, values‑driven approach to business

A Member of the Order of British Columbia and an Officer of the Order of Canada, Anthony is also a recipient of France’s Legion d’Honneur. He holds six Honourary Doctorates and has been inducted into the B.C. Business Hall of Fame, and Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Anthony has been recognized and awarded many honours throughout his career including The Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal,The Horatio Alger Award,The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of British Columbia. His deep love of agriculture, passion for innovation and creativity, and unending support for his community has driven his lifelong quest to raise awareness and stature for agri-tourism in British Columbia.

The Mark Anthony Group recently announced it is expanding into non-alcoholic beverages including teaming up with football legend Lionel Messi to create Más+ by Messi, a Next Generation Hydration Drink to address people’s health and wellness globally.

Mark Anthony’s head office is in Vancouver, Canada, where their Corporate Services Team provides Finance, Compliance, Human Resources and IT support for The Mark Anthony Group of Companies.The U.S. operations are in Chicago, Illinois, and the global innovation centre and international sales and marketing is in Dublin, Ireland.

Iconic wines are the proud owners of

Mission Hill Family Estate
CedarCreek Estate Winery
Checkmate Artisanal Winery
liquidity Wines
Road 13 Vineyards

“We all have the potential to leave a legacy,” says von Mandl. “Through our family, community, or accomplishments — to leave the world around us a little bit better than it was when we arrived. Nothing could be more fulfilling for someone’s life than that.”

Mission Hill

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