In a historic moment for Canada's wine industry, Calgary's Zyn — The Wine Market has been honored with the prestigious Leccio d'Oro award, becoming the first Canadian wine shop to receive this international recognition from Italy's renowned Brunello wine consortium.
A Surprising Recognition
Store owner David Dienger received the surprising news via email that his southeast Calgary establishment had been named International Retailer of the Year. "I thought it was spam, so I ignored it," Dienger admitted about the initial notification. The reality of the honor only sunk in days later when an industry friend visited his store to confirm the legitimacy of the award.
Dienger promptly booked travel to Italy for the award ceremony, which took place on November 21, 2025, during the 34th annual Benvenuto Brunello event in Montalcino. Despite three decades in the wine business, Dienger expressed genuine surprise at the recognition, noting he typically prefers to "remain in the shadows" while working.
Three Decades of Dedication
The award represents the culmination of 30 years of dedicated work in the wine industry. Dienger moved to Canada from Patagonia, Argentina in 1989 to study commerce at the University of Calgary. His graduating case study focused on privatization in Alberta's liquor industry, laying the foundation for his future career.
After completing his education in 1992, Dienger opened The Wine Cottage, which he later rebranded to Zyn — The Wine Market in 2008. The store has since grown to offer an impressive selection of more than 7,000 wine labels, with its Italian section featuring over 170 Brunello and Brunello Riserva selections from key vintages.
International Recognition and Canadian Pride
The Leccio d'Oro Awards recognize excellence in six categories, including best restaurant and best wine shop, both within Italy and internationally. Previous winners of the best international retailer award include London's renowned Berry Bros. and Rudd in 2023 and Rome's Roscioli in 2021.
Giacomo Bartolommei, President of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, highlighted Zyn's vast wine selection and dedication to customer education as key factors in their decision. The consortium specifically noted the store's commitment to customer satisfaction and wine knowledge.
While humbled by the personal recognition, Dienger emphasized that "this award is about many other people who have worked with me, people who work with me now and who have worked with me before." He described the honor as validation of years of accumulated expertise and careful wine selection.
The ceremony also featured Canadian representation beyond Zyn, with Toronto wine influencer Jean des Rivieres winning the debut Special Award for Communication and Digital Media, marking a significant showing for Canada's wine community on the international stage.
