Niagara College Teaching Winery…. Canada’s teaching winery!

In November 2008, we were delighted to have an opportunity to meet the very charming and dynamic Steve Gill

Pictured above: Niagara Culinary College Gamay Noir 2006 – $12.95 per bottle

In November 2008, we were delighted to have an opportunity to meet the very charming and dynamic Steve Gill, the Manager of Wine & Viticulture of the Niagara College Teaching Winery located at Niagara College Canada in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. This is a very special place as the Niagara College Teaching Winery is the ONLY teaching winery in Canada. Our day unfolded with a tour of the state of the art facilities, a private wine tasting by Steve Gill featuring the incredible array of award winning wines produced at the college as well as a delicious lunch at the on campus restaurant, the Niagara Culinary Institute Dining Room. On days like that we thank our lucky stars we had the where with all to choose this profession! This is considered work? Sign me up!

Having been so impressed with the day we knew we just had to tell everyone about this jewel of a school where our next generation of wine makers and young people pursuing careers in the wine industry are being trained and discovered. So, Steve Gill joined us in studio on The Wine Ladies radio show in January 2009 and in fact was the first guest of 2009. We were not disappointed.

We learned that the NCT Winery has won more than 40 national and international awards
for its VQA wines since its inception in 2000. The wines are made by student winemaking teams under the head winemakers guidance and supervision, Terence van Rooyen. Terence joined NCT Winery in February 2007 and his considerable experience and education has earned him numerous accolades for producing outstanding wines including those of the NCT Winery. About 4500 cases are produced annually, over 20 different wines and marketed under 5 different label designs. Check out their online store for more information.

This college winery is a real going concern as not only are the grapes grown on a six-acre (Jack Forrer Vineyard) teaching and research vineyard at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus, made into wine at the school but also marketed and sold on site at the campus retail store. All proceeds’ from their sales help finance the educational endeavors of the schools Horticulture and Agribusiness. Incredible!

The wine industry has worked with Niagara College to develop and fine-tune the following programs so that graduates are highly skilled and ready for their new careers. These intense and unique academic curriculums utilize the science lab, college vineyards, on-site equipment, and work with wine industry educators and professional winemakers.

Winery and Viticulture Technician Diploma Program
Wine Industry Certificates
Certified Sommelier
Continuing Education Courses

For more info on the Niagara College Teaching Winery visit their website

Pictures

Below:Steve Gill Manager of Wine & Viticulture Niagara Culinary College on the air Jan 3rd,2008

Below: NCT Winery retail store on campus

Below: NCT Winery white wines, from Chardonnay to Gewerztraminer

Below: NCT Winery with over 20 wines Steve Gill shows the colleges different range of wines