Niagara-on-the-Lake winery the only Canadian vineyard on list of World’s Top-100

When Wine and Spirits magazine pulled together its Top 100 Wineries of 2022 list, it was a world-wide affair.

Indeed, France had 18 winners. The United States had so many winners that its list was broken into eight regions.

Canada had but one that made the list – Inniskillin Estate Winery.

Inniskillin actually has two properties in Canada – one in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the other in BC’s Okanagan Valley.

But the Niagara-on-the-Lake was Ontario’s first “estate winery,” meaning the grapes used by the company are grown on their own land.

With the winery located at 1499 Line 3 near the Niagara Parkway, the 30 acre vineyard can be found right across the street.

Inniskillin’s philosophy of “producing premium wines from premium grapes grown in the Niagara Peninsula” has not changed since the winery was founded by Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo. It is owned and operated by Arterra Wines Canada.

Their website notes, “Wine and gastronomy take centre stage at Inniskillin, one of the oldest, most prestigious wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With stunning entertainment spaces from the sun-filled Piazza to Founders’ Hall, you’ll enjoy regionally inspired cuisine paired with award-winning wines in unforgettable, picturesque locations.”

“The estate boasts several restored and redesigned historic buildings to be explored, surrounded by acres of lush vineyard.”

The employees are pretty proud of the accomplishment, saying that Inniskillin’s ability to over-deliver greatness in every glass is thanks to the passionate winemakers and staff who work tirelessly during harvesting season.

“When Inniskillin wins, so does the entire team that works tirelessly to create the VQA table wines each harvest,” says Sydney Agbay, one of Inniskillin’s key assistant winemakers and also one of few female winemakers in Ontario.

In her position at Inniskillin Estate Winery, Agbay has worked her way up from a Cellar Hand and continues to hone her passion. Her obsession with the craft is one of the reasons she’s shattered glass ceilings to become one of the few female winemakers in Canada.

Overseeing her is Nicholas Gizuk, the Estate Winemaker at Inniskillin Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In 2013, he started as an Intern at the Estate and worked his way up to Estate Winemaker under the guidance of world-renowned, award-winning winemaker Bruce Nicholson.

His passion comes from his parents who are both avid wine lovers, and his grandfather who made wine at home every fall.

In the end, the Niagara-On-The-Lake winery is home to talented winemakers who share one very important quality: an obsession for the craft. .

Nicholas Gizuk, left, is the Estate Winemaker at Inniskillin Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake while Sydney Agbay, right, is one of Inniskillin’s key assistant winemakers, as well as one of few female winemakers in Ontario.