The Niagara College Teaching Winery is a unique learning environment where students gain hands-on experience in winemaking, viticulture, and sales. Established in 2000, it pioneered wine education in Canada, offering students the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and produce award-winning wines. Led by talented winemaker Allison Findlay, a Niagara College alumna and first female winemaker, the winery continues to innovate and produce exceptional wines, while providing invaluable training for the next generation of wine industry leaders. Visit the winery to experience this dynamic learning environment firsthand and sample the fruits of our students’ labor.
Hours
May – October
10 am – 6 pm
November – April
Sunday to Friday 11 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
WINEMAKER PROFILE
Raised in the Ottawa Valley, Gavin Robertson studied the Humanities before moving to Europe where he encountered wine as a culture, and as a crop, picking grapes to fund his travels and developing his palate at every opportunity. On his return to Canada, Gavin enrolled in the Winery & Viticulture Technician program right here at Niagara College, and expanded his education through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust program and the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Gavin has several years’ experience in the Ontario wine industry as a cellar hand, assistant winemaker, winemaker, vineyard manager and winery consultant, as well as taking opportunities as a vintage winemaker in Central Otago, New Zealand and Tasmania, Australia. Gavin is our head winemaker and cidermaker here at Niagara College Teaching Winery, as well as a professor for our wine programs, and has played a major role in bringing innovative techniques and opportunities to our staff, students and products.
