After a harsh winter that left parts of our vineyard without buds to produce fruit for this upcoming growing season, and a questionable start to spring, it’s refreshing to see signs of life returning to some parts of the vineyard and the beginnings of what will be #Harvest2026 🍇🍷
Winery Member Wednesday featuring Lailey Winery. Tucked along the Niagara Parkway with a welcoming tree-lined driveway, Lailey Winery blends over 50 years of farming heritage with a warm, authentic tasting experience. Founded in 1970, the estate is home to some of the oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the Niagara Region, crafted into small- and micro-batch, single-vineyard wines across their Lailey and Stonebridge sites.
Recognized as one of Canada’s top 10 small wineries, their minimal intervention approach using wild fermentation, low yields, and a pioneering use of Canadian Oak barrels lets the true sense of place shine through in every bottle. Pull up a seat at the tasting bar and discover exactly what makes Niagara wine country worth celebrating.
Bud break in the Baco Noir vineyard! Ready for a fantastic growing season in the Short Hills Bench. Learn more about our sustainable farming and how we keep our vineyard happy at our profile link.
Check out our Friday feature winery member, Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery!
In the heart of St. Catharines, Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery is a boutique estate shaped by both terroir and journey. Spanning 50 acres, with 23 acres under vine, the winery embraces a slow, intentional approach of crafting wines that reflect the relationship between soil, people, and place.
Founded by Huaying Feng and Jianneng Li, their story begins in Guangzhou and unfolds in Niagara, where owning land and farming became a realized dream. The name “Wending” (Wèn 問 Dǐng 鼎), speaks to a gentle, winding path home, while its Cantonese meaning, as symbolized by the stamp on each bottle, expresses an aspiration to be the best. Traditional clay tanks sourced from Wuxi, China, bring a unique texture and quiet complexity to their winemaking. A perfect place to slow down, sip, and connect with the journey behind each bottle.
OCW members, join us online for this exclusive webinar; “Top 10 Employee Benefit Hacks with Edgewater Financial”
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Time: 10:00am- 11:00am
Location: Zoom
Register: Email [email protected]
Your winery is world‑class. Your benefits should be too. Learn how Ontario wineries can modernize benefits without adding cost or complexity.
Ontario’s craft wineries are evolving — your employee benefits should evolve with you. Join us for a fast‑paced, practical session on the Top 10 Benefit Hacks to optimize your investment in your employee benefit plan so you stay competitive, control costs, and support a workforce that’s as diverse as your varietals.
Whether you’re a family‑run vineyard, a growing estate winery, or a full‑scale operation with seasonal staff, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable ideas you can put to work immediately.
Today is Earth Day, we’re proud to celebrate Ontario VQA wines and our commitment to sustainability rooted in every bottle.
Sustainable winegrowing is guided by three pillars: the health of the environment, a resilient economy, and a strong community. From caring for the soil that nurtures our vines, to protecting biodiversity, to supporting local people and businesses, every step matters.
By choosing Ontario VQA wines, you’re supporting wineries dedicated to responsible practices that protect our land today and preserve it for future generations.
Together, we raise a glass to sustainability, everyday being Earth Day, and the future of Ontario wine. Look for the green leaf on the back of every bottle.
Happy Friday! Check out these cool aerial shots of our @hanckvineyard (upper) and Wismer-Parke Vineyard (lower) from a couple of years ago before we built the winery.
🌱Spring is here, and this green will be back shortly!
🍷Come on by this weekend and see where the vineyard is at now, and taste some wines!
Friday winery feature! Check out one of our members Broken Stone Winery!
Set at the end of a picturesque country lane in Prince Edward County, Broken Stone Winery invites you into a true vineyard escape. Owned and operated by Tim and Micheline Kuepfer since 2009, this family-run estate brings their dream of country living to life through small-lot, expressive wines. Grown on limestone-rich soils layered with clay, their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris are known for vibrant character and bright minerality. With a focus on low yields, biodiversity, and minimal intervention winemaking, every bottle reflects the unique terroir of the County. Visit for the wine, stay for the views, the iconic blue barn, and maybe even a warm welcome from Karma the chocolate lab (plus wood-fired pizza in season).
OCW members, join us online for this exclusive webinar; “Growing with Support: Government Funding Opportunities for Ontario Wineries”.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 10am- 11am
Location: Zoom
Register: Email [email protected]
Wineries across Ontario have access to government funding that can support expansion, modernization, innovation, sustainability initiatives, and operational improvements, but many programs are underutilized simply because the programs are not when publicized and the processes can be complex.
Join Ryan’s Government Grants team, in partnership with Ontario Craft Wineries, for a focused and practical webinar designed specifically for wineries.
What You’ll Gain:
• A clear overview of current federal and provincial funding programs available to wineries
• Insight into Ontario–specific funding opportunities
• Examples of eligible projects and funding strategies
• Practical guidance on how to position your projects for funding success
• Live Q&A with funding specialists
Whether you are planning capital upgrades, environmental improvements, technology adoption, or productivity enhancements, this session will help you understand what support may be available.
Can we all just take a moment to recognize how incredible @chefcharlottelangley and the rest of the panellists were yesterday at the 2026 Spring Wine Forum.
Thank you, Charlotte for sharing your knowledge, your passion, and your commitment to sustainability. Your journey is truly inspiring, and we’re so grateful you joined us as our closing Keynote! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
On behalf of Ontario Craft Wineries, we would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Spring Wine Forum. Your presence and participation made it an incredibly meaningful and impactful day.
We are proud to bring together leaders and professionals from across the tourism, culinary, and craft beverage sectors for a day of engaging conversations, and forward-thinking discussion. The energy and collaboration in the room truly reflected the strength and passion of our industry.
A special thank you to our MC, Joe Pillitteri, for bringing enthusiasm, and humour to the stage throughout the day. We would also like to recognize and thank the LCBO for their continued support of VQA wines. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all of our sponsors. This event would not have been possible without your support, and partnership.
We look forward to hosting future events where we continue to share knowledge, celebrate talent, and create opportunities that support the ongoing development of our industry.
