Success uncorked: NC’s Gastronomy Chardonnay earns 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines

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The awards keep pouring in.

The Niagara College Teaching Winery shone at the 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Ontario Wines, with NC’s 2017 Gastronomy Chardonnay making the shortlist of just 11 winning wines.

This is the second award for the student-crafted, barrel-fermented chardonnay from the College’s on-campus estate vineyard (St. David’s Bench), which won gold at the 25th annual Ontario Wine Awards this June for the Oaked Chardonnay Award Under $20 category.

The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented the awards at a ceremony on June 24 during the 4th Annual Winetario event at George Brown College. The NC Teaching Winery 2017 Gastronomy Chardonnay was a standout win among big names in wine for overall excellence, regardless of vintage or varietal, including Peller Estates, Jackson-Triggs, and Trius. The winning wines were chosen from 542 wines submitted by 78 wineries. The variety was created for Les Marmitons Niagara, a gastronomic and social club of men who share a common interest in food, wine and the culinary arts.

“All of you have made remarkable wines, and each is richly deserving of these awards,” said Dowdeswell in her opening remarks. “And how wonderful it is to see the Niagara College Teaching Winery in the winners’ circle this year! Not only are you pioneers of education in the field of winemaking in Ontario, but your students are already making good on their promise. Your achievement bodes well for the whole industry.”

Steve Gill, general manager, Niagara College Learning Enterprises, attended the award ceremony. “The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines is a testament to applied learning at Niagara College,” said Gill. “Not only did our students play a key role in producing this award-winning wine from our Teaching Winery, we are tremendously proud of the winemakers behind many of the other award-winning wines who are graduates of Niagara College’s wine programs – including our own Niagara College Teaching Winery winemaker Gavin Robertson.”

‘It’s always great to see our Teaching Winery products do well in competitions because it demonstrates to our students – who are very much a part of our everyday winemaking operations – that the lessons that we deliver in lecture and labs hold true when scaled-up in commercial application,” said Gavin Robertson, winemaker and instructor at NC’s Teaching Winery. “Our hope as instructors is that this marriage of science and practice provides a sound foundation for our students to enter the workforce and become leaders, producing their own award-winning wines and also contributing to the growth and development of the Canadian wine industry in other significant ways.”

In addition to Robertson, who graduated from the College’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2011, many of the award-winning wineries are staffed by winemakers who are graduates of NC’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program. They include Chris Frey, winemaker at Megalomaniac (2009 graduate), Yvonne Irvine, assistant winemaker at Creekside Estates (2008 graduate), Paul Pender, winemaker at Tawse Estates (2006 graduate), and Allison Findlay, assistant winemaker at Flat Rock Cellars (2014 graduate).

The award-winning wine is available at Niagara College’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre, located at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON). Proceeds from sales support student learning. Visit niagaracollegewine.ca

Niagara College’s Teaching Winery is the first and only commercial teaching winery in Canada. It is located at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, along with the NC Teaching Brewery and – the latest addition in September 2018 – the NC Teaching Distillery which were also the first of their kind in Canada.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, spirits, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Michael Wales
Manager, Corporate Communications
Office: 905 735-2211 ext. 7773
Cell: 905 328-4101
[email protected]

Andrew Korchok
Communications Consultant
Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7430
Cell: 905 329-1642
[email protected]

Niagara College seeks next Many Hands Project recipient

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Niagara College is ready to dedicate ‘many hands’ to assisting Niagara’s most vulnerable citizens, and is seeking a recipient for its next Many Hands Project.

Applications are now being accepted for the College’s 2019-2020 Many Hands Project. The 23rd annual Many Hands Project will provide resources for much needed programing to a Niagara-based non-profit organization. The value of the project will be approximately $5,000.

Run by the Event Management graduate certificate program of NC’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport, the Many Hands Project has been assisting non-profit organizations throughout Niagara since 1998. Event Management students will plan and execute fundraising events throughout the 2019-2020 academic year to raise money for the selected recipient. The project will rejuvenate the facilities of a local non-profit organization in a one- or two-day upgrade, or provide resources for programming that supports Niagara Region’s vulnerable citizens. Not-for-profit agencies and organizations based in the Niagara region are welcome to apply.

“Niagara College is proud to continue its Many Hands Project, which is an example of applied learning at its best,” said Damian Goulbourne, associate dean of NC’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport.

“Students in our Event Management program gain hands-on experience in planning special events, along with important lessons in community service and leadership, while helping to make a difference in the community at the same time,” said  Christine Blane, faculty and program coordinator for NC’s Event Management program.

The most recent recipient to the College’s Many Hands Project was Pathstone Mental Health. In 2019, Event Management students raised more than $40,800 for Pathstone: $35,858 was raised by hosting a series of fundraising events, while $5,000 was donated by Canadian Tire Bank – a long-time sponsor and supporter of the Many Hands Project. Funds were dedicated to supporting play therapy at Pathstone, which treats Niagara children who are diagnosed with mental health issues.

Applications for the 2019-2020 Many Hands Project must be submitted by August 23, 2019.  View application here: Many Hands Project Application 2019-20. The selected non-profit organization is expected to be announced during the fall of 2019.

For more information about the Many Hands Project, visit niagaracollege.ca/manyhands.

Event Management is a one-year graduate certificate program at Niagara College that prepares graduates for a career in a fast-paced and multifaceted industry. Students develop skills in planning and logistics, public relations, marketing and sponsorship strategies, and volunteer and risk management in a highly experiential learning environment.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco

Communications Consultant

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7368

Cell: 905 328 2532

[email protected]

 

 

Michael Wales

Communications Manager

Office: 905 641-2252 ext. 7773

Cell: 905 328 4101

[email protected]