Sue-Ann Staff, Winemaker

Sue-Ann’s family has been growing grapes and making wine for five generations in the Niagara region.

Sue-Ann, herself, has turned into an international winemaking star.

Her 1997 Vidal Icewine scored 98/100 at the Beverage Tasting Institute, the highest-scoring Canadian wine entered. In 1998, her Cabernet Franc Family Reserve was awarded Canada’s only Gold Medal at the Challenge International du Vin in Bordeaux, France. Her 1998 Merlot was awarded Gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, England.

Sue-Ann’s 1998 Riesling Icewine won Double Gold from the American Wine Society, an award presented for only the second time in the 32-year history of the competition. And her 2000 Vidal Icewine received a Gold Trophy at France’s most prestigious wine competition, Citadelles du Vin, and a Gold Medal at the French Challenge International du Vin.

In honour of her achievements, Sue-Ann was named “Winemaker of the Year” in 2002 at the Ontario Wine Awards.

Then, in 2004, she was nominated as one of the Top Four “Women in Wine” in the world at London’s International Wine and Spirits Competition. That same year, she was honoured yet again by winning top trophies in four of the six largest and most respected wine competitions in the world.