Inniskillin

Inniskillin is a wine producer in Niagara-on-the-Lake whose first vinifera vineyard was planted in 1974 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser. On July 31, 1975, its founders received Canada’s first winery licence since Prohibition. The winery then moved to the Brae Burn Estate in 1978. Its first Icewine harvest followed in 1984, using naturally frozen Vidal grapes. Nicholas Gizuk is the Niagara Estate winemaker, while Derek Kontkanen is the Okanagan Estate winemaker.

Inniskillin has also grown and produced VQA wine in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley since 1994. Its Niagara Estate Series uses vinifera grapes from selected Niagara vineyards; the whites are unoaked, while the reds receive light or no oak ageing. Its wines include Icewine and VQA Sparkling Icewine.