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Discover. Sip.
Learn. Repeat.

Taste, learn, and explore where craft, creativity, and community meet — at Canada’s only teaching winery, brewery, and distillery.

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Plan Your Visit

— More than a tasting room.

Three exceptional experiences.

Discover Canada’s first teaching winery, brewery, and on-campus distillery — all connected through immersive, hands-on beverage education.

Barrels and a riddling rack in the wine cellar

01

Teaching Winery

Founded in 2000 as the first of its kind in Canada. Located on 38 acres of college vineyards, students gain hands-on experience in winemaking, viticulture, and sales — producing award-winning wines year after year.

38

Acres of vineyard

2000

Est. Canada’s First

Learn More →

02

Teaching Brewery

Canada’s first Brewmaster program. A 1,500 sq. ft. facility with a full-scale 1,000-litre brewing system and a one-keg pilot system for experimental batches. Complete with an on-site hop yard.

1,500

Sq. Ft. Facility

1,500 L

Brewing System

Learn More →
Various styles of copper stills

03

Teaching Distillery

Canada’s first on-campus distillery, opened 2018. A cutting-edge 2,500 sq. ft. space with five stills, four mash tuns, and ten fermenters. A competitive intake of 20 students ensures deep, hands-on training.

5

Stills on-site

2,500

Sq. Ft. Facility

Learn More →

— Sip & Explore

Tastings & Flights.

Whether you’re sampling a curated flight, joining a guided tasting, or exploring with friends — our team will walk you through the flavours, aromas, and stories behind every pour.

Wine Flight

$20

/ four wines

Featuring Balance and Dean’s List selections — a guided journey through Niagara’s finest VQA wines, curated by our winemaking team.

Book Now

Beer/Cider Flight

$15

/ four beers

From our rotating taps of NC Craft collection and student project small batch brews — crisp lagers, bold IPAs, and seasonal experiments on tap.

Book Now

Spirit Flight

$15

/ three spirits

Discover School Spirits and Spirits 101 releases — from smooth vodkas and aromatic gins to limited student-made small batches.

Book Now

— Sip & Explore

See learning
in action.

Step inside our production spaces for a unique glimpse into how professional faculty and students work together to create the beverages you love.

  • Guided walks through the winery, brewery, and distillery
  • Perfect for curious individuals, private groups, and industry enthusiasts
  • Complimentary parking and beautiful vineyard views
  • Private group bookings available — contact us for arrangements
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Contact for Groups

— Take the Craft Home

Every purchase supports student learning.

Shop on-site or online for award-winning wines, small-batch beers, and handcrafted spirits — all made with care on campus.

Shop Wine
Shop Beer
Shop Spirits
Shop Cider

— Take the Craft Home

Easy to Find.
Even Easier to Love.

Located at Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake — complimentary parking, vineyard views, all three crafts under one roof.

Address

Wine Visitor + Education Centre
135 Taylor Rd
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

Get Directions

General Contact

[email protected]
905-641-2252 x4070

Club Inquiries

[email protected]

— hours of operation

We're open all week.

Sunday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday evening and Saturday hours are extended — perfect for after-work tastings and weekend visits. Friday Night Pints runs every Friday evening.

General Contact

Amanda Baldinelli

Events & MArketing

Brad Tandy

Teaching Winery

Founded in 2000, our Teaching Winery was the first of its kind in Canada. Located on 38 acres of college vineyards at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s the heart of our Winery and Viticulture Technician program.

Here, students get hands-on experience in winemaking, viticulture, and sales/marketing — learning by doing in a fully operational winery that produces award-winning wines year after year. Developed in direct consultation with the Ontario wine industry, the program ensures grads are job-ready and future-focused.

In 2008, we expanded our wine education portfolio with Canada’s first and only post-graduate certificate in Beverage Business Management — a fast-paced, immersive program designed for those looking to lead and grow in Canada’s wine, hospitality, and tourism sectors. Students gain access to on-site vineyards, a wine sensory lab, professional tasting rooms, and the Wine Visitor + Education Centre for real-time retail experience.

Teaching Brewery

Launched as Canada’s first Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, our Teaching Brewery is a one-of-a-kind space where students brew, test, taste, and repeat — all under the guidance of award-winning brewmaster faculty.

This 1,500 sq. ft. facility includes a full-scale 1,000-litre brewing system, plus a one-keg pilot system for experimental batches and seasonal brews. Whether they’re developing small-batch recipes for food and beer pairings or mastering quality control and sensory analysis, students are prepared to lead in the fast-growing craft beer industry.

With its roots in science, business, and artistry, the brewery program is built to turn passionate brewers into confident professionals. And with an on-site hop yard and partnerships with local growers, students also learn to brew with terroir in mind.

Various styles of copper stills

Teaching Distillery

Canada’s first on-campus distillery opened in 2018 — and it’s already raising the bar. Our Artisan Distilling program is taught in a cutting-edge, 2,500 sq. ft. facility featuring five stills, four mash tuns, and ten fermenters, giving students a complete view of the distilling process from grain to glass.

With a competitive intake of just 20 students, this program offers in-depth training in fermentation, production, testing, analysis, and product development. Whether it’s vodka, gin, absinthe, or something experimental, every spirit is produced on-site and sold in limited quantities at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre.

It’s a rare opportunity to learn the science, artistry, and business of distilling — all in one place.

David Dickson

Head Distiller

David Dickson brings a wealth of experience and passion to Niagara College’s Artisan Distilling program, joining us from his role as Head Distiller at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville.

With an academic background that includes an Honours Specialization in Biology and a Master of Environmental Sustainability from Western University, David combines science with craft. He’s also certified in Absinthe Distillation from Moonshine University — a renowned artisan distillery and education centre in Louisville, KY — and played a key role in creating Ontario’s first legal absinthe.

A proud Niagara native, David is known for crafting unique fruit-infused spirits that celebrate the region’s local flavours — a signature approach he’s excited to share with students in the College’s distilling program.

As Head Distiller, David oversees all production, leads practical distilling courses, and guides the next generation of craft distillers with expertise and enthusiasm.

Jon Downing

Head Brewmaster

Jon Downing is a true pioneer of modern craft brewing — and quite possibly the most experienced brewery start-up consultant in the world. With over 120 brewery launches under his belt (yes, really), Jon has spent the past 30 years helping brewers and breweries across the globe turn passion into professional success.

Originally from the UK, Jon trained at the United States Brewers Academy and holds a degree in Commerce from Birmingham University. His work combines deep technical knowledge with hands-on business savvy — from launching Ontario’s first brewpub to designing pilot breweries for global names like Diageo (Guinness) and experimental labs focused on beer recycling.

Jon’s brewing adventures have taken him everywhere from Japan and South Korea to Cyprus, the Caribbean, and across North America. His clients range from independent brewers to branches of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. The beers born from his projects have gone on to win medals at the World Beer Championships and the Great American Beer Festival — and his students continue to carry that winning tradition forward.

In the late 2000s, Jon approached Niagara College with a bold idea: create a hands-on brewing program to complement the College’s existing work in wine and culinary. After years of planning and development, the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program launched in 2010 — and it’s been turning out top-tier brewers ever since, with a near 100% employment rate.

Jon remains a fixture at the Teaching Brewery, where he mentors students, innovates with new styles, and stays plugged into the brewing world through organizations like the Master Brewers Associations of Canada and the U.S., the Institute of Brewing & Distilling, the American Society of Brewing Chemists, and The Association of Brewers.

Allison Findlay

Head Winemaker

Originally from Dryden, Ontario, Allison Findlay didn’t always picture herself in a wine cellar — her early passion was rooted in plant science and ecology. But a visit to Niagara’s wine country changed everything. After completing her Bachelor of Science at Lakehead University, she enrolled in Niagara College’s Winery & Viticulture Technician program and never looked back.

After graduating in 2014, Allison’s winemaking journey took her around the world — from harvests in Australia and Oregon to hands-on roles at wineries across Niagara. In 2016, she joined Flat Rock Cellars, where she climbed the ranks from cellar crew to Head Winemaker, producing award-winning wines, including a Best in Show at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards.

In 2022, Allison returned to where it all began — this time as the first female Head Winemaker at the Niagara College Teaching Winery. She brings with her not just global experience, but a deep love for Ontario wine and a dedication to mentoring the next generation of winemakers.

Allison follows in the footsteps of fellow NC grad and former winemaker Gavin Robertson, who helped shape the program for over a decade. Today, she carries that torch forward — continuing to produce exceptional wines and guide students with the same hands-on philosophy that launched her own career.

When she’s not in the cellar, you’ll find Allison crafting, solving crosswords, or chasing after her two dogs, Maeve and Lola. Her drink of choice? A cold glass of bubbly, great company, and (ideally) a couple dozen oysters.

SNOW DAY!

The retail store and tasting room are closed today due to the severe weather.

We open tomorrow at 11:00 AM.

Sorry for any inconvenience.