Where Education
Becomes Craft.

Every bottle, pint, and pour from Niagara College is crafted through collaboration — guided by expert makers, shaped by student curiosity, and rooted in the rich terroir of Niagara.

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2000

Founded

3

Firsts in Canada

“Every purchase directly supports hands-on learning and innovation — the next generation of Canada’s craft beverage professionals.“

Students at harvest — Daniel J. Patterson Campus, Niagara-on-the-Lake

— Craft with purpose

Learning happens
alongside creation.

At Niagara College, each wine, beer, and spirit is crafted by our professional team with the active involvement of students who learn every step of the process. It’s education through collaboration — where knowledge and craftsmanship meet.

The proceeds from every purchase support hands-on training for the next generation of Canada’s craft beverage professionals.

Learn about our programs

— Our History

Decades of firsts in Canada.

1993 Niagara College opens its Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, surrounded by some of Canada's finest wine country.
2000 Canada's first Teaching Winery opens on 38 acres of estate vineyard. The Winery and Viticulture Technician program offers students real-world winemaking, viticulture, and marketing experience.
2008 Beverage Business Management launches — Canada's first and only post-graduate certificate in the field, designed for those aiming to lead in wine, hospitality, and tourism.
2012 Canada's first Brewmaster & Brewery Operations Management program opens, featuring a 1,500 sq. ft. brewery with a 1,000-litre system and a pilot one-keg system for experimental batches.
2018 Canada's first on-campus distillery opens. The 2,500 sq. ft. Artisan Distilling facility features five stills, four mash tuns, and ten fermenters — a grain-to-glass education unlike anywhere else in the country.
Today Award-winning across all three crafts. The Teaching Winery, Brewery, and Distillery consistently earn top honours provincially, nationally, and internationally — proof that education and excellence go hand in hand.

— Three Crafts

Wine. Beer. Spirits.

Each made with professional precision, student passion, and the unmistakable character of Niagara.

Winery

Rooted in terroir, elevated through expertise.

Award-winning wines handcrafted from our estate vineyard — sparkling, white, rosé, red, dessert, Balance, and Dean’s List collections, refined through collaborative learning.

Explore Wines →

Brewery

Innovative. Balanced. Brewed together.

Every pint reflects both student exploration and professional mastery — from crisp lagers to hop-forward IPAs and one-of-a-kind small-batch releases.

Explore Beers →

Distillery

Artistry in every drop.

Our distillery team creates expressive, small-batch spirits that push boundaries — smooth vodkas, aromatic gins, and limited student-led releases that showcase grain-to-glass craft.

Explore Spirits →

— Real Expertise. Shared Experience.

Meet the makers behind every bottle.

Our instructors — award-winning winemakers, brewers, and distillers — work hand-in-hand with students, blending innovation with tradition. Every product tells a story of mentorship, precision, and discovery.

Winemaker

Allison Findlay

Head Winemaker

Guiding students through every harvest and vintage, Allison brings award-winning expertise and a deep connection to Niagara’s terroir to every bottle that leaves our estate.

Meet Allison

Brewmaster

Jon Downing

Head Brewmaster

Jon leads students through the science and artistry of brewing — from hop yard to tap — turning curiosity into craft in our award-winning 1,000-litre teaching brewery.

Meet Jon

Distiller

David Dickson

Head Distiller

David oversees Canada’s first on-campus distillery, mentoring students in the refined science of grain-to-glass spirit production — from fermentation through to bottling.

Meet David

— Award-Winning Quality

Top honours, provincially,
nationally, internationally.

A testament to the expertise and collaboration behind every bottle — our wines, beers, and spirits consistently outperform at the industry’s most respected competitions.

Shop Award Winners

— Experience it in Person

Come explore the Wine Visitor + Education Centre.

Explore the full collection, enjoy a tasting flight, or chat with our team about what’s new from our students and instructors.

Plan Your Visit

— Stay in the Loop

New releases. Exclusive events. Delivered to your inbox.

Join the list and be the first to know about new bottles, club offers, and what’s happening at the campus.

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.

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.

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.

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.