NIAGARA — Allison Findlay is returning to her alma mater as a winemaker at the Niagara College (NC) Teaching Winery.
Findlay, the first female winemaker at the Niagara College Teaching Winery, graduated from the college’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2014 and was most recently head winemaker at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, Ont. She honed her craft by producing award-winning wines — including a Best in Show at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards.
“It has been rewarding to see Allison’s skills and talents come to fruition as an award-winning winemaker, with recognized success not only here in Niagara, but among the best in the world,” says Steve Gill, general manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “We are very excited to welcome her back to our Teaching Winery, where she will continue to produce outstanding wines and become a valuable mentor for budding industry professionals.”
“She’s open-minded and creative with the right personality for making wine in our unique Learning Enterprise context, where commercial winemaking goals have to align with academic programming in a way that fosters a safe, fun and engaging learning environment for future generations of Canadian winemakers and viticulturalists,” says Gavin Robertson, former head winemaker and NC graduate. “She’s a fantastic addition to the winemaking team at the Teaching Winery and our beverage programs.”
“I have felt at home here since I first toured the campus on a freezing February afternoon in 2012,” says Findlay. “Education is at the forefront, and I cannot wait to share my experience and passion with the students.”
