Gord Robert
Winemaker
For as long as he can remember, Gordon has had a love of viticulture. He began making wine at a young age with his uncle and has been hooked ever since.
After discovering this passion, Gordon pursued his interests across the globe. He has had the opportunity to work with many world renowned winemakers and experienced both new and old world winemaking techniques.
His first crush was at De Bortoli Winery in the Yarra Valley, Australia, which was only the beginning as he then worked in New Zealand as well as the Provence, Burgundy and Bordeaux regions of France.
After a world of experience, Gordon chose to attend Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute to widen his opportunities within the field and receive formal instruction in winemaking. While at Brock, Gordon worked with world renowned researcher Dr. Andrew Reynolds on grape vine irrigation and icewine research. He then carried on to do his thesis with Dr. Gary Pickering on the influence of lactic acid bacteria on the oral sensations and mouth feel of red wine, which was published in the Journal of Sensory Studies in 2006.
In the last few years, Gordon brought his interests back to the Niagara Region where he has worked with some of the most well known wineries such as Le Clos Jordanne, Inniskillin, Jackson Triggs, Fielding Estates and Peller Estates. He has been involved in winemaking as well as vineyard management and both have contributed to his expertise and his ability to produce exceptional wines.
Gordon has a long list of accomplishments. In 2006 he received the Ontario Hostilery Award which named him the most promising winemaker in Ontario. His wines have also won numerous awards including the 2004 Gold Medal for Syrah at the Paris Wine Show, the award for the Best Chardonnay in the World while working at Le Clos Jordanne, and most recently, Stoney Ridge wines received the most awards for one winery in the history of the All Canadian Wine Championship.
Gordon looks forward to the year ahead and is committed to continuing the tradition of excellence at Stoney Ridge as it plans for its 25th Anniversary.