Oak Heights Winery » Winery

About Us

admin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:27:23 +0000

Oak Heights is a small craft winery with a passion for making great wine! Being BIG has never been our goal, but producing some of the best wine Ontario has to offer sure is!

Our passion has driven us to approach things a little differently. We’ve taken an old dairy farm, where the cows have since gone and planted our grape vines. The first determined souls to grow a winery in the rolling Northumberland hills, where winters are harsh and all the nay-sayers said it couldn’t be done, we’ve done it – we are the little winery that COULD!

So, grab a loved one and come visit us in the beautiful rolling hills of Northumberland County, just minutes from the picturesque village of Warkworth! Wine is always… best enjoyed with friends!

Our People

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:28:49 +0000

Our people LOVE what they do. We work hard and we play hard! We’re a small winery with big ambitions and a small team with big passions. We bring a real range of experience, passions and lifestyle to the winery. From backgrounds in corporate & political life, to sales, marketing & advertising, from photography and fashion, to cosmetics and fitness, to musical theatre, farming, grape growing and of course winemaking, we all share a common goal – living life to its fullest, with a glass of wine in hand!

We hope you will visit us at the vineyard, as our wine is really… best enjoyed with friends!

Click on the links below for a little flavour of what made our people, who they are today.

Ian Fraser – Founder & CEO

Sally Staples – Ring Leader & COO

Justin Grendel – Cellar Master

Ian Fraser – Founder & CEO

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:17:54 +0000

Ian Fraser is living the dream. He’s built a successful corporate career in the pharmaceutical industry and has turned his weekend home and hobby farm into Northumberland’s first and only craft winery. He created a place where friends, families and corporate types alike can take in the breathtaking views of the vineyards, enjoy a heartfelt meal and toast life over a glass of great wine! Ian invites you to share in his passion and visit us in the beautiful rolling hills of Northumberland County.

Sally Staples – COO

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:02:28 +0000

Raised on a mixed farming operation in Orono, Ontario, Sally joyfully kicked the dust off her heels and dashed to the city at age 17. There, she began a long career in sales and people affinity – from fitness, to real estate, to cosmetics, to travel, to owning and operating coffee franchises. She’s had a long and successful sales career in the big city lights, and along her travels became a passionate foodie and wine lover!

Now, she’s come full circle – back to the farm. Wonderful wine starts in the vineyard, and working alongside our grape grower and winemaker, she is back to her roots. And… couldn’t be happier!

sally@oakheights.ca

Terence Van Rooyen – Winemaker

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:01:45 +0000

Terence van Rooyen was born and bred in South Africa, growing up in the wine country. He graduated from Stellenbosch, South Africa’s leading universities with a Master’s degree in Oenology. Van Rooyen had spent eleven vintages here in Canada and Ontario, and became a proud Canadian in 2005 – but still supports South African rugby!

Edgar Ramirez – Vinyard Manager

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:59:46 +0000

Edgar Ramirez, born in Mexico City, moved to Prince Edward County in 2001 with his partner, Catherine, and their two sons. Catherine has United Empire Loyalist farming roots on both sides of her family that stretch back to the original settlers of PEC. Edgar’s roots are pure Aztec. Their kids… Loyalaztecs?

Edgar began his grape career in 2001 working as the vineyard manager at a local vineyard and winery. Inspired to become an electrician after a few years, he left the grapes behind and began his search for an electrical apprenticeship. As fate would have it, the vines had their tendrils wrapped quite tightly around Edgar and would not let him go – – people continued to call requesting his help with their vineyards. Poco a poco (little by little) a business, Ramirez Vineyard Services, was born!

In 2007 Edgar entered and won first prize in the annual Prince Edward/Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (PELA CFDC) Business Plan competition. With the prize, Edgar purchased the beginning of his fleet: his first tractor and some essential vineyard equipment.

The Chefs

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:58:09 +0000

Our Chefs, Issac and Vicki.

Justin Grendel – Apprentice

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:56:07 +0000

A born and raised Northumberland lad, Justin Grendel has been with Oak Heights since we opened the doors in 2007. Some in the industry might refer to him as our “cellar rat” but Justin is a key player on our team! Justin aspires to become a winemaker one-day, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Working closely with our grape grower and our winemaker, Justin is learning the ropes from the ground up.

Justin will be studying Viticulture and Winemaking at Brock University next year, and we’re delighted that he’s been apprenticing with us to lay the foundation to his real-world education. Watch out for Justin Grendel – he’s an up-and-coming winemaker that is sure to leave a mark on the wine industry!