Late Niagara winemaker Paul Pender awarded Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award

Wine Growers Canada (WGC) are honouring the late Paul Pender, who was a renowned Niagara winemaker.

Pender is the recipient of the Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award.

“With roughly 20 vintages, and an impressive list of awards, Paul has crafted beautiful Canadian wines. His service to winemaking, his skills and talents, his passion and innovation, have all played a big part in not only helping create a love for wine, but also placing Canada on the world map of great wines,” said WGC President and CEO, Dan Paszkowski, in a statement.

On February 3, OPP found Pender dead outside his cottage in Selkirk, Ont., near Lake Erie. He was 54-years-old.

Bradley House, 31, of Hamilton was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Pender’s death.

Police confirmed that Pender and House did not know each other. House is currently residing at the Hamilton detention centre.

Pender was known for his work at Tawse Winery in Vineland. The winery earned the Canadian Winery of the Year award between 2010 and 2016. Pender also won Winemaker of the Year at the Ontario Wine Awards in 2011.

The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award was created in 2018 to celebrate great Canadian winemakers, in honour of the legacy of the late Karl Kaiser, who was a Canadian wine industry pioneer and viticulture visionary.