Grape King crowned

The annual grape and wine festival is almost underway in Niagara. And today a grower from Niagara-on-the-Lake has been named the 2014 Grape King.

The honour was given to Kevin Buis of Glenlake Vineyards this afternoon. Grapes grown on his family farm are sold to Peller Estates to be used in some of their wines.

The title of Grape King has been a tradition since 1956. Every year a grower is selected as an ambassador to represent Ontario’s grape and wine industry at events across the country. Buis says he hopes to have fun in his new role: “It’s been awesome. It’s been a lifetime of love for me. I’ve been working in the industry since I graduated from Guelph in ’86. My parents started the farm in ’57 so we’ve been at it a long time. We transitioned from stone fruit into the wine business because you know everybody loves wine. It means a lot because we’ve worked hard at it.”

The annual grape and wine festival kicks off at Montebello Park in St. Catharines September 19th and runs until the 28th.