Our Story

Magnotta Winery is a proud, Ontario family winery and grape grower steeped in innovative winemaking and local history for over 30 years.

We grow grapes from our 180 acres of family-owned and operated vineyards in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula, one of the finest wine regions in the world, to create our award-winning, 100% Ontario vintages. For additional grapes, we support the agricultural growth of the province by partnering with local independent grape growers.

From grape to bottle to the table, we are there every step of the way to handcraft our wines. The entire winemaking process – harvesting, crushing, fermentation, vinification and bottling – is managed exclusively by our winemakers and production team at our expansive facilities located in Vaughan and Beamsville.

With over 180 wines to satisfy any budget or occasion including VQA, premium and specialty wines and our world-famous Icewines, we sell directly to the consumer at winery-direct prices through our 14 independent stores in Ontario.

It all started over 30 years ago with just two wines and an uphill battle that would last years but our guts and brawn would earn us the hearts of consumers for giving them a better way to buy wine that wasn’t available before. The odds were stacked against us as a young company back in 1990 and many onlookers in the industry likely didn't expect us to still be here years later. Our customers thought otherwise.

The story is now well-known. The road to co-founders Gabe and Rossana Magnotta’s success was paved with adversity, innovation, creativity, good people and great wine. In 1990, they saw a world of opportunity when the LCBO made a last minute announcement that they did not have shelf space available for Magnotta products.

The panic triggered an emergency re-draft of their marketing plans: Sell directly to the public and offer consumers a high-quality, low-cost alternative to the LCBO. An overwhelming response from the public followed. Ten years later, Gabe and Rossana reached a mediated settlement with the LCBO and several of their Icewines entered into LCBO stores soon afterwards. Magnotta and the LCBO now enjoy an expanded relationship with our G. Marquis collection of wines, re-branded Kittling Ridge wines, Venture Series philanthropic wines, and other select products available at the LCBO.

As part of the small group of emerging wineries behind the wine renaissance in Ontario over the last 30-plus years, we are proud that we've helped evolve Canada into the world-class wine producer it is today, bringing Ontario's distinctive wines to centre stage in international wine competitions. Today we are the third largest winery in Ontario, one of Canada's 50 Best Managed companies for over 10 consecutive years and have earned more than 5,000 awards for product excellence.

Magnotta Milestones

In the beginning | December 1989 | Gabe and Rossana Magnotta purchase Charal Winery in Bleinham, Ontario and set-up in Vaughan. The plan is to produce fine, low-priced table wines as an offshoot to their Festa Juice home winemaking business and sell their finished wine through the LCBO. But the plan abruptly hits a brick wall. At the last minute, the LCBO denies Magnotta shelf space in its stores and Gabe and Rossana are left holding thousands of bottles of wine with no distribution channel.

When life hands you lemons | December 7, 1990 | Devastated by the LCBO's decision, Gabe and Rossana re-draft their business plan to sell their wine directly to consumers. They open Magnotta Winery in an industrial park on Cidermill Avenue in Vaughan, mortgaging their house and risking everything to launch their new venture during the start of a recession. They sell their wine for $3.95 a bottle and an overwhelming response from the public follows. Customers love the cost savings at Magnotta as opposed to the big LCBO mark-ups. Many come out to support the winery's underdog and grassroots spirit. Word of mouth drives sales upward and the media catches on too. CBC Radio host Joe Cote;, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail spread the news about Magnotta's low priced wine, declaring, "it's good!". The winery will eventually establish six more independent stores.

The birth of a brand | 1990 | Magnotta introduces Festa Bianco along with Festa Rosso, the winery's first two bottled wines. Art and wine quickly become synonymous with Magnotta. As part of its branding strategy, an original piece of art from Gabe and Rossana's early art collection is selected for each label to distinguish the wines. The art collection will grow significantly over the years and line the walls of their stores. Magnotta also makes a strong connection between wine and food right from the start. Tasting notes, food pairings and serving temperatures become fixtures on all its labels

David vs. Goliath | 1991 | The business plan quickly proves successful and Magnotta becomes the fifth largest winery by sales volume in Ontario. But it comes with many frustrating road blocks and bureaucratic struggles. Caught in a web of LCBO pricing, distribution and warehousing policies that blatantly discriminate against Magnotta's independent model, the winery embarks on a 10-year legal battle with the LCBO to fight for an even playing field.

A vineyard of their own | 1992 | The winery's fast growth makes a dream come true. Gabe and Rossana begin purchasing acres of vineyards in the heart of Niagara grape growing region. They will later open a winery in Beamsville near the vineyards that will house a state-of-the-art crushing facility, allowing the winery to have complete control over the quality of the wines it makes.

A major Icewine player | 1991 | Magnotta adds Icewine to its expertise and earns wide public and critical praise for its family of Icewine products. It quickly becomes one of the world's largest producers, committed to advancing Icewine in the marketplace. The company's flagship Vidal Icewine is soon one of the world's best selling brands. Then, in 1998, Magnotta surprises everyone with the release of its 1996 vintage of Sparkling IceTM; the world's first sparkling Icewine, a captivating type of wine not seen before at wine competitions. A new category is created and Sparkling Ice wins a Gold medal at the prestigious Vinitaly competition in Verona the first time out. An immediate success, Sparkling Ice will go on to win international awards year after year.

In good company | October 1993 | While in London, England to receive an award at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, Gabe and Rossana share a moment with wine royalty. Left to right: Gabe, California wine icon Robert Mondavi, Rossana, Mrs. Mondavi and Count Antinori, a major force behind Italy's wine industry.

This man knows his wine | November 1993 | In an article in Wine Tidings magazine, wine writer Tony Aspler interviews Gabe about his thoughts on blending wines ("We're very proud of it"), the emerging market niche for 100% Ontario wines ("Let's do it") and his battles with the LCBO: "I'm not a quitter and if I am pushed hard enough, I push back and right now that's what I am going to start doing."

Merry Christmas, Mr. Prime Minister | 1994 | Rossana with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien at his annual Christmas party in Ottawa. As she immerses herself in the highly regulated and government controlled wine industry in Ontario, Rossana becomes well-versed in discussing industry issues with politicians at every level of government.

A Scarborough affair | 1995 | Gabe, Rossana and Mayor Frank Faubert toast the grand opening of Magnotta’s new Scarborough store on Midland Avenue. A few years earlier, the winery opens stores in Mississauga and Beamsville. Locations in Brampton, Cambridge and North York will soon follow.

A ground-breaking moment | May 17, 1995 | Having outgrown its space on Cidermill Avenue in Vaughan, the time has come for a bigger vision. Gabe and Rossana embark on an exciting expansion project for their new Vaughan location that will house their head office, winery and future distillery and brewery. Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson is on hand to host the official ground-breaking ceremony along with other Vaughan council members.

Ontario meets Chile | 1996 | With international interest rising in South American wines, Gabe and Rossana purchase 351 acres in Chile's Maipo Valley, the country’s most sought after growing region. Magnotta’s Ontario and Chile vineyards now produce a significant amount of its wine and grape requirements. Gabe proves to be a master in blending wines from both his vineyards resulting in many of his iconic, premium reds.

First company of its kind | 1996 | Magnotta's interest in brewing and distilling leads to the formation of Magnotta Brewery and Magnotta Distillery. It launches a line of all-natural, ultra premium lagers and ales as well as an intimate selection of fine spirits including vodka and gin. With these two new divisions, Magnotta creates the first company of its kind in Ontario licensed to produce and sell wine, beer and distilled products.

A new world-class facility | 1997 | Magnotta relocates its Vaughan winery to a 75,000 square foot architectural triumph on Chrislea Road that features a state-of-the-art winemaking and bottling facility, temperature controlled underground cellar, microbrewery, copper pot distillery, an impressive wine boutique and daily tours.<br><br>The grand facility is a fitting venue to showcase the magnificent Magnotta art collection of paintings and sculptures which has become extensive and diverse over the years, ranging from original Group of Seven pieces by A.Y. Jackson and A. Lismer to undiscovered Canadian and international artists. Thousands of tourists and customers will visit the winery annually and be swept away by its graceful ambiance and creative display of truly exceptional world-class wines.

Girl power | 1997 | Through the years, Rossana becomes part of an accomplished group of business women as she is awarded many prestigious honours including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for exemplary dedication to her community, Citizen of the Year by the City of Vaughan, Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young and Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for Innovation as well as the Top Canadian Woman representative for the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.

Debunking the high cost of Icewine | 1998 | In a Toronto Star article, Gabe dismantles the myth that Icewine needs to be expensive. Not interested in the sky-high prices set by his competitors or reaping “fat margins” as a result of fast-rising demands from Asia and the U.S, his VQA Vidal Icewine already sells for $27.95, half the price of other Ontario Icewines. He decides to make Icewine even more accessible to Canadians by offering it on sale for only $19.95. His competitors are not amused.

Brilliance in a bottle | 1997 to 1999 | In 1997, Magnotta releases the world’s first Ice Grappa from its rare Icewine skins and follows that up in 1999 with two spectacular Primissimo spirits – brandy and eau de Vie – distilled from its finest Icewines. With the distillery now producing creative and exotic spirits, Gabe and Rossana re-package their world exclusive Ice Grappa in one-of-a-kind, murano crystal bottles, designed and hand blown in Trento, Italy. It makes for a rare find and an ultra unique gift.

Wine goes to the dogs | 1998 | For a limited time, Magnotta produces two wines – a Cabernet Merlot and a Riesling Traminer – in support of the OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country. They are among several charity wines that Magnotta will release over the years. Maggy Magnotta, Rossana’s bichon frise, strikes a pose for the ad campaign.

Among the very best | February 2000 | Magnotta becomes one of 50 new winners in Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies competition. It will repeat this win every year afterwards. Hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this mark of excellence in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. Magnotta is on its way to becoming the first Canadian winery to achieve Platinum Club member status by retaining Best Managed designation for more than 10 years.

The sweet taste of victory | July 2001 | After a tenacious, 10-year battle, a mediated settlement is announced between Magnotta and the LCBO. A new chapter of co-operation unfolds. Magnotta's award winning and world-famous Vidal Icewine begins selling in LCBO stores in the prestigious Vintages section and goes on to become the best selling Icewine brand at the LCBO.

Winemaking at its best | 2001 | Magnotta attracts wine aficionados with the creation of more high-end, premium wines including bold reds like Toro Nero and Il Cacciatore. Success at prestigious competitions grows every year especially in Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. At times, Magnotta beats wines that cost more than double than its own. The company becomes known as The Award Winning Winery.<br><br> Meanwhile, loyal customers continue to multiply. They appreciate how Magnotta makes wine shopping about conversation, learning and a lifestyle choice. Customers talk and taste wine at the complimentary tasting bars and discuss food and wine pairings for their menus – things they can’t do anywhere else where wine is sold.

Delivery to your door | October 2002 | Magnotta establishes a toll-free 1-800 number and an online web store for customers to order wine. It becomes the first Ontario winery to partner with Canada Post for direct home delivery, making it possible for customers who do not live near a Magnotta location, including towns and cities in Northern Ontario, to enjoy Magnotta’s entire product line.

Amarone-inspired, made in Canada | 2004 | Taking the impressive Amarone reds of Italy as inspiration, Magnotta launches Enotrium, the very first Amarone-style VQA red in Canada using the exact methods employed in Italy. Produced from the finest Ontario grown grapes, Enotrium is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are painstakingly air dried to a Brix level of 27, resulting in a magnificently concentrated wine of great complexity and structure. Enotrium will capture international awards year and year and in 2011, it will go on to earn the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines.

An ancient tradition meets Ontario | 2006 | Magnotta once again goes Italy one better by producing Canadian Passito Vidal from hand harvested and carefully dried grapes in the tradition of the famous Italian Passito wines. The wine is produced from specially selected Ontario Vidal grapes which are air dried for three weeks before slowly fermented into a deliciously sweet and creamy dessert wine.

A winning brewery | 2006 | Magnotta Brewery is awarded Brewery of the Year, the highest honour given by the Canadian Brewing Awards, the premiere competition for judging the quality of Canadian brewed beer. It wins medals for five of the six Magnotta beers entered into the competition. Earlier in 2000, Magnotta is presented with The World Beer Cup for its Traditional German-style Altbier at an awards ceremony in New York. Held every two years, The World Beer Cup, often referred to as "The Olympics of Beer Competition," is the most prestigious beer event in the world.

Business of the Year | April 2007 | The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce awards Magnotta its highest honour, the Vaughan Business of the Year Award. It recognizes Magnotta for demonstrating a continued passion for excellence and promoting the advancement of responsible business leadership and harmony within the community. The award is made possible by all Magnotta employees and their devotion to their job and the company each and every day.

A crusade against Lyme Disease | 2007 | Rossana begins to tackle the obstacles that are preventing Lyme Disease sufferers from being heard by telling Canadians the real story about this devastating disease. Through the winery, Rossana launches an awareness campaign at all her stores and major fund raising initiatives in support of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme). Rossana goes one further and creates a controversial radio ad campaign that challenges the government’s inaccurate views on the disease.

“Hi, I’m Rossana Magnotta.” | 2008 | That catchy jingle. That unmistakable voice. Those great tips. Rossana hits the airwaves to talk about her personal insights on different wines, entertaining at home and food and wine pairings. The radio ad campaign, which runs on a variety of stations including Q107 and CHFI, is a hit with shoppers who respond to Rossana’s sincere voice and enjoy getting to know a genuine personality behind the company.

The Ontario wine industry loses its maverick | December 30, 2009 | The year ends on a very sad and emotional note. After a 7-year battle with Lyme Disease, Gabe passes away unexpectedly at his home surrounded by his family. Tributes, articles and condolence messages pour in from around the world. After almost 20 years of entrepreneurial trailblazing, breaking new ground for independent wineries, product innovation and excellence and making wine accessible to all, Gabe’s legacy is unmatched by anyone else in the Ontario wine industry. A legend is gone, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met.

A 20-Year Canadian success story | December 7, 2010 | Magnotta toasts its 20th anniversary. It has become Ontario’s third largest winery, outranked only by Constellation and Andrew Peller, and the most award winning winery in Canada for product excellence. It is part of an exclusive, small group of Ontario wineries that has been around for 20 years. With over 180 world-class wines in every category, Magnotta has truly become a unique place where wine lovers can discover wonderful and surprising wines. Along with its 7 retail locations, Magnotta products are distributed throughout Ontario by licensed representatives and various agents in other Canadian provinces, served in Toronto’s finest restaurants including Canoe and 360 at the CN Tower, and exported worldwide to various countries including with expansion growing every year.

Who is G. Marquis? | June 2011 | Elegant in style. Sophisticated in taste. Unrestrained in character. A collection of premium wines and Icewines is launched under the new G. Marquis brand as distinct expressions of Ontario's terroir. The wines are available at the LCBO, other liquor boards, duty free stores and export markets. But who is G. Marquis? The answer lies in the storyline artwork on the label. Says Rossana: "G. Marquis represents the uninhibited voice hidden deep inside all of us and we hope wine consumers will identify with the brand's independent, adventurous and authentic personality."

Magnotta buys Kittling Ridge | February 2013 | In a bold move, Rossana purchases the wine assets of Niagara-based Kittling Ridge. Along with wine listings, trademarks and grape grower agreements, Rossana acquires the store licenses of Kittling Ridge, allowing her to accelerate her company's growth by doubling the number of her stores. Magnotta continues to offer Kittling Ridge signature products at the LCBO and re-brands them with a new look.

The G. Magnotta Foundation is established | July 2013 | Rossana's Lyme Disease goal is in reach. The G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases is granted charitable status by the Canadian government. Funds raised by the new foundation will be focused on establishing Canada's first facility dedicated to research, testing and treatment of Lyme Disease and other vector-borne illnesses.

Welcome to Kingston! | February 2014 | Magnotta enters an exciting expansion phase as it opens the first of several new stores in Ontario. Kingston is first up. The eastern part of the province has been an untapped area for Magnotta and feedback over the years has shown an enthusiastic customer base for its wines. Customers don't disappoint and cheer the new location. The new Kingston store also represents Magnotta's new retail look going forward with its modern black and cream tones and art gallery aesthetic.

New stores open in Toronto, Oshawa and Ottawa. | Fall 2014 | Three additional new stores open in a 4-month period, just in time for the holiday season. The mid-Toronto store is nestled in the Castlefied design district and minutes from the Yorkdale shopping centre while the Oshawa store continues Magnotta's expansion along the eastern Hwy. 401 corridor. And – now finally in Canada's capital city – Magnotta's Ottawa store opens near the St. Laurent shopping centre. Town criers make an appearance at each of the grand openings to boldly mark the day.

A great night for Lyme Disease awareness | April 9, 2015 | Rossana is honoured at the 26th annual Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards where she receives the prestigious Philanthropic Business Person of the Year Award for her groundbreaking work with Lyme Disease. An enthusiastic group of over 600 guests celebrate Rossana including Mayor Maurizio Bevilaqua who gave a touching retrospective on Rossana's exceptional community involvement and contributions.

Magnotta Winery turns 25 | December 7, 2015 | Twenty-five years ago, co-founders Gabe and Rossana Magnotta opened their first retail store in Vaughan and set off on a new path to produce wines and sell them directly to consumers. They wanted to be a better way to buy wine, offering the best value and selection without compromising on quality, hoping that wine lovers would give them a try. Their vision worked and made the company the iconic winery and success story it is today.

The G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab opens | June 2017 | After years of diligent work, Rossana finally achieves the long-awaited research portion of her Foundation’s mandate. The new G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab at the University of Guelph will study Lyme bacteria and the mechanisms of the disease in the human body. It is Canada’s first dedicated translational Lyme Disease research lab and will change how Lyme Disease is tested, diagnosed and treated in Canada.

New Venture Series supports Lyme Disease research | June 2018 | A new generation of contemporary, 100% Ontario wines is launched. Envisioned by Joseph Magnotta who pours his heart and soul into this project, Venture Series represents the winery’s next chapter, celebrates its ready-for-anything, adventurous spirit and includes a charitable component. With over 15 products, it becomes Canada’s largest collection of philanthropic wines dedicated to funding Lyme Disease research in Canada. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Venture wines benefits the G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab at the University of Guelph.

Magnotta acquires Grand River Brewing | August 2018 | A wonderful, Ontario craft beer brand becomes a proud part of the family business. Established in Cambridge, Grand River Brewing begins a new journey, operating side by side with Magnotta Brewery in Vaughan. Guided by a talented group of brewers who are excited to be part of Grand River's next chapter, the two breweries grow their own distinctive ingredients on acres of hop fields in Vineland to produce unique, natural and wholesome beers for craft beer lovers.

Hello Sudbury! | September 2018 | Magnotta's latest new location serves Greater Sudbury, the largest city in Northern Ontario by population. The new store is located at one of the busiest intersections of Greater Sudbury and at the corner of two major arteries, making it a key shopping destination for shoppers from Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay.

Hello Windsor! | December 2019 | Another great new location to serve an enthusiastic customer base that has been eagerly awaiting a Magnotta store. Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada with downtown Detroit just minutes away. Located in the vicinity of several busy shopping centres, this new Magnotta store serves shoppers from surrounding towns including Leamington, Tecumseh, Essex and LaSalle.

Magnotta Winery marks 30 years in business | December 7, 2020 | As we commemorate 30 years in business, we are filled with gratitude for having loyal customers. From our early underdog days to these uncertain and unprecedented times, we thank you for supporting our local wine stores and choosing Ontario wines for your table.<br><br> It means so much. Rossana Di Zio Magnotta