Short Bio

Winemaking has been a life-long ambition of Sue-Ann’s, stemming from a family background in viticulture spanning five generations in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula, including two “Grape King” titles.

After her formal education in winemaking from the renowned Roseworthy College, University of Adelaide, South Australia and several vintages abroad, Sue-Ann has become one of Canada’s top winemakers by winning over 450 national and international wine awards.  She was acclaimed as “2002 Winemaker of the Year” by the Ontario Wine Awards and one of the top four “Women in Wine” in the world by the International Wine and Spirits Awards of London, England … twice!  These accomplishments were attained while Winemaster at Pillitteri Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. 

Currently Miss Staff is Proprietor/Winemaker of Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery based on her family’s two-hundred-year-old estate in Jordan, Ontario producing high quality VQA wines from grapes grown on the Niagara Escarpment property.  Sue-Ann’s wines are bold with a delicate touch.  Look for exceptional Rieslings, opulent reds, delightful rosés, festive sparklings and seductive Icewines. 

The launch of “Fancy Farm Girl” wines produced by Sue-Ann brings approachability and affordability to exceptional VQA wines.  The full range has been launched with great success in the LCBO and are now exported to Manitoba and Quebec.

Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Inc was awarded “2014 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year” Emerging Business and the 2015 Shannon Passero “Women In Business” award.  The wine shop’s walls are adorned with several dozen awards from regional and international competitions continuing her tradition of fine winemaking in the Niagara Peninsula.