It’s easy to embrace the spirit of gift giving this season with so many fabulous finds at Niagara College.
Whether you’re aiming to please the loved ones on your list, or sprucing up your home for the holidays, there are plenty of festive items on campus to choose from.
Shopping on campus isn’t only convenient; the Learning Enterprises offer a variety of unique, made in Niagara products while proceeds from sales support student learning … gifts that keep on giving!
So dash over to these on-campus gift hot spots below to wrap up your holiday shopping!
Greenhouse/ Benchmarket
Decking the halls isn’t complete without beautiful college-grown poinsettias – and they make wonderful gifts too. Look no further than the NC Teaching Greenhouse (NOTL) where they are available in a variety of sizes and colours.
Six-inch red, white, pink and multicolour poinsettias are available for $7.99 each with $1 from each sale donated to the College’s United Way campaign.
Branching out to bigger blooms? Ten-inch beauties pack a punch and are available for $17.99 apiece. Or if tiny blossoms are more your style, opt for four-inch poinsettias for $4.50 or adorable minis for $4.
A visit to the Greenhouse isn’t complete without swinging by Benchmarket. Attached to the Greenhouse – and just steps from the Teaching Brewery – Benchmarket is the perfect go-to for gift seekers. Browse the shelves for an assortment of items that make great gifts and stocking stuffers – from handcrafted soaps and teas to jewellery and other student-made products sure to please.
Visit ncteachinggreenhouse.ca/
Teaching Brewery
Did you know that jolly ol’ Saint Nick is the patron saint of brewers? Brewmaster Jon Downing his crew at the Teaching Brewery (NOTL) sure do, and they’ve brewed up a fine collection of holiday beers in the spirit of the season.
Rudolph’s Red Nosed Ale has returned to bring its glow to the stormiest of winter nights. Enjoy a 2019 Rudolph’s Red Nosed Ale – a winter warmer brewed with oats, biscuit malt and wheat malt to give a Christmas cookie character. Or opt for the 2018 Rudolph’s Black Nosed Ale, which was aged for a year, to make a very smooth, dark winter brew.
Searching for a piquant pint? The 2019 Spiced Rudolph’s has all the same characters as its red-nosed kin but with added cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
Dreaming of Christmas across the pond? Choose a Weihnachtsbier – which means ‘Christmas beer” in German. The 5.5 percent ABV German lager is available in kegs and cans.
Insider’s tip: Weihnachtsbier will also be released on cask exclusively at Silversmith Brewing Company, during the week of Christmas, as part of Silversmith’s weekly cask offerings from the NC Teaching Brewery.
Craft beer lovers on your list will love the multiple-award-winning Butler’s Bitter or popular brews from its Beer 101 series. For those always looking for unique finds, tap into a variety of innovative Small Batch brew selections created by Brewmaster students.
For those who have been extra nice this year, it may be the perfect time to get drafted to the Growler Club. Memberships include a growler filled with specialty brew (pick-up only), tasting notes and recipes for food pairings emailed monthly, exclusive access to specialty brews two weeks prior to their general release, complimentary beer tastings with growler refills, a 25 percent discount on merchandise, discounted or complimentary rates to brewery events, and more. Visit ncteachingbrewery.ca/growlerclub/.
Visit ncteachingbrewery.ca/
Benchmark
Treat the foodies on your list to a dining experience at the award-winning Benchmark restaurant (NOTL) where they can enjoy food wine and beer prepared and presented by students.
Benchmark gift cards are available in any denomination, so they fit any budget. Stop into the restaurant or call 905-641-2252 ext. 4619.
Benchmark has also teamed up with the Teaching Winery to offer Wine and Dine holiday packages. A $100 package includes a $50 Benchmark Gift Card, two bottles of VQA wine, a $10 Brewery Gift Card, Complimentary Tasting Card. Or upgrade the above package with a $100 Benchmark gift card instead, with all the same extra goodies, for $150.
Visit ncbenchmark.ca/
Wine Visitor + Education Centre
The Wine Visitor + Education Centre (NOTL) is a one-stop shop for wine, spirits and cider made at NC.
Take advantage of a Holiday Wine Sale with 15 percent off all wine purchases until December 31. Browse the shelves for an assortment of wines made by Canada’s first and only commercial teaching winery.
A variety of gift baskets are also available at the WVEC, for less than $50 and less than $100.
For entertainers, Holiday Wine Cases of featured wines are now 20 percent off (must purchase full case).
Cider enthusiasts will love the new Small Batch holiday cider launched by the NC Teaching Winery: Montmorency Cherry Cider. Multiple-award-winning Cider 101 is always a hit with sippers and judges alike – it recently picked up another gold at the U.S. Cider Championship,
Make spirits bright with a bottle from the NC Teaching Distillery. Special Cocktail Gift Packs are available at the WVEC.
Wine lovers will raise a glass to a NC Wine Club membership. Members enjoy carefully selected VQA wines crafted by the Teaching Winery’s professional winemaker Gavin Robertson. Two bottles are delivered each month, along with wine tasting notes and food accompaniment suggestions with each shipment. Members also receive complimentary tastings at the WVEC Tasting Bar, 25 percent off non-wine merchandise and experiences, invitations to exclusive club member events and early access to wine education seminars. To sign up visit:
Bonus: free gift-wrapping is also available at the WVEC!
You can’t go wrong with a gift card which can be redeemed for any purchase of wine, beer, cider or spirits at NC’s Teaching Brewery retail store or Wine Visitor + Education Centre. Cards featuring either wine or beer graphics are available.
Visit or shop online at ncteachingwinery.ca
Teaching Hair Salon
Over at the Welland Campus, giving is always in style at the Teaching Salon, where NC Hairstyling students keep public clientele perfectly coiffed, ready for any celebration.
For those on your list who say ‘yes to the tress,’ hair products can make great gifts or stocking stuffers. A variety of Christmas gift packages are available.
Visit niagaracollege.ca/employers-community/shop-dine/hair-salon/