Andrea Fujarczuk has found her calling in the business of distilling, and it all started at Niagara College.
Fujarczuk graduated from NC’s Wine and Viticulture Technician program in 2012, and then moved to the U.K. to pursue an MBA with a focus on wine in the global food industry, which led her to working with some of the best in wine and spirits production.From sales and marketing at Moët Hennessy working with brands like Dom Pérignon and Belvedere, to developing new gins at one of the world’s largest contract distilling firms, Thames Distillery, Fujarczuk has immersed herself in the art of gin production.
After a few years at these companies, she took on a new challenge – creating her own gin. In search of a concept for her recipe, Fujarczuk realized there were no truly Canadian gins out on the market. Using the same technique to make red wines, she crafted GinBerry – a gin infused with natural cranberry flavours with a bright red colour synonymous with Canada. Together with her husband César, she moved back to Canada to start their own company, Northern Landings Distillery. The Northern Landings GinBerry is sold through a variety of LCBO locations in Ontario.
Upon her return to Canada, another opportunity presented itself: NC was hiring a professor for the Artisan Distilling program. Reflecting on her career in distilling and her experience as a student at NC, she decided to throw her name in the ring. She is now halfway through her first semester of teaching at the College.
“Everyday is different and everyday is a challenge, but it’s super exciting,” said Fujarczuk. “I learn from the students and they learn from me. It’s a bit of a wild ride but it’s a unique experience and I’m privileged to be here.”
It’s also been a walk down memory lane, getting to reconnect with her former mentors within CFWI and seeing her name on the trophy from the first ever Caps, Corks and Forks event. Her return to Niagara is timely as the micro-distillery industry is now blossoming within the region.
As for what she brings to the table as a new professor, she draws inspiration from her journey as a female distiller and new business owner. “You need to have thick skin to be a female in distilling,” she said, noting it has been a male-dominated industry. “I’ve taken a lot of pride in proving them wrong throughout my career. That’s what keeps me driven.”
Fujarczuk gives her students insight into the real world of distilling so they can be equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the industry. She describes NC’s entrepreneurial and innovative learning environment as a big factor in what drew her back to the College.
