Tributes are pouring in for celebrated Niagara winemaker and NC alumnus Paul Pender (Winery and Viticulture Technician, 2006) who died suddenly on Feb. 3.
Pender was the Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at Tawse Winery in Vineland, Ont. He decided to study winemaking at Niagara College after he developed an allergy to dust and solvents while working as a carpenter. After completing his co-op placement with Tawse, Pender was hired by the winery in 2006 and went on to achieve great success, winning Winemaker of the Year at the Ontario Wine Awards in 2011 and leading Tawse to the title of Canadian Winery of the Year on multiple occasions.
The many tributes include comments from winemakers from Niagara and beyond, as well as wine writer industry professionals, who recall Pender as a genuine and generous man who created some of the best wines in Canada.
Articles paying tribute to NC alumnus Paul Pender include:
Feb. 4 article from Wines in Niagara
Feb. 5 article from Vine Routes
Feb. 7 article from Decanter
Feb. 7 article from The Drinks Business
Feb. 8 article from Godello – Michael Godel
Feb. 15 article from Tiffany Mayer of Eating Niagara (appearing in the Niagara Dailies)
Read NC’s Feb. 9 story about Pender on InsideNC.
