Hernder Estate Winery
Immerse yourself in the heart of Niagara at Hernder Estate Wines, where three generations of grape growing come together in a symphony of flavor. With a rich history spanning 60 years, our family-owned estate has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier wine destinations. Since our humble beginnings in 1991, we’ve crafted over 25 varieties of VQA wines, masterfully blending time-honored techniques with innovative flair to produce acclaimed flavors that tantalize the senses.
Hernder Estate is more than just a winery; it’s an invitation to indulge in the finer things in life. Join us on our licensed patio, where every sip is a celebration of passion and every bottle a testament to tradition. Plan your unforgettable journey today at hernder.com, and discover the essence of excellence in every pour.
Voted #1 Wedding Winery, we have been perfecting weddings for 30 years. Click on Niagara Winery Wedding for all information, pictures and our all inclusive packages complete with pricing.
“The passions that govern us are to grow the finest grapes, to produce superb wines, and to perpetually expand our horizons…better wines, improved varieties, and spectacular places to showcase them in; to share with new and old friends alike.”
Well into our third generation of grape growing, the Hernder family has transformed a love of viticulture into one of the largest family Estate winery operations in Canada.
A natural progression of events began after Gottfried Hernder emigrated from Germany to western Canada. In 1939, the family moved to the “Grapeview” area of St. Catharines, Ontario, to a mixed fruit farm that included acreage of indigenous grapes.“Fred” Hernder’s boyhood chores would become the foundation for future skills. After the passing of his father, Fred purchased the family farm in 1968, and began the acquisition of others. His success was heralded when he was crowned as the youngest Niagara “GRAPE KING” in 1977. Forever the entrepreneur, Fred began selling not only grapes & juice, but also winemaking supplies to the growing home market as well as wineries.
With the advent of the free trade agreement between the United States and Canada in 1988, local wine producers faced the very real threat of dramatically declining percentages of Ontario grape juice in Ontario wines to imported grapes. This prompted Fred to make 2 important decisions: to replant his acreage with classic Vitis Vinifera & French Hybrid varieties and also to purchase the Victorian cattle barn (circa 1867) on 8th Avenue Louth ~ this, to launch his newest endeavor, that of his own winery.
The first vintage in 1991 consisted of 7,000 bottles of Vidal. Two years later, on September 17, 1993, Hernder Estate Wines officially opened to the public.