About Sue-Ann Staff

Sue-Ann E. Staff

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 encompassing 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 600 national and international wine awards. She was acclaimed as “2002 Winemaker of the Year” by the Ontario Wine Society (first female and youngest ever) 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 achieved while Winemaster at Pillitteri Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.

Currently Sue-Ann is Proprietor/Winemaker of Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery. Located on her family’s two-hundred-year-old estate in Jordan, Ontario, she produces 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 sparkling wines and seductive Icewines.

Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery was awarded “2018 Tony Aspler’ Cuvee Award of Excellence” for being “an articulate ambassador for the Ontario wine region on the international stage” and “2014 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year” Emerging Business award.

Most recently (2025), she was humbly bestowed the King Charles III Coronation Medal for outstanding contribution to her community.

Sue-Ann has contributed to many organizations such as Twenty Valley Tourism Association (President, multiple committee chairs); Tourism Partners of Niagara (RTO2) (executive & BOD); Craft Wineries of Ontario (BOD and multiple committees); Vineland Research Innovation Centre (BOD); Niagara College Teaching Advisory Committee for the Viticulture Technician Program (Chair); plus, much more. She is a founding partner of the Niagara Benchlands Wineries Inc, bringing 35 member wineries under one umbrella to market the amazing wines and destinations of West Niagara.