“Wine, food, friends and family. These are the pillars of a wonderful life.”
— Sue-Ann Staff
“Wine, food, friends and family. These are the pillars of a wonderful life.”
— Sue-Ann Staff
• Fifth-generation Niagara grape grower
• 600+ national and international wine awards
• Ontario Winemaker of the Year
• One of the world’s “Top Women in Wine” (twice)
• Founding partner in the creation of Niagara Benchlands Wineries
• Proprietor of a 200-year-old estate winery
• King Charles III Coronation Medal recipient
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery is the culmination of more than two centuries of Staff family history in the Niagara Peninsula. From the first vines planted in 1899 to a King's Medal in 2025, this is the story of one family's unbroken commitment to the land.
In a world long dominated by men, Sue-Ann Staff has spent decades proving that the finest wines in Canada can be made by a woman who grew up in the vineyards, studied winemaking on two continents, and returned home to build something extraordinary on her family's 200-year-old estate in Jordan, Ontario.
Today, Sue-Ann Staff is one of the most decorated and respected winemakers in the country — a pioneer for women in Canadian wine, and a passionate ambassador for the Niagara Benchlands appellation she calls home.
Winemaking has been a lifelong 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. The Staff family has farmed this land since the early 1800s, when Sue-Ann's Great Great Great Grandfather Robert Staff first settled the property.
That deep connection to the land — to its soils, its seasons, and its singular terroir on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment — informs every wine Sue-Ann makes, from her celebrated Niagara Rieslings to her award-winning Icewines.
After completing her formal education in winemaking at the renowned Roseworthy College (University of Adelaide, South Australia) — one of the world's leading viticulture and oenology programs — Sue-Ann gained experience across multiple vintages abroad before returning to Niagara.
She went on to serve as Winemaster at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where she built her reputation as one of Canada's most talented and innovative winemakers.
Sue-Ann's academic background laid the foundation for her achievements. During her Honors Horticulture and Biotechnology studies at the University of Guelph OAC '94 (B.Sc.(Agr.)), she became the first Canadian to achieve the "Top Undergraduate Research Paper" awarded by the American Society for Horticultural Science. In addition, she became the first Canadian elected President of the Association of Collegiate Branches for the American Society for Horticultural Science — involving all university horticulture clubs across North America.
A Graduate Degree in Oenology (1996) attained from the University of Adelaide, South Australia capped the formal instruction in winemaking. With experience from several other wineries including a trainee winemaking position with Simon Gilbert Wine Services in the Upper Hunter Valley, Australia, Sue-Ann returned home to Canada to begin her winemaking career in Niagara.
In 2002, Sue-Ann was acclaimed Winemaker of the Year by the Ontario Wine Awards — the first female and youngest person ever to receive the honour at that time. This milestone recognition marked a turning point not just for Sue-Ann, but for women in Canadian wine.
She has since been named one of the top four Women in Wine in the World by the International Wine and Spirits Awards of London, England — twice.
Over the course of her career, Sue-Ann has won more than 600 national and international wine awards — across competitions including Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, International Wine & Spirits Competition, Texsom International Wine Awards, Ontario Wine Awards, and Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, among many others.
Her wines — including the iconic Robert's Block Riesling, Howard's Icewine Vidal, and Wisteria Tree Cab Franc Icewine — consistently earn medals at the world's most prestigious competitions.
Today, Sue-Ann is Proprietor and Winemaker of Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, located on her family's 200-year-old estate at 3210 Staff Avenue in Jordan, Ontario. She produces high-quality VQA wines from grapes grown on the Niagara Escarpment property — bold with a delicate touch. Look for exceptional Rieslings, opulent reds, delightful rosés, festive sparkling wines, and seductive Icewines.
Sue-Ann's commitment to the Niagara wine community extends well beyond her own estate. She has contributed to many organizations, including the 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), and the Niagara College Teaching Advisory Committee for the Viticulture Technician Program (Chair).
She is a founding partner of Niagara Benchlands Wineries Inc., bringing 35 member wineries together to market the wines and destinations of West Niagara. Explore our Niagara Benchlands Winery Guide.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery is open for tastings seven days a week from 11 am to 5:30 pm at 3210 Staff Avenue, Jordan, Ontario — 30 minutes from Niagara Falls and one hour from Toronto. Plan your visit.
Ontario residents can order award-winning Sue-Ann Staff wines online with delivery across the province. Free shipping on orders of $150 or more. Browse our wine collection.
Sue-Ann Staff is a Canadian winemaker and proprietor of Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery in Jordan, Ontario. She is one of Canada's most decorated winemakers, with over 600 national and international wine awards, and was the first female and youngest person named Winemaker of the Year by the Ontario Wine Society in 2002.
Sue-Ann completed an Honours degree in Horticulture and Biotechnology at the University of Guelph (B.Sc.(Agr.), OAC '94), followed by a Graduate Degree in Oenology (1996) from the University of Adelaide, South Australia. She also gained practical experience at Simon Gilbert Wine Services in the Upper Hunter Valley, Australia, before returning to Canada.
Sue-Ann has won over 600 national and international wine awards. Notable recognitions include the 2002 Ontario Wine Society Winemaker of the Year (first female ever), twice named one of the top four Women in Wine in the World by the International Wine and Spirits Awards of London, the 2018 Tony Aspler Cuvée Award of Excellence, and the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal.
The Staff family has been farming in the Niagara Peninsula for five generations, with roots on the Jordan estate dating back to the early 1800s when Robert Staff — Sue-Ann's Great Great Great Grandfather — first settled the property.
Sue-Ann is often present at the winery and occasionally hosts special tasting events. Visit us at 3210 Staff Avenue, Jordan, Ontario, or book a tasting to plan your visit. Call 905-562-1719 for more information.
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