Decanting Digest - In memory of Paul Pender

Image via Tawsewinery.ca

This week, the wine industry in Ontario and across Canada is in mourning.

Paul Pender, head winemaker at Tawse Winery in Vineland, Ont., had his life taken from him tragically and senselessly on February 3. He was just 54 years old. The details of the incident can be found elsewhere online and are so horrifying that they don’t bear repeating here.

He leaves behind his wife, Allison Findlay, who is head winemaker at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan Station, Ont., as well as his children, grandchildren, and a great many more loved ones. His obituary, which states that he was acting as a good Samaritan at the time of his passing, can be found here. (https://tallmanfuneralhomes.ca/tribute/details/9326/Paul-Pender/obituary.html?fbclid=IwAR2wE5KVDtxSM8GVycXWVH33mGran-O3AKMrpFZ44mBrghQKGWp-SC1HlDw#tribute-start)

Paul attended Niagara College as part of the second cohort to go through the school’s winemaking program. He joined Tawse in 2005 and was head winemaker by 2006. It was under his leadership that Tawse transitioned into organic and biodynamic winemaking, and then the awards started pouring in: Tawse was awarded the title of Canadian Winery of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016, and in 2011 he was named Winemaker of the Year at the Ontario Wine Awards.

Image via Steph Wallcraft

Moreover, under Paul’s management, Tawse was one of the pioneers among a generation of Ontario wineries that gave the appellation definition and product worthy of commanding a price.

Like so many wine lovers, I didn’t know Paul personally, but I’ve certainly enjoyed his work and currently have some of it put away to age gracefully. With this week’s news, it will lie in waiting for a great deal longer.

No matter what we do or how many lives we may touch, we can never know how much time we have. So, eat the food, take the risks, and always drink great wine.

May Paul rest in peace, and may those who love him find comfort through this incredibly difficult time.

Tawse Winery and its sister property, Redstone Winery and Restaurant, have been closed since the incident. Both will reopen this Saturday, February 12.

Steph is a successful, established freelance writer and has been a wine aficionado for more than two decades. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
Decanting Digest appears every other Wednesday.
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