Pillitteri Estates Winery

Specialties

Pillitteri Estates Winery is the largest estate producer of Icewine in the world and one of the most innovative, creating a wide variety of Icewines, using: Vidal, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernets, Shiraz, Merlot, Sangiovese and Semillon varietals. Their newest Icewine is a Cabernet Sparkling, adding to the lineup of unique Icewines. Pillitteri Icewine is exported to more than twenty-​seven countries worldwide. The family’s commitment to producing VQA wines of exceptional quality and character is demonstrated in each bottle bearing the Pillitteri name. Pillitteri Estates Winery is your Icewine destination!

History

Established in 1993.

Pillitteri Estates Winery proudly continues a family tradition of viticulture and winemaking excellence. For Gary Pillitteri, the opening of Pillitteri Estates Winery in June of 1993 was the culmination of a lifetime dream. Since arriving in Canada from his native Sicily in 1948, Mr. Pillitteri was able to achieve his life long dream of opening a winery using his many years of experience as a grape grower in Niagara and as an amateur winemaker.

The turning point had taken place five years earlier in 1988 when Gary won a gold medal for his Icewine in Niagara’s amateur wine competition. He knew then that he could make his dream come true. He had been thinking about early retirement and could only build a professional and high-​quality winery with the expertise and full commitment of his family. Pillitteri Estates Winery is truly a family enterprise

Meet the Business Owner

Gary P.

Business Owner

In 1948, Gary, at the age of 12, and his father, set off to establish a new life for the family in Canada. They settled in the Niagara area and shortly thereafter were joined by the rest of the family.

On December 15, 1965 Gary and Lena Pillitteri settled in Niagara on the Lake to raise their family. They purchased a small fruit farm on Niagara Stone Road. The land was planted to tender fruit (peaches, cherries, pears, plums, prunes, apples, and grapes) and vegetables and in 1973 they opened Gary’s Fruit Market (which actually still operates today in the east wing of the winery).

By 1988 Gary decided to experiment by making a small batch of Vidal Icewine. The Icewine was later entered into a wine competition where it won a gold medal. During the next 5 years the farm and the market underwent several changes to convert the property into a winery. Ready for business, the winery opened on June 5, 1993.

Today the winery is open 7 days a week welcomes guests from all over the world.