BOARD, COMMITTEES & STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ontario's Wine Appellation Authority is a not for profit corporation governed by an independent Board of Directors. Nine Directors are elected from winery members and one each appointed from the Ontario government, the Grape Growers of Ontario and the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association.

Of the elected Directors, 3 each are elected from large, medium and small class wineries with VQA wine sales of over 750,000 litres, 100,000 to 750,000 litres and under 100,000 litres respectively. Provision is also made for regional representation, including at least one Director from each primary appellation.

The Board of Directors is responsible for governance and setting strategic goals for the Appellation Authority. It oversees staff management and ensures effective policies are in place to carry out the regulatory and corporate functions of the organization. The Board of Directors meets 6 times annually.

A public Annual General Meeting is held each year, typically in July, to present a report on the Authority’s operations, present financial statements and conduct elections to the Board.

Board of Directors (July 2026)

• Derek Cartlidge, (President & Chair) Colio Estates Winery

  Derek Cartlidge has spent over 20 years in beverage alcohol and is currently the President of Thornbury Craft Co., a cider, beer and Ready to Drink producer owned by Colio Estate Wines.  Derek grew up in Niagara wine country and is a graduate of Niagara College.  He has held progressively senior management positions in the industry, most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Colio Wines.  He became President of Thornbury Craft Co. in 2019 and has overseen a period of strong growth and expansion of the Thornbury production facility.  Derek has been active in many industry associations, serving in various roles with Wine Growers Ontario and is an active participant in the cider and beer industry’s government relations programs and serves on the Boards of the Ontario Craft Cider Association and Cider Canada and numerous industry committees.  Derek was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2019 and became Chair in 2024.

• Brian Schmidt, (Ex-Officio Director and Past-Chair) Vineland Estates Winery

  Brian Schmidt is the Vice-President and Winemaker at Vineland Estates.  First elected to the OWAA Board in 2006, Brian held the position of Chair from 2014 until 2024.  He now serves in the ex-officio position of Past-Chair.  Brian was raised on the family vineyard in Kelowna, BC, and after coming to Ontario to help with harvest one year, he decided to stay.  He has been making wine in Ontario’s Niagara region for over 30 years. Brian has experimented, researched and travelled extensively to study cool climate grape varieties and their connections to the land.  He is widely recognized for his dedication to Cabernet Franc and Riesling grown in Ontario. When not engaged in OWAA affairs, Brian is most likely to be found on a tractor in the vineyard.

• Gabe Demarco, (Vice Chair) Cave Spring Vineyards

  Gabriel Demarco is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Head Winemaker of Cave Spring Vineyard and the COO of The Vine Agency.   Gabriel is a graduate of the Oenology and Viticulture Institute (OEVI) at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON.  Prior to his winemaking career, he completed a B.A. in theatre arts and world history at McMaster University and an Hon. B.A. in Performance from the University of Winnipeg, and travelled throughout Canada with the Canadian Naval Reserve.  After moving to Toronto, Gabriel obtained his Wine & Spirit Education Trust Advanced Wine Certificate and realized that his true professional passion was in the wine industry.  After completing his oenology degree, he became a full-time winemaker at Cave Spring and continues to strive for the expression of terroir in the wines he makes.  Gabriel was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2023 and currently serves as Vice-Chair.

• Nadia Senchuk, (Treasurer) Leaning Post Wines

  Nadia Senchuk is the President and co-owner of Leaning Post Wines, a premium Niagara-based winery focused on terroir-driven Canadian wines. With an MBA and a strong background in business strategy, sales, and marketing, Nadia oversees the winery’s growth, operations, hospitality, and market development initiatives. She has played a key role in expanding Leaning Post’s presence within the LCBO, export markets, and direct-to-consumer sales channels. In addition to her work at Leaning Post Wines, Nadia is actively involved in supporting and advocating for continued growth, quality standards, and recognition of Ontario’s wine industry.  She was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2021 and currently serves as Treasurer.

• Erika Neudorf, (Secretary) Arterra Wines Canada

  Erika is currently the Marketing Director for Innovation at Arterra Wines Canada.  She has worked in the wine industry for over 20 years in numerous roles spanning marketing, consumer insights, market development, and winemaking - both in Canada and abroad.  Her prior experience includes Corby Spirit & Wine Ltd, Andrew Peller Ltd, Wine Australia, CCOVI, and Wine Intelligence – bringing together a global perspective and strategic thinking with her local knowledge and experience.  Erika holds a Masters in Wine Business from the University of Adelaide in Australia, a BA from the University of Western Ontario, and an Executive Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Cambridge. Born and raised in Niagara, Erika is an avid wine enthusiast and supporter of the Canadian wine industry, showcased through her work on family passion project in Niagara, The Farm Wines.  Erika was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2023 and currently serves as Board Secretary.

• Louise Engel, Featherstone Estate Winery

  Louise Engel is a co-founder of Featherstone Winery, established in 1999 dedicated to creating small batch wines of the finest calibre.  Louise has 'worn many hats' over the years and has a deep understanding of the wine industry that is predicated on a hands-on approach to running a successful brand.  An early advocate of sustainable farming on its 19-acre site on the Twenty Mile Bench, Featherstone is best known for employing a roving flock of sheep to help with leaf removal in the summer months.  Louise was elected to the OWAA Board in 2012.

• Tim Kuepfer, Broken Stone Winery

  Tim Kuepfer is the proprietor of Broken Stone Winery, a small winery located in Prince Edward County.  He oversees all aspects of the business from the vineyard, winemaking, infrastructure, wholesale, retail, hospitality and business management.    Tim holds a business degree from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and trained at UC Davis in winemaking.  Before starting the winery, Tim began his career in economic research and progressed through account management and sales positions to a role providing financial data and software solutions to the investment industry.  Tim is currently the Chair of the Prince Edward Winegrowers Association and an active participant in the local wine community.  He was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2026.

• Shiraz Mottiar, Malivoire Wine Company

  Shiraz Mottiar is Director of Winegrowing at Malivoire Wine Company.  Shiraz graduated from the oenology and Viticulture program at Brock University and has worked in progressively senior winemaking and management positions in Ontario for over 25 years.  He currently holds the Chair of Brock University’s CCOVI Advisory Council and is a member of the Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario Committee, past member of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration’s Board and Education Committee, and participant in CCOVI’s Fizz Club Steering Group.  Shiraz is committed to winemaking excellence, education, research and development, with a clear focus on a sustainable and prosperous future for the Ontario wine industry.  He was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2024.

• Mary Shenstone, Government of Ontario

  Mary has over three decades of public policy, management and government relations experience gained through a distinguished public sector career. She was formerly an assistant deputy minister and (Interim) Fairness Commissioner in the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade. Mary also served as an assistant deputy minister with the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernnmental Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. She has extensive experience with board governance and the administrative authority model, having served on the boards of the Resource Productivity and Resource Authority (currently Vice Chair), the Real Estate Council of Ontario, and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. She also served as vice-chair of the board of Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Mary holds an ICD.D designation.  Mary was appointed to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2005.

• Paul Speck, Henry of Pelham

  Paul and his brothers Matthew and Daniel planted the original vineyards and began the business development of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery with their father in 1984. In 1989, Paul became President of Henry of Pelham and has led it to become one of the leading growers and producers of VQA certified wines.  Henry of Pelham owns and operates 420 acres of premium vineyards in the Short Hills Bench and Twenty Mille Bench in Niagara.   Paul was a Founding Director of VQA Ontario, now the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority, and he continues to play an active role in promoting and developing the premium wine industry in Canada. Paul also serves on the boards of Ontario Craft Wineries and Wine Growers Canada.  Paul was first elected to the Board in 2000, serving until 2024, and was re-elected in 2026.

• Mark Torrance, Andrew Peller Ltd.

  Mark Torrance is the Vice President of Estate Wineries at Andrew Peller Limited, a position he has held since September 2021. Prior to this role, he was the Director of Estate Wineries at Andrew Peller.  Mark launched his career in small luxury country house hotels in the U.K. and transitioned to the wine business in 2001.  He brings extensive experience in the retail, hospitality and wine sector, including managing the delivery of immersive, industry-leading experiences at Andrew Peller’s portfolio of estate wineries.  Mark also brings a strong understanding of brand loyalty and knowledge of consumer needs and consumer-driven brand positioning.  Mark was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2024.

• Kevin Watson, Grape Growers of Ontario

  Kevin co-owns Watson’s Vineyards Limited in Niagara on the Lake.  He and his family have been growing wine grapes for three generations, starting in 1978, and the family business grows a wide selection of wine grapes and offers grapes and juice, winemaking supplies and equipment to local wineries and home winemakers.  Kevin has long history of involvement in the grape and wine industry, serving on Grower Committees and the Board of Grape Growers Ontario, currently as its Chair of the Board.  Kevin was named Grape King for 2007-08.  He was appointed to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2009.

• Omer Yazaroglu, Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association

  Omer is the Director, Culinary Services with the Niagara Parks Commission, overseeing 16 culinary outlets serving VQA wines.  With nearly 40 years in hospitality, and deep roots in Niagara, he is committed to leadership and operational excellence and is a keen supporter of local food and wine.  Omer has a broad insight into how service professionals and consumers view wines in a hospitality setting and the important relationship between local food and local wine for visitors to Niagara.  He also serves on the boards of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) and Niagara Falls Convention Centre.  Omer was appointed to the OWAA Board of Directors in 2026.