Note: This is a press released from Daniel Lenko Estate Winery issued today
The highly respected “garagiste†winery Daniel Lenko Estate Winery has hired a new
winemaker effective July 1st 2010.
Outgoing winemaker Ilya Senchuk will be replaced by Thomas Laszlo. Often we see winemakers coming into an industry from abroad and staying on to settle in and build a new life in their adopted country.
After thirteen vintages of winemaking abroad Laszlo has come full circle to continue what he started so long ago.
Thomas was born in Guelph , Ontario and graduated with a Diploma in Farm Management
from the University of Guelph. Upon graduation Laszlo went on to work at Henry of Pelham as
Assistant Winemaker to Ron Giesbrecht.
During his three years there Thomas had the chance to learn from one of Niagara’s most talented winemakers on how to craft ultra premium wines from Bench vineyards including fruit from the Lenko vineyard. Laszlo’s time at Henry of Pelham proved vital to his next job.
In 1997 Thomas was hired as Technical Director for two of the best wineries in Tokaj, Hungary. Under Laszlo’s guidance his wines from Chateau Pajzos and Chateau Megyer became quickly recognized as amongst the best with critical acclaim from the world’s top wine media with several wines scoring in the high to mid 90s from Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator.
After five vintages in Tokaj Laszlo returned briefly to Niagara Falls in order to welcome his daughter into the world as a Canadian. Within months after his return Laszlo accepted the position of Vice President of Winemaking Operations at Heron Hill Winery, located near Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York, in 2002.
His international expertise in cool climate winemaking put Heron Hill on the map as one of the leading wineries in New York.
Laszlo’s winemaking style can be viewed as unique and “outside the boxâ€. During his 8 years in the Finger Lakes he further advanced his skills with cool climate wines with a particular focus
on Riesling.
While at Heron Hill Thomas developed several new styles of wine that are now
accepted and commonly emulated by other wineries. A family decision was made after Harvest
2009 that it was now time to come back to friends,family and the Niagara wine industry.
A better fit between Daniel Lenko Estate Winery and Thomas Laszlo would be hard to find.
Both outspoken and at times controversial, Daniel Lenko and Thomas share a common belief
that the character of the land and the people working with it’s fruit is what defines a terroir’s
greatness and not a multi-million dollar winery.
The Lenko vineyard is famous for it’s high percentage of “old vine†grapes with the first Chardonnay planted in Canada by Daniel’s father Bill Lenko in 1959. By one of life’s “twists of fates†Daniel and Thomas met for the first time
since their Henry of Pelham days only a few weeks before Laszlo’s move to Niagara.
The winery produces approximately 3500 cases of highly sought after wine and the current plan is to stay
true to the house style that has been the cornerstone of the Lenko winery’s continued success.
The Lenko/Laszlo team are excited about the upcoming 2010 vintage. Wine production will
continue with estate grown ultra premium wines while evolving and developing new styles of
wines in which Thomas will explore the intricacies of the Beamsville Bench. These new wines
will be made in small quantities with focus on complexity and longevity; unearthing the full
potential of Canada’s oldest vinifera vineyard.
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