NewsTop Stories

Niagara is going to miss Inniskillin’s retiring Debi Pratt (and so will I), and, appropriately, a vineyard has been named her honour

DebiPrattNiagara-hi

She is a rock in the Niagara wine industry. A partner in the birth of the modern wine industry in Canada and the calming influence in those chaotic first years that laid the groundwork for Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Inniskillin winery.

Debi Pratt was there, standing beside founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser when Inniskillin was granted its first winery licence in Ontario since prohibition in 1975.

While working as a schoolteacher in the early 1970s, Pratt became involved with the beginnings of Inniskillin with Ziraldo and Kaiser. She eventually left teaching to work full-time for Inniskillin in many areas of the business including sales, tourism, hospitality and public relations.  Those early years were a challenge fighting consumer perceptions as the premium market sector was being established, with Inniskillin leading the way.

DebiPrattVYrd-hi

She stuck with it, through the birth of Vincor, Canada’s largest wine company that included Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Le Clos Jordanne, many properties in both Niagara and the Okanagan, as well as the world as Vincor grew to be one of the largest wine companies in the world. She was there when Vincor was sold to Constellation Brands in a blockbuster deal.

And even as the legends of the wine industry, Ziraldo, Kaiser, Donald Triggs, left the company, Pratt remained, the rock that held things together not just as public relations manager but also for her knowledge, connections and the important relationships Pratt built up with nearly 40 years in the business.

On a personal note, Pratt is a treat to work with. She is old school and meticulous; she is kind, she is professional and perhaps more than all of that, she is caring and more interested in relationships than politics.

Pratt gets things done and is a master at organizing whatever task she is given. She is the glue that held Inniskillin together for all these years and the winery’s success is due, in no small part, to Pratt.

IMG_0051

After 39 years with Inniskillin and an exciting career in the Ontario wine industry, Pratt announced her retirement. Canada Day fireworks at Inniskillin Niagara Estate Winery will mark Pratt’s last day, fitting, as it is equally a celebration and a way to celebrate her heritage with the company. 

In honour of Pratt’s years of dedication at Inniskillin, Constellation Brands named 90 acres of vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake Pratt Vineyard, located on Line 4 and Concession 6. This vineyard is well known for the Riesling and Cabernet Franc that are used for Inniskillin’s prestigious Icewine.  

Said Pratt of the honour: “I realize the timing in assisting co-founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser when Inniskillin started set the scene for me to be part of Canadian Wine history. Back in the mid-seventies no one would have dreamt of the impact that Inniskillin could and would have on the future of our wine industry.

“Constant hard work and perseverance certainly paid off.  The strong presence of women in the wine industry today has evolved from the days of a male dominated business whether in sales, marketing or winemaking. I am proud of all my accomplishments but am very pleased to see the broader acceptance of premium VQA wine (nationally and internationally) and our thriving wine tourism.  There is still much potential left to be tapped with both individual and collective efforts.”

Pratt is approaching retirement with great enthusiasm in the spirit of reflecting on past accomplishments and the many lasting relationships with colleagues, customers, media and trade formed over the decades.

In the past year, Pratt has garnered a number of milestone awards fitting to her retirement. These awards include:

Business Citizen of the Year (Niagara Grape and Wine Festival) 2013

Lifetime Achievement Award (Tourism Industry Association of Ontario/Ministry of Tourism) 2013

Gold Award, Educator (Ontario Hostelry Institute) 2014

I know I will miss not seeing Pratt at Inniskillin. I will miss not reaching her by phone when I need something quickly. I will miss not seeing her in a professional capacity at the many events she worked.

But I certainly wish her the best of luck with whatever challenge she takes on next. She is and always will be one of the good ones.