MPP Oosterhoff Welcomes Arrival of Niagara West Vintage at Queen’s Park
December 11, 2025
Toronto – Selected as the official sparkling wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at the Forty-sixth Annual Speaker’s Wine Tasting, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, welcomed the arrival of the 2023 Sparkling Riesling, vintnered by Harbour Estates Winery in Jordan Station, at Queen’s Park this week.
Elected Members cast ballots for their favourite Ontario VQA wines October 28. Following a vote count and validation of results, the 2023 Sparkling Riesling, vintnered by Harbour Estates Winery, was selected as the official Sparkling Wine of the Legislative Assembly. Two other Niagara wines were chosen at the official tasting, including the 2021 Barrel 81, vintnered by Riverview Cellars, selected as the official red wine of the Legislative Assembly, and 2024 Vidal Icewine, vintnered by Between the Lines Family Estate Winery, selected as the official icewine.
“Representing a riding with the most independent wineries in the province and a riding that once again boasts an official wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario confirms the world-class status of our local growers and winemakers,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“I congratulate the entire winemaking team at Harbour Estates Winery for their award-winning vintage.”
The tasting event was hosted by Hon. Donna Skelly, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, along with Grape Growers of Ontario.
“As the legacy partner of the Legislature’s annual wine tasting event, Grape Growers of Ontario thanks the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for continuing the tradition of choosing the official VQA wines of the Legislative Assembly for the coming year,” said Matthias Oppenlaender, Chair of Grape Growers of Ontario.
“Our agriculture value-added industry is rooted in the land, and Grape Growers of Ontario looks forward to continuing to work with the Ontario government to support the province’s grape and wine industry.”
“The wines showcased at this event reflect the connection between 100 percent Ontario-grown grapes and the winemakers who craft them,” said Debbie Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of Grape Growers of Ontario.
“We congratulate all of Ontario’s wineries on producing top-quality VQA wines and thank the six wineries who participated in this year’s tasting.”
“It is a great honour to have our 2023 Sparkling Riesling chosen as the official sparkling wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario,” said Fraser Mowat, General Manager of Harbour Estates Winery.
“This is confirmation that – after over twenty years – we are still producing wines of great quality that stand out and are recognized.”
Established by the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, this year, Ontario marked the first-ever Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day. Observed annually on the last Friday in June, the initiative urges local consumers to support local businesses and workers through programs such as Ontario Made, VQA Ontario and Foodland Ontario.
As an official wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the 2023 Sparkling Riesling from Harbour Estates Winery will be served at formal functions at Queen’s Park throughout 2026 and available to be purchased by visitors at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Gift Shop.