The roots of our award winning, eco-friendly, Twenty Mile Bench winery.
Featherstone Estate Winery is owned by Rayla and George Myhal. This transformative purchase took place in February 2024, amidst the 25th Anniversary of the inception of Featherstone.
Founded and operated by Dave Johnson and Louise Engel, along with a dedicated, long-standing team of retail and cellar staff. The team comes to the wine industry from a variety of careers but a common dedication to excellence in food and a passion for wine.
The Featherstone vineyard was first planted in the 1970’s and the grape crop was sold to a large wine conglomerate until 1999, when the first Featherstone wines were made. The Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc – planted in 1986 – continue to thrive and the Riesling, planted in 1978, is some of the oldest Riesling in Niagara. Today the entire grape crop is bottled to produce Featherstone wines, with approximately 9,000 cases a year being vinified. The winery has distinguished itself in Niagara as being insecticide-free since 1999 and practitioners of eco-friendly farming.
Featherstone Winery farms naturally and without the use of insecticides, growing wine in a way that is sustainable. We encourage an environment that is healthy and completely unique and believe that this individuality translates into our wines. As a result, we have been certified as a Sustainable Winegrowing Winery. The Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) Certified logo assures consumers that the complete grape to glass cycle is sustainable – that the grapes are grown and the Ontario VQA wine is crafted with sustainability at the forefront of each winery and vineyard’s business philosophy. Look for this logo on Ontario VQA wine from SWO Certified wineries.
Special Awards
2019 Winemaker of the Year
Joy at Featherstone! And we’re not talking about our Cuveé Joy Sparkling wine this time – although there is definitely some of that in our glass! At the 2019 Ontario Wine Awards presentation our very own David Johnson was named Winemaker of the Year. He’s humbled and overwhelmed, and pretty darn happy! The timing is great – the Ontario Wine Awards were celebrating their 25th year, and here at Featherstone, we were celebrating our 20th vintage.
2017: Elsie Award
2014: Elsie Award
The LCBO honours its suppliers and their agents for innovation, creativity and commitment to customer service and social responsibility at the Elsie Awards
2009: Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award, awarded by the NEC
Celebrating outstanding achievements and inspiring individuals who have made the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve a better place to live and work.
2008: Premier’s Award for Agri-Innovation Excellence | for use of lambs in the vineyard
2009: Premier’s Award for Agri-Innovation Excellence | for use of falcons in the vineyard
This award program supports and recognizes the dedication, hard work and innovation of local agri-food businesses and individuals who are adding value to existing products, helping create jobs and contributing to economic growth.
2003: Grape King
The Grape King award represents a 60 year old tradition in the Grape and Wine Industry. The title of Grape King is bestowed annually upon a grape grower who exemplifies excellence in the vineyard and is recognized as the most outstanding grape grower in Ontario. Nominees are suggested by fellow growers and the Grape King serves as an ambassador for the growers across the province.
