Black Prince Winery & Canadian Vinegar Cellars win Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence
November 29th, 2015 | Posted in event
Ontario Celebrates Regional Agri-Food Innovators
Recipients Recognized at Award Ceremony in Baltimore
Ontario is recognizing and celebrating local agri-food innovators whose ideas and projects are strengthening the province’s agri-food sector.
The regional recipients of the 2015 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence were honoured during a ceremony in Baltimore today for their contributions to the creation of new products, adding value to existing products, supporting a sustainable environment, helping support job creation, and boosting economic growth in Ontario.
Black Prince Winery – Picton
For most winemakers, vinegar is their worst nightmare. Not for Black Prince Winery. In partnership with Canadian Vinegar Cellars, Black Prince’s Geoff Webb is using his grapes for two different purposes. Some go towards making wine, of course, but others are destined for a line of super-premium barrel-aged vinegars. His secret weapon? Reverse osmosis. Several years ago, Webb began experimenting with this process in order to reduce the acidity of his wine. When he teamed up with Canadian Vinegar Cellars’ Pete Bradford, he discovered reverse osmosis could speed up vinegar production, oxidizing and dealcoholizing the wine much faster than conventional methods. The technology allowed them to remove water from the vinegar, concentrating the sugars and creating a beautifully balanced product that has chefs and foodies raving.
“Ontario is known for its leading-edge agri-food sector that continues to grow and foster new innovation and ideas. The 2015 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence recipients demonstrate creative and ingenious ideas and business concepts. By investing in the success of people and a dynamic and innovative business climate, our government is helping drive the sector’s growth and position Ontario for economic success both at home and abroad.”
