LYDIA TOMEK

  At the young age of 18 Lydia enrolled in the Prestigious Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture (CCOVI) Program at Brock University.  During her studies she received many scholarships and awards and finished her 5 year degree graduating top of her class.  Eight years later Lydia’s hard work, community efforts and wine accolades paid off as she was selected as one Brock University’s of 50 Most Distinguished Alumni.  She also became one of the faces for the University representing CCOVI and featured into their National Recruitment Marketing Campaign.       

In 2004 , Lydia’s professional winemaking journey began at the age of 23 when she accepted a winemaker contract at one of Canada’s most reputable wineries, Hillebrand Estates (now Trius Winery).  After completing her contract with Hillebrand Lydia also worked an assistant winemaker position at the prestigious Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate.  She later moved on a senior role at Hernder Estate Winery as their Head Winemaker working with the family in all aspects of viticulture , oenology, and marketing.  In 2016 Lydia travelled to Norfolk Country an emerging wine region in Ontario where she made premium VQA wines at Burning Kiln Winery, a transformed tobacco farm that now only grows vinifera grapes and utilizes their old kilns to also make  appassimento wines.  She also spent some of her time in Norfolk working with other smaller wineries and farmers on research to improve local viticultural practises, introduce new varieties, and help bring Norfolk to the forefront as a culinary destination.  Lydia is back home in her beloved Niagara where she is currently the head winemaker at Ravine Vineyard and Estate Winery.  

Ravine's unique 150year old farm is organically farmed and located on the St. David's Bench in Niagara. Lydia is excited about creating organically grown terroir driven wines that showcase this unique site and showcase the richness and elegance of growing grapes on the Lowrey Family farm. 

  The work that Lydia has done outside her winemaking career is what makes this energetic mother radiate with beauty from the inside out.  Whether it is posing for Women and Wine Calendar to raise money for Grapes for Humanity, helping start a community foundation that is dedicated to improving Cancer Treatment in her community, guest speaking at community events to encourage young women in the careers, making a wine to honour a lost friend, or building the "LocaLove Garden Project" at a local school, Lydia has learned that doing things with love makes life beautiful.  She takes those same principles in the vineyard and cellar as she believes wine is the most beautiful expression of time and place and needs to be handle with love and care.