A group of Brock University students and alumni winemakers have come together to create the perfect blend: good wine for a good cause.

Four students worked with Brock graduates Mitch McCurdy (BSc ’18) and Marc Pistor (BSc ’06) — Head Winemaker and Director of Wine Making Operations, respectively, of Marynissen Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake — to produce a sparkling wine for the annual Grapes for Humanity Charity Fine Wine Auction.

The auction launched on Thursday, April 16 and runs virtually until Wednesday, April 22.

Proceeds from the auction primarily support Tree Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ontario Conservation Accelerator, along with a range of other local and global charities.

The student winemakers on the team include Biological Sciences master’s students Frederik Rivard, Reid Ball and Holly Eaton as well as third-year Applied Grape and Wine Science (OEVI) student Brayden Lafleur.

Rivard said collaborating on the Cuvée from the Heart Sparkling Riesling 2025 was a milestone experience, marking the first time he’d created a wine that is commercially available to the public. It was also his first time making sparkling wine.

Knowing the proceeds will support climate action initiatives makes it especially meaningful, he added.

“I can’t think of a better cause to support than the environment,” he said. “As a biologist, you spend your life studying every living thing, realizing how complex they are and how important it is to protect them because everything is intertwined. The grape and wine industry is also facing challenges due to climate change, so if we want to keep drinking good wine, we also need to take care of the environment.”

The students, under the tutelage of Pistor and McCurdy, were predominantly involved in the blending process, supporting decisions that would impact the overall profile of the final wine.

Produced using the Méthode Cuve Close process, the resulting Marynissen Estates wine is an aromatic, fresh and well-balanced expression of the best characteristics of Niagara Riesling.

“This is our second year crafting a wine for this great cause, and I’m once again really excited about the finished product,” said Pistor, who has previously served as an Instructor in Brock’s OEVI program and is affiliated with the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). “The collaboration with insightful and passionate students is extremely rewarding and I look forward to continuing our partnership with CCOVI.”

Debbie Inglis, Professor of Biological Sciences and CCOVI Director, said the experience was an excellent hands-on learning opportunity for the participating students.

“This project is indicative of the strong, collaborative spirit that exists in our grape and wine industry,” she said. “Our students produced a high-calibre wine alongside some of the most talented industry leaders in Ontario, shining a light on what’s possible when everyone comes together with a shared vision for a brighter future.”

Rivard — who, under Inglis’ supervision, is also researching how the use of locally isolated yeasts can impact the regional character of wines — said he is excited for the public to try his first wine.

“It’s really special to see your face, and the faces of your colleagues, on the label of a wine that people will buy and hopefully enjoy,” he said. “It was a really fun project to be part of.”

Cuvée from the Heart Sparkling Riesling 2025 is available in the auction within lot numbers 448 to 454, as well as in mixed cases featuring a selection of wines made by Niagara winemakers.

The Grapes for Humanity Fine Wine Auction runs until April 22 at 6 p.m.