CANADA: Guggenheim architect commissioned to build winery

By Monica Dobie | 25 July 2002

The owners of the Le Clos Jordan vineyard estate in Canada's Niagara Peninsula have commissioned Canadian architect, Frank Gehry - known primarily for his unorthodox Guggenheim Museum, in Bilbao, Spain - to design plans for a new winery.

The estate's new home, set on a 137 acre site and formed by the merger of Burgundy producer La Famille Boisset and Vincor International, Canada's largest producer of wine, will be completed in late 2005.

The curvy design, synonymous with Gehry's other works will attract crowds interested in architecture as well as wine.

Donald Triggs, CEO of Vincor said: "We're positive people will be interested in the winery for architectural tourism as well as wine tourism." The estimated C$30m winery will grow 75% Pinot Noir with 25% Chardonnay in a region best known for its ice wine.