Rebecca was mischievous, determined, and intelligent. She was eager to experiment and was unafraid to try just about anything. She took full advantage of the space and freedom that farm life offered. She was a horsewoman, a runner, and a traveler. She helped her dad build a paddock and stable when she was 12, she was the pastry chef in a local restaurant when she was 14. She loved animals, art and beauty. She seemed driven to pack as much as she could into her life and, by drawing us into her adventures, she enriched our lives.

Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery was established in 1993. When our original winemaker left, Rebecca, who was then in Grade 11, stepped in to help her father. She had talent and enthusiasm and went on to earn a degree in Biotechnology from Brock University. Rebecca’s last vintages won an outstanding six Double Gold Medals, eleven Gold Medals, seventeen Silver Medals and fourteen Bronze Medals.

Rebecca had health problems for many years but she did not talk about it or let it slow her down. In her last year we began to notice that she was tiring more easily and cutting back on her activities. Her vitality was noticeably fading by early 2006 but we did not realize how ill she was. Her death by cardiac arrest on August 6th was sudden and unexpected. Our grief has been overwhelming.

Our daughter was one third of the winery and losing her was devastating to the business as well. We very much appreciate the many expressions of sympathy that we received from our customers and we thank you for your patience as we journeyed through our grief.

We can never replace Rebecca, however we have found someone to take over her work and we are very pleased with the quality of the new wines.

Rebecca planned on making a grape wine in 2006, just to prove that she was more than capable, but she did not have the opportunity. We always planned to do it for her, and in 2008 we were finally ready. Rebecca’s Rosé was released on her birthday in 2009. A portion of the sale of this wine is donated to the Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre. Silence is not always golden.

The words that capture her spirit the best
were sent by Rebecca’s friend Kathy W.:

1976-2006
Beloved Daughter,
Extraordinary Winemaker