Todd Moore

        Todd Moore started his winemaking career in 1987 in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Employed at Lewis Brothers Winery, “the World’s Most Northern Winery”. Initially starting as a cellar hand he was handed the reigns of the operation and became the Winemaker/Manager in 1989 at the age of 23. Lewis Brothers Winery’s claim to fame was their Saskatoon Berry wines as well as their variety of Honey Wines (Mead). The winery landed a lucrative export contract to a Japanese firm in 1990 and was sold to the Mark Anthony Group in 1991 at the time of Todd’s departure. Lewis Brothers peaked at 1400 cases per year in the height of its export days.
      In September 1991, Todd became the Production Assistant to the Winemaker at Quails’ Gate Winery working under Elias Phiniotas. At the time Quails’ Gate was an up and coming winery seeing sharp increases in production during the early years of the BC Wine industry. The winery grew from 2800 cases in 1990 to 11000 by 1993.

     Following the 1992 vintage, Todd was given leave to travel to the Barossa Valley to work with distinguished winemaker Colin Glaetzer at Barossa Valley Estate Winery as an Assistant to the Winemaker. Barossa Valley Estates is a division of the BRL Hardy group with limited production of 20 000 cases. They are known for their Ebenezer line as well as their flagship wines E & E Black Pepper Shiraz and E & E Sparkling Burgundy. During his 4 months employment at Barossa Valley Estates Todd worked closely with Colin learning the hot climate winemaking techniques that make the Barossa Valley famous for it’s wines.
      Upon returning from “Down Under” Todd continued to work at Quails Gate on the 1993 Vintage that produced the winery’s first Gold Medal at the LA County Wine Competition for its 1993 Gewurztraminer.
      In the summer of 1994 Todd left Quails’ Gate to experience the 1994 Harvest at Blue Mountain Vineyards working with Ian Mavety. At the time, Blue Mountain was considered BC’s premier producer of Pinots (Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc) as well as sparkling wine. Todd worked the harvest processing the grapes from one of the best vintages on record (1994) in BC. Following the vintage, Todd returned to Quails’ Gate to work with newly acquired Winemaker, Jeff Martin.
      Jeff and Todd worked together finishing the wines of 1994 creating the first Family Reserve level of quality as well as the inaugural release of the now “cult favourite” Old Vines Foch. Todd and Jeff worked together on the stunning 1995 vintage and he then returned to college to complete the Chemistry and Biology courses he required to fortify his knowledge to become a Winemaker.
Eager to expose his pallet to as many wines as possible, Todd became a taster on the VQA Panel in 1995. His lengthy participation in the program has made him one of the most experienced tasters on the panel. This exposure to so many different styles of wines has given him a front row view of the evolution of the BC Wine industry.
      In 1998, Todd accepted a position on the British Columbia Wine Institute Technical Committee, which is responsible for determining VQA wine standards in British Columbia. During 1999-2000, he was elected Chairman of the Technical Committee and was instrumental in establishing the current Ice Wine Standards in place today. Todd was appointed Technical Advisor to the National Committee on Wine Standards, the federal body in charge of wine standards, in 2000 and participated in the developmental stages of this process.
Todd took his first job as a winemaker with Cherry Point Vineyards on Vancouver Island in time for the extremely challenging 1996 vintage. Todd helped take Cherry Point to new levels initially getting all the wines to VQA level. As a result of the excellent conditions in 1998, Cherry Point was a Major Medal Winner at the 1999 All Canada Wine Championships winning 3 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze Medal including the only Gold medal awarded to a Gewurztraminer. The 1999 vintage was equally successful with Cherry Point Vineyards winning Gold for the 1999 Pinot Gris at the Northwest Wine Summit as well as the All Canada Wine Championships. Following the 1999 Vintage Todd left Cherry Point to become a wine consultant.
      As a consultant, Todd has created a niche for himself helping new wineries set up cost effective production facilities that are designed to meet the winemaking styles set out by the winery. Using his experience gained working with so many noted winemakers, he has developed an ability to create many different styles of wines using a broad variety of traditional as well as modern techniques.

     He has also assisted many wineries’ transition from struggling businesses to respected, prosperous operations, most recently winning Best of Category at the All Canada Wine Championships as well as Pinot Noir Gold at the Northwest Wine Summit. Achieving the crucial balance between a winery’s needs and means has become the signature of Todd’s influence.