The Wine Ladies celebrate the success of award-winning winemaker Sue-Ann Staff and the release of her latest wines, Fancy Farm Girl.

A typical day in the life of winemaker Sue-Ann Staff and best buddy BRIX, her Bernese Mountain dog – AKA the Director of Marketing, is about to become not so typical and turned into a day of lights, camera, action!

Located in the town of Jordan, the winery’s 130 acre property and vineyards are a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Vidal, Cabernet Franc and Viognier that stretches to the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. Truly a beautiful site.

As we arrive and begin to disembark and unload, we are immediately greeted by the boundless energy of the winery’s mascot, the aptly-named BRIX, whose image we soon learn graces each capsule of Sue-Ann Staff’s wines.

As the door swings open, Ken Hernder – Media Marketing Manager of the winery, welcomes us into an awesome space – a tasting room, which doubles as a kitchen and is in the home of our subject.

We make ourselves comfortable in this circa 1880 beautiful heritage white farmhouse, complete with antique furnishings, glorious Italian chandeliers, fabulous artwork and the recently renovated, eclectic art deco kitchen.

“Fabulous. This will be perfect,” we say.

In another room, we hear the familiar voice of Celebrity Stylist and Photographer Korby Banner, curiously repeating the name Claudia Schiffer. We follow the voices and the laughter to find talented winemaker Sue-Ann Staff all made up and ready to do her part, looking beautiful and very much resembling Claudia Schiffer.

Making a splash with her own superb line of wines, while still at the helm as chief winemaker for award-winning Megalomaniac wines, Sue-Ann’s personal creations reflect her extreme talent and her personality. Take her latest release for instance, her Fancy Farm Girl wines: Frivolous White, Flamboyant Red, and we must not over look her Sparkling and SASSY Riesling. This farm girl has style, and her wines speak volumes to her talent.

Sue Ann’s talent comes to her naturally. It’s in her genes, as evidenced by her family background, which going back eight generations on this very land as farmers and spanning five generations of grape growing experience.

Having studied at the University of Adelaide and practiced her craft in several major wine growing regions abroad, Sue-Ann has become one of Canada’s top winemakers, winning over 450 national and international wine awards.

She now leads her own charge at Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery. Today Sue-Ann elects to share with us her latest release, the Fancy Farm Girl red and white wines. We enjoy this delectable tasting by topping off the experience in the elegant dining room with a scrumptious platter of local charcuterie. Partnering magnificently with a variety of meats from Mario Pingue and mouth watering cheeses from Old Oak Markets in Vineland is Sue-Ann’s Sparkling and SASSY Riesling!

Fancy Farm Girl wines are Sue-Ann’s interpretation of her love of farm life intertwined with her Paris, her Australia, her South Africa, and her freedom.

“The farm is a metaphor, the attire an approach, and the reality is that there is a fancy farm girl in all of us,” she says.

Flamboyant Red 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95

No need to get too serious, but this Flamboyant Red delivers delicious bright red fruit, hints of black pepper and lots of cherry on the nose and on the palate. It also offers up a very slight touch of tobacco, is medium bodied and has soft tannins. A superbly easy drinking, delightful cheery red.

Flamboyant Red is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot. Great value.

Frivolous White 2012 VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95

Not so frivolous, this enticing white wine, 100% Riesling, is pale straw in colour. The wine is crisp and refreshing, with a slight hint of petrol on the nose, with notes of apple, citrus and hints of peach and apricot. Seductive and medium bodied with a lingering lip smacking finish. Fancy Farm Girl wines are available at the winery and sue-annstaff.com.