George Hostetter: researcher and director
George William Bligh Hostetter was born 3 June 1922 to parents Jacob George Bligh Hostetter and his wife Rose Baker Hostetter. The family lived on the original land in Niagara Township granted to the Hostetter family as United Empire Loyalists.
George Hostetter's longstanding relationship with Brights Wines began in 1936 when he worked for Brights Wines as a student until he became a full-time employee in 1940. Hostetter received his formal training at the University of Toronto at Guelph in 1944. He received a B.Sc. in Agriculture. After his graduation, George entered into full time employment with Brights under the tutelage of chief scientist and director of research, Adhemar de Chaunac. As a permanent employee, he undertook research in vine culture by examining and testing spraying, pruning, fertilizing, and trellising techniques.
In 1946, he was appointed director of viticulture research. In 1959, he added manager of vineyard operations to his portfolio and was appointed director of research in 1978.
Early research and development of grape growing techniques included collaboration with many North American and European wine experts and organizations. Brights Wines maintained strong professional connections to grape growers in the Upper New York region as well as in Europe. As part of this relationship Hostetter became a frequent contributor to articles about the cultivation and testing of grape varieties that would thrive and produce for the North American wine market.
Under Hostetter's guidance Brights was the first to introduce vinifera grapes to the Canadian market. This introduction was to replace the long-standing Lambrusca grapes that had previously been the dominant source of early wines and grape beverages in Canada. Because of this groundbreaking introduction, Brights became a world-class producer of table wines for the Canadian market. It also encouraged the incredible growth of wine making in the Niagara region and beyond.
George Hostetter was the first Canadian to receive the American Wine Society Award of Merit in 1979. In 1982, Jean Valby, the grand chancellor of the Confrerie de la Chaine de Rotisseurs of Burgundy, France named Hostetter Chevalier No. 818. One of the greatest honours was the naming of the 1984 vintage, Hostetter Trockenweiss. The wine was created in honour of his contributions to the North American wine industry. When asked to describe the wine, Hostetter said, "It’s not too dry. I think it matches my personality." A colleague added, “Light, refreshing – and memorable, like George”
Hostetter retired from Brights in 1986 after a more than 40-year association. He remained active in the wine industry by creating his own consulting company, VinTech Associates and consulted on the creation of a new winery on the Willowbank estate in Queenston, Ont. and other projects. At a ceremony on 29 April 1987 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, George William Bligh Hostetter was awarded the Order of Canada.
Brights Wines celebrates the career of George Hostetter.
The 1984 Hostetter Trockenweiss
1987 T.G. Bright & Co. Limited Annual Report