The Spirit in Niagara Story

Mr Lepp and his head Distiller, Josh Beach, will be telling us the story of Spirit in Niagara Distillery.

Arnie Lepp has farmed in Niagara for over 50 years. His father and grandfather were also tender fruit farmers and factory workers who came to Canada in the early 1900’s. Arnie mastered the cabinet making trade and worked on the restoration of many homes in Niagara-on-the-Lake while he was farming. He also learned Blacksmithing and handcrafted locks and tools for Parks Canada that are still on display at Fort George and Fort Louisville on the East Coast. But peach farming an extra 8 hour day was his passion that led him to purchase his first orchard and vineyard supply company in 1988. Over the next 30 years over 15 other farms were purchased and all 4 of the remaining orchard and vineyard supply companies in Niagara. Today Niagara Orchard & Vineyard Corp. is the largest of its kind in Ontario. The challenge left in this vertical integration project was how to address the 1000’s of tons of fresh fruit that went to waste every year. In 2017 Arnie started the planning and development of the Spirit in Niagara Small Batch Distillery. It opened in 2021.

WE invite you to join in the spririt. The meeting begins at 6pm.

A Zoom link will be provided in a separate email.