It was Karl's upbringing in a private monastery school (where viticulture and winemaking were a time-honoured tradition), and later with Silvia's grandfather, a small scale wine producer in a Austrian, that Karl gained much of his practical knowledge. Once in Canada, Karl returned to school and earned an honours B.Sc. in chemistry from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario in 1974.
In the following years, Karl travelled extensively throughout the wine regions of both the "new" and "old worlds", visiting wineries, wine institutes, lectures and symposiums. These experiences enlarged his scope and understanding of different technologies and their varied applications.
When Karl first met Donald Ziraldo, his partner and co-founder of Inniskillin, it was to purchase grape vines from Ziraldo Nurseries in St. Catharines. The two me were subsequently to enter into partnership together and in 1975 were granted the first new winery licence in Ontario since 1929. Inniskillin later began production in a small fruit-picking barn located on the Niagara Parkway, just minutes away from the winery current location.
Karl's endeavours and dedication to producing wines parallel to the finest from throughout the world, are apparent in each of Inniskillin's wines.
In June of 1991, Inniskillin took part in the prestigious Vinexpo in Bordeaux, France, the largest and most recognized international wine trade show. Inniskillin's 1989 Icewine was awarded Vinexpo's highest accolade, the 'Grand Prix D'Honneur", and brought world recognition to Canadian wines. In 1993 Inniskillin's Pinot Noir Reserve was one of a few wines to be granted a Gold Medal at "Vinitaly".
In December of 1991, Karl and Donald were crowned "Men of the Year" by Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine. In 1993 Karl and Donald were appointed to membership in the "Order of Ontario" by the Honourable Henry N.R. Jackman, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario and in June of 1994 Karl receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brock University in St. Catharines.
Karl is a professional member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the Canadian Society of Enology and Viticulture. He is also a committee member of the Canadian General Standards Board (for wine standards). In 1990 Karl became a member of the "Deans Niagara Council, Mathematics & Science, Brock University".
In September 1995, during the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, he was elected by his fellow winemakers as the "Winemaker of the Year" and received from the Royal Bank of Canada the "Winemaker of the Year Award".
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