By Luke Edwards
Unlike his opa, the new king hasn’t exactly been crowned. And that’s quite alright for Jeff Duc.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake grape grower was named 2024 Grape King and installed as the 67th person to have the title at a special event held last month following the Grape Growers of Ontario celebrity luncheon.
Duc, a third-generation farmer, received his jacket and grape king chains from outgoing king Erwin Wiens. A little over a half century ago his opa, Jack Forrer, was grape king. Back in those times there was a full robe and crown the king wore during their installation. Duc admitted he was happy that tradition was a thing of the past.
“No, this is perfect. This is good enough for me,” he said with a laugh.
But Duc said he won’t be taking the role lightly, understanding the importance the grape king role has in advocating for the industry, and setting it up for future growers.
“I just want to be a good representative and champion of our industry, and hopefully build an industry for the next generation. That’s what these grape kings have done for us, so hopefully we can continue growing the industry,” he said.
Today, Duc runs the family farm with his dad Ray. Together they manage 250 acres of mixed grapes, supplying Arterra Wines. The farm also produced other tender fruits in the early days, but the family switched exclusively to grapes when the canning facility in town closed up.
Each year the grape king acts as the face and voice of the industry, including taking part in the invitational grape stomp at the Grape and Wine Festival.
Duc thanked his family and friends, as well as all the industry people who have supported him.
And while the industry faces some challenges, Duc remains optimistic.
“Going to be a lot of sales opportunities and hopefully we can capitalize with them,” he said, referring to some of the alcohol modernization changes.
Additionally, he said the 2024 harvest is looking great. Niagara’s weather in the early months of the spring and summer were uncertain, but clear skies and warm weather in September set things up well.
“Look for 2024 wines, because they’re going to be spectacular,” he said.
Outgoing grape king Erwin Wiens called the last year among the best of his life. And like Duc, he acknowledged some of the headwinds the industry faces, but said it’s incumbent upon them to keeping pushing
“Adversity is what makes us Canadians and what makes us farmers,” he said. “The industry will always be in turmoil.”
However, much like how the growers and grape kings who came before Wiens and Duc helped build a strong industry for the future, today’s growers must build it even more for the next generation.
“It has to be better than we found it,” he said.
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