Megalomaniac

Megalomaniac Winery has become an icon of Niagara winemaking, though its origins were humble. Founder John Howard started the winery as a retirement project to support children's health, never expecting the demand his vintage would generate. But the brand took on a life of its own after debuting that first vintage. Practically overnight, Megalomaniac catapulted onto the LCBO's Top 10 VQA producers' list, rubbing shoulders with veteran winemakers who had spent decades honing their craft. When the second vintage landed on the front page of USA Today, Megalomaniac was launched into the stratosphere. As Howard describes it, "We went from producing 2,000 cases a year to 40,000.

Megalomaniac's bold, playful branding belies the sophistication of its wines. The name and bottle art poke fun at wine snobbery while highlighting the winery's homegrown spirit. Each bottle tells the origin story: Howard's friends jokingly called him a "megalomaniac" for wanting to name the wines after himself. The name stuck, much to his chagrin. But Megalomaniac wears it proudly, using wit and humor to share its distinctly Canadian wines.

In 2009, Megalomaniac opened its doors to the public, conducting operations in its underground cellar. The space highlighted the winery's use of local Niagara Escarpment resources and Canadian materials like maple and wood. Today, visitors can still tour the cellar but enjoy tastings and retail in the new glass-walled building above, completed in 2014. With indoor and outdoor options, Megalomaniac provides an all-encompassing Niagara wine experience while remaining true to its Canadian roots.

 

JOHN HOWARD

John Howard is a visionary entrepreneur whose legacy of success began over a decade ago when he purchased Vineland Estates Winery in 1992. As owner, he transformed the estate into an award-winning operation,  and under his leadership, production skyrocketed from 6,000 to 55,000 cases annually. After selling his majority share in this thriving winery in 2004, John turned his attention to his true passion - creating exceptional hand-crafted wines.

John's entrepreneurial success also enabled his generous spirit of giving back. Sales of his distinguished wines supported The Kids' Health Link Foundation, providing hospitalized children with technology to stay connected. He has also dedicated his time and talents serving on numerous boards over the years.

In 2002, John Howard was presented with the Ontario Global Traders award for Leadership, and, in 2003, he was recipient of the NEYA International Trade Award for his success with Vineland Estates. In 2006, John was awarded the Ontario Citizenship Award, an award that is given to only eight people each year. The London International Awards, which honor preeminent work in advertising, design and digital media, named John Howard Cellars of Distinction a Gold Winner for the package design of Megalomaniac wines.