Augusta returned to Tawse in 2013, serving as assistant winemaker. In 2019, she made the jump into the vineyard. Since 2021, she has served as vineyard manager.
“Augusta has accomplished an enormous amount in her time as Vineyard Manager at Tawse. She is the fourth female Grape King to be honoured, and her knowledge of grape growing is the perfect blend for our industry’s ambassador,” stated Matthias Oppenlaender, the Chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario.
Added Debbie Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of the Grape Growers of Ontario, “The annual crowning of the Grape King is a time-honoured tradition that began in 1956 to recognize exemplary vineyard management and understanding of the industry. Augusta exemplifies the very best standard of what it means to be a great grape grower.”
The Grape King carries the distinction of being nominated by their peers and selected by industry judges who visit each of the nominated vineyards. The Grape King serves as a representative for Ontario’s grape and wine industry at events across the country, starting with the annual Grande Parade on September 27 at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival and the Mayor’s Invitational Grape Stomp on September 28 in Montebello Park.
“FCC is pleased to support the tradition of naming an Ontario Grape King and with it, celebrating the best in the business,” said Clinton Buttar, Ontario Vice-President of Commercial and Small Business at Farm Credit Canada. “At FCC, we admire the passion that goes into every vineyard, every harvest, and every bottle. Congratulations to all the past Grape Kings, and a special toast to the 2025-2026 Grape King, Augusta Van Muyen.”
Van Muyen said that she places great importance on sustainability and leaving the land better than she found it. For her, the most important aspect of grape-growing is being present on the farm, dedicating time to scouting the vineyard to keep ahead of problems.
“There’s nothing better,” she noted, “than walking through the farm on a gorgeous sunny morning—the birds are singing, the bugs are out, and everything feels alive and vibrant.”
Van Muyen is a valuable member of the Grape Growers of Ontario’s Next Generation Committee and the Board of Directors of Farm and Food Care. She will be officially installed as the 67th Grape King at Tawse Winery, located at 3955 Cherry Ave, Vineland, on Wednesday, September 17, following the Grape Growers of Ontario’s annual Celebrity Luncheon.
FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $44 billion. It provides flexible, competitively priced financing, management software, information, and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industry. For more information, visit www.fcc.ca.
The Grape Growers of Ontario is the official organization that represents all of Ontario’s 475 farm families on 17,500 acres in the province’s three established viticulture areas—Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore, and Prince Edward County—as well as emerging wine regions. Details and directions for the events can be found at www.grapegrowersofontario.com.