inniskillin winery tour

Inniskillin Wines

Address: Line 3 at the Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake Tel: 905-468-3554 ext.3 or 1-888-466-4754 ext 311 Hours: May to October- 10 am to 6 pm November to April- 10 am to 5 pm

Tours: May to October- 10:30 am & 2:30 pm daily November to April- 10:30 am & 2:30 pm weekends only.

Inniskillin Wines is one of the pioneer’s of the Niagara region’s wine industry, producing distinctive estate wines since 1975. The winery is one of the most well-known in the area, and has garnered international acclaim for its unique estate wines, and its world renowned Icewine. Inniskillin prides itself on producing and bottling outstanding VQA wines using only select premium grapes grown in the Niagara Peninsula.

The winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Brae Burn Estate vineyard, which features the historic Brae Burn Barn, constructed in the mid 1920s. The barn is an architectural gem, and its simplicity and craftsmanship have been admired by architects from around the world. The barn’s design was thought to be influenced by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Inniskillin’s winery boutique is located in this historical barn, the main floor consists of the retail boutique and tour centre, and the upper floor houses a training centre and demonstration kitchen for guest chefs, and a gallery. Enjoy free guided public tours of the winery including the barrel cellars. Self-guided tours are also encouraged. A clearly marked tour path with panels of text and illustrations guides visitors through the property.

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Inniskillin Winery Tour & Tasting

After driving along the vine-lined roads, through the Niagara-on-the-lake country-side we pulled into a long drive way after spotting a flag flapping in the warm afternoon breeze. The flag was marked “ Inniskillin ”; we had arrived at the Inniskillin Winery .

The parking lot itself was set amongst the vines; there was a row of spaces, a few rows of vines, then another row of spaces, and so on. Having arrived only moments before, we were happily surprised to already be engulfed within the winery setting. We set off toward the entrance, excited to see what else Innsikillin had in store.

We were greeted by a friendly staff member, who then introduced us to our tour guide, Donald. Donald shared his name with one of the founders of the Inniskillin Winery, Donald Ziraldo, partner of Karl Kaiser.

Our Donald proceeded to lead us over to the show room, explaining that it had started as an old horse barn and was then revamped into its current state with the help of designer Frank Lloyd Wright.

We entered the building for our first tasting, trying a pinot grigio and a rosé.

Next, Donald lead us outside to a vine wrapped lattice-structure and pointed to a large rising in the distance. He explained that the rising was actually the Niagara escarpment.

Only 10,000 years earlier (this is very young in geological terms) the escarpment had rested exactly where we were currently standing. Niagara Falls had efficiently worked away at the Earth, millennia after millennia, and effectively shifted its location to present day Niagara Falls (city).

Donald then explained that the escarpment was the reason that Niagara-on-the-lake has the perfect climate for growing grapes. Breezes coming in from Lake Ontario circulate by rolling over the plains, and then curling back over when they hit the escarpment, creating their very own microclimate.

Generally mild temperatures remain nearly constant in the valley, year-round, making it the perfect environment for wine-country. In the few months of the year that do receive colder than regular temperatures, it is a great opportunity for ice wine.

Being a geography major, myself, I was very interested to learn all of the physical aspects of the winery. Aside from the air currents and escarpment erosion, we also learned about the soil.

The soil on the farm is a loam, made up of a crumbly mixture of clay, sand and silt, and dolomitic limestone. Loam soil is high in acidity, which produces a different taste to the finished wine.

In order to compliment the flavour on the tongue, it is necessary to produce a glass that holds a certain shape. Inniskillin has produced its very own ice wine glass, for this very reason.

With wide out-crops on the side, the sides of the tongue receive contact with the acidic flavours; with a thinner opening and narrow bottom, the tip and back of the tongue receive less of the (sometimes overly) sweet flavour that ice wine is known for.

Drinking this ice wine with a regular wine glass is enough to make your (sweet) tooth ache!

After a brief explanation of the machinery behind the wine, we headed underground. Welcoming the cold air on the hot summer day, we descended into the dark cellar. We viewed a video about winery operation, and then headed in among the barrels.

There were old bottles and new bottles, dusty bottles and shiny bottles. There were bottles with fancy shapes and designs, and even bottles larger than my head. Barrels lined the walls, and iron bars protected them from being moved.

The room held so much history that it would be easy to spend hours down there, browsing the bottles, and reading over all of the information plaques that lined the cases.

Exiting the cellar, we were lead between two buildings, into a back entryway. We had entered Founder’s Hall; the main serving area, where visitors come to enjoy small plates and drink a little wine (with air-conditioning!).

To the side of the main room, was a smaller glass-walled roomed, called the Riedel Room.

Here, we were seated at a large oak table that was arranged with glasses and place settings. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of Flatbread Pizza, with Pingue Cacciatore, Chevre, Honey Mushroom, White Truffle Oil and Arugula.

As if the lunch wasn’t already amazing enough, we were then served the Inniskillin 2006 Oak Aged Vidal, Apricot Ice Wine . We were floored. I can personally say, without any word of a lie—this was the best wine I have ever tasted. It had a rich, fruity taste, and the perfect amount of sweetness. Having to drive home later, I was forced to stop myself from sipping any further. However, stopping was the last thing that I wanted to do.

Had it been under the proper circumstances, I would have easily been able to finish the entire bottle alone.

Departing We said our goodbyes and thanked Donald for the lovely tour. We made one last pit stop at the nearby vines to take a few photos, and then headed back to the parking lot among the rows.

Taking one last look back at the winery’s Piazza, I thought to myself, “I am definitely going to come back soon, and buy myself a bottle of that Apricot Vidal.”

About Seattle Dredge

Seattle is Lake Erie born, Lake Ontario educated, and is now living on Lake Huron. And no, she's never been to Seattle. After studying geology in Toronto, Seattle spent several years travelling the world on a full time basis, from Colombia, Morocco & Iceland, to Nicaragua, Jordan & the Philippines--and just about everywhere in between. Eventually, Seattle settled in Southampton, ON, and now spends her days going on local adventures, while continuing to pursue photography & videography around the Bruce Peninsula, and of course regular trips abroad.

for reading

August 4, 2011 at 9:31 pm

This article reminds me of the time I went for a wine tasting tour in Cafayate, Argentina. I was with a friend at the time and we both marvelled at how great the wine tasted; meanwhile, another person we met nearly spat it out saying it tasted like vinegar. I honestly don’t know the difference between a good or crappy bottle 😛 Anyhow, the photos really add a nice touch to this article. I like how you’ve captured some up close detail shots.

August 4, 2011 at 11:04 pm

hehe, yeah; we warned the guide that we were definitely not wine experts. But, we both really loved the wine that we did try 😀 & Thanks!

August 9, 2011 at 3:22 pm

Could be my favourite vineyard in Niagara, nice shots.

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Inniskillin Winery

As the first winery licensed in Ontario, Canada since prohibition, Inniskillin winery represents a a singular commitment to quality and innovation. Inniskillin offers a full collection of fine VQA wines, a symbol that assures quality, content, varietal percentage, appellation and vintage, made by dedicated winemakers and viticulturists committed to producing the best wine in the country. Building on this commitment, the journey continues as Inniskillin continues to play a vital role in exploring new frontiers in wine making while maintaining and enhancing strategic partnerships that benefit viticulture research, education and environmental responsibility. A visit to Inniskillin is a unique experience that blends tours, tasting award-winning vintages, and food into an unforgettable day spent in the Niagara wine region.

Inniskillin offers a full collection of fine VQA wines made by dedicated winemakers and viticulturists committed to their craft. Building on that tradition, the adventure continues as Inniskillin continues to play a vital role in exploring new frontiers in winemaking and appreciation while maintaining strategic partnerships and forging new initiatives in research, education and environmental responsibility. Inniskillin was also the pioneer in the creation of Ice Wine.

Today Inniskillin owns and operates a lot of vineyards in Niagara.

• Montague Estate

VQA Appellation: Niagara Peninsula

VQA Sub-Appellation: Four Mile Creek

• Klose Vineyard

VQA Appellation: Niagara Peninsula VQA Sub-Appellation: Niagara River

• Schuele Vineyard

VQA Appellation: Niagara Peninsula VQA Sub-Appellation: Lincoln Lakeshore

• Seeger Vineyard
• Brae Burn Estate

SUMMER HOURS – (MAY TO OCTOBER)

Retail Hours – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm – Daily Inniskillin Public Tours: – Every Hour 10:30am to 4:30pm – Daily

WINTER HOURS – (NOVEMBER TO APRIL)

Retail Hours – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Daily Inniskillin Public Tours: – 10:30 am, 2:30pm – Daily

Winery Tour Schedules

Public tours.

A 45-60 minute tour that takes guests throughout the winery by joining a guide as they explain the history of Inniskillin Wines and wine making process. Tour content is seasonal and reflects the cycle in the vineyards and wine making process. Concluding the tour, enjoy a private structured wine tasting of two Inniskillin premium VQA table wines.

Winter Hours: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm

Summer Hours: 10:30 am- 4:30 pm – Every Hour

Inniskillin Tour (Groups of 8 or more)

This is a 45-60 min tour that takes guests throughout the winery by joining a guide as they explain the history of Inniskillin Wines and wine making process. Tour content is seasonal and reflects the cycle in the vineyards and wine making process. Concluding the tour, enjoy a structured wine tasting of Inniskillin premium VQA wines. These tours a prearranged and must be booked in advance.

Riedel Stemware Experience (Groups of 6 – 13)

This tour takes guests around to taste the difference a glass can make. Producers of glassware for the last 250 years, Riedel teamed with Inniskillin Co- Founders to produce the Vinum Extreme Icewine glass. Along with other varietal glasses in the series, see the true difference the proper glass can make.

1499 Line 3 Niagara Parkway Niagara-on-the-Lake , Ontario L0S 1J0

905-468-2187 888-466-4754 [email protected]

1499 Line 3 Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake • (905) 468-2187 ext. 3 inniskillin.comNiagara

Something miraculous happens in Niagara-on-the-Lake when the temperature dips to -8° Celsius - it is at this optimal temperature that Icewine harvest begins.

Perhaps the global reputation for our frigid winters gives added credibility to the Icewines of Niagara, but there is no arguing that Icewine has brought us worldwide recognition and acclaim. Synonymous with this quality is Inniskillin, accredited with placing Canadian Icewine on the international stage.

Wine and gastronomy take centre stage at Inniskillin, one of the oldest, most prestigious wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With stunning entertainment spaces from the sun-filled Piazza to Founders’ Hall, guests enjoy regionally inspired cuisine paired with award-winning wines in unforgettable, picturesque locations. The estate boasts several restored and redesigned historic buildings to be explored, surrounded by acres of lush vineyard.

As the first estate winery in Canada, Inniskillin Wines continues the quest to balance both the art and science of winemaking with the utmost skill and attention to quality. As one well respected Canadian wine journalist wrote “Inniskillin is not so much bound by tradition as inspired by it.”

Winery Experiences

Icewine experience.

$40 per person(minimum charge $200 +gratuity)

Reservations are required

This experience, as part of the Canadian Tourism Commission's “Signature Experience Collection TM” is designed for the true Icewine enthusiast. We greet you with a glass of Inniskillin Sparkling Icewine, followed by the private 'Classic' tour. Next, discover the difference a glass can make during a comparative tasting with our Riedel Vinum Extreme Icewine Glass. The tasting concludes with a duet of Inniskillin Icewine paired with cheese and chocolate bites.

Tasting Experience

$15.00 per person | Complimentary for Wine Club Member + 3 Guests

Enjoy a 25 minute outdoor tasting experience. Select from our VQA portfolio two premium table wines and one Icewine, or four premium table wines.

1499 Line 3 Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake • (905) 468-2187 ext. 3 inniskillin.comNiagara -->

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Inniskillin Icewine Experience

This experience, as part of the Canadian Tourism Commission's “Signature Experience Collection TM”  is designed for the true Icewine enthusiast. We greet you with a glass of Inniskillin Sparkling Icewine, followed by the private 'Classic' tour. Next, discover the difference a glass can make during a comparative tasting with our Riedel Vinum Extreme Icewine Glass. The tasting concludes with a duet of Inniskillin Icewine paired with cheese and chocolate bites.

Tastings & Tours - Booking Guidelines

• All food add-ons are subject to gratuity & tax.
• All tastings & tours are subject to availability and group size.
• To guarantee your reservation with us a booking agreement will be issued and a valid credit card will be placed on file.
• Cancellation within two (2) days of the tour & tasting experience will be subject to 100% of the estimated invoice as outlined in the booking agreement.

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The Best Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Tours for 2024

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So you’ve seen Niagara Falls and visited the many fun things to do in Canada’s #1 tourist destination’. Now what?

Well, that’s easy! We recommend you head to Niagara-on-the-Lake , one of Ontario’s most beautiful small towns , to savour one or two superb NOTL wine tours.

This historic town on the Niagara Peninsula is an ideal base for a scenic drive around the region’s rich terroirs. From the ice wines of Inniskillen to the mature reds at S tratus , here are some of our favourite winery tours in the Niagara region .

The Best Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Tours

Inniskillin wines.

A Canadian wine industry pioneer, Inniskillin Wines is renowned across the country for producing some of the best vintages in the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine-growing area. Visit this award-winning vineyard and sample some of their Vidal, Reisling, Cabernet Franc, and sparkling ice wines.

Winemaker Bruce Nicholson heads up operations at this 35-year-old vineyard just 25 minutes by car from Niagara Falls which is open daily for tours. Inniskillin Winery also boasts one of the best Niagara-on-the-Lake restaurants: the Market Grill .

We recommend a stay at the White Oaks Resort & Spa , the perfect base from which to tour the region. For further details, visit www.inniskillin.com

Between the Lines Winery

One of the Best Niagara-on-the-Lake winery tours can be enjoyed inside the Big Red Barn at the famous Between the Lines Winery . Make a reservation for a winery tour and enjoy the wine-tasting space, cellar, and clubhouse all under one roof. Riesling, Izumi White, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc are all available to taste during your visit to this winery located on Mile Creek Road.

One of the best Niagara-on-the-Lake restaurants is located here and serves delicious beef goulash and warming Gluhwein. Make a reservation now for the Grape to Glass wine-tasting tour which introduces guests to the vineyards and the entire wine-making process.

For further details, visit https://betweenthelineswinery.com .

Big Head Wines

Owner Andrzej Lipinski has been crafting great wines at Big Head for around 20 years, using a unique tobacco kiln-drying method that aerates the fruit and concentrates the flavours. Taste the vineyard’s unique white, dessert, sparkling, red, and raw wines on a tasting session with six 1oz pours per person.

If you can’t make it in person, then join the Big Head Wine Club online. Every quarter you’ll get six bottles of mixed reds and whites shipped to you, as well as invites to complimentary tastings. This top Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard also has 33 wines for sale in their online shop, including Izumi Red.

For further details, visit https://bigheadwines.ca .

The Hare Wine Co

A hop, skip, and jump from Niagara Falls, The Hare Wine Co is a special destination for your Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tour. Located on a 10-acre farm in the Four Mile Creek winegrowing area, the climate is ideal for creating perfect ice wines, as well as full-bodied reds and subtle whites, using Vidal and Reisling grapes in both the whites and the dessert wines.

Tasting experiences here include three 1oz samples from The Hare Co’s Jack Rabbit Series, and a Premium Flight tater with four 1oz snifters from the Frontier and Crown Land series.

For further details, visit https://theharewineco.com .

Konzelmann Estate Winery

The beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake Konzelmann Estate is the only winery located directly on the lakefront and has an ambiance to match its surroundings. Originally from Germany , the Konzelmann family began their winery here back in 1984 and have become a major success with their white, rose sparkling and ice wines.

One of the best wineries on Niagara-on-the-Lake, the wine tasting here includes a seated tasting and a private 45-minute tour of the estate followed by delicious wine-and-cheese tasting. Cuddle up with a fireside flight experience, or maybe the novel junk food and wine-tasting experience with sweet and savoury options.

For further details, visit www.konzelmann.ca .

The Lakeview Wine Co

Set your GPS for Niagara Stone Road and sample one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region. Lakeview Wine produces instantly recognizable Ontario wine brands: Seasons, Lakeview Cellars, FRESH and 20 Bees, and even actor Dan Aykroyd ’s own wine offering.

The vineyard sources grapes from more than 25 local growers and creates its magic in state-of-the-art cellars. Walk among the 800 barrels on an informative wine-tasting tour with a chance to sample some of the delicious blends from this award-winning Niagara-on-the-Lake winery.

For further details, visit www.lakeviewwineco.com/site/home .

Lundy Manor Wine Cellars

Lundy Manor Wine Cellars offers visitors one of the best Niagara-on-the-Lake winery tours. Enjoy a range of superb wines in the cellars here. Bold reds, subtle whites and sophisticated dessert wines – aged in acacia barrels for the Vidal Special Select Late Harvest – are on the menu here.

In summer you can explore some of the gardens in this 60-acre vineyard which cultivates eight acres of Riesling for VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) production. In winter, stay warm in the Edson Taylor lounge with a wine flight and delicious food pairings.

For further details, visit https://lundymanor.ca .

Palatine Hills Estate Winery

A must-visit on your list of winery tours, Palatine Hills Estate Winery on Lakeshore Road has been lovingly tended by the Neufeld family for more than 40 years. From their imaginatively named Wild and Free Pinot Grigio to their renowned Lakeshore Red, via the Late Harvest Vidal and Ice wines, the tasting flights here are highly recommended and accompanied by local cheeses and meats.

If you can’t make the tour now, then check out the website for member benefits in the Palentine Hills Wine Club. For further details, visit https://palatinehillsestatewinery.com .

Stratus Vineyards

Stratus Vineyards has successfully used a pump-free production method creating unique assemblage wines under the expert hand of Frenchman J-L Groux who cut his oenophile teeth in the Burgundy and Bordeaux wine regions. Gravity fed production here has created 10 red varieties and six unique white wines.

M Groux has raised wine blending to an art form here with the vineyard’s Ice wines, Stratus, Wildass, Tollgate, and Kabang labels. The tasting room and boutique here have a refined aesthetic created by Diego Burdi whose skilled use of interior design elements makes for a sophisticated yet welcoming experience.

For further details, visit www.stratuswines.com .

Turn Your Niagara Wine Tour into a Weekend Affair

Thinking of making a weekend getaway or mid-week break out of your Niagara-on-the-Lake winery tour?

Check out the following related articles for more great ideas on how to turn your winery tour into an unforgettable Niagara Region experience.

Where to Stay :

• The Top Luxury Hotels in Niagara-on-the-Lake
• The Top Luxury Hotels in Niagara Falls Canada
• The Best Unique & Boutique Hotels in Niagara Falls

  Where to Eat & Drink :

• The Best Restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Cheers To Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Experiences

___________________

Contributor Gina Baksa is a keen wine lover and writes about luxury travel, hospitality and lifestyle for international publications. See her work at https://ginabaksa.journoportfolio.com .

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Creating a thriving winery takes more than the perfect grape

The Domaine Le Clos Jordanne winery estate has undergone some updates, including a new interior design for the main building and moving nearby vineyard buildings to offer an unobstructed view of the grape-lined hillside. Supplied

As head winemaker of a newly renovated estate winery in Southern Ontario, Thomas Bachelder would argue the quality of the wine makes or breaks a project, but the design and layout of the site are equally important.

“The wine comes first, but the site makes the experience of trying the wine meaningful,” says Mr. Bachelder, founder of Domaine Le Clos Jordanne, which opened this month in the Niagara Peninsula’s Beamsville area. “It can’t just be any old building.

“People need to come to an attractive [place] that fits into the surroundings and helps them understand how we make the wine and what that involves. We can take people outside to the vineyards and explain [the process], but we also want them to notice the vineyards from inside, too.”

A commercial winery is a combination of business site, industrial operation, storage facility, retail outlet and tourist attraction. In Canada, it also has to comply with a maze of federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations that apply to these types of properties.

A winery needs to showcase how the product is made but do so in a comfortable, compelling surrounding that doesn’t look like a factory, Mr. Bachelder says.

That’s a challenge for newcomers to an industry that already has some 185 wineries in Ontario . Niagara sites compete for tourists with other local Ontario wineries, such as those in Prince Edward County and the Pelee area. There are other national options in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and internationally in California, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The building needs to be right – from the design and layout to the construction, to how it looks and feels to the visitor who comes through the gate. — Donald Ziraldo, chairman of Ziraldo Estate Winery

Wineries often vie for attention by putting up distinctive buildings for tastings, tours, dining and special events. In Niagara, sites include Jackson Triggs, a 45,000-square-foot structure with motorized glass doors and an outdoor summer-concert venue. Stratus, another winery nearby, is not only Canada’s first LEED-certified building, it’s the first winery in the world to meet this high environmental standard.

In July, a film festival about Italian winery architecture will be held in Toronto, followed by a panel discussion featuring winery experts. Some wineries try to build spectacular buildings, but for commercial winery developers, as French architect François Merlet writes , the ultimate goal “isn’t to build the most flamboyant building but to offer the most interesting design within a given budget.”

Le Clos Jordanne’s parent company, Arterra Wines Canada, has opted to renovate rather than replace the building at the Beamsville winery it purchased, formerly known as Angel’s Gate.

The building, a fantasy-castle structure with a vineyard view, constructed in 2006, has undergone a stylistic facelift. Fixtures and interior design were updated and some landscaping was done, including moving nearby vineyard buildings to offer an unobstructed view of the grape-lined hillside, says Shae-Lynn Mathers, managing partner of Solid Design Creative Inc ., the Toronto-based firm that redesigned the site.

Nk’Mip Cellars, in Osoyoos, B.C., is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America. The setting of the winery is important, says estate manager Troy Ravndahl. 'We have an outdoor experience for our visitors.' Supplied

“We redid the furnishings, trying as much as possible to use craftspeople and materials from the area. We also commissioned a 2½-storey indoor sculpture by artist Pam Nelson, [who] used local materials,” Ms. Mathers says.

The Niagara wine region drew 2.6 million visitors in 2023, and it aims to attract three million by 2030, according to the umbrella group Wines of Ontario . It is expanding, with new wineries under construction, such as a Costco-sized, $40-million project called Stone Eagle Winery nearing completion in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

B.C. wine regions, which boast 341 licensed wineries, drew nearly 1.2 million visitors last year.

“The setting of the winery is important,” says Troy Ravndahl, estate manager at Nk’Mip Cellars , in Osoyoos, B.C., the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America. Osoyoos is in the Okanagan Valley, in a spot where there is a desert setting in one direction and the rainy, cooler western mountain climate in the other.

“We have an outdoor experience for our visitors. We want people to understand where they are when they’re here, to see the contrasting terrain on either side of the valley,” Mr. Ravndahl says.

Donald Ziraldo is chairman of Ziraldo Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and co-founded Inniskillin Wines, which springboarded Niagara’s transformation from a producer of cheaper products to high-quality vintages. He says it’s a constant struggle to create winery buildings that make a visitor’s experience feel significant while respecting the surroundings.

In regions that don’t have long histories of winemaking, such as Niagara or B.C.’s Okanagan, winemakers must strive to strike a balance between fantasy and practicality for their sites – structures that dazzle but can also handle parking, deliveries and the seemingly endless flow of hoses and pipes required for all the steps in making wine, Mr. Ziraldo says.

Zoning is another complication. The Grape Growers of Ontario organization points out that “for municipal tax purposes, the exact square footage of the winery is assessed as industrial and the winery retail store is considered commercial, while the land they are on may be classed as agricultural.”

As Canada’s wine industry grows more sophisticated, wineries are likely to become even more competitive in their designs, says Mr. Ziraldo, who is a design consultant for wineries in Canada and Europe.

“People want to come to wineries that are distinctive-looking,” he says. “Some wineries hire big-name designers or well-known architects, but not everyone can afford this at first. You can usually find something on your property to work with.”

Finding a vineyard and an attractive site are only the start, he reiterates. “The building needs to be right – from the design and layout to the construction to how it looks and feels to the visitor who comes through the gate.”

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