'Remarkable legacy': Beamsville grape grower turns 100

At 100 years old, Warren Saunders is still bouncing around the Saunders Family Farm and Vineyard on a riding lawnmower.

The Beamsville grape grower entered into the elite club of centenarians last week, celebrating his 100th birthday on March 23.

In a challenging time to celebrate, family gathered virtually over Zoom to pass along well-wishes - a change for Warren, who would otherwise be socializing at his watering hole, the Jordan House Tavern, where he'd nurse a beer and strike up conversation with anyone around.

In his deep, raspy voice, Warren recounted his legacy over a Zoom chat last week with the help of his daughter, Ann-Marie, by his side.

Born in Hamilton, Warren picked raspberries and strawberries at neighbouring farms in the countryside during his teens, forming an early appreciation for farming.

In his early 20s, he followed in the footsteps of other family members in the steel city and began working at a factory, pouring molten metal at Stelco, complete with the silvery molten metal splash suit.

In 1963, Warren married Ivy, and the pair settled in Beamsville, purchasing 17 acres of land with fruit trees and table grapes for $27,000.

They would have three children together, Leslie, Ann-Marie, and Royce, who passed away some time ago.

Warren would spend the next 40 years as a factory worker, retiring in his early 60s.

But retiring" is a generous word, says Ann-Marie.

Even on his days off, he would still be found doing work out on the farm.

They were just going by the seat of their pants, learning as they went," Ann-Marie said.

She remembers weekly family visits to farmers markets in Waterdown, Brantford and Cambridge, where they would sell their fruit.

In the 90s, as Niagara's wine industry began to develop, the Saunders made the switch over to growing wine grapes, with some of the first plantings being chardonnay and cab franc varieties, selling their grapes to Andres Wines, now Andrew Peller Limited.

The couple went full-tilt through their retirement, keeping up with the land for two decades until Ivy passed away in 2015 from complications with Parkinson's disease.

These days, Warren's energy levels aren't what they once were, but Ann-Marie says he's still very healthy and still has a sharp wit and sense of humour about him.

Earlier that day, Warren had mentioned to her that being 100 sounds older than he feels.

He was so active, he can still drive," Ann-Marie said, explaining how the pandemic has kept him from being engaged with old friends.

I like to get around and move around," he said during the call.

Asked about his legacy among Niagara's grape growers, Warren is modest in his response.

You just carry on and do what you're supposed to do," he said, not understanding what all the fuss was about.

Ann-Marie said he can get overwhelmed with the attention, but referred to his legacy as remarkable."

Just to have the initiative to get up and go and try and do something different," she said.

Just to have that kind of experience from when he was little, keeping that with him and wanting to go be out on the land."

Ann-Marie and Leslie in many ways are carrying Warren's legacy forward, nurturing the land and producing organically-grown grapes, ending up as Southbrook wine.

It feels great - they know what they're doing," Warren said.