Our People

The people who make up the core Hidden Bench team are one of the major reasons that we can strive to achieve our mission and vision. We invite you to get to know them though a  short bio on each and then upon your visit to Hidden Bench: 

Jean-Martin Bouchard: Winemaker  

Jean-Martin grew up in “La Belle Province” and developed a keen passion for fine wine while studying and working in the hospitality industry. 2000 was a great year for a career change so he enrolled in Wine Science at Charles Sturt University in Australia where he excelled. Taking a combined work and study approach, for four years Jean Martin traveled and worked in many of the great wine regions of Australia and Europe.  Jean-Martin has had the chance to work and learn his craft with many ultra premium quality producers including Penfolds (Barossa Valley), Torbreck Vintners (Barossa Valley), Moorilla Estate (Tasmania).His passion for cool climate wines has inspired him to work in Alsace and Germany as well. In 2003, after a great vintage as Assistant-Winemaker for Penfolds, Jean-Martin decided that it was time to move back home and he took up a winemaking position at Sumac Ridge in British Columbia. A year and a half later, after meeting a very persuasive Harald Thiel and sharing the Hidden Bench vision, JM joined Hidden Bench in 2005. 

Roman Prydatkewyscz: Vineyard Consultant 

Roman is the founder of Rosomel Vineyard and is one of the key reasons why the vineyard has the exceptional reputation that it does and has produced exceptional wine over the years. In 2004, in contemplation of his eventual retirement, he chose Harald Thiel and Hidden Bench as the ones to carry on the stewardship of Rosomel by selling this benchmark vineyard to Hidden Bench. Roman is a former Niagara Grape King (1992) and continues to pass on his invaluable grape growing knowledge to the Hidden Bench team. In 2007, in homage and to honour Roman’s contribution to Rosomel Vineyard and the grape growing industry, Hidden Bench designated its top Riesling Roman’s Block. 

Meg McGrath: Retail Manager 

Meg has a diploma in Fine Dining and Restaurant Management from William Angliss College in Melbourne Australia. Over the years she has acquired an in-depth knowledge of wine while working in some of best restaurants and wine shops in Australia. In 1998 she moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and after the initial shock of the cold, Meg managed to secure a position as Restaurant Manager at Inn on the Twenty and also completed her Sommelier’s Certificate. Meg has also worked as a Sales Manager at Peller Estates, before moving on to Food and Beverage Sales Manager for Vintage Inns. In 2003 Sophia was born which permitted Meg to step back from her passion for wine for a while. In 2005, Meg and her family returned to Australia for a short visit and just recently they moved back to Niagara. They say timing is everything and we are very pleased to have Meg as part of our team and she is very excited about working to make Hidden Bench one of Canada’s iconic labels. 

Harald Thiel: Vigneron/Propriator 

From a very young age Harald had the dream of owning an artisanal winery. Harald and his brother built a very successful audio visual business which they sold in 2003, permitting him with the support of his family to pursue his dream which  has become Hidden Bench. In addition to his involvement with Hidden Bench, Harald sits on a number of public, private and volunteer sector boards and is the former chairperson of Tourism Toronto and the International Communications Industry Association. (ICIA).  Prior to starting Hidden Bench, Harald was one of the founders of the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo in Toronto and is also a founding partner in the Upper Canada Cheese Company in Jordan Ontario. Passionate wine collector and consummate foodie, he gives Hidden Bench its strategic direction and focus. As a hands-on owner he is intimately involved in all the day to day operations of the winery from vineyard to bottle. In his spare time Harald loves to read, cook, fly fish and ski powder.