After spending a weekend tasting Chardonnay wines at the i4C Celebration in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it was time for me to visit some wineries in the Niagara region on my own, and try other grape varieties as well. I visited two wineries on the Beamsville Bench. My first stop was Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery. It is on a small rise and has sweeping views of vineyards and the surrounding semi-rural landscape. As well it has a heritage style, Queen Anne Revival, building where their restaurant is located. I didn’t have time to eat, but did taste several of their wines. Overall good quality. I liked their red wines a bit more than their white wines as you will see below.
My Wine Reviews
Peninsula Ridge Semi-Dry Riesling 2015 – Lime, petrol and sweet pear aromas. Off-dry, bright acidity. Light petrol, lime, stone fruits (apricot) and apple. Medium plus acidity. Tasty. 
Peninsula Ridge Pinot Grigio 2016 – Light sweet spice and stone fruit aromas, along with a hint of perfume. Medium body ad acidity. Round mouth feel. Light stone fruit, in particular peach, along with peach pit on the palate. Mouth watering acidity on the finish.
Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Reserve Inox Chardonnay 2013 – Bright medium straw with a green tinge colour in the glass. Some burnt matchstick on the nose. Medium body, lower acidity; quite smooth. Green pea flavour.
Peninsula Ridge McNally Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 – Light translucent garnet in the glass with a hint of bricking. Nice nose; red cherries, blackberries and some beet root. Fuller body with ripe tannins and medium acidity. Black cherry and other mixed dark fruits, along with plums and a hint of tarriness. Soft mouth feel. – 
Peninsula Ridge Reserve Syrah 2015 – Medium translucent ruby colour. Cedar, dark fruit, vanilla and smoke aromas. Medium plus body, dry with medium acidity. Soft. Light flavours of mixed black fruit and plums along with some meatiness. Light cedar on the finish. Very nice.
Peninsula Ridge Vintners’ Private Reserve Merlot 2012 – Deeper, almost opaque garnet in colour. Medium intensity nose with aromas of dark fruit, plum and a hint of oak. Fuller body, with medium tannins and acidity. Mouth filling, plush mouth feel. Flavours of ripe plums and dark fruit. Firmer tannins on the finish. Really nice.
Next stop on my Beamsville adventure was Thirty Bench Wine Makers to taste their Riesling and Pinot Noir. Stay tuned, and enjoy the wineries of Beamsville Bench.
