Inniskillin Wines near Niagara-on-the-Lake holds a significant place in Canadian wine history as the country’s first estate winery since Prohibition. The granting of their license on July 31, 1975, was a historic event, as it was the first winery license issued by the LCBO since 1929. The founders, Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, are credited with starting the winery. Inniskillin began with its first planting in 1974. Donald Ziraldo is also recognized for leading the establishment of VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) in 1988, a crucial step in ensuring quality and credibility for the region’s wines. Inniskillin spread their winemaking footprint across Canada by purchasing vineyard land and opening a winery in the Okanagan.
If you wondered about the origin of the name of the winery, it was inspired by the land’s former owner, the Colonel of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, an Irish regiment whose Colonel once owned the land that Ziraldo Nurseries occupied.
I received two Cabernet Franc wines from Inniskillin’s Ontario winery for my Ontario Cab Franc research. One is their entry level, Inniskillin Wines Estate Series Cabernet Franc NV, while the other is their Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2022. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Inniskillin Wines Estate Series Cabernet Franc NV (BC $17.99)
Appearance: It has a clear, deep ruby colour. Clear to the core.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of juicy berries, plums and a touch of oak / smokiness. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: It is dryish, lighter body with a light, soft, lean mouthfeel. Light flavours of raspberries, red plums, juicy berries and touches of floral and smokiness. Light acidity and tannins. Medium body and rounder after decanting. Picking up dark fruit flavours now and a touch of leather. No floral flavour. Medium acidity and tannins.
Finish: Medium length finishing with juicy berries flavours with lesser amounts of red cherries, raspberries, pepperiness and bitterness. More acidity on the finish. Fuller and rounder mouthfeel to the finish after decanting. Lower acidity. Add a touch of leather to the finish.
A light bodied wine to start, but I think is better as it opens up after decanting.
Rating: 
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The Inniskillin Wines Estate Series Cabernet Franc NV pours a clear, deep ruby in the glass, with aromas of juicy berries, plums, and a hint of smokiness. On the palate, it is dryish with a light, lean mouthfeel showing raspberry, red plum, and floral notes. After decanting, the wine rounds out with some darker fruit and leather tones, finishing with juicy berry fruit, light pepperiness, and a touch of bitterness.
Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2022 (BC $34.99)
Appearance: A clear, deeper garnet colour. About 95% opaque in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of cedar, plums, cinnamon, and red fruits. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dryish, with a medium-plus body and a smooth, round, thicker mouthfeel. Cedar, red fruits, plums, berry fruits along with oak on the palate. Medium tannins and acidity. You can add a touch of candied cherries with air. Add some smokiness and darker fruit flavours, and touches of cedar and cinnamon. The red fruit flavours are diminished.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with ripe red fruit flavours, some black cherries, plums, cedar and a touch of candied cherries with air. Firmer, drying tannins. Some bitterness on the finish. Add black fruit flavours to the finish after decanting, and lighten the red fruit flavours.
A fuller bodied Cabernet Franc is a bit more expressive on the nose and palate, showing red fruits upon opening and then transitions to darker fruit flavours with decanting. Decant if you prefer darker fruit flavours on the palate over red fruit flavours.
Rating: – The Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2022 offers a deeper garnet hue with subtle aromas of cedar, plums, and red fruits. On the palate, it is smooth and round, with cedar, plums, and red berry fruit, complemented by medium tannins and acidity. Decanting draws out darker fruit and smokiness, while softening the red fruit. A medium-plus finish with firmer tannins and hints of candied cherries and cedar.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
These wines are available in BC at Everything Wine stores:
- Inniskillin Wines Estate Series Cabernet Franc NV
- Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2022
The Reserve Cab Franc is available in Ontario at LCBO stores.
These wines are available online from the Inniskillin Wines website:
- Inniskillin Wines Estate Series Cabernet Franc NV
- Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2022
There is quite a price difference between the Reserve Series Cab Franc in Ontario and BC. At LCBO stores it retails for $19.99 and in BC Liquor stores for $34.99. A $15 difference. Hopefully, the proposed reduction in trade barriers between provinces will bring the two prices closer together. I do realize that there are extra transportation costs to bring these wines to BC from Ontario.
