We do not get many wines from Ontario in BC, but here is a new entry. Henry of Pelham, located in the Niagara peninsula has been producing wine since 1984. I have two wines for you today: Henry of Pelham Classic Pinot Grigio 2024 and Henry of Pelham Classic Baco Noir 2023. Baco Noir may be unfamiliar to some of you. It is a hybrid red wine grape variety produced by Francois Baco from a cross of Vitis vinifera var. Folle Blanche, a French wine grape, and an unknown variety of Vitis riparia indigenous to North America. Baco Noir ripens early and has good resistance to downy and powdery mildews and can handle cooler climates. Henry of Pelham was the first winery in Ontario to plant the Baco Noir grape. Henry of Pelham’s 300-acre vineyard is located in the Short Hills Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula.
The winery follows Sustainable Winemaking Ontario’s world-leading standards in their farming practices since 2004. In 2017, they became one of only six Ontario wineries to be certified by the Wine Council of Ontario as following sustainable winemaking practices from vine to table. They undertake a range of steps from wetland restoration and biofiltration to reforestation and water conservation.
Now, let me tell you about these two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Henry of Pelham Pinot Grigio Classic 2024, Ontario (BC $23.99)
Appearance: A clear, bright, medium-minus intensity straw colour.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of fresh stone fruits plus touches of orange and lime. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Bright acidity leaving a touch of acidic prickle on your tongue. Tart stone fruit flavours, plus touches of orange, lime, and stoniness. With swirling you also get some pineapple on the palate. No change to the body or flavours after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart stone fruit and lime flavours, plus stoniness. No change to the finish after decanting.
As you can see from my notes, the aromas and flavours do not change after decanting, so open and enjoy this tasty wine at your leisure.
Rating: 
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Henry of Pelham’s Pinot Grigio Classic 2024 offers fresh stone fruit on the nose with hints of orange and lime that remain consistent after decanting. The palate is dry and smoothly textured, carried by bright acidity and tart stone fruit layered with citrus, stoniness, and a touch of pineapple with air. A medium-plus finish follows in the same lively profile, unchanged with decanting.
Henry of Pelham Classic Baco Noir 2023, Ontario (BC $23.99)
Appearance: Opaque ruby from rim to core.
Nose: Pronounced aromas of ripe plums, black fruit, meaty, and smoky. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Soft, smooth tannins and lower acidity. Ripe black fruits, leather, smoky bacon and black plum flavours, along with touches of oak and blackberries. No change after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with soft, light tannins. Smoky bacon, ripe black fruit, and a touch of sweet spices at the very end. Smooth on the palate to the finish. No change after decanting.
This wine also does not change aromas, body, or flavours after decanting, so open and enjoy.
Rating: Henry of Pelham’s Classic Baco Noir 2023 opens with pronounced ripe plum and black fruit aromas supported by meaty and smoky notes that stay steady after decanting. The palate is smooth and medium bodied with soft tannins and lower acidity, delivering ripe black fruits, leather, smoky bacon, black plum, and touches of oak and blackberry. It finishes medium plus with gentle tannins and lingering smoky bacon, ripe black fruit, and a hint of sweet spice. No changes to the body, flavours, and finish after decanting.
Screwcaps?
Have you ever viewed the screwcaps on wine bottles? In BC, the one I usually see has the thread showing on the sides of the cap. But with these Henry of Pelham wines, the is smooth on the outside, not showing the thread. When I compare a typical screwcap from a BC wine, I notice that the liner also appears a little smaller, not covering the sides as much as the screwcap from Henry of Pelham. I cannot tell which manufacturer made each of these closures, but Amcor Stelvin, Guala Closures, Herti, and Mala are the companies supplying them in Canada. The closure on the left looks like it is a STELVIN® LUX, while on the right looks like a STELVIN® ORIGINAL closure.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase these wines in BC via Legacy Liquor, Everything Wine (although not showing on their website), several Angry Otter locations (Abbotsford, W Kelowna, Cascadia on Vancouver Island, Jack Lonsdales in North Vancouver.
