Category: Niagara

Ontario’s Stratus Vineyards is a 55-acre farm, set in the Niagara Lakeshore appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and is planted to 16 grape varieties.  All the grapes are grown sustainably. Their winery is the first in the world to be fully Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – certified, which embodies their commitment to sustainability. The winery uses geothermal heating and…

Southbrook Vineyards in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region of Ontario undertakes biodynamic and organic vineyard agriculture, plus is LEED Gold Certified for their energy and environmental design in green buildings.  Southbrook is Canada’s first certified Organic and Biodynamic Winery.  They have everything from native meadows and a Monarch butterfly waystation to using lighter wine bottles to lower their carbon footprint.  I looked…

I received recommendations from a friend to visit Rosewood Winery & Meadery while I was visiting the Niagara region.  I was curious to attend, in part because I had not tried mead.  This winery, started in 2000, is owned by the Roman family and originated from Ukraine.  They are also the only winery in Ontario with a license to produce…

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.  I looked back at the past few months this year to see what current BC and Ontario wines might be a good match for a roast turkey or ham dinner.  Below are wines from both provinces that I think would be good pairings. BC Wines High Note Estate Winery Soubrette Pinot Grigio 2022 – this…

At Creekside Estate Winery, in Jordan, Ontario, are self-described cork dorks who love what they do and have fun doing it. Their first vintage was in 1997. They do cover many Bordeaux grape varieties, but Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah are their signature wines.  They also make a popular Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon blend (a white Bordeaux blend).  Sauvignon Blanc is planted…

I knew nothing about Ontario’s Big Head Wines until it was suggested to me to visit by Talia Mendelsohn from the Bacchus Group Inc. in Toronto, but this winery in particular truly impressed me with their wines and their winemaking methods.  If you ever get a chance to visit the Niagara region, do not miss visiting Big Head Wines. The…

Two Sisters Vineyards by Niagara-on-the-Lake has an imposing, impressive wine-tasting room that also includes a restaurant and wine-making facilities.  Driving up to the winery, I felt like I was watching the primetime TV soap operas, Dynasty or Falcon Crest. Yes, I know I am dating myself.  The main Estate, which opened its doors in November 2014, was inspired by Italian…

While researching wineries I should visit in the Niagara region, I came across Kew Vineyards Estate Winery, which is a little east of Thirty Bench Wine Makers, and specializes in sparkling wine, I had to visit. Their original 1975 plantings are among the oldest in the region.  They have a classy, Old World feel wine tasting room, and make their…

You may be wondering what happened to me as i typically post 3-4 wine articles a week.  I am in the Niagara region in southern Ontario to celebrate my birthday and to visit some wineries and taste their wines.  I have copious notes on the wines and probably tasted over 60 wines covering eight different wineries.  It will take me…

In BC when we hear icewine, we think of the Okanagan, but icewine is also made in the Niagara peninsula in southern Ontario.  In fact, the Niagara wineries have an icewine festival each year, excluding during the COVID lockdown, but it is back and you can experience this festival, whether you are local in Ontario, or you fly out from…