In my last article, I discussed the rise of Canadian wine. In October, my wife and I were fortunate enough to take a vacation to the Niagara region, where we visited many wineries in the Niagara Peninsula appellation.
We spent the first three days in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), which has to rank among the prettiest towns in Canada. From NOTL, we explored wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake regional appellation. This region, with its lakeshore plains and long, gentle slopes, enjoys lots of sunlight. Bordered by Lake Ontario and the Niagara River, the area benefits from moderated temperatures that reduce the risk of late spring or early fall frosts. The Niagara-on-the-Lake regional appellation has 39 wineries, with Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Vidal Blanc as the most common grape varieties. While in the area, we visited Peller Estates, Reif, and Pillitteri. We also enjoyed some tourist attractions, including the Butterfly Conservatory (home to 2,000 butterflies), Fort George, the Tunnel at Niagara Falls (recently featured on The Amazing Race Canada), and a play at the Shaw Festival. Another highlight was watching a ship go through the Welland Canal from the Lock 3 viewing platform.
After leaving NOTL, we spent four days in Jordan, about 40 minutes east of NOTL, in the heart of the Niagara Escarpment regional appellation. The Niagara Escarpment is characterized by several benches—long, narrow strips of level or gently inclined land bounded by steeper slopes. Needless to say, the topography here is quite different from NOTL and stunning in its own way. The Niagara Escarpment has 27 wineries, with Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay Noir as the most common grapes. While in the area, we visited Cave Spring, Tawse, Redstone, Organized Crime, Hidden Bench, Vieni, and Megalomaniac. Unlike NOTL, where all the wineries had closed their outdoor patios, they were open here, many with amazing views.
As per my advice in my last article, we focused on Platinum and Gold winners for our tastings. The standout of the trip was the Platinum award-winning Cabernet Franc from Vieni, a very affordable $20 a bottle—a case of which we had shipped home. Throughout our visit, the sound of bird bangers going off was constant. These propane-powered devices, which sound like cannons, keep birds away and remind you that you’re in wine country!
Having visited wineries in the Okanagan many times, we were thoroughly impressed with those in the Niagara region. Most have attractive tasting rooms, and many offer patios where you can enjoy your tasting along with a bite to eat. The wines were all fantastic, and the short drive from Toronto made it well worth the trip.
By: Stu Charles
WSET Wines & Spirits Level 3, Spanish Wine Scholar, French Wine Scholar, WSET Sake Level 1, Ontario VQA Wine Appellations Level 1, BC Wines of BC Ambassador Level 1, Certified Expert in California Wine Level 2.