A Day of Wine Tourism in Niagara?

I'll have a free day in August, based out of Toronto. Any suggestions for good makers to visit?

Thanks for any guidance.


Jeff

No replies? Well.

Jeff, I've never been, but you should reach out to Sasha, his friend Allison (the Cab Franc Chronicles blog) knows the area well. She's been to my house for tastings but I can't find email.

[Jenise]

I've sent a note to John S, hopefully he'll be along with help shortly.

Jeff, if you could give me a hint about your favorite varieties and desired experiences, I could give you a more focused list, but off the top of my head here's some of the best wineries in the Niagara region. I would imagine in August you would need to make reservations.

There are two subregions in the area. The Niagara on the Lake area tends to be a bit warmer and has more red wines (often Bordeaux varieties). It is also much more touristy. There are some interesting wineries there, including Stratus, Two Sisters (expensive), Ravine and Southbrook. They all have white and red wine, with more focus on the latter.

I tend to focus on the other region, which is the Niagara Escarpment area. The focus here is more riesling, chardonay pinot and cab franc, although there are lots of other options too. The top three producers here are Hidden Bench (rieslings, chardonnay and pinots are best), Bachelder (chardonnay, pinot and gamay only; you need to sign up to a mailing list to book a reservation), Tawse (a bit of everything, including cider!). Other options would be Domaine Queylus (mainly chardonnay and pinot), the relatively new but very promising Kelly Mason (sparkling chardonnay, pinot and cab franc), Twenty Bench and Cave Spring for single vineyard rieslings, Cloudsly (chardonnay and pinot) and Clos Jordanne (chardonnay and pinot).

I would put Bachelder as my #1 pick, He does the tastings himself and has decided, after time in Burgundy and Oregon, to focus on many single vinyard chardonnay, pinot and gamay throughout the Niagara region. He is the terrior king of Niagara! The tasting room is totally rustic and reservations via a mailing list are necessary. Hidden Bench would be #2, as all their wines are top notch; the tasting room is a bit fancier than Bachelder. Kelly Mason is highly recommended too; she gives a very personal story of how she managed to become a winemaker and vineyard owner in the Beamsville Bench area. Again, I think you have to join a mailing list before you can reserve a tasting there in her vineyard.

If you looking for a little walk, Ball's Fall's Provincial Park is nearby. There are many restaurants in the area. The best restaurant in Canada is Restaurant Pearl Morissette (also a winery) in Vineland. It's almost impossible to get a booking, but if you are a foodie you should try.

Let me know if you have any questions!

John, thank you! Just the sort of advice I was seeking. Yes, I would prefer the wines from the Escarpment.

I've heard of one or two of those names, though I doubt I knew anything substantive about them.

Chard and pinot, chard and pinot... everybody wants to make a fizzy wine, eh? I suppose, in the days before global warming, that might have been all they could hope for. (I once worked for the fellow who held Winery License #2 in the state of New Hampshire; he commented that he hoped for enough heat to make a sparkling wine once out of every three years!)

Bachelder sounds like he took hospitality lessons from John Thomas. (My ex-'s home town has a display of walking sticks from the famous C.D. Batchelor -- who sometimes used "Batchelder" -- who lived there mid last century. Wonder whether they're related?)

Thanks again!

Jeff, I've never been, but you should reach out to Sasha, his friend Allison (the Cab Franc Chronicles blog) knows the area well. She's been to my house for tastings but I can't find email.

Thanks for that reference. What a blog!

And, email sent.

I'll have a free day in August, based out of Toronto. Any suggestions for good makers to visit?

As you'll appreciate, there's a limited number of wineries you can visit in one day. I have been to Toronto several times and spent time in the winelands. The most recent time I visited, I was struck by the number of new wineries that had opened. Over the years I have seen many changes as small family enterprises has been replaced by well funded commercial wineries.

All the common international varieties are available, and I was mots struck by some excellent Cabernet Franc - up to then my experience of CF was mostly from the Loire and had a thin green unripe quality. I also had excellent Chardonnay from 30 Bench Winery.

I like tasting the unusual. Chateau des Charmes - http://www.chateaudescharmes.com - an almost 50 year old winery identified a new clone of Gamay growing in their vineyard and got Planters Rights on it, so if you want to see and taste Gamay Noir Droit that's the place to go.

I think Henry of Pelham - https://henryofpelham.com/ - a family owned winery is worth a visit for what they've done with Baco Noir, and the vineyard is right by the tasting room.

Also lookout for ice-wine.

If you are flying out from Toronto, unless things have changed, don't expect any duty-free wine bargains.

As you'll appreciate, there's a limited number of wineries you can visit in one day.

Alas, true.

I have been to Toronto several times and spent time in the winelands. The most recent time I visited, I was struck by the number of new wineries that had opened. Over the years I have seen many changes as small family enterprises has been replaced by well funded commercial wineries.

All the common international varieties are available, and I was mots struck by some excellent Cabernet Franc - up to then my experience of CF was mostly from the Loire and had a thin green unripe quality. I also had excellent Chardonnay from 30 Bench Winery.

I like tasting the unusual. Chateau des Charmes - http://www.chateaudescharmes.com - an almost 50 year old winery identified a new clone of Gamay growing in their vineyard and got Planters Rights on it, so if you want to see and taste Gamay Noir Droit that's the place to go.

I think Henry of Pelham - https://henryofpelham.com/ - a family owned winery is worth a visit for what they've done with Baco Noir, and the vineyard is right by the tasting room.

Also lookout for ice-wine.

Thank you!

I will definitely look for CF and I think I have just bumped Ch. des Charmes to the top of the list.

If you are flying out from Toronto, unless things have changed, don't expect any duty-free wine bargains.

I never worry about this. I have no use for tobacco or perfume, and not much use for booze. The other typical duty-free item, chocolate, can be good but I don't recall hearing about great chocolate in Toronto.