Daniel Lenko Estate Winery

5246 Regional Road 81
Beamsville ON L0R 1B3

 

A family owned and operated winery, that has been growing grapes for 40 years

The original chardonnay vines were planted in 1959 and by the early 90s earned the reputation of supplying grapes for some of the best wines in the region. It wasn't until 1999 that Daniel Lenko decided to capitalize on the vintage vines his family owned and established the Daniel Lenko Estate.

All wines are proprietor grown, VQA appellation, and estate bottled. The Merlot and Chardonnay bear the designation 'Old Vines' and along with the other red wines are barrel aged in both French and American oak.

Winemaker: Daniel Lenko

website

De Sousa Wine Cellars

3753 Quarry Road,
Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B0

Owned by: Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.

Seventy miles west of Toronto in the fertile Niagara Peninsula is the picturesque landscaping of De Sousa Wine Cellars. Establishing a well preserved Portuguese heritage, the fruit of persistence brings wines that reflect quality and tradition. Estate vineyards are 80 acres. Free tours of the Villa, museum and gardens. Complimentary tastings.

In the Spring of 1998, De Sousa Wines celebrated the grand opening of its Toronto facility.

Winemakers: Tom Green, Scott McGregor & Jason Roller
Philosophy:

 

Domaine Vagners

1973 Four Mile Creek Rd.,
Niagara-on-the-Lake

Winemaker Martin A Vagners claims to be the smallest of Canada's wineries and will remain so determined to produce quality wines over quantity. Located on five acres near Niagara-on-the Lake vines were first planted in 1990. The wine is aged in reshaved Frenchoaked barrels

Creek Road Red won a silver medal at the 2000 All-Canadian Wine Championships

Winemaker: Martin Vagners
Philosophy: Country wines, hand crafted, 100 % hand picked at the right time.

EastDell Estates

4041 Locust Lane,
Beamsville Ontario
Canada L0R 1B2

Owned by: Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.

EastDell Estates is located on the Niagara West Wine Route, perched high atop the famous Beamsville Bench in the heart of Canada's premier viticulture district, the Niagara Peninsula. EastDell enjoys a panoramic view of rolling vineyards with Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline shimmering in the distance. Made entirely of wood and stone from the property, the winery's rustic main building houses a wine boutique and The VIEW Restaurant.

The nature of Niagara rules in every aspect of EastDell's integrated operation – from the vineyards and winemaking practices, to the restaurant's focus on seasonal cuisine, to the preservation of the property's spectacular Carolinian woodlot and nature trails.

With 13 acres planted on-site and 15 more on the home vineyard, EastDell produces a variety of wines, including a specialty range of fruit wines. Particularly suited to EastDell's soil are Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Vidal which are supplemented with smaller plantings of Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

 

Winemakers : Head Winemaker ; Tom Green and Winemakers Scott McGregor and Jason Roller

Winemaking Philosophy:  Selecting grape varieties that are exactly suited to the Escarpment's Cayuga Clay soil and micro-climate allows the winery to work with nature, not against it. EastDell's non-invasive viticulture practices and traditional winemaking methods are respectful of both the land and the local wine community's cottage-industry approach. The winery's goal is to produce good quality VQA wines that showcase the terroir of its vineyards.


Diamond Estates
Proud owners of EastDell Estates, Lakeview Cellars

Featherstone Estate Winery

3678 Victoria Ave.
Vineland ON
L0R 2C0 Canada

Featherstone Estate Winery is owned and operated by David Johnson and Louise Engel, a husband and wife team who have already gained fame in the Guelph area for their culinary expertise at The Guelph Poultry Gourmet Market, which they established in 1986. They come to the wine industry from careers dedicated to excellence in food and a passion for wine.

Since 1999, Featherstone has remained insecticide-free, releasing ladybugs and lacewings to control aphids and by using pheromone traps to control the more serious hazard of grape berry moth.

An agreeable balance has been struck on the farm between the populations of potentially damaging insects and the beneficial ones.  Featherstone is not adjacent to any other vineyards and so is not influenced by neighbouring pest populations.

In 2003, Featherstone Estates was chosen as best vineyard in Ontario, and David Johnson was named Grape King. This prestigious annual award is judged by the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario and the Grape Growers of Ontario.

Featherstone was one of the first wineries to use Canadian oak barrels, producing an exceptional barrel-fermented Canadian oak Chardonnay in 2002.

signature wines : full bodied Gamay Noir and dry Gewürztraminer

winemaker: David Johnson

Philosophy: work throughout the season to enhance the grapes’ natural attributes, ensuring that at harvest balanced wine is produced with minimal winemaking embellishments. To do my job as winemaker, I need to be involved in the grape growing. There are so many decisions that affect the flavours and quality of the wine. A crucial decision is when to harvest and this is determined by tasting the grapes for the perfect balance of acid, sugar and desired flavour profiles. Harvesting the fruit at its peak is essential and this control is a key advantage for small wineries. Winemaking and grape growing are both scientific and intuitive processes.

Fielding Estate Winery

4020 Locust Lane
Beamsville, Ontario

The winery is in the heart of the Beamsville Bench in the Niagara Peninsula, a unique enclave that has proved to be one of the finest wine-growing regions in the northern hemisphere, comparable in many respects to Burgundy. The region has consistently produced superb varietals, including remarkable icewines

Fielding has 20 acre vineyards on the Bench with a second vineyard near the Niagara Lakeshore

Winemaker: Richie Roberts

Flat Rock Cellars

2727 Seventh Avenue,
Jordan , ON, L0R 1S0.

When owner Ed Madronich, a Toronto lawyer, found that Jordan Summit was not available, he remembered the unusual flat rocks in a ravine on the property and crafted a new name for the winery that opened in 2004. The winery's tasting room commands a view over undulating vineyards that surround it, and beyond, to Lake Ontario and the distant Toronto skyline

Set into the side of a hill, the winery was cleverly designed as a gravity flow winery. The winery is filled with technical innovations, including a geothermal heating and cooling system. At the heart of this are 4,572 metres/15,000 feet of pipes snaking back and forth at the bottom of the small man-made lake beside the winery. Heat exchangers give the winery the option of cooling wine tanks or heating the winery, as required. The advantage is a green image and inexpensive climate control.

The winery has 65-acre vineyard, and is very tightly focused on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Flat Rock is releasing all its wines, red and white, in bottles that have screw-cap closures

 

winemaker: Marleze Byers

Frogpond Farm

1385 Larkin Road, RR 6
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ontario
L0S 1J0

Frogpond Farm is the first and only certified organic winery in Ontario. Owner/ winemaker Jens Gemmrich and Heike Koch believe in working in harmony with nature by trying to establish a balanced environment both in the vineyard as well as in the wine making process. Frogpond Farm does not operate a retail store but you can order directly from the farm. There are two wines available: a dry and fruity 2001 organic Riesling and an elegant and full-bodied 2001 organic Cabernet Merlot.

The winery has 30 acreas planted with Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling Vidal

All grapes are hand-picked and crafted into lively genuine wines using only gentle traditional winemaking techniques. 

The winery uses Bullfrog power. Bullfrog sources power exclusively from generators who meet or exceed the federal government's Environmental Choice M Program EcoLogo M standard for renewable electricity.
The power comes from clean, emission-free sources like wind power and low-impact water power instead of carbon-intensive sources

signature wines : Riesling, Cabernet Merlot

Winemaker: Jens Gemmrich
Philosophy: Make authentic wines in a sustainable way

 

Harbour Estates Winery

4362 Jordan Road
Jordan Station ON,

HEW is located on one of the most unique properties in the Niagara Peninsula. Having 1800 feet of frontage on Jordan Harbour, HEW is the most prominent point in Jordan Harbour as seen from the Queen Elizabeth Highway. As HEW is located directly on Jordan Harbor it is only natural that the winery is built with the theme of water and the environment in mind.
Dedicated to the production of fine VQA wines, with an emphasis on red viniferas. Their property is planted to 30 acres of red vinifera grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Winemaker is Jeff Innes, owned and operated by Fraser Mowat.

Winter hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They currently have Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Baco Noir, Cabernet and Strawberry wine available.

Silver medal for 1999 Sauvignon Blanc in the Cellars of the World 2000
competition held in Ottawa

Winemaker: Ken Mowat

Philosophy Focus on premium vinifera reds

Harvest Estates Wines

1607 Eighth Ave.
St Catharines, Ontario
Canada L2R 6P7

Located in the heart of the ‘Golden Horseshoe' ~ so named because this area is Ontario's most productive fruit growing area, and it wraps around the lake. The vision of this Winery is to capture the essence of Ontario's freshest fruits, (even the occasional vegetable,) and put it into an attractive bottle, to allow it to be enjoyed again.

 

Winemaker : Lydia Tomek

Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery

1469 Pelham Rd., R.R.#1
St. Catharines, ON
Canada L2R 6P7

 

The winery is located close to lake Ontario in the township of Pelham It stands on the Short Hills Bench at the base of the Niagara Escarpment (a United Nations biosphere) in St. Catharines, Ontario. The winery is owned by the Speck family who trace their connection with the property back to 1794.

The winery began In 1984, when Paul Speck Sr. tore out the Concord and Niagara grapes, along with each of us his three sons Matthew, Daniel and Paul. They planted Riesling and Chardonnay under newly contoured hills and under drainage. The winery opened in 1988 using the former carriage house built by henry of Pelham in 1842.

Today Paul Speck heads the winery. The brothers have grown the winery into
one of Ontario's leading wineries producing 75,000 cases a year.

Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery was a founding member of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA)

Winemaker: Ron Giesbrecht

Hernder Estate Wines

1607 8th Avenue
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada  L2R 6P7

 

A quiet country road, the gentle swell of vineyards beneath the brow of the Niagara Escarpment; turn down the lane, through a unique wooden covered bridge up to an immense, perfectly restored 1867 Victorian barn... yes Hernder Estates is one on Niagara's more elegant estates, a photographers dream. Their wines are even more impressive.

Hernder is one of Niagara Peninsula's Largest Family Estate Wineries, with 200 hectares producing
over cases of wine. The winery began in 2004.


Winemaker Lydia Tomek assistant winemaker is Mike Keeler

Philosophy:

 

Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery

4152 Locust Lane
Beamsville Ontario, L0R 1B2

The winery is owned by Harald Thiel who began his pursuit of making world class wines in 2003. Thiel chose Beamsville Bench believing that the terroir and climatic tempering effect of the Niagara Escarpment provides the best potential to produce truly world class wines in Ontario

Hidden Bench have two vineyards situated in the middle of the bench. The Locust Lane Vineyard ( 33 acres)  which was acquired in the Spring of 2003. This vineyard was originally planted  in 1998; producing excellent quality fruit and wine since 2002. In the summer of 2004 an additional 8 acres was planted with  Pinot Noir (five clones) Syrah and Malbec. 

The second vineyard is the reputed Rosmel Vineyard (26 acres) which was planted with vinifera varities in 1975 and has produced many award winning wines over the years.  

 Jean Martin Bouchard an Australian and French trained Quebecois is the winemaker. Roman Prydatkewycz is the Viticulture Consultant

The winery future goals will focus on Bio Dynamic agriculture methods in the vineyard.

Signature wines :Tetes de Cuvees Pinot Noir, Estate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc. Terror Cache Meritage ( Merlot, Cab. Sauv, Cab Franc, Malbec,)

winemaker – Jean Martin Bouchard
Philosophy : Great wines are created in the vineyard where our winemaking starts. Sustainable practices coupled with a tremendous amount of  hand labour permit us to keep our vines in balance and to manage our reduced yields. Our wines are not made, but, are created by an uncompromising and passionate focus on quality and attention to detail in all aspects of the wine making process that permits the wine and the vineyard to express their true potential. The superb vineyards and terroir of the Beamsville Bench of which we are the stewards, create the wine, our minimalist  winemaking just lets the wine express its true potential.

no ice wine

Hillebrand Estates

RR#2 Highway 55
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Located in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake this winery is one of Canada's leading VQA producers. Makers of Trius wines. One of the pioneer wineries in the development of Canada's icewines.
In 1995, they were the first Canadian winery to receive highest honors with the Pichon Longeuville Comtesse de Lalande Trophy (Best Red Wine in the World) at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Owned by Peller Wines

Winemaker: Darryl Brooker
Philosopy: is to respect the classic character of each grape variety in this great wine region. At Hillebrand, we bring an unrushed approach to winemaking. We have learned, over the last thirty years, to listen to the vineyards, believing that they will tell us what is best for the wine.

 

Inniskillin

S.R. #66, RR#1
Niagara Parkway
Niagara-on-the-Lake,
Ontario, Canada L0S 1J0

Inniskillin, co-founded by Donald J.P. Ziraldo and Karl J. Kaiser, is located in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada, on the Niagara Peninsula.
Inniskillin was granted the first estate winery license in Canada. The name Inniskillin is Irish and is derived from the famous Irish regiment, the Inniskilling Fusiliers. Colonel Cooper, a member of this regiment, served in North America in the War of 1812. On completion of his military service, he was granted Crown land which he named the Inniskillin Farm

The first Inniskillin winery was housed in an old packing shed at the family nursery, two kilometers (km) from its current location. As the popularity of their wines grew it was necessary to enlarge the winery 1978, Inniskillin relocated to our present site, The Brae Burn Estate

Senior Winemaker Bruce Nicholson has been recognized as one of the best winemakers globally
by International Wine and Spirits Competition, London, England. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan has been named Winery of the year by Wine Access Magazine for two consecutive years ( 2003-2004)

They also have a winery and vineyards in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley

Winemaker: Bruce Nicholson
Philosophy: Like all art forms, winemaking is an inspired mastery of technique and the harmonizing of complex elements.

Jackson-Triggs Vintners

2145 Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ontario

A Vincor International Winery

One of the more noted names in the Canadian wine industry with wineries in both Ontario and British Columbia. The Ontario vineyards are located in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. Every bottle of Jackson-Triggs wines bears the signature of the proprietors Alan Jackson and Donald Triggs. They believe that wine making is a delicate balancing act between art, science and nature requiring equal parts knowledge and intuition.

Since Jackson-Triggs Vintners' inception in 1993, both its Okanagan and Niagara wines have been honored with many prestigious and notable awards. The list soars above most Canadian wineries with over 675 awards won to date - including more than 450 and 225 in International and Canadian competitions respectively

The Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery was opened in July 2001 and is a state-of-the-art 47,000 square foot winemaking facility, set within a picturesque 26-acre vineyard. Annual production is approximately 100,000 cases. The winery also boasts an open-air amphitheater that launched its first season in June 2002 and continues to attract mass audiences every summer.

The Jackson-Triggs product portfolio consists of VQA table wines, sparkling wines and Icewines that carry either the black Proprietors' Reserve label or the rarer gold Grand Reserve label. The Grand Reserve collection showcases limited edition, super-premium wines that are usually only available at the winery. Joining the Grand Reserve wines is an ultra specialty wine tier made exclusively from the fruit of the Delaine Vineyard, a unique, single vineyard located on the lakeshore along the Niagara Parkway .

The winemaking process under Rob Scapin, recently appointed Chief Winemaker for Jackson-Triggs, will utilize a gravity flow system thus minimizing harmful pumping of the young wine. Storage cellars are being built deep underground where natural ambient moisture and cooler temperatures will provide ideal conditions for barrel aging.

Their vision is to produce wines of exceptional quality and value that will put Canadian wines on the world stage. Every bottle of Jackson-Triggs wines bears the signature of its proprietors. They believe that wine making is a delicate balancing act between art, science and nature requiring equal parts knowledge and intuition.

VINCOR International, grew from pioneering origins in Chateau-Gai and Brights Wines to become the largest wine producer in Canada and fourth largest in North America. VINCOR is now better known by its individual "houses," Inniskillin Wines, Sawmill Creek, Braeburn Cellars, L'Ambiance, and most recently, Jackson-Triggs.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
We want our wines to clearly present the character of the grapes.

Alan Jackson:
People's tastes continue to grow. We are now challenged to take the next step, and produce more complex wines, more interesting tastes. To do that, we need to build the resources, the experience with the grapes and the winemaking to produce higher quality wine to meet those expectations.

Named International winery of the year at the 2005 San Francisco Wine Competition

Joseph's Estate Wines:

1811 Niagara Stone Road (Hwy 55), RR#3
Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Canada L0S 1J0

Joseph Pohorly founder of Newark Wines has once again started a new winery on the Niagara Peninsula, with 20 acres of Vineyards and Orchards.
Joseph produces VQA Vidal Icewine, Iced Peach, QA Winter Harvest, Iced Apple, Iced Bosc Pear along with Icewine Truffles.

Winemaker: Joseph Pohorly
Philosophy: To produce world class wines at an affordable price.

Kacaba Vineyards

3550 King Street.
Vineland, Ontario.
Box 404,
L0R 2C0

Located on prime grape growing acreage on the Niagara Escarpment Bench in Vineland. Michael Kacaba was able to purchase the property in 1997 and immediately set to work in planting his vineyard.

Winemakers: John Tummon
Philosophy: Produce small quantities of wine,that can be produced mainly by hand. Pumping is kept to a minimum and gravity is used for bottling and racking. Kacaba's goal is to produce ultra-premium wines along with more moderately priced varieties necessary for the economic well being of a winery.

Kings Court Estate Winery

2083 Seventh Street
St Catharines, Ontario

 

Specializing in Ice Wine. the winery was started in 1990 by Joseph Zimmermann
They have 60 acres (11 hectares) producing Riesling,Cabernet Sauvignon,Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir

China's Tonghua Grape Wine Co. has announced its purchase of a 75% stake in St. Catharines, Ont.-based Vitibev Farms Ltd. owners of Kings Court

Winemaker:Joseph Zimmermann, Roland Zimmermann

Kittling Ridge Estate

Kittling Ridge Wines & Spirits
297 South Service Road
Grimsby, ON L3M 1Y6

Situated at the base of the Niagara Escarpment on the South shore of Lake Ontario, near the village of Grimsby. Tours are available seven days a week year round with free tastings. Try their new Sirah or their White Zinfanel-Vidal. Kittling is the only combined winery and distillery in Ontario tracing its history back to 1971.

one of their landmark products... Kittling Ridge Ice Wine & Brandy, combining the still master's craft and the winemakers art.

Winemaker: John K Hall
Philosophy: If you don't like our wine return it - we will drink it. Winemaker is John K Hall

Konzelmann

1096 Lakeshore Road (between Firelanes 5 and 6)
RR#3 Niagara-on-the-Lake ON
Canada L0S 1J0

The Konzelmann family first established a winery in Germany in 1893. Today 100 years later, Herbert Konzelmann continues the tradition in Niagara-on -the-Lake, produces wines that represent the culmination of four generations of penology.
According to Herbert the morning dew that settles on the grapes gives his wine a uniquely delicate and fruity taste.

From its humble beginnings in Canada in 1984, this family owned winery now offers more than 30 different VQA varieties including national and international award winning wines and Icewines. The lakefront winery thrives on soil and climatic conditions similar to those of the Alsace region of France. This wonderful balance of sun, soil and moisture helps to produce wines with delicate, fruity characteristics, unique only to the 'lakeshore' appellation of Niagara.

Philosophy: A good wine is produced in the vineyard. The natural vinification of our grapes guarantees
top-quality wines.'