
Niagara Peninsula: Canada’s Premier Wine Region
Canada might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of wine, but the country’s wine scene is thriving—especially in regions like the Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County. These areas have emerged as prime destinations for wine enthusiasts, offering a unique blend of cool-climate wines, picturesque landscapes, and a burgeoning community of passionate winemakers. Let’s take a closer look this month at what makes the Niagara region stand out.
A Rich History
The Niagara Peninsula, located in Ontario, is Canada’s most established and well-known wine region. Wine production in the area dates back to the early 19th century, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the region began to gain recognition for its high-quality wines. Today, Niagara is home to over 100 wineries, producing a diverse range of wines that reflect the region’s unique terroir.
Climate and Terroir
The Niagara Peninsula’s proximity to Lake Ontario creates a microclimate that is ideal for viticulture. The lake moderates temperatures, extending the growing season and protecting the vines from extreme weather. The region’s diverse soil composition, which includes clay, limestone, and sand, contributes to the distinct characteristics of its wines. This combination of factors makes Niagara particularly well-suited for growing cool-climate grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.
Signature Wines
Niagara is renowned for its world-class Ice wine, a sweet dessert wine made from grapes that have been naturally frozen on the vine. The intense concentration of sugars and flavors in these grapes results in a luscious, rich wine that has put Niagara on the global wine map. In addition to Ice wine, the region produces excellent sparkling wines, crisp Chardonnays, and elegant Pinot Noirs that reflect the cool-climate character of the area.
Recommended Wineries
During our short stay, we did not get the opportunity to visit as many wineries as we would have liked – the wine region is quite vast and traffic can be an issue getting from place to place. However, we did get to savour some standout wines from a number of boutique wineries and these ones really stood out:
Bachelder Niagara: Owned and run lovingly by Thomas and Mary Delaney-Bachelder, the winery concentrates on 3 varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay – c’est tout! They search the depth and breadth of the Niagara region for the best of the best parcels that showcase the varied soils and micro-climates of the area. The number of fabulous Single Vineyard wines they produce is staggering. We’ll bring in some of their wines this Autumn, but in order to get a feel for the dizzying array of wines they offer, you’ll need to go for a visit.
Hidden Bench: Fellow Quebecker Harald Thiel is the heart and soul behind this winery (which incidentally won Best Winery of 2023 in Canada) and his head winemaker is a Brit (Alex Baines). Harald instils a mix of passion and drive for quality and precision that results in exquisitely crafted and elegant wines produced by Alex. What a team! They are not currently represented in the UK but we’re spreading the word and no doubt you will see them landing on our shores in the not too distant future.
Big Head Wines: This is a fabulous family venture headed by Andrzej Lipinksi. Andrzej is somewhat like a mad scientist! He loves going off the beaten track and experimenting – with much success – making wines from varietals not usually associated with the Niagara region – think Chenin Blanc, Malbec and Savagnin! He also makes some gorgeous wines from more the more common Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes as well. We went through a journey of discovery sampling over 24 different wines, including a stand-out (and award-wining) Chenin Blanc matured in terracotta amphora and a creamy and complex traditional method long lees-aged Sparkling that would make the team at Krug blush!
The Last Drop
Canada’s wine scene is thriving, with the Niagara Peninsula at the forefront and it’s not just about the world-famous Ice wine of this region (we didn’t even have time to delve into ice wine this time around). The region is more about innovative, sustainable practices which are applied to make terroir-driven and meticulously elaborated wines. Come back next time to read Part 2: The wines of Prince Edward County