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Henry of Pelham among first in Niagara to pick icewine grapes
By Wines in Niagara Niagara’s Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery was among the first to pick icewine grapes from the 2024 vintage early today. It was the first opportunity for wineries and growers to...
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The vineyard-specific wines from Niagara’s Cloudsley Cellars (now HST exempt!)
By Rick VanSickle This report on the Burgundy inspired Niagara Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from Cloudsley Cellars is the first post with prices reflecting the Trudeau tax holiday where consumers save...
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A Christmas Story: The legend of the ‘leg lamp’ by Martin Malivoire
As we settle in with family and friends this season, many of you might recall the holiday classic A Christmas Story and the legacy it has left us. Note: Martin Malivoire retells the story of the leg...
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We wish you a Merry Christmas and the best for the New Year
By Wines in Niagara Wines in Niagara wishes all its readers and advertisers a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays, however you celebrate and wherever you are. It’s a Christmas where wineries...
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Wines in Niagara’s Most Thrilling Red and White Wines of 2024
By Rick VanSickle There will come a day when the apparent ocean of Niagara wines from the unicorn 2020 vintage runs dry. Until then, consumers can continue to confidently fill their cellars with wines...
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Niagara’s 16 Mile Cellar winemaker releases no wine before its time
By Rick VanSickle No wine before its time is a credo that Niagara’s 16 Mile Cellar winemaker Morgan Juniper lives by. Note, also in this Niagara Wine Report: A small LCBO release on Jan. 4 features a...
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The big leap that paid off for Niagara’s Back 10 Cellars
By Rick VanSickle Twenty-three years ago, Andrew Brooks had no idea how to drive a tractor, let alone grow grapes and make wine. Andrew (below) and his wife Christina had absolutely no experience in...
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The Mavericks: Bottle shop owner flies the flag for Ontario VQA wines
By Lidija Biro “Wine may be a consumable commodity, but it is also a luxury item. At the high end, let’s say $65, Niagara wine can beat same priced wines from Europe,” says Robbie Raskin, bar/bottle...
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Hamilton company acquires Good Earth Food and Wine Co. in Niagara
By Wines in Niagara The Carmens Group, a Hamilton-based hospitality, food-production and development company, said today that they have acquired Beamsville’s Good Earth Food and Wine Company. The...
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Historic Elgin County Skye Chase winery getting ready for big reveal this spring
By Rick VanSickle Southwestern Ontario’s oldest winery will now be its newest, with the Skye Chase Estate Winery set to open its doors to the public this spring. Also in this Ontario Wine Report: An...
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New winemaker, new wines at Kacaba, plus Southbrook’s big wine offer
By Rick VanSickle There’s a new sheriff in town at Niagara’s Kacaba Vineyard and Winery. Note, also in this Ontario Wine Report: A lovely textbook Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and Southbrook...
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UPDATED: Wine on the frontline in nasty fight over Trump tariffs. Here’s how...
By Rick VanSickle Reaction to U.S. president Donald Trump’s misguided trade war with Canada has been swift and decisive with American wine and booze squarely in the crosshairs. Also in this Canadian...
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Well played, Canada, well played … plus new Two Sisters 2020 red wines in review
By Rick VanSickle That was one wild week in the world of Canadian wine, from tariffs to a ban on all booze from the U.S. and back to no tariffs resulting in a trail of confusion and outrage from coast...
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Shining a light on age-worthy Niagara Chardonnays from Stonebridge Vineyard
By Rick VanSickle It was fascinating to get an up-close look at the aging process for Niagara Chardonnays over a five-year period from the same vineyard made by the same winemaking team. That’s exactly...
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Last call for tax holiday on wine, renewed calls for free-flowing wine, Cuvée...
By Wines in Niagara It’s nearing last call for consumers to enjoy the 13% holiday tax break on VQA wines provincewide. Check your favourite Ontario wineries as they race to the finish line where...
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Irreverent Crushable owner challenges status quo in Canadian wine
By Lidija Biro Unconventional is too mild of a description of Laura Milnes, owner of Crushable. She epitomizes the essence of being a maverick and fits beautifully into this series of articles on local...
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Introducing you to Gnilseir, a new grape about to take Niagara wine country...
By Rick VanSickle It’s a grape that’s fallen so far out of favour you can’t even whisper its name anymore — but let us spell it out for you, backwards, so as not to frighten you: GNILSEIR. Also in this...
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Westcott a case study for the road to success in Niagara wine country
By Rick VanSickle There’s an old saying in the wine business, build it and they will come. But nothing is further from the truth, especially in Ontario wine country. You can build it, all right, and...
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Boycott Gretzky Estates? Think again, plus our picks from Vintages release
By Rick VanSickle Canada may be clearly in the sights of one Donald J Trump who wants to claim our great nation as his own, but don’t blame Wayne Gretzky, his wines or his whisky. Also in this Niagara...
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Partnership between The Crush and Newark bottling a ‘game changer’
By Rick VanSickle A new wine bottling partnership between Niagara’s Newark Bottling Inc. and Niagara Custom Crush Studio is a “game changer” for wineries in Ontario. The partnership brings...
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