Musings on a trip through Niagara wine country part 1…

Although, I have travelled through the Niagara vineyards tasting wines before, it is always fun to do so again. This year two vineyards I visited in late August were very instructive regarding terroir. Terroir refers to the soils, climate and geography that the grapes are grown in. One vineyard, Coyotes Run, grew two Pinot Noirs close to each other, but in different clay soils. One pinot was called red paw and was grown in red clay loam formed by the weathered bedrock dating back over 450 million years. This soil, rich in iron (causing the redness in the soil), but containing little organic matter, is good for growing premium wine grapes. The wine produced a bright fruitiness and a more perfumed and floral bouquet.

The Black Paw Pinot Noir is grown in a younger soil (15000 years old) with clay loam that is more organic which holds the heat and the moisture longer. This makes it trickier to grow the vines, but produces a wine of great character, rich in body and earthy and smoky in character.
Coyotes Run produce other red wines such as the Cabernet Franc (made in most other wineries, as well), and whites wines, such as riesling, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

Another winery, Thirty Bench near Beamsville, is located on the slopes of the Niagara Escarpment and exhibits the terroir of soils with a limestone bedrock, plus a higher elevation. The wonderful off dry reisling I tasted here hints of green apples along with mineral character of the benchland. This winery specializes in small lots which are aged for a couple of years before being sold.

Overall, if you’re travelling through Southern Ontario, take a day to explore the wineries of the region, and partake of the fruit of the vine. You won’t regret it!

Cheers,

Brian (Wine Sense- Portage Ave.)

Filed under: General, Wine by Craig