The Niagara Grapevine will post Niagara winery news and events forwarded to the project co-ordinator at least one week in advance - wine sales excluded. Please include image(s) as available.
Upon request, the Niagara Grapevine will report on unique winery events, wines and people. Please contact the project co-ordinator well in advance to schedule a visit and / or interview.
A new, annual awards program for the best of Ontario VQA wines will be introduced this year - the Lt. Governor's Awards for Excellence in Ontario (VQA) Wines. The competition is open to all VQA Ontario wines, regardless of grape varietal(s). Each winery will be allowed to submit four wines for tasting and judging by a panel of wine critics and afficiandos. A similar program has been in place in British Columbia for a number of years now. The awards will recognize 10 to 12 exceptional wines each year, and winning vintages will be able to add a special logo designation to the label. ( more ... ) |
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It's official ! After nearly 6 years of careful, painstaking reconstruction, the William Woodruff House, affectionately known as the "House of Nations", parts of which were originally built circa 1802, is now the new tasting, retail and hospitality centre at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery. The main tasting room will offer nearly triple the service space and will allow the staff at Ravine to provide you a better (roomier!) tasting experience. Adjacent to the main tasting room is the Parlour / Presentation Room that tells the story of Ravine Vineyard's development, will host private tastings and is available for small functions and winemakers dinners. Upstairs is an additional private tasting room.
The former tasting room at the back of the house will now be home to a new Reserve Tasting Room that will feature select food pairings alongside Ravine's premium Reserve wines. It will be a truly exceptional way to experience the very best of Ravine's viticultural efforts.
Also directly adjacent to the Reserve Tasting Room and the Parlour is the new Ravine Vineyard outdoor patio which can accommodate small groups for private outdoor Reserve food & wine pairings under the sunshine and overlooking the Vineyard !
The new 13th Street Winery officially opened it's doors on Friday, July 31st. Located at 1776 Fourth Avenue, St. Catharines, the winery is the first winery to open in the Garden City in almost 17 years. The new tasting room and wine shop is now open, and the charcuterie and cheese service will begin soon. In the meantime, the deck is open and an amazing art collection, antique French oak floors, 1800-lb hardwood table in the gallery room, flower and herb gardens will add to a visit.
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The Niagara College Teaching Winery will soon have a new home at its Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. Construction began in the Fall of 2008 on a wine education and visitor centre scheduled to open in the Fall of 2009, The unique facility will house the NCT Winery, a library, classrooms and labs, and serve as an educational facility for students, the wine industry and visitors. |
Lakeview Cellars has moved from its Vineland address to the 20 Bees Winery site in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Known for its aromatic whites and bold, Bordeaux-style reds, Lakeview Cellars is a division of Diamond Estates Wines, along with other international and Niagara wineries, including EastDell Estates Winery, Birchwood Estate Wines, DeSousa Wine Cellars, 20 Bees and Dan Akroyd Wines.
The restoration and renovation of the small, 19th-century barn at Calamus Estate Winery is nearing completion. The barn now houses a new tasting bar, event room and a 2-tiered deck overlooking the vineyard and the Chronos Observatory. The new facility will provide event space for up to 40 people, Consider a tasting that includes a look at the stars !
Mike Weir, PGA Tour player, former Masters champion and Canadian golf icon, has announced new business partnerships for Mike Weir Wine. Wine production will be assumed by Chateau des Charmes (in St. David's) while the Weir winery / facility will be built along the Niagara Parkway on a Niagara Parks Commission parcel of land adjacent to Whirlpool GC. ( more ... )
Plans for Colio Estate Wines to build an expansive winery and distillery plant in Niagara-on-the-Lake remain on hold pending a decision by the NOTL town council. The proposed, 21-acre site is located along the Niagara Parkway alongside the Riverview Cellars Estate Winery. The problem ? The protests of neighbours re: the septic system, a settling pond and a 4-storey complex that will house the retail store and administration offices. The Colio complex would include a distillery operation producing fruit-based liqueurs. ( Source: Canadian Grapes to Wine - 2008)