Ontario's Niagara Peninsula wine region has gained an international reputation for producing world-class wines. More than twenty (20) varietals are planted across the peninsula's wine growing region, but none are better than its rieslings and icewines. Some eighty (80) wineries, most VQA certified, dot the north shore of the Niagara Peninsula from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Grimsby.
Niagara is relatively new to the international wine stage. Most vineyards have yet to fully mature, and plenty of experimentation with varietals, soil types, cropping and vinification is being conducted. Resultantly, with the exception of icewine, Niagara's "niche" in the wine world and its signature wine(s) have yet to be established or recognized internationally.
By all standards, four Niagara varietals stand above the rest - chardonnay, riesling, cabernet-franc and pinot noir.
Niagara's VQA wineries are as diverse as the wines they produce and range from family-run cottage wineries to industry giants. A little-known fact is that fully three-quarters of Niagara's best VQA wines are available only at the wineries.
Numerous international awards announce that Niagara's VQA icewines are the best in the world. The signature Niagara icewine varietals are riesling, cabernet-franc and vidal. However, more than fifteen (15) varietals have been frozen solid and coaxed into those tall, skinny bottles.
The Niagara Peninsula Wine Region also produces excellent VQA sparkling wines ("champagne-style"), late-harvest wines, innumerable blended wines ("meritage", "rosé") and a variety of specialty wines including mead, port, fruit & berry wines.**
( ** only grape wines can be VQA certified )
widely produced
limited production
widely produced
limited production
