Two More Niagara Wineries

June 20, 2026 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Two of the Niagara wineries I visited on my recent trip were Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery and Megalomaniac.

The property that Ravine Vineyard is located on has been owned and farmed by the same family since 1867 and the vineyard in its present form began in 2004 with the planting of the three Bordeaux reds; Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, as well as Chardonnay and Riesling. Each of their wines reflect the terroir in which they grow.

The day I was there I spoke with the son of the current owner who shared information regarding differences in the terroir of each of their vineyards and how that influences the flavour of the wine. The vineyard referred to as Lonna’s Block was a former horse paddock whereas the second vineyard, Nancy’s Block, was crop fields. My host’s preferred wine was the Lonna’s Block Meritage, but I decided to make my own decision and purchased a bottle of each.

The other winery, Megalomaniac, steps away from tradition and takes a light airy approach to wine, avoiding the stigmatism that is often associated with the wine industry. The names of their wines are reflective of their light attitude; for example, My Way Chardonnay, Narcissist Riesling, To Be Frank Cabernet Franc and Much Obliged Baco Noir, which honours first responders and healthcare workers.

Don’t let the names fool you; Megalomaniac’s wine maker provides great quality wines. I came home with some of their Much Obliged Unoaked Chardonnay and Unconventional Cabernet Merlot.

Sláinte mhaith

The Two Sisters’ Family

June 13, 2026June 13, 2026 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

I have visited the Two Sisters Vineyards on previous excursions to Niagara and this time was no different. I treated myself to a couple of bottles of their 2019 Meritage, Eleventh Post which is a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

While there I learned about their new winery, Stone Eagle, which is located just a few kilometres from Two Sisters, on the edge of Niagara-On-The-Lake. The Stone Eagle website describes in great detail the winemaking process as well as provides a description of their vineyards. However, when I visited the winery, I quickly learned that it was not a winery in the traditional sense as there was no wine shop or anywhere to see or purchase any of the wines.

When I enquired at the reception desk, which was situated in a large vestibule of what appeared to be an elaborate event centre, I was told that they do not have any wine for viewing or much information about their wines. I was only presented with a wine list similar to one you would see in a restaurant when selecting a wine to accompany your meal. It is worth noting that the least expensive wine on the list was in the $130 plus dollar range. Again, the list contained no information other than the name and price of each wine.

I left the winery perplexed as to its purpose and why it is even called a winery. It would seem to be better referred to as an event centre where you may have access to their exclusive wine list. To try the wines it seems that you must either have lunch or dinner at the Eagles Nest restaurant or bar, which is located on the Stoner Eagle property. I did find that you can purchase Stone Eagle wines online from their website. By clicking on each individual wine you can find the associated tasting notes.

Two Sisters is also in the process of constructing a hotel in the heart of Niagara-On-The-Lake. It is to be called the Parliament Oak Hotel. Once completed it is said that the architecture will reflect the Old Town’s heritage. It will be a four-story, French chateau-style building rather than a standard, modern hotel block.

Growth and development continue to evolve in the Niagara Wine Region. Whether it is all positive or not seems to vary, depending on who you ask.

Sláinte mhaith

A Visit to The Niagara Wine Region

June 6, 2026June 6, 2026 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Not having been to the Niagara wine region since May of 2019, my wife and I decided that this spring was time for a return trip. Given that there are now around 100 wineries operating in the region, the all-important question was, which wineries should we visit? To help narrow the field I used several techniques: personal recommendations, previous award results, some of my own curiosity and follow ups from previous adventures. The result was that we ventured to 7 wineries: Domaine Le Clos Jordanne, Megalomaniac, Two Sisters Vineyards, Stone Eagle Winery, Fielding Estate Winery, Chateau des Charmes and Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery.

Over the next few weeks I will share some of my winery experiences; some good, some not so good, but all were enlightening.

I will begin with Domaine Le Clos Jordanne, which now occupies the site of the former Angels Gate Winery. In May of 2023, Angels Gate was purchased by Arterra Wines Canada Inc. However, Arterra was not interested in continuing the production of Angels Gate wines. Instead, they were looking for a physical home for their Le Clos Jordanne French inspired wines, under the direction of their winemaker Thomas Bachelder. Bachelder is internationally recognized and is Le Clos Jordanne’s original founding winemaker who is specialized in the production of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. His terroir-revealing wines showcase how Old World, French Burgundy style winemaking techniques can apply to New World terroir with minimal intervention to produce great wines.

Following the French philosophy, Domaine Le Clos Jordanne only produces wines supported by the local terroir. Thus, the selection at the winery is limited to a variety of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. So if you are looking to purchase a wide range of varietals, or looking for something other than Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, this winery is not for you. However, if you are a fan of true Burgundy style wines, Domaine Le Clos Jordanne is worth a look.

My wife and I couldn’t resist getting some of their neutral oaked Chardonnay and a couple of different Pinot Noirs to try.

Sláinte mhaith

Alternatives to Government Operated Liquor Stores

March 28, 2026 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Further to my previous post on the question of whether liquor sales should be privatized (see Should the LCBO be Privatized? April 19, 2025), today I want to look at the difference between government-controlled retail outlets versus government regulated ones. Examples of government operated retail outlets include Ontario’s LCBO, Nova Scotia’s NSLC, British Columbia’s BC Liquor Store and Manitoba’s Liquor Mart.

I can see where privately owned retail outlets could provide benefits in large cities where there is a sufficient population to support specialty wine or whiskey shops. Each store could have an expert who could provide insight on each of the various products sold. It could be a great opportunity for niche marketing and the customization of the sales environment.

However, in small centres, selections could be much more limited with options being dictated solely by profit margins. In this case, the run-of-the-mill wine and whiskey choices could be sold along side soda pop and potato chips. Store staff would be much less likely to have the expertise to assist customers making their selections.

Small wineries, distilleries and breweries could find independent liquor stores beneficial, potentially providing them with more market exposure. Government operated outlets limit retail shelf space to producers who can meet minimum production volumes, leaving many small estate wineries and private distilleries with very limited market exposure. Independent retailers could provide these wineries and distilleries with the consumer exposure that they are currently lacking.

Even though the government could continue to collect taxes on liquor sales, some fear that the revenue generated from government operated retail operations could be lost, impacting the government services currently supported by those revenues. As well, there would be job losses from the public sector if private companies take over retail operations.

Government operated liquor outlets have been instrumental in supporting the domestic alcohol beverage industry. Privatization could potentially weaken that support.

It could be argued that private liquor companies might prioritize profits over public health and safety, potentially leading to conflicts of interest. However, if sufficient regulations are put in place, private enterprise could be made to follow the same principles and practices as the government operated retail outlets adhere to.

As you can see, there is no simple solution as to which alternative is best. You will have to weigh the odds for yourself before deciding which side to support in this age-old debate.

Sláinte mhaith

A New Ontario Winery

January 17, 2026 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

According to an Instagram post just before Christmas, coming soon is the new “Skye Chase Winery” where you can “Discover what’s happening at St Thomas’ new social experience. Exceptional wine, culinary delights and a lounge with breathtaking views. Explore the new Skye Chase Winery and all it has to offer.”

Being intrigued, I did some research and learned that Skye Chase Winery was previously the Quai Du Vin Estate Winery. The vines of Quai Du Vin, now Skye Chase, date back to the 1970s with the original winery operating since 1990. Therefore, the vineyards that Skye Chase has assumed are well established and mature. It appears the new owner, Kyle MacDonald, took over ownership of the winery in 2025.

According to their website, Skye Chase’s objective is to create a winery that will establish Southwest Ontario as one of Canada’s great wine regions. They refer to themselves as a terroir-forward vineyard, letting the grapes be a direct expression of the natural environment, including the weather, soil and mineral content. They feel that this will let them make the highest quality, most interesting wines.

The head winemaker is Jay Johnston, a graduate from Niagara College’s Viticulture & Winemaking program. He has previous winemaking experience with Jackson-Triggs, Le Clos Jordanne, Hidden Bench, and Flat Rock Cellars.

The Skye Chase team has expanded the vineyards and dedicated their winemaking skills to focus on varietals best suited for the region’s unique terroir and climate. Thus, their focus is on cool climate varietals. The whites include Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. The reds are Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

They have revamped the “Fruit & the Vine” fruit wines with the new label “Wine’d Up Wine Company”. They claim, “It’s fruit wine done better, fresher, cleaner and ready for any occasion. Same flavour forward personality, just a whole new vibe.”

Skye Chase is looking to enhance the winery by constructing a new building that will feature a retail store, tasting room and Restobar.

Best of luck to the new Skye Chase Winery.

Sláinte mhaith

British Columbia’s Movers and Shakers for 2025

December 27, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

This week I present my annual list of British Columbia wineries that most impressed me this year. This is not to suggest that these are the only great wineries in the province but simply those that attracted my attention this year. The list varies in length from year to year as I like to focus on achievements rather than listing a specific number of wineries. The wineries are presented alphabetically as follows:

Laughing Stock Vineyards

Laughing Stock was recognized as the Best Performing Small Winery of the Year at this year’s National Wine Awards where they earned 2 Platinum, 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals. The winemaking team is led by winemaker Sandy Leier.

They aim to continually improve their wines and have been exploring a variety of fermentation vehicles over the past few years, including temperature regulated stainless tanks and the addition of eight concrete eggs. Six clay Amphorae have been acquired from Italy, in which a variety of limited production wines are produced. Complexity is added to the red wines through an extended barrel-aging program using 100% French oak in both standard barrel sizes and 500 liter puncheons.

Laughing Stock has 2 separate vineyards:

Naramata Bench Vineyard – The estate winery vineyard is home to all the Bordeaux grape varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec & Petit Verdot) that are included in their flagship wine, Portfolio.
Perfect Hedge Vineyard – Osoyoos – Since acquiring this 22-acre vineyard in 2007, it has become home to Bordeaux varieties (Merlot, Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon) as well as Viognier and Syrah

This is Laughing Stock’s first appearance on the Movers and Shakers list.

Meyer Family Vineyards (2021, 2024

This is Meyers Family Vineyards third time on the Movers and Shakers List, having appeared previously in 2024 and 2021.

Meyer aims to produce the finest quality wines in the traditions of the Burgundy region of France. The grapes are hand-harvested, with great attention to detail and minimal winemaking intervention. The wines are produced from three main vineyards: the 6.9-hectare McLean Creek Road Vineyard in Okanagan Falls; the 1.62-hectare Old Main Road Vineyard on the Naramata Bench; and the 1.5-hectare Lakehill Road Vineyard in Kaleden. They also work with passionate quality-minded growers in Naramata and Osoyoos area to round out their portfolio of terroir-driven wines.

Winemaker Chris Carson’s philosophy is to care for the grape on the vine and maintain as much as possible a hands-off approach in the cellar to allow the true expression of the terroir. Each wine reflects the single vineyard of its origin, the soil, the climate and the slope.

The three main vineyards are:

McLean Creek Road Vineyard Okanagan Falls – This is the home vineyard. The vineyard was originally planted in 1994. Varietals grown include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer.
Old Main Road Vineyard Naramata Bench – This vineyard was originally planted in 1996 with 100% Chardonnay vines which is still the case today.
Lakehill Road Vineyard Kaleden – The vineyard was planted with 3 acres of Pinot Noir in 2009 and another 0.75 acres in 2019.

Mission Hill Family Estate

Mission Hill was named Winery of the Year earlier this year at the National Wine Awards, making it Canada’s only six-time winner. This is reflected in the fact that Mission Hill appeared as a Mover and Shaker previously in 2022, 2021 and 2020.

This year Mission Hill Family Estate was awarded top honours with two platinum and seven gold awards. The award winning wines are:

2022 Perpetua: Platinum
2022 Terroir Cabernet Franc – Member Exclusive: Platinum
2023 Terroir Chardonnay – Member Exclusive: Gold
2020 Compendium: Gold
2022 Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon – Member Exclusive: Gold
2021 Oculus – Member Release Fall 2025: Gold
2020 Quatrain: Gold
2023 Perpetua – Coming Spring 2026: Gold
2022 Terroir Meritage – Member Exclusive: Gold

Fostering an ecosystem natural to the region supports quality grape growing, which in turn creates wine of depth and character. Bees, falcons and chickens replace pesticides and insecticides. Cover crops, earthworms and compost are used in place of chemical fertilizers.

Their practices are fundamentally rooted in Old World techniques which they now support with modern technology.

Stag’s Hollow Winery

This is Stag’s Hollow’s first appearance as a Mover and Shaker.

Larry Gerelus and Linda Pruegger started with a 10 acre vineyard in 1992 that was planted with Vidal and Chasselas varietals. The winery was later constructed in 1995. At that time, Stag’s Hollow Winery was one of only 30 wineries in British Columbia. Initially Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Vidal were grown.

In 2011, another 18 acres of land was purchased which became Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard.

The vineyards are managed sustainably, which refers to conservation, pest management, responsible water usage and efficient energy use. To maintain good biodiversity and soil health in the vineyard, chemical fungicides are not used. Instead, only organic products are applied. All canopy management is performed by hand, which reduces energy consumption as well as allowing for far more precision. A natural vegetation buffer zone is used to provide breeding grounds for beneficial insects to control unwanted pests.

The winery’s two vineyards are:

Stag’s Hollow Estate Vineyard – Merlot and Pinot Noir blocks, now exceeding 30 years of age, are on the southwest facing slopes of the Hollow.
Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard – This land, a former hay field, was purchased in 2011, recognizing that Pinot Noir was likely to be an excellent variety for its terroir. In addition, two Spanish varieties were planted – Albariño and Tempranillo, and two Italian varieties – Dolcetto and Teroldego.

Happy New Year!

Sláinte mhaith

Ontario’s Movers and Shakers for 2025

December 20, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

As the end of the year draws near, it is time to reveal my annual list of wineries that I found to be most impressive in 2025. Once again, I am not suggesting that these are the only great wineries in the province but merely those that attracted my attention this year. The list varies in length from year to year as I like to focus on achievements rather than listing a specific number of wineries.

Without further ado, here is my list for 2025, presented in alphabetical order:

Broken Stone Winery

Broken Stone is a boutique winery that is in the heart of the Prince Edward County wine region. I was first introduced to Broken Stone’s wines in 2023 and was impressed enough that I included it in my list of movers and shakers that year. I returned to the winery again this past spring and was equally impressed again by the quality of their wines.

Their objective is to grow the highest quality grapes and craft world-class wines that are created from grapes grown in their vineyards:

Kuepfer Vineyard – This is the original vineyard where Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Meunier grapes are grown
Applehouse Vineyard – This was the home of one of the first commercial plantings in the County that produces Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay grapes.
King Eddie Vineyard – Varieties planted here include Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

The vintner continually works to improve the vineyard biodiversity and soils. They have adopted minimal winemaking approaches and use their knowledge of science and tradition to help the wines reveal their potential.

Karlo Estates Winery

Prince Edward County’s Karlo Estates first appeared on my Movers and Shakers list in 2021. Since then, it has continued to develop and improve not only their wines, but their customers’ experiences. Under the direction of their Executive Winemaker Derek Barnett and Winemaker Spencer Mayer, they have produced the first certified vegan wine in the world, and as a result are reducing their carbon impact.

Not only is the wine in their bottles certified vegan but all vineyard practices are vegan, their packaging is vegan and their restaurant menu is vegan. As a result, they have been placed on the “Top Ten Cutting Edge Wines of the World” list.

The winery continues to provide the interesting single varietals and eclectic blends that it has become known for.

The Organized Crime Winery

I would be remiss if I failed to include the top Ontario winery at this year’s National Wine Awards. The Organized Crime earned a Platinum, 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

They are a second-generation, family-owned, small boutique winery located on the Beamsville Bench of the Niagara Peninsula. Owners Edward Zaski & Ania de Duleba farm the land themselves and assist in the winemaking throughout all stages of the process. Their production volumes are very small, but that hasn’t hindered them from appearing on my Movers and Shakers list previously in 2024 and 2020.

Two Sisters Vineyards

Two Sisters Vineyards began operations in 2007 guided by their passion to create exceptional wine. The winery and vineyards span over 130 acres in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Grape varietals include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

The vineyards are Certified Sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario. Two Sisters employ a science-based, decision-making process to reduce risks from grape pests in a way to minimize environmental risks. The winery also follows vegan practices as the wine fining agents that are used are vegan.

Two Sisters Vineyards was previously included as a Mover and Shaker back in 2020.

Coming up next week will be British Columbia’s 2025 list.

Sláinte mhaith

2025: A Much Better Year

October 18, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / 1 Comment

As an update to my November 9, 2024, post “2024: A Year to Remember”, I am pleased to report that the devastation resulting from the environmental disasters that plagued the 2024 growing season in British Columbia have had a reduced impact on this year’s grape harvest.

The vines that survived the destruction have recovered significantly, contrary to expectations. Most growers are now expecting a substantial crop; something that seemed unimaginable last year. The vines have proven to be much more resilient than expected. Some wineries project this year to be their largest harvest ever.

Indications are that the 2025 vintage will be of high quality as the weather has been consistently warm but without extreme heat spikes and wildfires. However, some vineyards still have crop yields of questionable quality.

Grape prices have returned to more reasonable levels, similar to what existed before the environmental challenges of the past couple of years. This will be a relief for the wineries and consumers.

Only a small number of wineries will continue to need to source grapes again from the U.S. Thus, the replacement wine program has been extended for another year. Many producers have replanted vineyards that will not be in full production for another several years.

The effects of the 2024 disaster will continue to linger for the foreseeable future. but the impact is proving not to be as devastating as first thought.

Sláinte mhaith

Impact of Tariffs on the Canadian Wine Industry

October 4, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Tariffs and retaliatory measures significantly hurt Canada’s wine industry by increasing the cost of U.S. grape must and juice needed by many winemakers, while also indirectly harming wineries through higher costs for imported packaging and equipment. On the other hand, provincial bans on U.S. wine improved sales for domestic Canadian wines. However, should this increased demand continue, wineries may need to enhance their operations.

Wine production costs have increased for wineries that purchase grape must (crushed grapes) from the U.S. Tariffs on steel and aluminum from the U.S. have increased the cost of barrels, equipment and cans.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Canadian wine industry. There have been increased sales of domestic wine due to the removal of American wines from liquor and wine store shelves in most provinces.

Statistics Canada announced that in April 2025, Canada imported only 2.9 million dollars of American wine a 94% decrease from the year previous. Imports from other wine-producing regions such as New Zealand and Australia increased by 31% and 28% respectively, while shipments from France and Italy rose by 13.6% and 7.6% respectively.

Wineries in Southwestern Ontario, the B.C. Lower Mainland, and Kelowna have experienced increased sales. For example, despite total wholesale wine sales falling nearly 5% year-over-year, B.C.’s share climbed from 47% to over 52%. For the first time, B.C. wines represent more than half of all wholesale wine sales in that province.

However, as stated previously, I don’t believe there are any real winners in a trade war.

Sláinte mhaith

A lesson Learned

August 16, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Earlier this year I had my first experience purchasing a case of wine in a foreign country and having it shipped home. In the past I have often taken advantage of the duty-free laws and brought home a bottle of wine or whisky, but this was the first time I purchased a quantity of wine.

The purchase of the wine was made at the time I visited a winery in Bordeaux, France. The six bottles of wine I purchased cost 315 euros plus a shipping fee of 99 euros for a total of 414 euros. Once the exchange rate was applied my total came to $660 CDN.

After my return home I received an email from the shipper advising that they required a copy of the transaction receipt and/or credit card payment confirmation statement verifying the purchase. This information was then forwarded to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) for valuation purposes prior to the delivery of my wine. I was also advised that there would be additional costs associated with importing alcohol that had to be paid prior to the release of my shipment.

The additional costs included a levy of 102.2% which was applied to the total value of the shipment. There was also a brokerage fee of $49.17+HST, duties, taxes and a government filing fee of $12.50 as well. The total import fees ended up being $605. The result was that a bottle of wine sold at a Bordeaux winery with a price tag of $52.50 euros or $83 ended up costing me $184! Lesson learned.

Sláinte mhaith