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The wineries:Château des Charmes, Maleta Winery, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Ravine Vineyards
The topography is varied in this area that was carved by glaciers to form a natural bench below the Escarpment. The Icewine Trail follows along the Escarpment from the Niagara River to Beechwood Road and vineyards are planted on gentle slopes to allow for good drainage in the silty clay soils. The escarpment location helps vineyards warm early in the spring and provides frost protection. Throughout the growing season vineyards located in the upper bench receive steady moisture from ground water.
Château des Charmes’ founder Paul Bosc Sr. is a founder of the modern Canadian wine industry. His table wines and Icewines have been winning awards and accolades both nationally and internationally for three decades. His Vidal Icewine has been judged Best Icewine in the World at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, England and the current release earned a Gold medal at the 2007 Canadian Wine Awards. The flagship Riesling Icewine from Paul’s eponymous vineyard is made only in the best years. In 2006 it was judged Sweet Wine of the Year at the Canadian Wine Awards and most recently was named by Toronto Life magazine one of “100 Tastes To Try Before You Die”.
Maleta Winery is a small premium winery, with vineyards enjoying a favourable mesoclimate, specializing in premium and ultra-premium VQA wines such as its flagship Meritage, an award-winning Bordeaux-style, oak-aged red wine produced from high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes grown at the property, and now its highly acclaimed sparkling wine produced in the méthode traditionelle. Maleta's success is the result of meticulous vineyard management practices coupled with passionate and traditional winemaking techniques.
Niagara College has operated a teaching winery since 2002. The NCT Winery is the only school of applied oenology in Canada. Here students experience the Icewine harvest first hand. With vineyards right on campus, students are called to pick the grapes when the optimum temperatures are reached. Students work through each step of the Icewine process from the vine right through the crush and up to the point of bottling. Many students are from foreign countries and distant areas of Canada and are proud to be part of making one of Canada's most internationally renowned products. Each year NCT Winery produces different varieties of Icewine, giving the students diverse knowledge of different styles. One will find students serving up this "Nectar of the Gods" at the Icewine gala, Icewine Festival and in the NCT Winery’s own wine store during the month of January. Icewine should always be kept on hand for warming up on those chilly winter evenings!
A true rural estate winery located in the Village of St. David’s Ontario on a lush rolling hillside farm owned by the descendants of David Jackson Lowrey since 1867. Ravine Vineyards is proudly producing VQA wines from organic grapes that have captured the attention of critics and wine enthusiasts across the country. Also linger on the porch for lunch at Olson Foods at Ravine, an on-site deli, bakery and gourmet food store operated by our partners and celebrity chefs Anna and Michael Olson.
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