Good winery in Ontario?

Question

I'm traveling to Niagara Falls, I've heard there are good wineries on the Canadian side... any recommendations? What are the best kinds of wine that I should try while there?

Answer 1

The Niagara peninsula in Ontario has about 40 wineries that are close together and easy to visit.

Itis famous for its expensive ice-wines which are sublime, but they also make super ordinary wines. I found that Cabernet Franc is especialy successful there, alo try the Rieslings and Pinot Nois.

There is an excellent free color book -- Official Guide to the Wineries of Ontario -- with maps and details of all the wineries you can pick up in any tourist office and winery there.

Some recommendations

Marynissen - excellent reds
Thirty Bench - astounding Chardonnays
Jackson-Triggs - huge classy winery with good tour
Chateau des Charmes - impressive French style chateau building, good wines, good tour

But things change fast -- just wing it and you won't be disappointed.

Answer 2

They are really only known for their sweet wines, which they are able to make by pressing the grapes after they have frozen on the vine. The frozen water pellets are sifted out, leaving behind very concentrated, sweet juice. Inniskillen is far and away the class of the bunch. The growing season isn't long enough for other varieities.

Here's a description of a recent vintage, from Wine Spectator:

Inniskillin Riesling Niagara Peninsula Ice Wine 2002
Price: $80
93 Points
Racy and intense, this ice wine jolts the palate with its dried apricot, blood orange and mint aromas and flavors. It's very sweet, yet offset with bracing acidity and a tightly wound character that pulses through the long finish.