Jim and Kathy Baker standing outside the huge doors of Chateau Niagara, their new winery. By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor The story of Chateau Niagara begins like many in this romantic little region. Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Couple starts family, discovers local wine. Boy gets girl tipsy, sells her on starting winery. In this particular chapter however, owners Jim and Kathy Baker’s story takes an interesting twist — girl goes on to become tasting room manager at a local winery as Jim stays the course of his career so both can one day open up their own…
Posts Written ByBryan Calandrelli
My Day Trip Back to the Future of Niagara Wines
Southbrook's LEED certified winery and biodynamic vineyards in Niagara on the Lake, ON. by Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor If you read this column with any regularity, what I’m about to write will be nothing new. But it’s certainly worth repeating: In only ten short years the Niagara Wine Region USA has come a long way. With thirteen wineries open and several more in the works, the region’s future as a wine destination seems more and more likely. The potential for quality reds, whites, roses and dessert wines has never been more apparent. But as much as good as I…
Winter Pruning in the Niagara Wine Region Part 1
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Regional Editor There are certain things you can learn from drinking wine and reading about winemaking or wine science. In my experience though other aspects like viticulture and canopy management can really only be grasped working hands-on the vineyard. I’ve gained some basic knowledge in the last few seasons here but there is so much more for me to learn before I go planting a small vineyard. My idea behind this video and future videos is to demonstrate basic methods of vine management during the season with at least three wineries using different trellis systems. Each…
Building on Success at Eveningside Vineyards
Eveningside Vineyards owner Randy Biehl stands in front of his new production facility in Cambria, NY by Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Randy Biehl doesn’t tend to wax romantic when he talks about his new production building – the construction of which is close to completion – at Eveningside Vineyards, the winery he owns on the Niagara Escarpment with his wife Karen. “I’m very aware we are in a critical time for our business,” he says. “Expansion is when many businesses end up failing.” Knowing Biehl, you don’t chalk this up as simple boilerplate pessimism, but rather to his meticulous…
Making Progress at Victorianbourg: Q & A with Dan Hogue, Owner and Winemaker
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Dan Hogue is apologetic as I get out of my car and approach his tasting room. “Sorry about the mud, I’m going to have lay some gravel down,” he says. A little mud at a winery doesn’t bother me though and I assure him that it’s not a big deal. The last time we visited Victorianbourg Wine Estate in December, Hogue was scrambling to get the tasting room ready for the public. In the final days before his opening, he got it together and handled the crowds that are indicative of a wine trail…
Barrel Tasting Friday: Tasting the Future of a Region
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor This past Friday, I hosted the second Barrel Tasting Friday event at Freedom Run Winery in Cambria, NY with cellarmaster Kurt Guba. The focus was pinot noir and the turnout was amazing. More than 50 guests reserved seats and showed up in the dead of winter from as far away as Rochester to taste the barrels they’ve seen in the tasting room during previous visits. I have to admit I pitched the idea to the owners after having taken part in similar, though less formal, events last spring. At TasteCamp on Long Island, we…
Arrowhead Spring’s Estate Syrah Makes a Bold Statement
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Duncan Ross is not one to get too visibly excited or emotional when he’s discussing his Niagara Escarpment winery in Lockport, NY. Arrowhead Spring Vineyards had just released their first 100% estate-grown red wine when I stopped in to speak to him about his 2008 Estate Syrah. Just as I expected, he was calm, cool and collected — until the end of our interview when I asked him his overall impression of this wine. To which he responded, “It’s the best wine I’ve ever made.” If I weren’t sitting there with a glass of…
Icewine Harvest at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Last Thursday morning I had a chance to participate in my third icewine harvest since moving to the Niagara region — this time at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery’s vineyards in Lyndonville, NY on a chilly morning. I not only pitched in, but shot some video and spoke with winemaker Jonathan Oakes. Jonathan’s 2008 release icewine was just awarded “Dessert Wine of the Year” for the Niagara Escarpment region and he was eager to bring in the frozen grapes this year to build on the success of last year’s harvest. I didn’t have time to…
A Busy Road Ahead for Niagara USA Wine
by Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor When I look back on 2009, I can say with some certainty that the Niagara wine region as a whole grew up. Why do I only now say this? Well, because 2009 was an indication of what the future holds for the industry and specifically, how wineries will have to operate their tasting rooms, make their wines and market themselves. Two trends that will affect how wineries will operate this year were the influx of tourists that found the wineries during their visit to Niagara Falls and the popularity of locals taking limo and…
Victorianbourg’s Bet On Pinot by the Lake Shore
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Last week’s opening of Victorianbourg Estate Winery in Wilson, NY is both exciting and important for the Niagara Wine Trail for several reasons. Obviously since our wine region is still so small, with only twelve wineries open, the term “the more the merrier” still rings true. Nearly any addition would be welcomed, but this one is made more exciting by the fact they are primarily using estate fruit for the purpose of making dry wines. When I met Victorianbourg owner Dan Hogue and I was impressed with what he is growing on his 50-acre…