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Niagara has moved on from tender fruit to wineries in the last 30 years. Our tender fruit does not travel well – even from farmer’s market to kitchen. Our peaches are soft, juicy, sweet and tangy, but they mould quickly. The major canning factories eventually shut down and peach orchards were pulled out and vineyards replaced them. Grafting techniques have improved along with varieties and growing techniques. Beginning in the 1970’s Vitis vinifera was successfully grown. In the 1990’s fine grape varieties were successfully grown in Niagara. Being a cooler climate, the result has been complex, delicate and longer ageing potential properties. So the addition of vineyards means that one can travel along the north shore of Lake Ontario from Grimsby to the Niagara River and see both fruit orchards and vineyards on either side all the way.
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Grapes white
There were less than 70 wineries in 2003 in Niagara compared to more than 100 today. This means there are now interesting buildings set in the landscape. The wineries display diverse architectural styles.
Grapes red
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My own favourites are those that have preserved buildings from the past. They are: Hidden Bench, Peninsula Ridge, Stoneyridge, 13th Street and The Good Earth.
! These are wineries and vineyards with history. !
Hidden Bench’s distinctive barn set in the vineyards. The images below show it in the early summer and then the winter.
Hidden Bench Label
Hidden Bench Summer & Winter
Everything about the harvest is wonderful. Hidden Bench Boots
Garden Tripod 23
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