• Order the following wine by the bottle(s) or case(s) for daily delivery to home, office or restaurant online from this link to Henry of Pelham – There is free delivery on 12 or more bottles in Ontario. Select ‘12 Bottles+’ at check out and allow up to 10 days for delivery or, order online then pick up bottle(s) or case(s) from the winery at 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines ON. Here’s a map.

• The following 2020 Speck Brothers ‘Family Tree – The Padre’ Cabernet Merlot was 100% barrel-aged for 16 months in a mixture of new and older pre-loved oak with 60% French oak barrels and 40% American oak barrels. This reflects the dazzling VQA 2020 Vintage that the alert wine-making team at Henry of Pelham has captured in this wine. It also bears the exceptional-value icon pointing to a multiple buy.

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Speck Brothers ‘Family Tree – The Padré’ Cabernet-Merlot 2020

VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 13.3% alcohol

Divine aromas rise from the glass—incense, red cherry, black currant, and wisps of cedar cigar box. It continues to be sourced from the holy trinity of the Bordeaux blend—cabernet franc/cabernet sauvignon/merlot. It rolls over the palate nicely balanced with a mouthful of flavour—ripe black currant and raspberry robed in excellent tang and acidity and wisps of dark bittersweet chocolate. It’s medium-weight and satin smooth throughout the tasting and it’s so much more than the psalm of its parts. Pick up a case and rejoice over the next 12 months or so alongside your favourite backyard burgers, grilled gourmet sausage or your favourite pizza. (Vic Harradine)

• Order the following wines by the case for daily home or office directly online from Kacaba Vineyards with FREE shipping in Ontario on orders of six bottles or more, by phone at 1 866 522-2228 or 1 905 562-5625, or pick up a bottle or case from the winery (curbside pick-up or shop in the boutique it’s open 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week) at 3550 King Street in Vineland ON. For various wine shopping options during COVID-19, click here.

• The following Vintage-dated 2019 ‘Irresistible’ Sparkling Rosé was sourced from the same grape varieties most popular in making French Champagne – 66% chardonnay/20% pinot noir/14% pinot meunier with all hand-harvested. This was fashioned in méthode Charmat with the 2nd alcoholic fermentation made in a special stainless steel tank before being bottled and sealed with a cork and wire cage. The base for this wine was gently pressed to avoid skin contact. After settling, the grape varieties were fermented in separate batches then blended as one into stainless steel. The base then aged for 22 months in stainless then was transferred to a special Charmat tank in October 2020 for its 2nd alcoholic fermentation under pressure. After 2 months of ageing on its lees, the now sparkling wine was racked, filtered and bottled December 2021. This wine and the other Kacaba wines that follows, owe a hearty thanks and doff of the cap to winemaker Vadim Chelekhov and his marvelous winemaking team.

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Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Irresistible – Joanne’s Blend’ Sparkling Rosé 2019
VQA Ontario $30.15 12.2% alcohol
A good mousse, aka bubbles, when poured in the glass, there is also a seemingly endless steady-stream of fine-bead bubbles winding their way from the bottom of the glass to the top of the wine in the glass. This is fully flavoured on the palate with pie cherry, red currant and oodles of acidity and pizzazz intertwined with ripe black plum compote and notions of kirsch liqueur. It’s medium-plus bodied with good mouthfeel, persistent purity of fruit and good balance. The price is right, you could pick up a few and keep for friends who drop in unexpectedly. Serve as an aperitif or match with appetizers such as smoked salmon, oysters Kirkpatrick or crab cakes, (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2021 Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Rebecca Rosé – Summer Series’ was sourced from gamay fruit as it has for many previous vintages. 2021 was another wonderful summer of warmth and just enough rain without serious weather disturbances. Fruit was picked in the cool early morning in mid-October and brought to the winery to cold soak for 24 hours before being gently pressed; which resulted in an attractive pink-hued rosé. It was fermented using a special commercial yeast the cold and long fermentation that followed amplified and concentrated flavours captured during press. It was also cold-stored for a lengthy time avoiding malolactic fermentation before being bottled in April 2022.

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Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Rebecca Rosé – Summer Series’ 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $20.15 (227025) 11.7% alcohol
Very aromatic and quite attractive when poured in the glass. Aromas of apricot, blood orange and Ruby Red grapefruit abound on the nose decorated with mineral notes and exotic spice. It envelops the palate with a dry, racy surge of tang-infused pizzazz and acidity presented as passion fruit and sweet red cherry along with wisps of sweet watermelon and a mid-length lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Sip on its own or pour alongside mixed sushi platter, pan-seared scallops or rotisserie roast chicken. (Vic Harradine)

• In the following 2021 Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Susan’s – Summer Series’ Sauvignon Blanc, once again the excellent 2021 Vintage really shines throughout this lovely, light-on-its-feet wine. Picked at the peak of phenolic ripeness and before the rains came, the fruit for this wine underwent 24 hours of cold soaking then the wine-making team pressed and allowed the juice to settle naturally by gravity at very cold temperatures. After a cold and slow fermentation the wine was allowed to winter in stainless steel tanks achieving cold stability naturally. There was no malolactic fermentation with this wine.

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Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Susan’s – Summer Series’ Sauvignon Blanc 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $20.15 10.5% alcohol.
Aromas of savoury herbs, mango and hints of mint jelly, Granny Smith apple and citrussy notes waft easily from the glass with the gentlest of swirls. It dazzles the palate with a laser-like streak of grapefruit, lemon curd and saline minerality that carry through the mid-length finish and aftertaste. This is clean, crisp and refreshing from twist top to final drop. Pour alongside briny freshly shucked, oysters dotted with hot sauce, a pinch of horseradish and a squeeze of fresh lemon wedge. (Vic Harradine)

• Fruit for the following 2021 Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Reserve – Premium Series’ Riesling was sourced from vines growing on the footsteps of the Niagara Escarpment. Taking advantage of the excellent 2021 vintage, the grapes were allowed to hang on vines into October. Grapes were harvested very early in the cool morning then quickly and gently pressed at the winery. Juice was settled at very cold temperatures for over a week prior to racking. Juice was then allowed to warm for fermentation which was conducted at low temperatures. The fermentation process was stopped allowing for residual sugar in the wine. Over the winter the wine continued to develop floral and fruit flavours. The wine was then bottled in April 2022.

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Kacaba Vineyards and Winery ‘Reserve – Premium Series’ Riesling 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $21.15 11.0% alcohol
Aromas of white flowers, green apple, and ripe honeydew melon can be coaxed from the glass with some vigorous swirls. This dazzles the palate with creamy-smooth mouthfeel and plenty of pizzazz in this off-dry, flavourful riesling. There’s a myriad of palate flavours with lemon pastille, crisp green apple, and sweet white peach to the fore. This is nicely balanced and showcases persistent purity of fruit and a lingering, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Short term and careful cellaring – up to five years – should be handsomely rewarded. Pour with the usual suspects; freshly shucked oysters, grilled calamari or spicy Asian food like pad Thai. (Vic Harradine)

• Access the Locust Lane Winery website by clicking on the link below where you will find out how to purchase this wine that reflects a dazzling 2020 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore vintage and the winery promises free shipping to your home, office or licensed restaurant. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour making this an exceptional-value wine.

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Locust Lane Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2020
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $16.95 12.5% alcohol
Savoury herbs, grassy notes and plenty of lemon citrussy aromas can be coaxed from this excellent sauvignon blanc. It blankets the palate with a tang-infused river of lemon curd, passion fruit and wisps of gooseberry with a creamy smooth mouthfeel intertwined with persistent purity of fruit, deft balance and a lengthy finish and aftertaste. The price-quality balance swings well in your favour, pick up an armful directly from the winery, see above link to the winery. Pour alongside pan-seared scallops, grilled calamari rings or East-Coast pan-seared salmon. (Vic Harradine)

• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following wine is sold at the winery only, order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with FREE shipping on orders of $99 or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays and noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays, and noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are guidelines due to COVID-19 that change often, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email)

• The following 2021 Malivoire Wine Company ‘Moira’ Rosé is available only at the winery. It is sourced from 100% hand-harvested pinot noir from the Estate vineyard of the original Moira Vineyard with unfermented grape sugar coming in at an average of 20.6 ° Brix. Whole-cluster grapes were gently pressed for minimal contact between juice and skins leading to the lightly hued finished wine. After briefly chilling in a low-profile stainless steel tank for optimum lees contact it was transferred to a standard steel tank. The finished wine was bottled in January 2022.

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Malivoire Wine Company ‘Moira’ Rosé 2021
VQA Beamsville Bench $24.95 12.5% alcohol
Deep, rich and layered aromas deliver a smorgasbord of fruit with strawberry, rhubarb and watermelon to the fore. It awakens the palate with a racy streak of tang-laden passionfruit, lemon curd and pomegranate that join with ripe flavours of wild strawberry, pie cherry and grilled savory herbs. It finishes in a lingering aftertaste with great élan and elegance that fleshes out ripe fruit and racy tang. Give this a go with a pan-seared fillet of Atlantic salmon under a squeeze of fresh lemon when served. (Vic Harradine)

• Use this link Rockway Vineyards to search their winery website for the following and other wines available to you as they will take your order online and deliver to your home, business office or licensed restaurant. They advertise FREE standard shipping for orders of at least $50.00. You can also phone them as they are open daily 11 am to 6 pm - 905-641-5771 or you can email them - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Only estate-grown, 17-year-old Chardonnay grapes were harvested for the following 2020 Rockway Vineyards ‘Small Lot’ Chardonnay. Fruit was gently pressed then the juice was cold settled in tank before going to barrel for alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation before being aged for nine months in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrel. Once matured the wine was racked back into tank where it was stabilized, and filtered before bottling. It reflects the dazzling 2020 vintage and captures deft nuances from the VQA Twenty Mile Bench. Kudos and doff of the cap to the Rockway Vineyards wine-making team for this wine and all those that follow.

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Rockway Vineyards ‘Small Lot’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $25.00 14.2% alcohol
Appealing aromas of lemon citrus, crisp Granny Smith apple, ripe pear, baking spice and rising dough abound on the nose of this medium-plus bodied chardonnay that sports satin-smooth mouthfeel and fruit-forward flavours of juicy lemon and mixed spice on the palate and through the finish and aftertaste decorated with saline minerality and plenty of pizzazz. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Rockway Vineyards Gewürztraminer was sourced from a small-ish estate block that is a little less than one acre. The hand-picked fruit was gently whole-cluster pressed for optimum flavours. Juice was cold settled and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The alcoholic fermentation was stopped just before it would have naturally stopped to achieve perfect balance between the residual sugar and the excellent acidity.

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Rockway Vineyards Gewürztraminer 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $25.00 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of rosewater, exotic spice and tree fruit—Mirabelle plum and ripe apricot—precede a textbook mouthful of gewürztraminer with palate flavours of tinned lychee preserved in rosewater, sweet vanilla and excellent balancing acidity that persists to and through the finish and aftertaste. Give this barely off-dry beauty a go with a special Sunday, family-dinner of baked bone-in ham adorned with cloves inserted in the outside of the ham along with a maple-syrup glaze… a match made in heaven? (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Rockway Vineyards Gamay was sourced from a vineyard neighbouring their estate vineyards. Fruit was destemmed and crushed into tank for fermentation then left to macerate for a total of 25 days then gently pressed and transferred to 15% new French oak and 85% to neutral French oak barriques. Malolactic conversion occurred in early months of barrel maturation. The wine was filtered before being bottled. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up a few.

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Rockway Vineyards Gamay Noir 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.00 12.0% alcohol
Fruit-forward aromas of fresh berry fruit are intertwined with nuances of gamey notes. The palate’s enveloped in a replay of simple berry note aromas with black raspberry and black currant to the fore along with wisps of mixed spice, ripe tannin and oaky notes. This is light on its feet with excellent balance of racy tang, loads of succulent fruit flavours and a soft, ripe barely perceptible tannin underpinning. Drink alongside your favourite pan-seared fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon or with Montreal smoked meat sliced up and served with boiled cabbage that’s finished in a fry-pan with fine-diced cooking onion. Aerate/decant a couple of hours before serving. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2017 Rockway Vineyards ‘Small Lot’ Syrah was destemmed, crushed then put into stainless steel tanks where it was cold-soaked and fermented. It was pumped over twice daily for 19 days. After fermentation it was pressed off into tank and transferred to 25% new French oak barrels and the balance to neutral oak. It matured 18 months before being racked into stainless steel tanks for filtration then bottling.

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Rockway Vineyards ‘Small Lot’ Syrah 2017
VQA Niagara Peninsula $27.00 13.0% alcohol
This is lightly hued ruby in the glass with distinctive aromas of sprigs of wild herbs and freshly ground black pepper alongside dark cherry/berry fruit and kirsch liqueur. It caresses the palate with satin-smooth texture, creamy mouthfeel and oodles of ripe fruit flavour—dark cherry and bramble berry—coupled with balancing acidity and soft, ripe tannin. There’s persistent purity of fruit throughout and pours well with grilled rack of lamb, roast potatoes and a sprig of mint. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Rockway Vineyards ‘Staterra’ red blend was sourced from various select premium vineyards in the VQA Niagara Peninsula appellation—the 50% merlot was selected from a vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake; the 30.6% cabernet franc and 19.4% syrah was sourced from Rockway estate vineyards. The grapes were harvested at maximum ripeness, crushed and destemmed into tank for fermentation. The wine was macerated for 28 days with pump-overs before being sent to barrel for maturation. The wine matured for 18 months with 25% in new French oak and 75% in neutral oak.
After blending, the wines were transferred out of barrel, filtered and bottled.

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Rockway Vineyards ‘Staterra’ 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.00 13.5% alcohol
Grilled savory herbs, black cherry and toasted oaky notes join with bramble berry, black currant and mocha on the nose of this medium-bodied, structured and still-evolving red blend. It’s full- Monty flavoured with deft balance of fruit flavours, delightful tangy acidity and a perceptible and acceptable ripe tannin underpinning. This is drinking well now and should improve over the next few years, Give it a try with boeuf Bourguignon or osso buco. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Rockway Vineyards Cabernet – Shiraz was sourced from 50.0% cabernet franc and 37.5% syrah with both estate-grown along with 12.5% cabernet sauvignon from a neighbouring vineyard. The grapes were harvested at different times to capture full ripeness of the fruit flavours and tannins and to balance with the acidity. Grapes were destemmed and crushed into tank for fermentation then macerated for 28 days with daily pump-overs. The wine was then pressed off and into tank for settling. It then matured for 18 months in 25% new French oak with the remaining spending its time in neutral oak barrels. All the wine underwent 100% malolactic fermentation while in barrel. The wine was filtered before being bottled.

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Rockway Vineyards Cabernet - Shiraz 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.00 13.0% alcohol
Lifted aromas of cherry/berry fruit and cassis waft easily from the glass with the gentlest of swirls. The racy tang envelops the palate along with grippy tannin infusing the black currant and juicy black cherry fruit flavour. It’s full of pizzazz and bracing acidity with a lengthy finish and aftertaste. Aerate/decant three hours before serving with grilled steak seasoned generously with Hy’s seasoned steak salt or tuck away for a year or so of careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Cabernet Franc was sourced from an estate vineyard and harvested in late October. Fruit was destemmed and crushed into tank for alcoholic fermentation with once or twice a day pump-overs. The wine macerated for a total of 25 days prior to being gently pressed then transferred to 20% new French oak with the balance in neutral French oak barriques. Malolactic fermentation occurred during early months of barrel ageing and was then filtered before bottling and wine release.

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Rockway Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2018
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $28.00 13.5% alcohol
Mixed spice and dark cherry/berry aromas abound on the nose of this gem of a cabernet franc. It envelops the palate with a surge of persistent purity of fruit and concentrated, pure ambrosia with a river of blueberry, black bramble berry and black, juicy Bing cherry robed in excellent acidity, deft balance and an underpinning of delightful tannin that persists to and through the juicy finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour alongside chorizo-stuffed Poblano peppers. (Vic Harradine)