Exceptional Grapes

Great wine begins in the vineyard. Therefore, the first step in making wine you’ll love is purchasing the best grapes available. Growing great grapes is a combination of many elements: selecting the correct grapes for the vineyard location, soil conditions, hours of sunshine, seasonal temperature variations, trellising, leaf and cluster pull back, and the delicate hand of the grape grower in determining the perfect time to harvest for sugar, tannin and phenolic ripeness. Because farmers can grow either for maximum yield or maximum quality, careful selection of farms and grapes is critical to the success of your wine.

For years we have dealt with ultra-premium grape farms in California. We often purchase from farms in the Sierra Mountains, where a combination of warm days and cool nights along with a long ripening period allow for exceptional flavour development. Depending on availability, price and quality, we also purchase grapes from Napa, Sonoma and other high-value growing regions.

We also purchase grapes from various farms in Ontario’s Niagara region. Vineyards in Niagara consistently produce white grapes of exceptional calibre as well as many excellent reds, including the grape destined to be Niagara's cult classic, Baco Noir. Different varietals thrive in different parts of the Niagara Peninsula. We select some grapes from farms near Niagara-On-The-Lake while other grapes are purchased from vineyards higher on the Niagara Escarpment. Additionally, we work with organic farms in Niagara that focus on maximizing grape quality and harvesting at optimal ripeness. While these practices result in reduced yields of grapes per acre, the superior quality of the grapes is well worth the additional cost.

Chile is recognized as a premium grape-growing region.  With vineyards in various parts of the Central Valley, vines are blessed with warm days and cooler evenings, excellent soil drainage, an abundance of sunlight and committed growers.  The results are complex, full-flavoured wines that are on par with, and often surpass, grapes that cost significantly more.

If you have a preference for particular grapes, please email us your favorites.  You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the grape varietals we bring in.