Our standard grape varieties

Grapes purchased will vary from year to year, depending on availability and quality.  Some of our regular Chilean grape purchases include:

Cabernet Sauvignon  The world’s most popular red, our Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon shows a rich blackberry core, complex aromas, and a tannin structure that supports lots of oak.  Capable of ageing for years, this Cab is truly a cellar classic.

Carmenere  The lost grape of Bordeaux, which thrives in the exceptional climate of Chile's Curico Valley.  Medium bodied, with abundant yet soft tannins, this exceptional red is quickly becoming the next grape on the wine lovers map.  Producing exceptional wines on its own, or fleshing out blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere is a valuable weapon in a wine blender's arsenal.

Chardonnay  With some clients electing to ferment with naturally occuring yeasts, while others use pure strains to target specific characteristics of Chardonnay, one thing is for certain- the opulent fruit of  our Chilean Chardonnay will always yield exceptional wines. This grape creates wines with full flavor and body that can support generous amounts of oak.  Long lived, this Chardonnay will be a cellar staple for years to come.

Depending on quality, availability and price, we purchase a diverse range of grapes from California  and Niagara including Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chenin Blanc. However, there are certain staples we bring in every year, including the following:

Old Vine Zinfandel  From vines more than 60 years old, this medium/full bodied zin shows delicious aromas of licorice, spice and jammy fruits.  An absolutely perfect complement in your wine cellar to the more traditional Bordeaux-style wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cab blends.

Cabernet Sauvignon  Full bodied, with a delicious core of blackberries and raspberries, a long lived graceful ageing red wine.

Shiraz  Delicious on its own or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, this ripe, juicy, aromatic grape thrives in the longer growing season of the Sierra Mountains. 

Baco Noir  From a certified organic farm, this deliciously dark, full-of-fruit Niagara cult classic is a perennial favorite.

Chardonnay  Capable of extended oak ageing, our California Chardonnays are rich, smooth and full-bodied.  Charles’ personal preference, though, is for the more Chablis-style Chardonnays from our Niagara grower.

Gewurztraminer  The Alsace clone of Gewurztraminer, loaded with notes of lychee and tangerines.  Limited in availability, fans of great Gewurz need to book these grapes fast.

Of course, this is just a partial list. Our purchase decisions are always based on client requests, availability and, most importantly, quality.