The story behind Meldville
Meldville is the personal label of Derek Barnett, a winemaker with more than thirty years in Niagara who had built his name at wineries like Southbrook and Lailey. When Lailey was sold, he struck out on his own in 2015.
The name comes from his childhood family home in England. It is a one-winemaker project, small and personal.
A veteran's small-batch wines
Meldville works as a virtual winery, buying fruit from a handful of trusted growers and making the wine at a Beamsville facility rather than owning a big estate. Barnett keeps things low-intervention, letting the vineyards speak.
Chardonnay is the anchor, joined by Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc. These are the wines of someone who has been refining his craft for decades.
Frequently asked questions
What is Meldville known for?
Meldville is a small-batch Niagara label known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made by veteran winemaker Derek Barnett. After decades at other wineries, he built Meldville as his own low-intervention, one-winemaker project.
Who is Derek Barnett?
Derek Barnett is a longtime Niagara winemaker with more than thirty years in the region, known for his work at Southbrook and Lailey before starting Meldville in 2015. He is often described as one of Ontario's original cult winemakers.
Where is Meldville?
Meldville is based in Beamsville, in the Niagara Peninsula, where Barnett makes the wine. Its fruit comes largely from the Lincoln Lakeshore area, one of Niagara's cooler, lake-moderated pockets.
