The story behind Tawse Winery
Tawse is the work of Moray Tawse, a Toronto financier who fell for Burgundy and wanted to make wine that could stand beside it. He opened the winery on Cherry Avenue in Vineland in 2005 and it grew fast from there.
It grew well, too. Tawse has been named Canadian Winery of the Year four times, most recently in 2016, a run few Canadian wineries can match.
Organic, biodynamic, gravity-fed
Tawse farms certified organic and biodynamic, and the winery is built into the Escarpment on six gravity-flow levels so the grapes are handled gently. Geothermal energy and a wetland that cleans the winery's water round out the design.
The focus is Burgundy: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including single-vineyard bottlings like Quarry Road. The late Paul Pender led the winemaking for years and guided the estate through its organic and biodynamic conversion.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tawse Winery known for?
Tawse is known for Burgundy-inspired Pinot Noir and Chardonnay farmed organically and biodynamically on the Twenty Mile Bench. It has been named Canadian Winery of the Year four times, and it holds one of the largest organic wine portfolios in Niagara.
Is Tawse organic?
Yes. Tawse is certified organic through Ecocert and certified biodynamic through Demeter. That means no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and a whole-farm approach to the vineyard rather than treating vines in isolation.
Where is Tawse Winery?
In Vineland, on the Twenty Mile Bench of the Niagara Escarpment. The gravity-flow winery is set into the slope itself, letting the hillside move the wine gently downhill through each stage.
