Canadian Winery Spotlight: Ridge Road Estate Winery
As the story seems to go with most great wineries, it all starts with the fruit. In this case, the fruit was an orchard. In 1994, Sean and Jayne Douglas decided to buy a fruit farm from Jayne’s grandmother that had been in the family for over 100 years. Their plan was to turn the farm into a vineyard and sell the grapes to wineries in the area.
Fifteen years later, the Douglas’ decided that instead of providing grapes for others to make great wines, they would craft great wines themselves, and thus, Ridge Road Estate Winery was born.
Ridge Road is the most westerly winery in the Niagara region and is situated on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. Although grown in clay loam soils, the omnipresent limestone that appears throughout the soil in the region lends a distinct minerality to the wines. The wines are made from handpicked grapes and are produced in small batches that enable winemaker Sean Douglas to devote incredible care and attention to each bottle.
Jayne Douglas manages the winery operations with charm, wit, and enthusiasm and is one of the biggest draws that keeps patrons coming back to the tasting room. Having visited the winery many times and sat at the bar that overlooks the vineyard, we can attest that it's very hard to leave.
Ridge Road is this week’s featured winery for the Free Shipping Series! When you buy 6 or more bottles of their wine, use code FREE15 at checkout to receive free shipping. As always, mixing and matching bottles is encouraged! If you’d like some recommendations, here are some of our favourites:
Medium-bodied and made in the Alsatian style with a hint of sweetness, this wine has aromas of fresh peach, grapefruit, honeysuckle, and spice. At the unbelievable price of $15.95, you'll want to snap this up now! ($15.95, 12.5% alcohol)
This aromatic white blend is comprised of two grapes that are not widely grown in Niagara: Chardonnay Musque and Viognier. With hints of jasmine on the nose, and notes of pineapple, peach, and vanilla on the palate, this wine is delicious and unique. Pair it with ceviche, roasted chicken, or a pork tenderloin. ($15.95, 12.5% alcohol)
3) Mirage, 2012
You won’t be able to find this bottle anywhere else because it is sold exclusively here at My Wine Canada. This Gamay-Pinot Noir blend is fruit-forward with flavours of dark cherry, plum, and raspberry along with earthy notes and just a hint of smokiness. It's highly quaffable and perfect for summer sipping on your patio or by the lake, or for accompanying some smoky BBQ fare. ($15.95, 11.5% alcohol)
This cheeky red is a delicious blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. You can expect silky tannins and notes of dark cherry and cocoa with a nice, long finish. Pair it with BBQ'd baby back ribs to really make the flavours sing. ($15.95, 13% alcohol)
With free shipping, these wines are a steal! Happy wine shopping :-)
