Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Ravine Vineyard in March 2024.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery is a 34-acre organic winery located in the sub-appellation of Niagara known as St. Davids Bench. Ravine Vineyard’s wines are often described as “elegant” and “refined” as a result of the unique terroir of their property and organic vineyards whose fruit is skillfully cared for, processed and honed by their head winemaker, Lydia Tomek. Over the last two decades, Lydia has made her imprint on the Ontario wine industry as an award-winning winemaker developing her craft at various Niagara wine estates, as well as helping to develop a new up-and-coming wine region, focused on making an exceptional final product.
Wines included in your package:
Enthusiast Red & White: 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Meritage
Enthusiast Red Only: 2021 Sand & Gravel Redcoat, 2021 Cabernet Franc
Enthusiast White Only: 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Chardonnay
Expert Red & White: 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Sand & Gravel Redcoat, 2021 Merlot
Expert Red Only: 2021 Sand & Gravel Redcoat, 2021 Meritage, 2021 Merlot
Expert White Only: 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Chardonnay, 2022 Small Batch Riesling
Master Red & White: 2022 Sand & Gravel Riesling, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Sand & Gravel Redcoat, 2021 Meritage, 2021 Merlot
Master Red Only: 2021 Sand & Gravel Redcoat, NV Sand & Gravel Cabernet, 2021 Meritage, 2021 Merlot, 2021 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2022
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.8%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 540
Appearance: White gold colour.
Nose: Grassy, passionfruit bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively on the palate, New Zealand-style Sauvignon with flavours of green melon and fig. Beautifully balanced and long on the finish.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2025.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Oysters with cucumber and mint, strawberry-balsamic vinaigrette-glazed chicken thighs, homemade pasta with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, bacon and Manchego croquettes, and avocado and pesto toast.
MERITAGE, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Lakeshore
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (56%), Merlot (44%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.8%
Residual Sugar: 2.45 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 970
Appearance: Solid ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy, blackcurrant and redcurrant bouquet with vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, Bordeaux petit château style. Firmly structured, well-balanced, savoury with evident but ripe tannins.
Quality: 90 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Chinese barbecued pork, black olive-crusted venison, apple-braised duck legs, green lentil curry, and Gruyère cheese fondue.
CHARDONNAY, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara on the Lake
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.4%
Residual Sugar: 1.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Golden straw in colour.
Nose: Baked apple nose with oak spice notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, crisp yellow apple flavour with vanilla oak notes on the finish. A seamless wine with fresh acidity and well-integrated oak.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will sustain for two or three years.
Food Pairing: Grilled shrimp with oregano and lemon, pork chops with garlic and thyme rub, pear and Brie flatbread, smoked salmon crostini, and fettuccine alfredo.
SAND & GRAVEL REDCOAT, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Cabernet Franc (28%), Merlot (12%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 2.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, minerally nose of red plum and redcurrant with vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, cherry and redcurrant flavours with a suggestion of oak and dry tannins.
Quality: 89 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+. For the impatient can be opened now but will reward holding for 1 –2 years.
Food Pairing: Red wine-braised lamb shanks, smoked duck with fingerling potatoes, sun-dried tomato and oregano pizza, smoked bacon-wrapped chicken, grilled veggie and bocconcini skewers.
SMALL BATCH RIESLING, 2022
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Four Mile Creek vineyard
Alcohol: 10.5%
Residual Sugar: 13.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Bright. Pale straw colour.
Nose: Refined aromas of golden delicious apple, lemon, lime, honey, and petrol.
Palate: Medium+ acid, medium- body. Lovely notes of green apple, lime, and hints of stone fruit. Great structure.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: One-pan coconut lime chicken, tarte flambée, smoked pork belly, zucchini gratin, and sausage and broccoli risotto.
CABERNET FRANC, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara on the Lake
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 830
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, blueberry nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, plum and blueberry flavours with evident, but ripe, tannins. Firmly structured and well-handled oak.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinkable now, but 1-2 years of cellaring will make for a delicious wine.
Food Pairing: Lamb meatloaf, penne with sausage and fennel, risotto-stuffed bell peppers, sage chicken with roasted butternut squash, and eggplant parmesan.
SAND & GRAVEL RIESLING, 2022
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara on the Lake
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyards
Alcohol: 10.2%
Residual Sugar: 19.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 275
Appearance: Bright. Pale straw colour.
Nose: A floral bouquet is accompanied by pear, lemon, lime, and a hint of green apple.
Palate: Medium acid, medium- body. Tantalizing notes of lemon-lime, yellow apple, pear, and a touch of peach and honey. It’s nicely balanced with a round mouthfeel.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. A very approachable wine.
Food Pairing: Spicy crab tacos, honey garlic-glazed salmon, grilled cheese with arugula and tomatoes, cavatelli with asparagus, and orange and rosemary roasted chicken.
MERLOT, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA St. Davids Bench
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 614
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Spicy, plum and blackberry nose with vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, plum and blackcurrant flavours. Elegant with a lovely mouthfeel and ripe tannins.
Quality: 90 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. A beautifully made wine with zesty acidity that can be opened now, but a year or two of cellar-rest will give you more drinking pleasure.
Food Pairing: Pulled pork sandwiches, pan-seared ribeye with miso butter, baked chicken curry dip with pita chips, braised lamb shank, and cheese tortellini with pesto.
SAND & GRAVEL CABERNET, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%)
Vineyard: Four Mile Creek vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 1.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 460
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Deep ruby red colour.
Nose: Aromas of dark cherry, plum, licorice, leather, and pepper spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Blackcurrant, blackberry, green pepper, savoury green herbs, and a hint of black pepper. Firm tannins.
Quality: 89 – 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Decant and drink now or hold 1-2 years to soften tannins.
Food Pairing: Smoked hamburger with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, French dip sandwich with caramelized onions, pan-seared tofu in black pepper sauce with sesame bok choy, spicy Korean chicken wings, and veal stew with spring greens.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2021
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara on the Lake
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 650
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: A beautiful bouquet of violets, red cherry, raspberry, savoury green herbs, and a touch of white pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Bold notes of dark cherry, blackberry, savoury green herbs, and black pepper. Well balanced with ripe tannins.
Quality: 90 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Smoked teriyaki tofu steaks, prime rib with bechamel sauce cream cheese-stuffed mushrooms, warm burrata with tomatoes and basil, and coq au vin.