Creekside Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Creekside in February 2022.
Creekside Estate Winery is a quality obsessed winery on the Niagara Peninsula who believe that ‘serious’ wines can only be made with a generous pinch of experimentation and creativity. The winery has been doing its premium thing since 1998 and has developed a cult following for its sauvignon blanc / semillon blend and Ontario’s award-winning Broken Press Syrah. Rounding out the portfolio are some outstanding single-varietal whites like riesling and viognier, and bold red blends.
Tasting Notes
ICONOCLAST SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2018
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Semillon (72%), Sauvignon Blanc (28%)
Vineyard: Creekside Estate Vineyard & Fruithaven Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 313
Appearance: Bright straw colour.
Nose: Grassy, lanolin nose of green apple and citrus fruit.
Palate: Medium-bodied, crisply dry, green plum and grapefruit flavours. Long fresh finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or through 2023.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Creamy chicken casserole, grilled sea bass with charred tomatoes, pork satay with spicy soy dipping sauce, seared scallops with cauliflower purée, and pasta primavera.
UNBROKEN PRESS SYRAH, 2016
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA St. David’s Bench
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 4.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 351
Appearance: Deep purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Smoky, cedary, blackberry, white pepper bouquet with an herbal note.
Palate: Full-bodied, savoury, black olive, and black plum flavours with a note of bitter chocolate on the finish. Mouth-filling with evident, but pliant tannins.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Drinking nicely now, but will improve with 1 -2 years in the bottle.
Critic Rating: 89 – 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Osso bucco, cheesy smoked sausage pasta skillet, spiced lamb burger with tzatziki and tomato chili jam, parmesan-grilled corn on the cob, and marsala-braised duck legs with figs.
UNDER CURRENT RIESLING, 2019
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Creekside Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 7.9%
Residual Sugar: 23.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 504
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Honeyed grapefruit with a note of wet stones.
Palate: Light-bodied, off-dry, honey and grapefruit flavours. Great length.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now through 2022.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Vegan mee siam vermicelli, pan-fried goose breast with wild mushroom sauce, dauphinoise potatoes with swiss chard, baked fish-sauce chicken wings, and Indian-style spiced prawns.
LAURA'S RED, 2017
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (38%), Cabernet Franc (6%), Malbec (4%), Syrah (2%), Petit Verdot (2%)
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard & Serluca Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: <3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,304
Appearance: Deep purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, black plum, and blackcurrant nose with vanilla with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, spicy, plum and currant flavours with grainy tannins. Firmly structured with well-integrated oak.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Can be sampled now, but will reward cellaring 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 88 – 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Pepperoni pizza, salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, hatch chili-pepper smash burgers, Tuscan-style grilled tuna steaks, and cream cheese-stuffed mushrooms.
VIOGNIER RESERVE, 2017
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA St. David’s Bench
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 4.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 159
Appearance: Bright golden colour.
Nose: Lightly reductive, minerally peach bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted peach flavour balanced by lemony finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Spicy butternut squash soup, Mediterranean chicken salad with cilantro-lime dressing, grilled lobster tail with smoked paprika butter, Japanese ginger pork, and garlic sesame lo mein.
RED TRACTOR CABERNET MERLOT, 2019
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Merlot (49%), Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Cabernet Franc (3%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,073
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Ruby colour.
Nose: Red cherry, violet, smoke, green herbs, black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Sour cherry, blackberry, green pepper, black tea, hint of licorice and pepper spice.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: Standing rib roast au jus with horseradish-chive crème fraiche, chorizo chili, grilled black bean burgers, beef stir-fry with fresh and pickled ginger, and blue cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.
TRADITIONAL METHOD SPARKLING 'TRAD', 2016
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA St. David’s Bench
Varietals: Chardonnay (58%), Pinot Noir (42%)
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: 5.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 190
Appearance: Bright, pale straw in colour with an active mousse of tiny bubbles.
Nose: : Lightly toasty, biscuity, apple nose with a white blossom note.
Palate: Light- to medium-bodied, crisply dry, elegant, well-balanced green apple and lemon flavours.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or through 2023.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Rainbow trout with roasted cherry tomatoes, caramelized onion dip with gruyere cheese, creamy Tuscan shrimp pasta, coconut curry chicken, and Spanish-style rice and beans.
BROKEN PRESS SYRAH, 2016
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA St. David’s Bench
Varietals: Syrah (97%), Viognier (3%)
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 330
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby-purple core.
Nose: Violets, menthol, dark brambly fruit, smoke, black pepper, hint of vanilla.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dark cherry, blackberry, cassis, black tea, black pepper, green herbal notes. Well balanced with smooth tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 – 91 points.
Food Pairing: Braised beef shank with pappardelle and mint, grilled calamari with black olives, southern barbecue chicken with collard greens, black bean and lentil soup, and duck breast with cranberry sauce.
BACKYARD BLOCK SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2020
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 363
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw colour.
Nose: Papaya, peach, green apple, orange, lemongrass, minerality.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Tropical fruit, grapefruit, pineapple, red apple, hint of minerality.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Grilled mackerel with zucchini and bean salad, sesame tofu with broccoli, shrimp and chicken creole jambalaya, home-made chicken noodle soup, and fajitas with grilled red peppers.
RED TRACTOR SHIRAZ CABERNET, 2019
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Syrah (72%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), Cabernet Franc (9%), Viognier (1%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 3.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 254
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Garnet colour.
Nose: Dark brambly fruit, licorice, cigar box, violets, black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Blackberry, dark cherry, blackcurrant, black tea, licorice, savoury green herbs, hint of smoke.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. 89 – 90 points.
Food Pairing: Honey mustard-glazed ham, spiced black lentils with yogurt and mint, skillet bourbon steak with garlic-smashed potatoes, Korean BBQ chicken, and sausage rolls.
ICONOCLAST SYRAH, 2019
Creekside Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA St. David’s Bench
Varietals: Syrah (97.3%), Viognier (2.7%)
Vineyard: Queenston Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.6%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 382
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Garnet colour.
Nose: Violet, vanilla, blackberry, dark cherry, hint of smoke.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Black cherry, blackcurrant, plum, black pepper, green herbal note, smoke.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Decant well and drink now or hold 2 – 3 years.
Food Pairing: Striploin with peppercorn sauce, pork tenderloin with apple compote, cream cheese-baked spaghetti with mozzarella, double-mushroom cheeseburger, and slow cooker venison stew.