Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Sue-Ann Staff in September 2021.
Acclaimed winemaker Sue-Ann Staff vinifies on her family’s 200-year-old Niagara Escarpment estate in Jordan, Ontario. Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, home of the Fancy Farm Girl wines, is the ultimate assemblage blending over 100 years of grape-growing experience (including two Grape King titles) with Sue-Ann’s internationally acclaimed winemaking. Famous for her icewines, you’ll also find award-winning pinot gris, riesling, cabernet franc, chardonnay, baco noir, and sparkling wines.
Tasting Notes
ROBERT'S BLOCK RIESLING, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 14 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Bright, golden in colour.
Nose: Minerally, honeyed grapefruit nose developing petrol notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced, grapefruit and honey flavours with a tangy, citrus acidity on the finish. Good length.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now, but will age well for several years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: White pizza with arugula and prosciutto, baked chicken with apricot glaze, cheesy onion pie, poached salmon with hollandaise sauce, and pork and cabbage dumplings.
THE GRITSTONE CABERNET, 2019
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 120
Appearance: Deep purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy nose of dark chocolate, plum and black currant.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured flavours of red plum and black currant with oak notes and evident but mellow tannins on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 – 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Fried tofu with spicy ginger-sesame sauce, Moroccan sausage stew, duck with chestnut stuffing, French dip sandwich with caramelized onions, and turkey and green chili enchiladas.
THE LOUIE PINOT GRIS, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 88
Appearance: Yellow gold in colour.
Nose: Lightly toasty, peach pit nose with a salty note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury, white peach flavour with a smoky note; nicely integrated oak.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Asiago tuna melt sandwich, braised octopus with romesco sauce, chicken piccata with broccoli, mascarpone-stuffed crêpes, and chips and black bean dip.
MOUNTAIN BELL MERLOT, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 190
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary, spicy, blueberry bouquet with vanilla notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, floral, blueberry and black currant flavours with well-integrated oak and velvety tannins on the finish. A balanced, harmonious wine.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now through 2023.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Blueberry and blue cheese burger, lamb shoulder with citrus and fennel salad, veal roast with creamed kale, barbecued jackfruit wraps, and charcuterie board with pickled vegetables and black currant spread.
MABEL'S VCR (VIOGNIER, CHARDONNAY, RIESLING), 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Viognier (50%), Chardonnay (35%), Riesling (15%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Straw colour with a greenish tint.
Nose: Apple and peach nose with a honeyed note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, green apple and green peach flavours carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 88 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Almond crusted tilapia, kale and quinoa salad with orange tahini dressing, rosemary and maple roasted cashews, veal parmesan sandwich, and pork souvlaki with radish tzatziki.
BANK BARN BACO NOIR, 2020
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietal: Baco Noir
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,000
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Purple core.
Nose: Violets, black cherry, ripe dark berry fruit (blackberry, black currant), leather, earth, green vegetal note, and a hint of mint.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Just off-dry. Licorice, cherry, raspberry, plum, blackberry, green herbs. Well-balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: Pineapple sticky ribs, black forest cake, bison meatloaf with rapini, bolognese pizza, and mushroom stroganoff with osso bucco.
RIESLING LOVED BY LU, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 22 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 800
Appearance: Clear, bright. Light straw core.
Nose: White flowers, red apple, pineapple, lime zest, hint of petrol.
Palate: Medium acid, light bodied. Off-dry. Red apple, peach, white floral note, and a hint of orange.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 – 91 points. A beautiful, well-balanced wine.
Food Pairing: Thai chicken wrap with spicy peanut sauce, bucatini with roasted cauliflower, apple and fontina grilled cheese, smoked trout salad with horseradish dressing, and maple-glazed bananas.
THE WINDSOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Deep salmon pink colour.
Nose: A nose of wild strawberries.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and cranberry flavours with zesty acidity that give the wine great length on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Lamb and green squash dumplings, shrimp fried rice, strawberry and goat cheese salad, cauliflower gnocchi with white beans, and grilled shishito peppers with garlic dip.
ELISHA'S CHARDONNAY, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 220
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale gold core.
Nose: Vanilla, baking spice, green apple, brioche.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Buttery. Vanilla, pear, green apple, citrus zest, hints of baking spice.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points.
Food Pairing: Buttered popcorn, spicy California roll, roasted chicken with creamy walnut sauce, apple and brie turnovers, and pork meatballs with cranberry sauce.
CHESTNUT TREE CABERNET FRANC, 2017
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 280
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Medium garnet core.
Nose: Dark cherry, earth, green pepper, smoke, hints of green herbs and pepper spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Blackberry, black currant, dark raspberry, licorice, green pepper, and an herbal note. Hints of black pepper and smoke.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: Pepper-crusted beef tenderloin, dark chocolate-covered blueberries, lamb meatballs with raisin pesto, chicken stew with biscuits, and eggplant parmesan.
FANCY FARM GIRL FLAMBOYANT RED, 2018
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (64%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Merlot (15%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 600
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Light ruby core.
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, violets, green vegetal note, menthol, hint of smoke.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Plum, dark cherry, cassis, green pepper, smoke, black pepper.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. 89 – 90 points.
Food Pairing: Bulgogi steak lettuce wraps, beef brisket with cornbread, pistachio and wild mushroom pizza, braised rabbit pie, and spicy Korean chicken wings.