Situated along Niagara Stone Road (also referred to as Hwy. 55) in the heart of the prestigious and historic Niagara-on-the-Lake region, the terroir of this 25-acre vineyard brings out the very best of Ontario's character. Grapes used for our premium G. Marquis wines, which are handcrafted in small batches, are made exclusively with grapes from this vineyard. Bordered by Lake Ontario, the area is strongly influenced by the presence of the open lake water.The land warms quickly in the day and cools rapidly on clear nights but the temperature of the lake changes slowly due to its great mass, making this a favourable location for avoiding late spring frosts. On a clear, frosty night, the land surface becomes cooler than the lake surface. Air above the lake rises, drawing in cooler air from the land surface, creating an off-shore breeze. The air now above the lake is warmed, rises and flows back over the land, creating a circular heat-pump effect. The soil is sandy-loam, very loose and fertile, making this vineyard very vigorous and productive. Spring development is very early and susceptible to spring frost but, on the other end, it makes for a longer developing season, allowing the full ripening of grapes especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Bearing quality fruit since the early 1990s, the vineyard produces grapes that show bolder flavours and softer tannins due to the richer soil composition and usually longer ripening season. It has allowed Magnotta to create very full-bodied red wines such as G. Marquis Epic and very complex, barrel fermented Chardonnay.
Grapes Grown in this Property:
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot