Yvonne Irvine is the assistant winemaker at Creekside and is also the winemaker and owner of her own virtual winery Maenad. Yvonne shares some insights in the positives and negatives of being a virtual winemaker – one positive being she has full control over every aspect of the wines and can be very creative. Her creativity shines in the very unique and innovative wines we tasted like Piquettes and Pet-Nats, as well as more traditional varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. It's our first episode with a virtual winemaker and after listening, I'm sure you'll be ready to arrange a visit and buy these amazing wines.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded June 4, 2025

Show notes: www.maenadwines.com

Wines sampled: 2021 Piquette, Vidal Petnat fermented with peaches and sumac, Vidal Petnat fermented with Concord grapes and tarragon, 2021 Chardonnay Grimsby Hillside, 2021 Skin Fermented Chardonnay, 2024 Vignoier Grimsby Hill, 2023 Cabernet Franc Grimsby Hillside

Owners Bob and Marzia Murdoch really did a complete 180 in life when they quit their corporate jobs and bought a winery in Jordan. (hence the winery name – 180 Estate Winery.) The winery, formerly known as Di Profio was purchased by the Murdochs in 2021 and they set out to achieve their goal of getting people to come to the winery to enjoy themselves and relax. Since Marzia is Italian, they like to explore the Italian style of wine making like Appassimento and Ripasso, and we talk a bit about the process of making wine in that style. Per usual, we also discuss food pairings and taste some excellent wines. It's a short but sweet chat with two wonderful people!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded June 4, 2025

Show notes: www.180wines.ca

Wines sampled: 2023 Sparkling Rose, 2024 Pinot Grigio, Living the Dream (blend), 2021 Gamay Noir Reserve, 2022 Bourbon Gamay, 2021 Ripasso, 2020 Meritage

In part two of Andrea's interview with Thomas Bachelder – owner/winemaker of Bachelder
Estates, we taste some wonderful wines. We start off with comparing Gamay Noir wines from
Niagara and Bench vineyards, comparing color, taste and the aromas. During the tasting we
learn how the colour of red wine is effected by the volume in the glass. As we progress to
sipping Chardonnays, Thomas shares some insights on the expense of making wines, and the
factors like barrel aging, hand picking, the age of the vines and the craftsmanship that can raise
the price of a bottle. And before our tasting of three spectacular Pinot Noirs, Thomas coins a
new t-shirt slogan: Great wine elevates humanity! (yes, we are thinking of some Spill the Wine
merch!) This episode should really peak your interest in the Bench area wines.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded January 29, 2025

Show notes: Bachelder: www.bachelderniagara.com

Wines sampled: 2022 Gamay Noir Kirby, 2022 Gamay Noir Wismer Foxcroft, 2022 Chardonnay
Wismer Foxcroft, 2022 Chardonnay, Hill of Wingfield, 2022 Chardonnay Frontier Block, 2022
Pinot Noir Wismer Parke, 2022 Pinot Noir Wild West End, 2022 Pinot Noir Hanck

This is the first episode of Spill the Wine that doesn't include a wine tasting! The conversation
Andrea Morris had with Thomas Bacherlder – owner/winemaker of Bachelder Estates was so
interesting it needed a full episode to itself. Thomas' journey as a winemaker began in Montreal,
then led to Burgundy, Oregon and finally, Beamsville, which has the climate and terroir for
making the Burgundy style wines he loves– Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and Gamay too!) You
will learn about the difference between Domaine and Chateau wineries, what "mapping" a
region means, and the terroir differences between the Bench and Niagara wine regions.
Thomas also explains elevage, the aging of wine in barrels and goes into detail about the
effects both old and new barrels have on the taste of wine. He even provides some fun ideas to
help you plan a trip to the Bench wine region. You will DEFINITELY learn a lot about
winemaking from this episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded January 29, 2025

Show notes: Bachelder : www.bachelderniagara.com

If you're a fan of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is a winery you MUST visit! Our host, Andrea
Morris, speaks with Cloudsley owner Adam Lowy about the reasons for focusing on these two
grape varietals, and the choice to outsource their grapes from outstanding growers in the Bench area. Adam talks about making wines that don't make your mouth tired. He provided another great statement regarding wine: "Wine is a snapshot of the time and the place the grapes were grown." They also discuss the challenges of promoting Ontario wines across Canada and around the world, the effect of winter weather on grapes and the reason for different styles of glasses when drinking wine. You'll definitely enjoy this episode!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded January 29, 2025

Show notes: www.cloudsleycellars.com

Wines sampled: 2022 Chardonnay 20 Mile Bench, 2022 Chardonnay Wingfield, 2022
Chardonnay Foxcroft, 2021 Pinot Noir 20 Mile Bench, 2021 Pinot Noir Hanck, 2021 Pinot Noir
Parke

Calamus Estate Winery is quite unique, as it is the only winery in the Niagara Bench area that
has a telescope on site. Plus, it's also proud to be a democratic winery, where their wine club
members are a part of the process of picking wines. Our host, Andrea Morris, speaks with Peter
Van Helsdingen, the owner of the winery, regarding the many events they host featuring
astronomy and wine, and about his approach to winemaking. They share found memories of
their fathers while tasting a wonderful double barreled Cabernet Sauvignon. During the course
of the episode, Peter also coined one of Andrea's new favourite slogans: life is too short to have
a glass of wine you don't prefer.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 30, 2024

Show notes: Calamus Estate Winery: www.calamuswines.com

Wines sampled: Crackle Sparkling wine, Pinot Grigio, Unoaked Chardonnay, 2020 Meritage
Reserve, 202 Appassimento, 2019 Williams Double Barreled Cabernet Sauvignon

In this episode, Andrea visits with Rob Harold and Joe Schenck, the co-owners of King and
Victoria Winery. They have a genuine enthusiasm for making wine and look at each wine as one
of their babies. Rob and Joe share the story of how they found the property and started the
winery, and explain why their wine club is named for a group of vultures (The Committee). They
share some of their innovative ways for making wine, like wrapping a blanket around a tank to
get the wine to the correct temperature. Their passion and love of wine making shines through
in this episode and you'll appreciate their desire to bring people tougher with wine and food. I
guarantee you'll want to visit King and Victoria after listening to this episode!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 30, 2024

Show notes: King and Victoria : www.kingandvictoria.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Reisling, Chardonnay, Gamay Nouveau, 2019 Pinot Noir, 2021 Pinot
Noir, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

This episode provides tons of insights into the art of winemaking. Andrea Morris chats with 16
Mile cellar winemaker Morgan Juniper. Morgan shares information about the biodynamic
approach to winemaking and talks about emotional winemaking versus lab driven winemaking.
Bet you didn't know that was a thing! In addition, for the first time on the podcast, we discuss
ladybugs, particularly the multicoloured Asian lady beetles, and the negative effect they can
have on wine. Of course, we also taste some magnificent wines, and experience the first
tastings of wine in it's very early stages, straight from the tank. You will definitely learn a lot from
this episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 30, 2024

Show notes: 16 miles cellar vineyards & winery: www.16milecellar.com

Wines sampled: Rebel 202 Chardonay, Civility 2018 unfiltered Chardonnay, Rebel 2018 Pinot
Noir Gamay, Incivility 2018 Pinot Noir Unfiltered, White Pinot from the vat, Rose from the vat

In this episode, our host, Andrea Morris, visits with Wending Home Estate winemaker Ron
Giesbrecht, who is well renowned in the Niagara wine making circles. Ron has over 40 years of
experience in the wine business – including research, wine making and teaching as a college
professor. He has a unique approach to wine making and enjoys experimenting with unique
grape varieties. In addition to tasting some award- winning wines, we also laugh a lot and learn
quite a bit about the history of wine both in Niagara and abroad. Fun fact I learned from this
episode: the oldest know winery in the world is in the Republic of Georgia. You'll also learn why Ron refers to Chardonnay as the chicken of the vineyard. It truly is a fun and educational
episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 2, 2024

Show notes: Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery: www.wendinghome.ca

Wines sampled: 2020 Riesling, 202 Wending North (white blend), 202 Chardonnay, 2021 Estate
Gamay, 2020 Pinot Noir, 2019 Cabernet Franc, 2020 Cabernet Franc.

A wine tasting with Nathan and Dave at Dobbin Estate is like a fairy tale. Andrea met them at
the foot of the tower (the adult treehouse as they call it) , and proceeded to the second floor to
hear the story of the winery and taste some spectacular wines. Nathan and Dave explained their
reasoning for opting for an organic approach to wine making and talked in detail about the
challenges of organic grape growing. The result is not your $20 bottle of wine, but
understanding the work involved in the process justifies the price. You'll definitely want to visit
Dobbin Estates after listening to this episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 2, 2024

Show notes: Dobbin Estate Winery: www.dobbinestate.com

Wines sampled: Chardonnay 2019, Cabernet Blend 2020, Dry Riesling 2019, Riesling 2019

Len Pennachetti from Cave Spring is well known in the Niagara Wine region and his years in the
business resulted in one of our most informative podcast episodes. Andrea and Len began their
discussion by addressing the pretentiousness of wine, which Len had a very interesting take on.
Throughout the course of the conversation and wine tasting, we learn some fun facts about the
traditional method of champagne, the importance of one's nose when appreciating wine and
food, and how great wines don't age – they evolve. You'll definitely learn a lot from this episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded October 2, 2024

Show notes: Cave Spring Tasting Room/Vineyard: www.cavespring.ca

Wines sampled: Blanc de Blancs NV, Riesling CSV 2020, Chardonnay

In this episode, we discover how land that was once an old air force training site, The
Beamsville Aerodrome, has developed into a top tier winery. Andrea and Taylor Emerson
discuss the evolution of the winery from the reasons for choosing to purchase this particular plot
of land, the grape choices and the decision to create Old World style wines. During the course
of the conversation and wine tasting, we also get creative – comparing wine tasting to driving
and changing lanes, describing wine as a luggage tag and we even came up with this key
phrase: "Wine is an expression of yourself." Sounds like the perfect t-shirt slogan. It's a fun
episode spotlighting spectacular wine.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded August 21, 2024

Show Notes: Black Bank Hill - www.blackbankhill.com
Wines sampled: 2022 Rose, 2021 Runway White, Vignoier, 201 Chardonnay, 2020 Runway
Red, Cabernet Franc

In this episode, we make a return visit to Kacaba to chat with the new winemaker Chris Robinson. Chris is bringing a lot of passion and experience to his new role at Kacaba and we began our conversation by chatting about the importance of cleanliness in the cellars and how it affects the wine. Chris also explained what the three pillars of sustainability are in order to be called a sustainable winery. We have an interesting conversation about wine clones , root stocks and pruning before we taste some of the new white wines Kacaba has released. But don't worry fans of red wine – we also taste a couple of wonderful new red wines and learn more fun facts about Syrah. You'll definitely want to explore the white wines of Kacaba after listening to this episode!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded May 7, 2027

Show notes: www.kacaba.com

Wines sampled: 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay, 2024 Susan's Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 Fume Blanc Scheuele Vineyard, 2024 Vignoier, 2023 Pinot Noir, 2023 Reserve Syrah

This is the story of how a family farm becomes a winery. Our host, Andrea Morris, visits Dim Winery and chats with Peter Dim about the history of the farm and of course, we taste some amazing wines. We are also treated to some wonderful stories about the labels and names for the wines. In addition, we also learn a lot about agriculture and weather and their affects on the grapes. 

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar. Recorded July 31, 2024

Show notes: Dim Wine Co. : www.dimwineco.ca

Wines sampled: 2017 Great Escape Chardonnay, 2019 Edgewater Riesling, Icarus Gewurztaimer, 202 Field Select Red, West Bank Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Old Press Cabernet Franc

Your host, Andrea Morris, busts a popular myth that red wine should never be served chilled. During this visit to Italian winery Villa Romana, Ugo explains why the folks in Rome drink their red wine chilled, and Andrea is surprised to actually enjoy chilled Pinot Noir. Ugo and his daughter, Andrea, share their stories of creating unique and delicious award winning wines. You'll hear about the path to starting the winery, the vision for the future and more!

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar. Recorded July 31, 2024

Show notes: Villa Romana Estate Winery: www.villaromona.ca

Wines sampled: Cenerentolo (sparkling red), Lanuvino (sparking reisling), 2023 Pinotino Pinot Gris, 2023 Scalina Vidal, 2021 Speziato Gewurztraminer, 2021 Rosellino Rose, 2020 Quatrarello Pinot Noir Riserva, 2020 Romanello Riserva blend

We experience a bit of the UK vibe in this episode as your host, Andrea Morris, visits with Sarah at London Born Winery. We discover how a family from England started a winery in the Ontario wine region and learn the stories behind wines. During the conversation, Andrea and Sarah develop some great ideas for future podcasts and give some helpful hints regarding food pairings. And we even veer off the path of wine and sample some beer! Listen carefully and you may even hear Andrea's puppy, Nandor, bark a few times. 

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar. Recorded July 31, 2024

Show Notes: London Born Wines: www.londonbornwines.com

Wines sampled: 2023 South Kensington Pinot Grigio, Szegrebbe, Rose, Troubled One Orange Wine, Limey Lager, 2021 Holbour Gamay, Docklands Marichal Foch, 2018 Cabernet Franc

Ten acres and a mule was the slogan years ago, and your host, Andrea Morris, visits with Andrew Brooks, the owner of Back 10 about his journey into the wonderful world of wine. Andrew and his wife, Christina,  had no experience in farming or agriculture, but clung to the dream of starting a vineyard from the ground up.   Back 10 Cellars started with a big dream , pure will, gumption and determination. We talk about their story and taste some of the fruits of their labour. If you've ever dreamed about owning a winery, this is the episode you MUST listen to!

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar. Recorded June 12, 2024

Show Notes: Back 10 Cellars: www.back10cellars.com

Wines Sampled: Smitten Sparking Wine (2023),  The Big Reach Riesling (2022) , Rose Coloured Glasses (2023 Rose), Start From Scratch Chardonnay (2023), Everything at Stake Gamay (2022), The Big Leap Cabernet Franc (2021)

If you are a red wine lover, this is the episode for you! Your host, Andrea Morris, takes you one of the wineries in the Bench area that is renowned for their hearty reds – Kacaba Vineyards Winery.  Charles will be our wine steward for the day and guide us through a tasting of a variety of wines, beginning with some bubbly, and ending with deep, rich reds. We will also discuss the history of Kacaba Vineyards and learn how this vineyard was saved from becoming a housing development and became an award-winning winery. 

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar recorded June 12, 2024

Show Notes: Kacaba Vineyards Winery: www.kacaba.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Effervescence Sparkling, 2022 Jennifer's Pinot Gris, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020 Syrah (Proprietor's Block), 2020 Reserve Syrah

Your host, Andrea, SERIOUSLY overuses the word "lovely" in this episode. As a matter of fact, it annoyed her so much, she wanted to redo the episode. However, producer Lukas Sluzar felt there is valuable information in this podcast, so Andrea bit the bullet and allowed it to air. Count the number of times she says lovely, and you could win a prize!! (email your answer to spillthewinepodcast@gmail.com) In this episode, we visit Italian winery Commisso Estates and speak with the owner, Frank. Frank shares his feelings about making wine affordable and delicious (and of course, LOVELY).

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar. Recorded June 12, 2024

Show notes: Commisso Estate Winery: www.commisso.ca

Wines sampled: Sparking Chardonnay (2022), Pinot Gris (2020), Rose, Red blend, Cabernet Sauvignon (2021), Cabernet Franc (2017)

Welcome to the first episode of Spill the Wine – a podcast obviously about WINE! Wine is the one beverage that people seem to think they can't enjoy unless they know something about it, which is quite odd when you think about it. But have no fear - we are hear to help you learn about wine, debunk some myths, and introduce you to the wonderful Bench area of the Niagara Wine region. We begin our journey with a visit to Cornerstone Winery, a family-run business that is one of the few wineries in the area that makes fruit wines. Nina shares some history of the winery and the thought process behind some of their most popular wines. There's also a surprise visit from Sarah from London Born Wines too!

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar; recorded June 12, 2024

Show notes: Cornerstone Estate Winery website: www.cornerstonewinery.com

Wines sampled: Bad Moon Riesling (2020), Blush Hour 2, Cabernet Franc 2016, Fizzy Peach, Port

Three amateur winemakers, a doctor, a lawyer and a professor got together in 1980 and bought the land that become Thirty Bench. Winemaker Emma Garner talks with Andrea about the first plantings of Riesling grapes in 1980, and the way the soil hanging onto the water affects the tastes of grapes, which naturally affects the taste of the wine. Emma sheds some light on the origins of the myth about Riesling tasting sweet too. We also chat about the reasons why Pinot Noir is a difficult grape, and get some insights into the Cabernet Franc grape too. You'll also discover how the shape of a wine glass can amplify the taste of the wine. It's a fun and insightful episode, and you'll definitely want to schedule a visit to Thirty Bench afterwards.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded May 7, 2025

Show notes: www.thirtybench.com

Wines sampled: Sparkling Riesling, 2021 Small Lot Riesling, 2021 Small Lot Chardonnay, 2021 Small Lot Pinot Noir, 2022 Winemakers Blend, 2020 Small Lot Cabernet Franc

Hidden Bench is an organic winery and produces 100% estate wine using only grapes grown on the property. Andrea chats with winemaker Alex Baines about the process of becoming a certified organic winery and what that means for the taste and quality of the wines.  We also get to taste a concrete fermented and aged Sauvignon Blanc (Beton) . The concrete gives the wine a great texture and weight and adds a unique salinity and brininess to the wine. It was Andrea's first time tasting wine made this way and it was absolutely incredible. Alex also explains the fine art of working hard to appear invisible in the winemaking process. It's a great conversation spotlighting fantastic wines that you are sure to enjoy.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded May 7, 2025

Show notes: www.hiddenbench.com

Wines sampled: 2018 Natur (sparkling), 2019 Romans Block Riesling, 2022 Beton Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Gamay, 2022 Pinot Noir

Judging by the name, one might think Organized Crime is an Italian Mafia winery. However, when our host Andrea Morris speaks with Owner Ania De Deluba and winemaker Greg Yemen, we discover the incredibly interesting story behind the name. It comes from a battle between two Mennonite churches, resulting in a church pipe organ being stolen and thrown into a ravine. You'll enjoy hearing the whole story, as well as the history of the winery, and their goal to create quaffable wines. We hear the story behind the beautiful platinum award winning Sacred Series Cuve Krystyna – a wine that is a tribute to Ania's mother. We also have a fun discussion about Pinot Noir clones, corks vs screw tops and unfiltered wines. You'll learn a lot and I guarantee you'll want to visit this fantastic winery with beautiful views.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded March 12, 2025

Show notes: www.organizedcrimewinery.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Riesling, 2021 Limestone Block Chardonnay, 2020 Sacred Series Cuve Krystyna, 2022 Break In Pinot Not, 2019 Sacred Series Cabernet Franc, 2022 Sacred Series Unfilter 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc

If only you could see the beautiful view while listening to Andrea Morris chat with Flat Rock owner Ed Mardonich!  It's a stunning location with beautiful wines, named for the abundance of flat rocks they discovered while doing drainage for the vineyard. During our tasting, Ed challenges our preconceived notions of wine tasting and we taste red wines before whites. It really is a much better way to enjoy a tasting. Ed also sheds some light on how the number of taste buds on your tongue detect differences in taste. We also touch on how sustainability and community are very important to Flat Rock while tasting the Good Karma chardonnay. 100% of the proceeds from this wine go directly to Feed Ontario. Now you can drink wine for a good cause while listening to this episode!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded March 12, 2025

Show notes: www.flatrockcellars.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Foundation Pinot Noir, 2020 Gravity Pinot Noir, 2021 Rusty Shed Chardonnay, 2023 Good Karma Chardonnay, 2023 Nadja's Vineyard Riesling, 2015 Nadja's Vineyard Riesling

In this episode we travel slightly above the Niagara escarpment for a chat with Wescott's winemaker Casey Kulczik.  Wescott is a winery that is keen on nurturing the micro flora and fauna on the property to produce wines that truly represent the place of where they are. Andrea and Casey start off their tasting with the Blanc de Noir from the Brilliant series. (a brilliant idea for sure!) It led to an interesting discussion about wild fermentation – describing the yeast as minions and the winemaker as Gru. Casey's passion for winemaking is front and center in this episode and he also explains why vineyard always face north/south. You'll definitely want to schedule a visit to Wescott after listening to this episode.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded February 19, 2025

Show notes: www.westcottvineyards.com

Wines sampled: Brilliant Blanc de Noirs, 2021 Pinot Noir Butlers Grant old Vines, 2021 Pinot Noir Estate, 2022 Chardonnay Estate, 2021 Chardonnay Block 76, 2022 Chardonnay Butlers Grant Old Vines

Andrea had so much fun chatting with Ilia and Nadia Sawchuk, owners of Leaning Post Winery, that we had to extend the interview to a second episode. In Part 2, we taste the wonderful red wines we have to offer, starting off with two Pinot Noirs. Pinot Noir is a fussy grape to grow, but it's a beautiful fruit that produces a full bodied wine with less alcohol content. Ilia refers to it as the Emo punk brother of Chardonnay, but Nadia and Andrea referred to it as the Pedro Pascal of wine. (YUM!)  We chatted about the supportive wine community in the Bench reason, and discovered the story behind the winery name, Leaning Post. There are lots of laughs and more t-shirt slogans in this episode!
 
Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded February 19, 2025

Show notes: www.leaningpostwines.com
Wines sampled: 2020 Pinot Noir Hemeris Vineyard, 2020 Pinot Noir Senchuk Vineyard, 2020 Syrah Keczan Vineyard, Cuvee Heritage Vintage 2020

Ilya and Nadia Senchuk – owners of Leaning Post Winery  revealed to our host, Andrea Morris, that the dream of owning a winery actually started as pillow talk, then expanded to numbers on a napkin and eventually led to a search for the right property. After losing three bids for vineyards, they decided to rent a house with some vines on the property, which eventually became Leaning Post. Their passion for wine is evident in this episode when Nadia becomes emotional while speaking about showcasing their wines to a journalist. Their goal as winery owner is to be a warm and welcoming place to showcase what the Niagara region has to offer, with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but also expanding to other varietals. If you're not a  Chardonnay fan, Nadia says "challenge accepted" and she will help you to see the beauty in this wine. This episode is full of great quotes like "Chardonnay is the pizza of wine", and is brimming over with passion and love for wine. You'll definitely want to make the trip to the "edge of glory" to experience their wines after listening to his episode!
 
Produced by Lukas Sluzar. Recorded February 19, 2025

Show Notes: www.leaningpostwines.com
Wines sampled:2021 Riesling Grimsby Hillside, 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Chardonnay Senchuk Vineyard

Owners and brothers Geoff and Anthony Hall named their winery in honor of their children – one brother has sons, the other has daughters so the name is pretty obvious! Along with their adviser Angelo and brother-in-law Dan Sherrington, we sat down for a chat about wine and the challenges of starting a brand new winery in an area far from the lake,  higher in altitude and with a different soil composition than the Bench. During the tasting, we discussed the idea of doing pizza and wine pairings (YUM!) and found out more about the coffee they have on site as well. You'll love exploring their wines, walking the trails and enjoying the beautiful scenery when you visit.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded June 4, 2025

Show notes: www.sonsanddaughterswinery.com

Wines sampled: 2022 Sparkling Riesling, 2022 Riesling, 2021 Rose, 2023 Delta White (40% skin fermented Riesling), 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Baco Noir

On the second stop of our visit to Norfolk County wineries, we visited Burning Kiln and chatted with Marketing Coordinator Jaime Drayer. Jamie detailed the winery's beginnings as a tobacco farm. She  explained the reason why the wines are named for tobacco based items, and it was a very cool history lesson and glimpse into the winery's past. In addition to fabulous wines, Burning Kiln also has a restaurant on site, and hosts a concert series in the summer. It's a beautiful setting rich in history with fabulous views and amazing wines.  I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode and will be planning a visit soon.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded July 16, 2025

Show notes: www.burningkilnwinery.ca

Wines sampled: 2024 Broken Needle Rose, 2023 Quitting Time Pinot Grigio, 2024 Horse & Boat Riesling, 2019 Kiln Hanger Cabernet Franc, 2023 After Party Syrah, 2022 Boss Cabernet Sauvignon

In July 2025, Lukas and Andrea made a trip to Norfolk County to visit three wineries on the shores of Lake Erie. The first stop was Front Road Cellars, a family run winery that is also a blueberry farm. Owner Amanda Vranckx shares the story of the evolution of the winery and shares some amazing wines with us. Amanda also talked about their partnership with Guelph university in planting hybrid varietals of grapes that will withstand colder temperatures. Of course, we also tasted some blueberry wine – which seems like a necessity when you have a winery AND a blueberry farm. The landscape at this winery is stunning and it's definitely a family friendly spot with great food and beautiful wines.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded July 16, 2025

Show notes: www.blueberryhill.ca

Wines sampled: Clink Clink (sparkling wine), 2024 Bright Side, 2023 Chardonnay, Blueberry Hill, 2023 Norfolk Pinot Noir, Kindred Red (Marquet/Cabernet Franc blend)

Our third and final stop in Norfolk County brought us to Inasphere Winery. Sales manager Kathie Gilchrist shared the origins of the winery name – the land is part of the Long Point Biosphere, so the winery is technically IN A SPHERE. How's that for clever!? Kathie shared the history of the winery, which began as a vegetable farm back in 1963. The land is reclaimed marshland with a dike built around it to allow for farming. Cabbage is grown on 50 to 65 acres of the farm, and grapes were first planted in 2008. Riesling is their claim to fame, and they've also got some fabulous reds. It's definitely worth a visit to enjoy a watermelon mimosa in the summer, and apple cider mimosas in the fall. Plus you can also pick up some fresh produce (don't forget the cabbage!)

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded July 16, 2025

Show notes:  www.inaspherewines.ca

Wines sampled: 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Rose, 2022 Riesling, 2021 Spheres, 2022 Cabernet Blend, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

We're on the road again, this time with our first visit to the Niagara on the Lake region to explore the wines at Palatine Hills with winemaker Vadim Chlekhov. Vadim's passion and appreciation for wine began at an early age. He tasted wine with is grandfather and then drew pictures of what he tasted. He's now an incredible wine maker who believes the winemaker is essentially a steward that guides the grapes through the fermentation process. In this episode, we focus on the entry level wines that are affordable, very flavourful and award winners.  It's part of the process of demystifying wines, and you'll be amazed when you come visit and taste them.

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar, recorded September 10, 2025

Show notes: www.palatinehillsestatewinery.com

Wines sampled: Happy Camper Cider, 2023 Ramblers The Chiller (unoaked Chardonnay), 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Oh Goody! Rose (Merlot/Riesling blend), 2023 Ramblers Schmoozer (Cabernet/Merlot blend)

We return to the Niagara Bench area for our next episode with a visit to 13th Street Winery. We  took a little trip down Gamay Lane with President Doug Whitty and Executive Director of Program Development Corinne Witusik. It's our first episode where the focus was on wines from one grape varietal and it was a really fun and informative exploration into Gamay.  A visit to 13th Street is an experience what combines wine with art, food, music and more. You'll hear about the history of the winery, their award winning Burger Blend wines, get some great tips on food and wine pairings, and even hear our latest t-shirt slogan – Make Wine, Not War! Plus there's even a little somethin' somethin' for the fashionistas to enjoy.

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar, recorded September 10, 2025

Show notes: www.13thstreetwinery.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Gamay Blanc de Noir, 2024 Gamay Vingras, 2023 Gamay Whitty Vineyard, 2024 Gamay, 2024 Gamay Sandstone

We continue our conversation with winemaker Vadim Chlekhov and delve into the history of Palantine Hills, a winery that was the site of battles during the War of 1812. They are still finding artifacts on the property and there is a display case in the tasting room where you can view some of the items they have unearthed. We chat about the negative impact of success, Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio and learn about the happy mistake that became white merlot. Of course, we also taste some fantastic wine and get another t-shirt idea: Wine is a time capsule.  This is one history lesson you will be sure to enjoy!

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar, recorded September 10, 2025

Show notes: www.palatinehillsestatewinery.com

Wines sampled: 2024 Pinot Grigio, 2024 Skin Fermented White Viogner, 2024 White Merlot, 2020 Overtime Merlot, 2020 Overtime Merlot Reserve, 2020 Overtime Cabernet Sauvignon

We're going back to school in this episode to speak with Barb Tatarnic,  manager of professional Certification in Ontario Wine, and Steve Trussler, course designer and teacher of the Certification in Ontario Wines on-line course. This course is designed for the wine enthusiast to take a deep dive into the world of Ontario wines and discover the characteristics of cool climate wines.  During our conversation we hit on another t-shirt slogan: Napa is the Niagara of California!!  (and yes, we REALLY have to get some made). If you take one thing away from this episode, it should be this – the wonderful thing about wine is nobody knows everything! There's always something to learn and you'll definitely learn some amazing things on this podcast.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded October 22, 2025

Wines sampled: Wines sampled: Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz, Creekside Shiraz, Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, Cave Spring Chardonnay

There are a lot of amazing things happening at Cave Spring, so we had to make time to chat with winemaker Gabe DeMarco about the importance of the new yeast strains discovered at the winery. In collaboration with Brock University, they worked to identify, isolate and validate their own yeast strains in an effort to create wine from the Niagara region with zero international inputs. In addition, you'll also hear about their new concrete vessels which were three years in the making and are 100% domestically sourced. Of course we also taste some fabulous wines, including the first CSV reds. This episode is packed with great information and it will certainly make you want to visit both the tasting room and the vineyard.

Produced by: Lukas Sluzar, recorded October 22, 2025

Show notes: www.cavespring.ca

Wines sampled: base wine, Blanc de Blanc Estate, 2024 Riesling CSV, 2020 Riesling CSV, 2023 Gamay CSV, 2022 Cabernet Franc CSV

Winemaker Kevin Panagapka is VERY busy man. Not only is he the owner and winemaker of his own label, 2027 and Solo Para Mici,  he is also the winemaker for Calamus, a few other wineries and at Niagara Custom Crush studios. You can see why it took over a year to pin him down for an interview! During the course of our conversation, we talked about the differences between Burgundy and Bordeaux, compared the sizes of the wine regions of Ontario and France, and delved into why Chardonnay is the most planted grape in the world. We also tasted one of the best Cabernet Franc's I've ever had. It's a wonderful conversation. FYI – I did get to taste Kevin's Solo Pari Mici wine and it was mind blowing!!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded November 19, 2025

Show notes:

Wines sampled: 202 Brute Rose, 202 Cabernet Franc Foxcroft, 2021 Cabernet Franc King Street, 2021 Chardonnay

Melissa Major Brand Partnership, marketing, and hospitality manager of Niagara Custom Crush studios was an absolute pleasure to chat with. She's so passionate about wine and the business model of the studios. It's the first of its kind in Ontario and showcases the work of 13 different wine makers, with 64 wines to sample. You really can spend hours here since it's basically a one stop shop to discover some hidden gems in Niagara wine country. During our conversation, we tasted some very unique wines, ranging from a Pet Nat to a beautiful appassimento and three different styles of Chardonnay. You'll definitely discover some amazing wines when you plan a visit here!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded November 19, 2025

Show notes:

Wines sampled: A Date with Freddie 2024 Pet Nat – Vitis Labrusca Volume 2, Unscripted Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Inferno Stallion 2023 unoaked Chardonnay, Scheule Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay, The Long Way Home 2023 Chardonnay, Rennie G 2017 Assemblage

Peninsula Ridge opened their doors in August of 2000, making it one of the older wineries in the Niagara Bench area. Owner Norm Beal and head winemaker Sean Palmer shared some interesting facts about the history of the winery, which was originally settled in. The winery is also on the migration route for birds of prey. From April until the end of June, you can sit on the patio and watch the birds glide on the convection currents all around the vineyards. And of course, you will also enjoy some absolutely stellar wines at great prices. This winery definitely over delivers on quality and you will have a great time here.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded February 11, 2026

Show notes: www.peninsularidge.com

Wines sampled: Tiny Bubbles Sparkling, 2024 Cabernet Rose (Beal Vineyard), 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 Reserve Fume Blanc, 2019 McNally Vineyard Proprietors Reserve Pinot Noir, 2020 Arcanum (Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah blend)

Put your wine glass away because in this episode, we won't be drinking wine, but we will be chatting Marilyn Bellows, owner of ebikethebench wine tours about the various ways to enjoy your day in wine country without having to drive your car. Marilyn and her team are based out of Vineland Estate Winery and offer a variety of different tours to suit your needs. You can take guided tours (with lunch included) to wineries or enjoy tours that include hiking, kayaking and much more. It's a great way experience the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment, get some exercise and explore wineries. I've taken a tour and I can tell you from my own experience, it's a lot of fun and you will definitely work off those wine calories!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded February 11, 2026

Show notes: www.ebikethebench.com

Wines sampled: none this time!!

In this episode, we make a return trip to Niagara Custom Crush Studios to visit with Tim Reed Manessy, the owner/marketing manager of Therianthropy Inc. Therianthropy means shape shifting, grapes + wild yeast = wine! They believe in low intervention when making wines, which means organically farmed site specific grapes, wild fermentations, no filtering and no flavour or colouring manipulation. They produce some very interesting and enjoyable wines, and the labels, designed by a Parisian artist, are truly works of art.  You will definitely want to try these fantastic wines after listening to this episode!
Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded February 11, 2026
Show notes: www.theriantropy.wine
Wines sampled: 2021 Georgian Bay Riesling, 2024 Odix Musque Merlot, 2025 Passe Tout Grains Nouveau, 2021 Avabelle Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 The Negotiant Cabernet Franc

In the early 2000's, Len and Maria Cristino purchased 40 acres of property with the intention of making appassimento wines. In this episode, we chat with Winemaker Rene Van Ede about the process of making this type of wine, which involves drying the grapes for 4-6 week, which in turn concentrates the sugar and acid. The result is a wine with a deep colour and beautifully concentrated flavours. It's also interesting to note the similarities between ice wine and appassimento wine – but I'll let you discover that on the podcast! Our conversation with Rene is packed with lots of laughs and loads of information, and I'm sure you'll be planning a trip to Foreign Affair after listening.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded March 18, 2026

Show notes: www.foreignaffairwinery.com

Wines sampled: Traditional Sparkling, 2025 Sussreserve Reisling, 2025 Chardonnay, 2024 Cabernet, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Whiskey Barrel, 2023 L'eredite, 2025 Reisling Appassimento

Tiny bubbles in the wine make me happy – and if they make YOU happy, then this is the episode for you as we explore the wonderful world of Petillant Naturels (aka Pet Nats).  Rob Harold and Joe Shenck, the owners and wine makers of King and Victoria talk about their initial experimentations with making Pet Nats, and the challenges of making a wine that is still fermenting in the bottle. We toss around some great ideas wines for expanding their  Pet-Nat portfolio. And Rob unwittingly comes up with yet another great t-shirt slogan (check the title of this episode for a clue!) When you've finished listening, you will be able to confidently choose Pet Nats as a Jeopardy category.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded March 18, 2026

Show notes: www.kingandvictoria.com

Wines sampled: Reboot Reisling Pet-Nat, Savy B Sauvignon Blanc Pet-Nat, Prose Pinot Noir Rose Pet-Nat, G-Minor Gewurztraminer Pet-Nat

Founded in 1998, Malivoire is one of the older wineries in the Bench region and General Manager Shiraz Mottier has been involved with the winery since 2000. The uniqueness of the winery is that it uses the gravity process. It's built on the side of a hill with the retail shop at the bottom of the hill, and the vineyards at the top, which of course explains gravity.  We talked with Shiraz about the evolution of the winery labels, and the importance of the mural in the winery, with showcases community, collaboration and sharing wine together. We certainly had a great time sharing wine with Shiraz and the laughs continue throughout the podcast. We also come up with a genius description of Gamay – first as a street wine, then a busker wine and finally a Banksy wine. This episode will definitely put a smile on your face and make you want to come to Malivoire to taste the magic!

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded March 18, 2026

Show notes: www.malivoire.com

Wines sampled: 2023 Biscous Blanc de Gamay, 2025 Melon, 2022 Motiar Chardonnay, 2024 Gamay, 2024 Genova Gamay, 2023 Small Lot Pinot Noir