Inniskillin Wines is a Canadian winery founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser. The winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and is known for producing premium ice wine using grapes grown in the region.
Inniskillin’s history dates back to the early 1970s, when Ziraldo and Kaiser, two young agricultural science graduates, became interested in the potential for growing grapes and making wine in the Niagara region. They began experimenting with different grape varieties and winemaking techniques, and in 1975, they founded Inniskillin Wines.
Inniskillin’s vineyards are located in the Niagara Peninsula, which has a unique climate that is well-suited to the production of ice wine. The region experiences cold winters and hot summers, which allows the grapes to develop a high level of sugar before they are harvested.
Inniskillin grows a variety of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. However, the winery is most famous for its ice wine, which is made from frozen grapes that are harvested and pressed while still frozen. The process of making ice wine is labor-intensive and requires a great deal of skill and expertise.
Inniskillin has won numerous awards for its wines, including several gold medals at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. One of the winery’s most famous wines is Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, which is made from Vidal grapes and has a rich, sweet flavor with notes of apricot and honey.
Inniskillin’s winemaking process is carefully controlled to ensure the highest quality wine. The grapes are hand-picked and carefully sorted before being pressed and fermented. The winery also uses traditional oak barrels to age its wines, which adds complexity and depth to the flavors.
In conclusion, Inniskillin Wines is a Canadian winery that is known for producing premium ice wine using grapes grown in the Niagara region. The winery has a rich history and is known for its high-quality wines, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques and aged in oak barrels.
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Jean Crescenzi
2 weeks agoI recently visited Inniskillin Winery in Niagara Falls, and it was truly a wonderful experience. The winery is spacious with a beautiful setup and a stunning location, perfect for enjoying a day out. They offer an impressive selection of wines, and I had the chance to sample some truly great ones during our tasting. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable, which made the experience even better. I went with friends from out of town and even from overseas, and we all had a fantastic time exploring, tasting, and soaking in the atmosphere. Overall, it was an excellent visit filled with good wine, good company, and great memories.
Connie Kwok
2 weeks agoMy pup and I had a wonderful visit to Inniskillin Wines. The property is beautifully maintained with plenty of seating options—tables and lounge chairs outside, plus air-conditioned indoor seating that was perfect on a hot day. I especially appreciated how dog-friendly the staff and winery are, both inside and out. I did a tasting of all three ice wines, which costs $40, and learned a lot about their production. If you spend over $50 on wines, then you get $10 off your tasting. Although we didn’t have time to eat, the atmosphere was peaceful and welcoming, making it easy to see why this winery has such a great reputation.
Tracee Young
2 weeks agoQuite, charming and beautiful winery. The staff is excellent. The food is great, the wine is amazing. Tried iced wine for the first time and was educated on the process of making wine from frozen grapes, wow the results are incredible. The taste and flavor of the wine is so refreshing! What a great experience.
Jea Kim
a month agoAn iconic stop for ice wine lovers. Our first winery stop in the region. We arrived shortly after opening and found a few groups already sipping wine on the lawn. Plenty of parking, and unlike some other wineries in the area, no drawn-out tours or gimmicky tastings. Just a straightforward, well-run setup. We went with their standard three-wine tasting ($25–$30 depending on the selections), which allowed two dry wines and one ice wine. Since it was still early in the day, we didn’t want to start with an all-sugar lineup. Inniskillin is a pioneer in Canadian ice wine and Gold Vidal was where it first started. So of course, we tried their signature Gold Vidal, which was described as bright and peach-forward. Unfortunately, we found the sweetness a bit overpowering. Our favorite was the Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Wine. Still rich and sweet but with a touch of red fruit depth that made it more tolerable. All the dry wines we tried were relatively mundane. Nice bonus: tastings come with discounts on wine purchases over a certain amount. Since we picked up a few bottles, we got $20 off our total (just over $100).
T Stoey
2 months agoHad a great time visiting Inniskillin! It was our first time coming here and we were very impressed. The property is beautiful. There's an area for the restaurant as well as the winery - which is what we came for. The wine selection is fantastic! You can order per glass or try one of their sampling options that give you multiple drinks. The showstopper was the Icewine! Wow! Absolutely delicious. The staff is great and super helpful. We didn't feel rushed or silly asking questions about the wine. Inside the winery, they have a nice size retail area with all the wines available for purchase as well as other gift type items. Would definitely recommend Inniskillin if you're touring the area! Grab a glass or flight and enjoy a beautiful day outside on the property.