Vintages New Release Collection – August 2, 2025

LOCAL TALENT

Pelee Island, a place steeped in history. RIGHT: It’s a hands-on approach at Colchester Ridge.

In response to the volatile world in which we now find ourselves living, consumers are looking to support local enterprise, and this includes an increased interest in Ontario wines. For many, this has simply been an expansion of an already enthusiastic appreciation for the world-class wines we produce, while for others, the discovery of the range and quality of the characterful wines being made here has been a revelation. Even people who had never tried Ontario wine were osmotically aware of

Niagara’s wines, but the increased attention on all things local is shining a brighter light on all of Ontario’s regions, like the Lake Erie North Shore. Situated at the southernmost tip of Canada, LENS is almost entirely surrounded by water: Lake St. Clair to the northwest, the Detroit River to the west, and Lake Erie to the south. Lake Erie is shallow by comparison to the other Great Lakes and so warms and cools much faster, meaning that its influence in a given season can be more dynamic. During the long

growing season, the plentiful sunshine makes it possible to ripen grapes fully, encouraging big, bold, ripe flavour and making the area ideal for Bordeaux varieties, but also grapes such as Syrah and Tempranillo. Though LENS is the warmest of Ontario’s wine regions, the lake influence also allows it to produce dynamic white wines and zippy sparklers. The nine islands that comprise the Pelee Island municipality are collectively called the South Islands and were awarded subappellation status in July 2015.

24 VINTAGES