Grapes at Niagra Falls

The 1st several days of Oct. my wife and I are visiting Niagra Falls. I wondered if their are any good sources of grapes on the Canadian side, or in the area in general. Since the harvest is coming in late, I think it is too early for Walkers.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Tim

Reply to
Tim McNally
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around the Niagara on the lake area, many, many vineyards. You might check in the yellow pages of that area, for winemaking supplies. Some places may sell grapes, but others may sell fresh pressed juice. Just ask the questions...people who are really into it will know. You'll have a wonderful chance of finding something there if you do a bit of investigating,

Rick

Reply to
Rick Vanderwal

Tim,

There are several good sources for grapes and/or juice in the Niagara region of Ontario, there are three excellent sources of fresh juices at the time of harvest and I have purchased from several of these over the past few years.

Unfortunately due to an extremely long, cold winter in eastern Canada, there is little or no production of several varieties at my usual sources. They have told me that there has even been some loss of the vines themselves, a devastating situation for many of the winegrowers. I am aware of a source that has limited quantities of Vidal, Geisenheim (similar to Reisling) and Seyval blanc (a white not unlike Chardonnay).

If you are interested send me an email and I will give you details.

Glen Duff

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Tim McNally wrote:

Reply to
Glen Duff

As Glen Duff already mentioned, the winter really hit hard this year... Watson's site says he expected only a 5% yield on vinefera this year. Luckily I'm going with Baco Noir so apparently there is enough of that around this year for everyone. However the Baco is harvesting this week apparently, but some other varieties might be available when you come.

This page:

has a nice list of growers and suppliers. Call ahead and scout things out. I'm heading down there this weekend so I will relay my experiences if I remember to :^) You could email me as well... remove the word spam of course...

Reply to
Charles

bought my juice at walkers saturday. they had 14 types of juice available out of the usual 28. the only fruit juice you could buy by the gallon was the cherry also. they may have more available this weekend, you'd have to call

Reply to
MOhar871

I picked up 322 litres worth of crushed grapes... Baco Noir... the brix was only 20.2, the pH was 3.3 and the TA was 12.0(from memory, the actual #s are at home) :S Anyway, it's fermenting away on the skins right now... I plan on chapitalizing when the brix gets down to 1 or 2 (The Burgundian way apparently) Then I shall press and let it be in an oak barrel for a year or more. Anyway, the grapes certainly tasted nice and have a beautiful colour to them.

Reply to
Charles

Tim

I see you have received lots of suggestions for juice.

But, are you looking for grapes? Most of the big reds are very difficult to find. But concord/Niagara grape farms are abundant including PYO.

Joe

Reply to
Joe

Thanks all for your suggestions. I came home with neither juice nor grapes. I found out what you already knew - a lot of winter kill on the vinifera and a late harvest. I visited some vineyards on the Niagra Pennisula and saw the small crops. Actually, it looked like the remains of machine picking, but these vines hadn't been touched. Isn't Baco normally a high acid wine? Even when ripe? I tasted some wonderful Bacos at Caroline's and Pellers. They seem to know how to handle the acid. I saw some reds being crushed at one vineyard and assume it was baco.

I decided to keep it simple this year. I am going to Presque Isle Sat to pick up Ca. grapes and at the end of the month head to Walkers at the end of the month. BTW, what were the acid readings of the Walker juices?

Tim

Reply to
Tim McNally

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