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Wine Trails (1)
The word Niagara generates a complex image of power and elegance…the rushing waters…the natural beauty carved out of a land so long ago.
It is a nice juxtaposition that New York’s newest officially designated viticultural area bears the name Niagara Escarpment. This latest AVA or American Viticultural Area was officially recognized by the US Government in October 2005. There are several wineries in the greater Niagara region, but only 4 within the designated Niagara Escarpment viticultural area.
It is interesting that this escarpment — this ancient geological structure, this ridge that can be easily seen… but not perhaps readily recognized for what it does, this remnant of a lake from a different time — is finally being recognized for the impact that it has on the growing region. According to the entry in the US Federal Register, the area “derives its name from the Niagara Escarpment, a limestone ridge that runs for more than 650 miles through the Great Lakes region. The Niagara Escarpment forms a horseshoe that begins near Rochester, New York, continues west through southern Ontario, Lake Huron, and the upper peninsula of Michigan, and ends in eastern Wisconsin.” This ridge has long been recognized for its influence by our neighbors in Ontario, Canada, in the promotion of wines from the Niagara Peninsula, but on the New York side grape growing and wine making are experiencing a renaissance.
This limestone ridge forms one of the factors that nature has brought together to nurture grapevines. Lake Ontario to the north, the Niagara River to the west, and the Escarpment to the south all work together to protect the vines. The escarpment holds the air warmed by the lakes waters and protects the land in the immediate area from drastic temperature changes.
New York’s Niagara Escarpment is a bit different from the rest of the greater escarpment in that it has a higher degree of slope than that found in neighboring Ontario. This provides more protection through better air drainage. (Cold air doesn’t come in and sit like a puddle on top of the vines, but rather “drains” down the gently sloping land to lower elevations.)
Topography and soil play an important roll in defining a viticultural area and in the production of fine wines.
According to the application for the official designation as a viticultural area, the Niagara Escarpment’s “well drained soils, a steady but moderate water supply” in combination with the mineral content found in the soils, “result in superior pigment and flavor compounds in the resultant wine.”
So… from an ancient lake bed we have the rising new viticultural area… be sure to pay a visit and see just what those vines are gaining from their association with the great waters of Niagara.
More information here...
It is a nice juxtaposition that New York’s newest officially designated viticultural area bears the name Niagara Escarpment. This latest AVA or American Viticultural Area was officially recognized by the US Government in October 2005. There are several wineries in the greater Niagara region, but only 4 within the designated Niagara Escarpment viticultural area.
It is interesting that this escarpment — this ancient geological structure, this ridge that can be easily seen… but not perhaps readily recognized for what it does, this remnant of a lake from a different time — is finally being recognized for the impact that it has on the growing region. According to the entry in the US Federal Register, the area “derives its name from the Niagara Escarpment, a limestone ridge that runs for more than 650 miles through the Great Lakes region. The Niagara Escarpment forms a horseshoe that begins near Rochester, New York, continues west through southern Ontario, Lake Huron, and the upper peninsula of Michigan, and ends in eastern Wisconsin.” This ridge has long been recognized for its influence by our neighbors in Ontario, Canada, in the promotion of wines from the Niagara Peninsula, but on the New York side grape growing and wine making are experiencing a renaissance.
This limestone ridge forms one of the factors that nature has brought together to nurture grapevines. Lake Ontario to the north, the Niagara River to the west, and the Escarpment to the south all work together to protect the vines. The escarpment holds the air warmed by the lakes waters and protects the land in the immediate area from drastic temperature changes.
New York’s Niagara Escarpment is a bit different from the rest of the greater escarpment in that it has a higher degree of slope than that found in neighboring Ontario. This provides more protection through better air drainage. (Cold air doesn’t come in and sit like a puddle on top of the vines, but rather “drains” down the gently sloping land to lower elevations.)
Topography and soil play an important roll in defining a viticultural area and in the production of fine wines.
According to the application for the official designation as a viticultural area, the Niagara Escarpment’s “well drained soils, a steady but moderate water supply” in combination with the mineral content found in the soils, “result in superior pigment and flavor compounds in the resultant wine.”
So… from an ancient lake bed we have the rising new viticultural area… be sure to pay a visit and see just what those vines are gaining from their association with the great waters of Niagara.
More information here...
Specialties:
Juice and wine grapes
Acres within official area:
18,000
Acres of Vineyard:
400
Bonded Wineries:
7 in the offical region (8 more in the general vicinity)
Growing Season:
200 days
Moderating Influences:
Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, sloping land, well-drained soils
Leading Varieties:
Traditionally Native and French-American varietals with European varietals coming on
Niagara Wine Trail USA is one of the newest and fastest growing trails in New York State
Juice and wine grapes
Acres within official area:
18,000
Acres of Vineyard:
400
Bonded Wineries:
7 in the offical region (8 more in the general vicinity)
Growing Season:
200 days
Moderating Influences:
Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, sloping land, well-drained soils
Leading Varieties:
Traditionally Native and French-American varietals with European varietals coming on
Niagara Wine Trail USA is one of the newest and fastest growing trails in New York State