Terroir Driven Wines
Terroir is a term derived from French winegrowers that is used to describe how fruit from their vines is a unique reflection of the geography,topography,soil and climate of their appellation and even their specific vineyard site.Loosely translated it means “sense of place”
Our Wines
Fruit for Paradox Pinot Noir and Christine Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from our estate vineyard,Heron Pond Benchland Vineyard.The site is situated on a prime location on the Beamsville Bench and benefits from the unique micro climate of the benchlands and the rich limestone soils.The VQA write-up of terroir and appellation below is an excellent overview of this topic.Click on the Sub-Appellation, Beamsville Bench and the Regional Appellation, Niagara Escarpment below for more detailed information on the unique area that our estate vineyard is situated on.
VQA Ontario Overview of Terroir and Appellation
Terroir
Topography
Bordered by Lake Ontario on the north, the Niagara River on the east and the Welland River and Hamilton to the south and west, the Niagara Peninsula is the largest and most diverse Viticultural Area in Canada. The Niagara Peninsula can be divided into three broad physiographic areas: the Lake Iroquois Plain; the Niagara Escarpment; and the Haldimand Clay Plain. Passing directly through the appellation is the Niagara Escarpment, rising to some 335m (575ft.) above sea level. This north-facing cliff formation is the essence of the appellation, providing the slopes (determining sunlight) and elevations (determining the influence of breeze and lake effects) that distinguish unique sub-appellations and a diverse range of grape-growing conditions.
Soil
Over the last 200,000 years, the Niagara Peninsula experienced several glacial and interglacial events that eroded and shaped the layers of sedimentary rock and ancient reef structures of the Niagara Escarpment. This extensive glacial history in the region also gave way to complex soil compositions in the area between the Escarpment and Lake Ontario, where thick layers of clay are permeated with silts and sands. Variation in soil composition and drainage across the appellation allows for many different varietals to thrive and produces distinctive sub-appellation terroirs that contribute their own character to root development and, in turn, to vine and grape development and to the nature and personality of the wine.
Climate
The Niagara Peninsula is a cool-climate appellation ideally situated near N43° latitude, with relatively high shifts in day-night temperature and substantial sunshine during the growing season. This combination provides for the development of more complex and intense grape flavours during ripening than warmer climates can provide.
The constant circulation of off-shore breezes between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, profoundly moderates seasonal temperatures across the appellation. In fall, breezes from the summer-warmed Lake waters raise land temperatures and prevent cold air from settling in lower-lying areas, and extend the growing season well into fall. In spring, breezes from the winter-cooled Lake slow down spring warming, holding back the development of fruit buds until the danger of late spring frosts has passed and ensuring an even start to the season. These lake effects vary considerably with distance from the lakeshore and topography, giving rise to remarkable flavour distinctions between grapes of lakeshore sub-appellations and those from further inland.
