Tawse Family Winery: winery information
Winemaker: Paul Pender
Annual Production: 10,000 cases
Estate Vineyard Acreage
The Tawse Family owns two distinctive vineyards both located along the gentle slopes of the Niagara Escarpment. We opened our new state-of-the-art Tawse Winery in spring of 2005 on the lower slopes of the Vineland Double Bench. With its unique hillside terrain, the climate here beautifully echoes the golden slopes of Burgundy as we share the same sunny latitudes giving our vines excellent growing conditions and a terroir that is equally distinctive. Cherry Road Vineyard Blessed with a hillside terrain, the Cherry Road Vineyard is where our winery is located with its unique six-level, gravity-fed processing system. Situated on the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation, this vineyard consists of 32 acres divided into three parcels named after our three children. Carly’s Block Planted in 1978 with 1.3 acres of Riesling grapes, these are some of the oldest Riesling vines on the Niagara escarpment. An additional 5 acres of Chardonnay were planted in 2002. Robyn’s Block Planted with 3.5 acres of 25 year old Chardonnay and 1 acre of Pinot Noir planted in 2002 and 2005. David’s Block Planted 1998 with 1 acre of Cabernet Franc and 6 acres of Merlot. In 2005 new plantings included 5 acres of Chardonnay and 3 acres of Pinot Noir. Quarry Road Vineyard Located on the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation of the escarpment. This 48-acre parcel was purchased by Tawse Vineyards in 2004 mainly for its 10 acres of Chardonnay planted in 1998. The vineyard also has older plantings of Vidal, Bacco Noir and Gewürztraminer which are farmed for area wineries such as Vineland Estates and Flat Rock Cellars. We are just beginning to discover the unique characteristics of the Quarry Road site. After analyzing the terroir and micro-climate, we have determined the optimal varietals to be planted in this vineyard are Pinot Noir and Riesling. We are planning to establish 10 acres of new plantings in the spring of 2007.
The Tawse Family owns two distinctive vineyards both located along the gentle slopes of the Niagara Escarpment. We opened our new state-of-the-art Tawse Winery in spring of 2005 on the lower slopes of the Vineland Double Bench. With its unique hillside terrain, the climate here beautifully echoes the golden slopes of Burgundy as we share the same sunny latitudes giving our vines excellent growing conditions and a terroir that is equally distinctive. Cherry Road Vineyard Blessed with a hillside terrain, the Cherry Road Vineyard is where our winery is located with its unique six-level, gravity-fed processing system. Situated on the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation, this vineyard consists of 32 acres divided into three parcels named after our three children. Carly’s Block Planted in 1978 with 1.3 acres of Riesling grapes, these are some of the oldest Riesling vines on the Niagara escarpment. An additional 5 acres of Chardonnay were planted in 2002. Robyn’s Block Planted with 3.5 acres of 25 year old Chardonnay and 1 acre of Pinot Noir planted in 2002 and 2005. David’s Block Planted 1998 with 1 acre of Cabernet Franc and 6 acres of Merlot. In 2005 new plantings included 5 acres of Chardonnay and 3 acres of Pinot Noir. Quarry Road Vineyard Located on the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation of the escarpment. This 48-acre parcel was purchased by Tawse Vineyards in 2004 mainly for its 10 acres of Chardonnay planted in 1998. The vineyard also has older plantings of Vidal, Bacco Noir and Gewürztraminer which are farmed for area wineries such as Vineland Estates and Flat Rock Cellars. We are just beginning to discover the unique characteristics of the Quarry Road site. After analyzing the terroir and micro-climate, we have determined the optimal varietals to be planted in this vineyard are Pinot Noir and Riesling. We are planning to establish 10 acres of new plantings in the spring of 2007.
Grape Varieties Planted