EastDell Estates is located on the Niagara West Wine Route, perched high atop the famous Beamsville Bench in the heart of Canada’s premier viticulture district, the Niagara Peninsula.

EastDell enjoys a panoramic view of rolling vineyards with Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline shimmering in the distance. Made entirely of wood and stone from the property, the winery’s rustic main building houses a wine boutique and The VIEW Restaurant.

The nature of Niagara rules in every aspect of our integrated operation – from the vineyards and winemaking practices, to the restaurant’s focus on seasonal cuisine, to the preservation of our property’s spectacular Carolinian woodlot and nature trails.  Our property consists of 110 acres, of which 85 acres are planted.

Our Logo

The EastDell logo depicts the blue heron which has a natural migration path across our vineyards and makes its summer feeding home in our ponds.   We encourage our visitors to explore the vineyards and the 5 km trail system that meanders through the native Carolinian woodland. Enjoy it by foot or cross-country skis in winter. A section of the footpath is a designated route along the Bruce Trail.  Some visitors are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the heron that frequents our property!

The Famed Niagara Peninsula's Growing Conditions

The Niagara Peninsula is the largest Viticultural Area in Ontario (and Canada), accounting for almost three quarters of Canada’s grape-growing volume with approximately 11,000 acres of wine grapes in place. Situated at approximately N43º latitude, the growing season sunshine is comparable to the Languedoc-Rousillon in France, south of both Burgundy and Bordeaux, or Tuscany, Italy.  Wines grown in such temperate climates can produce superior fruit, with more complexity and intense flavours than in warmer climates.
It is bordered by Lake Ontario on the north and the Niagara River on the east and the Welland River and Hamilton to the south and west. Where the Niagara River flows over the Niagara Escarpment, the most predominant topographical feature of the peninsula, the river is transformed into one of the seven great wonders of the world, Niagara Falls.
The Niagara Escarpment is a 335 metre (575 ft.) high ridge that winds for 725 km (550 miles) from New York State through Queenston, Ontario (near Niagara Falls) to Tobermory in northern Ontario, where it continues underwater to Manitoulin Island and then into the state of Michigan. Passing through the Niagara Peninsula, the Escarpment provides the essence of this appellation. Vineyards benefit from the lake’s offshore breezes, which are reflected back to the lake when they reach the escarpment, maintaining constant and active airflow. This circulating activity prevents cold air from settling in lower-lying areas during threatening periods of frost, and maximizes the moderating effect of the warm waters of the lake.
The region’s temperatures are influenced by Lake Ontario, which acts as a hot water bottle in winter – raising winter temperatures on land from its summer-warmed waters. In spring, breezes from its winter-cooled waters help to hold back the development of fruit buds until the danger of late spring frosts has passed. Lake Ontario also cools the summer air so that grapes do not ripen too quickly, and then keeps the fall air comparatively warm so that the first frost is delayed, thus extending the growing season. Approximately 85 % of Ontario’s VQA wineries are located in the Niagara Peninsula.

Sub-appellations within the Niagara Peninsula

As a result of decades of grape growing experience and extensive research, ten unique growing areas within the Niagara Peninsula have been identified.  These sub-appellations include areas on the plains close to Lake Ontario and the benchlands of the Niagara Escarpment.  
Wines owe their character to a combination of origin and the winemaker’s art.  Together, they give us wines that are unique from the different appellations.
Only wines made from 100% grapes grown in a sub-appellation are permitted to make the corresponding claim of origin on the label. In addition to sub-appellations, two regions have been created to regulate the use of widely recognized names – Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Escarpment.  Niagara-on-the-Lake may appear on the label of a wine sourced from the growing area east of St. Catharines and Niagara Escarpment may be used on wines sourced along the bench area west of St. Catharines.  To use these regional designations, at least 85% of the grapes used must come from the named area, with the balance grown in the Niagara Peninsula.
Origin may be further specified by one of the following sub-appellations if 100% of the grapes used originate from the stated sub-appellation.

The Niagara Escarpment

The Short Hills Bench, Twenty Mile Bench and Beamsville Bench collectively form the Niagara Escarpment which represent the benchlands north of the Niagara Escarpment and west of St. Catharines.  The Escarpment is widely recognized as a designation for all lands on the “bench” in recognition of this dominant topographic feature.  To use this broader designation, a wine must be sourced from at least 85% of grapes from the area with the balance from within the Niagara Peninsula.

EastDell’s Sub-Appellation: The Beamsville Bench

The Beamsville Bench completes the Niagara Escarpment running from just west of Cherry Avenue to Park Road in the east.  The narrow bench area is the sloped plateau immediately below the face of the escarpment continuing down to Regional Road 81.  The appellation benefits from the air circulation, frost protection, slopes and elevation provided by the escarpment topography.  The continual air circulation results in minimal temperature swings and consistent growing conditions. Soils are generally deep and well-drained and numerous streams provide seasonal water supply.  Although a relatively small appellation, the Beamsville Bench exhibits a unique set of conditions that provide a natural complexity to the wines originating there. 

This beautiful artists rendition of the Wine Appellations of Niagara is available for purchase at any one of our wine boutiques (EastDell, Lakeview, Birchwood or Thomas & Vaughan) for $22 + applicable taxes.  They make great gifts! Tip: Get the map mounted to create a great conversation piece in your home!

For more information please visit The Vintners Quality Alliance at
www.vqaontario.com  or www.doyouvqa.com