CAVE SPRING CELLARS
by Professor Hrayr Berberoglu.

March 26, 2005


In 1973 the Penachetti family acquired their first farmland on the Beamsville Bench overlooking Lake Ontario with the objective to producing the finest wines in the country. The name of the winery originates from the first European settlers in the 18th century who discovered the mineral springs and limestone caves.

John and his son Leonard believed the limestone soil to be the most suitable for Chardonnay and Riesling. By 1978 the vineyards were planted and a few years later the first wines marketed to much acclaim. From the very beginning Angelo Pavan made the wines and over time acquired a wealth of knowledge to perfect his craft.

The winery excels in white wines particularly Chardonnay and Riesling, but makes fine Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer as well.

Cave Spring's Pinot Noir, Cabernet franc, Gamay and Merlot are light, fruity always enjoyable pending on vintage.

The winery produces three lines - regular, estate bottled reserve and CSV (Cave Spring Vineyards) (the top of the line). Reserve wines come from the best blocks and only made in the best years.

The geologic history of Niagara is the foundation of Niagara's finest wines. The forces of the sun, wind and water, combined with the passage of time, formed in the area's ancient bedrock more than 450 million years ago. Deposited by continental ice drifts over the past 100,000 years, the region's glacial soils are unique and most suited for wine grape growing. A complex blend of local sedimentary stone and metamorphic rock from the world-renowned Canadian Shield, these soils help define the distinctive character of Cave Spring's wines with the help of the winemaker Angelo Pavan.

Year round, seasonal air currents from nearby Lake Ontario move inland toward the peninsula's Niagara escarpment, which rises sharply above the lake along its southern shoreline. The escarpment creates a natural buffer containing these moderate lake-effect breezes within a narrow band of Niagara Peninsula. Located in the heart of the world's wine belt at 43 N latitude, this area is quickly emerging as one of North America's most unique and exciting white wine regions.

Cave Spring Cellars marketing manager and winemaker presented their Rieslings during an exclusive tasting organized by the Ontario Wine Society.

The following stood out:

CSV 2002 - with its delightful fruit and depth. It had fine apple and minerally flavours with an excellent balance and long aftertaste. 92

Riesling Reserve 2000 - a delicious, full-bodied wine with a phenomenal balance of fruit and acidity. Still young and fresh. Could benefit from another year of cellaring. Enjoy with poached salmon and watercress mayonnaise. 93

CSV 2000 - incomparable apple, and pear aromas, intermingling with minerally flavours extracted from the limestone soil on which grapes grew. Excellent balance and elegance. 93

Riesling Reserve 2002 Fruity and medium bodied. Finely balanced and minerally 88

CSV 2003 - elegant, with a medium body. Dry, balanced and multidimensional in the mouth. Long and pleasant aftertaste. 83

All above are available at the winery store in Jordan, a short drive from Toronto.

You can taste some the wines before making a decision.

Hrayr Berberoglu took early retirement after lecturing on restaurant management and conducting wine, beer and spirits seminars for over a quarter of a century.

Now he consults and writes to increase wine, beer and liquor awareness. He conducts seminars and would be pleased to consider your requests. To peruse the list of his published books and order please contact him at hirayrberberoglu_3@sympatico.ca

Hryar Berberoglu www.littlefatwino.com