Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery

As diverse as winemaking techniques are among the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the intricacies of winemaking from different species of fruit range even further. None in the region understand this more than Gerald and Vivien Goertz of Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery.

Decades ago, when hailstorms ravaged the Sunnybrook Farm peach crop, the Goertz’s decided to make the transition from tender-fruit farming to winemaking. Instead of ploughing the orchards to make way for grape vines, they worked with what they had and what they knew, apples, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, and berries. There was little information for the Goertz’s to draw from in the beginning and in many cases they had to learn how to make fruit wine and cider by trial and error. The curve was steep and interesting, but Gerald and Vivien turned Sunnybrook Farm into a success story that is as unique as their product.

Sunnybrook Farm fruit wines and ciders are just sweet enough to capture the essence of the fruit while remaining light and balanced, and true to the terroir. The Goertz’s have shown the world that delicate wines are not exclusive to the grape.

Visitors to Sunnybrook Farm have the opportunity year-round to sample the many award-winning wines produced, and for the uninitiated, ‘wow’ moments are the norm. On trying, it becomes apparent that these wines do not relegate easily to the dessert category and many, like the Black Currant, Cherry, Blueberry and Chocolate Embrace pair beautifully with beef, lamb, game and seafood. Sunnybrook Farm’s Golden Plum, Bosc Pear, and Spiced Apple off-dry wines are also an excellent compliment to a wide variety of food pairings. That is not to say that dessert has not been considered; Sunnybrook Farm’s Iced Apple, Iced Pear, Iced Peach, and Iced Cherry wines are deliciously sweet and bursting with flavour. The tasting experience is rounded out with fine Ironwood Cider and a multitude of berry wines including Cranberry and Strawberry.

Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery is the ideal destination for those wishing to revel in the joy of discovery and take in the full range of rich flavours native to the terroir. Staff have an intimate understanding of these unique fruit and berry wines and they are happy to guide visitors and suggest pairings for each. In a region defined by its vineyards, Sunnybrook Farm extends a warm invitation to discover award-winning wines created from Niagara on the Lake’s renowned orchards.

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