A growing number of the world’s wine critics are crushing on Niagara Benchlands wines. At the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2023, six wines made at four Niagara Benchlands wineries scored gold medals. As a country, Canada earned its most gold medals ever, with 31% of the nation’s 19 winning wines hailing from Niagara Benchlands wineries!
Widely recognized as the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards is respected globally for its rigorous judging process and world-class judges, which are trusted internationally by both trade and consumers.
In a Decanter Magazine article summarizing Canada’s “outstanding” showing at the awards, the author noted that because the volume of these wines isn’t huge, they can be more challenging to find. Fortunately, that’s not the case for Niagara Benchlands visitors, who can come straight to the source! Just follow this route and create your very own Niagara Benchlands winning-winery wander to purchase the wines that earned Decanter’s praise.
The Decanter Darling:
FLAT ROCK CELLARS
THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY, 2020
The Win: Gold, 95 points
Decanter’s Take On The Wine:
“Opulent nose, layers of toast, cashew nut, hints of struck match and lush vanilla oak. Textured palate of bright lemon, plush peach, supple oak spice and apple.”
Know Before You Go:
From specially themed vertical tasting events to painting workshops, yoga classes, and open cellar parties, the friendly folks at Flat Rock Cellars throw fantastic events. Be sure to check the winery’s events calendar before you plan your trip. In addition to one-off events, Flat Rock offers daily tastings and tours that can be booked in advance. Learn more
Just Around The Benchlands Bend:
For a first-hand view of the Escarpment rock that makes the terroir of the Beamsville Bench so unique, plan a mid-trip hike at Louth Conservation Area, just one kilometre away from Flat Rock Cellars. There are two gorgeous Niagara Escarpment waterfalls here that you won’t want to miss.
The Decanter Darling:
KACABA VINEYARDS & WINERY
SIGNATURE SERIES RESERVE CABERNET FRANC, 2020
The Win: Gold, 95 points
Decanter’s Take On The Wine:
“Opulent, plush and inviting, with aromas of lush dark cherry, cocoa, dark berry, liquorice and espresso, while the textured palate is graced with blackberry, spice and well-managed tannins.”
Know Before You Go:
This premium, small-batch winery also knows how to have fun. Special events like charcuterie styling classes, St. Patrick’s Day food pairings, and a special Solar Eclipse celebration this spring round out the winery’s regularly scheduled roster of guided weekday and weekend tastings. Learn more
Just Around The Benchlands Bend:
Once you get a taste of the magical things being made with Niagara Benchlands grapes, you may be eager to sip some of the other sensational beverages produced using area ingredients. Bench Brewing Company, just a few kilometres down the road from Kacaba, makes terroir-inspired beers, ciders, and seltzers, many with a nod to Niagara wine country, including a peach cider that is infused with Chardonnay, a sour ale aged in wine barrels, and a Belgian Black Ale made with Cabernet grape skins.
The Decanter Darling:
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE WINERY
PINOT NOIR, 2021
The Win: Gold, 95 points
Decanter’s Take On The Wine:
“Fragrant, bright raspberry, plush strawberry and pretty florals. Textured palate of flinty, stony mineral, light spice, violet, small red berry fruit, crunchy blackberry and subtle, fine-grained tannins.”
Know Before You Go:
Whether it’s their in-depth seated tasting or the 75-minute Root To Glass touring experience, which includes a guided vineyard walk as well as time in both the winery and barrel cellar, Hidden Bench knows that guests who make the trip to this 2023 Canadian Winery of the Year enjoy a generous serving of detail. For those who prefer to taste on their own, the beautiful indoor veranda and outdoor patio offer the perfect place to enjoy a curated, self-guided flight. Learn more
Just Around The Benchlands Bend:
Should hunger strike after your Hidden Bench tasting, make your way to The Bistro at The Good Earth Food & Wine Co. A haven for discerning food and wine lovers, this charming countryside spot has been wowing Niagara Benchlands wanderers since 1998.
The Decanter Darling:
THIRTY BENCH WINE MAKERS
BENCHMARK RED 2020, SMALL LOT CABERNET FRANC 2020, and SMALL LOT WILD CASK RIESLING 2020
The Wins: Gold for each, 95 points for each
Decanter’s Take On These Wines:
Benchmark Red:
“Inviting, perfumed nose of spiced black fruit, roast pepper and graphite leading onto a rich palate of plush black fruit, supple oak and herbaceous leaf notes.”
Small Lot Cabernet Franc:
“Fragrant, with pretty redcurrant, mint, chocolate and blackberry aromatics. A herbaceous palate is graced with intense fruit, leafy notes and lovely textured tannins.”
Small Lot Wild Cask Riesling:
“Inviting and perfumed, with a pretty nose of floral notes, chamomile, lifted blossom and bright citrus, while the chalky palate is layered with bitter peach, lush aromatic fruit and lifted citrus notes.”
Know Before You Go:
Perched atop the Beamsville Bench, Thirty Bench invites visitors to drink in the winery’s spectacular scenery along with its award-winning wines at daily tastings and special events like winter hikes and snowshoeing in the vineyard, yoga classes, and June’s Graze The Bench. Learn more
Just Around The Benchlands Bend:
If a day spent sourcing special bottles inspires you to bring a few selections on the more spirited side home, be sure to stop in for a tasting at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers. While many of the brand’s core spirits and cocktails are now available throughout Canada, some of the products in its line of specialty spirits, including the Amaretto, Black Currant, and Gentian Liqueurs, are only available at the Distillery.
Are you eager to get to know even more of the award-winning wineries that call Niagara Benchlands home? Borrow our Platinum Tasting Tour itinerary to sip your way through a selection of wineries making wines that stole the show at the 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.