Queenston Mile Vineyard

About Queenston Mile Vineyard

St. David’s Bench is located 10 km south of the shore of Lake Ontario and several meters above the Lake Iroquois Plain. This bench formed when glaciers carved out the Niagara Escarpment, and arose from the historic shoreline of Lake Iroquois towards the base of the Niagara Escarpment. Today, this escarpment’s steep ridge collects lake breezes and circulates them back over the low-laying plains of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Situated in one of Niagara’s hottest sub-appellations, our Estate Vineyard warms early in the Spring and sets the tone for extended growing seasons. With shelter from the Niagara Escarpment and good air drainage down its slopes, our Estate Vineyard experiences early bud break in the spring and extended days of sunshine in the late growing season.

As a result, we enjoy one of the warmest and longest growing sites in the Niagara Peninsula. Anchored in red sandstone bedrock, our deep rich layers of silty clay and loam reserve the nutrients and water our vines need during the laborious growing season, as well as encourage vine vigour and hardiness in periods of drought.

Representative Biography

Rob Power, Winemaker

For the past 20 years, Rob Power has been a strong advocate for the advancement of quality and creativity in the Canadian wine industry. Rob has worked tirelessly to innovate within the Niagara wine industry, producing thought provoking blends and vinifying unique varietals. As a member of the VQA Standards Committee, Rob is always looking for opportunities to advance in the industry.

Rob’s love of wine started alongside his career in the beverage alcohol industry. A wine steward at one of Toronto’s most influential French Bistro’s, Rob fell in love with the world of Ontario wine.

After 10-years in the industry, Rob moved to Niagara to discover the emerging wine industry and enrolled in Brock University’s internationally recognized Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). He graduated at the top of the inaugural class.

During his career, Rob has garnered both critical acclaim and the respect of his industry colleagues. He is widely considered as one of the leading Canadian winemakers by fellow colleagues, media and wine critics alike.

Queenston Mile Vineyard is a passion project for Rob. What masquerades as countless walks through the east Chardonnay block and insistent care over 50 rows of expressive Pinot Noir; all of Rob’s actions are intent on crafting site specific wines. Wines that capture the nuances of our unique, St. David’s Bench terroir and the people who crafted them.

Why We're Cool

Queenston Mile Vineyard is located on a broad plateau in the heart of the St. David’s Bench appellation. Plantings here are quite distant from the moderating effects of Lake Ontario; about as far away as it gets for viticulture in Niagara. This makes Queenston Mile Vineyard a warmer site than many in the area, resulting in wines that are riper and fuller-bodied. You can feel that in the weight of our Chardonnay wines, regardless of overall vintage weather conditions. The cool thing is that the wines also show a minerality on the finish that provides a pleasing backstop to that rich texture. We’re not sure exactly where this mysterious minerality is coming from (FYI the soil is mostly a heavier clay loam). But we try not to dwell too much on the wherefores and whys – rather, we sit back and enjoy the tasting moment.