13th Street Winery
We were proud to feature 13th Street Winery in September 2020.
Originally started in 1998, the winery was purchased in 2008 by the current owners: John & June Mann and Doug & Karen Whitty. Both families have deep roots in the Niagara community. 13th Street is well-known for their collection of small-lot, benchmark wines from chardonnay, riesling, gamay noir, and pinot noir, along with superior traditional method sparkling wines.
Winemaker Jean Pierre Colas is one of the most talented French trained winemakers in the business. His winemaking philosophy is quite simple. He believes that great wines come from the best grapes grown in the best vineyards, whereas winemaking techniques are only utilized to supplement and capture the very essence of the grapes’ provenance and character. With this philosophy in mind, J.P. excels at crafting high-quality red wines paramount to the Niagara peninsula: gamay noir, cabernet franc, syrah, and pinot noir. Likewise, J.P. guides the production of exceptional white wines, including world class chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, and gewurztraminer.
Tasting Notes
CHARDONNAY, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Select Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Bright golden straw.
Nose: Toasty, spicy, peach, and apple bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple flavour with well-integrated oak. Good length with a touch of lemon peel bitterness on the finish for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 88.5 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Halibut with roasted pine nut crust, pumpkin and ricotta bruschetta, creamy tagliatelle pasta with prawns, stuffed acorn squash with ground turkey and apples, and caramelized onion, apple & brie flatbread.
SANDSTONE GAMAY NOIR, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard & Willms Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 220
Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Minerally, lightly floral, cherry nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour with fresh acidity. Lovely mouthfeel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cajun shrimp and grits, pork dumplings with peanut sauce, spicy tuna crunch roll, baked chicken with sundried tomato cream sauce, and spinach salad with beets and walnuts.
BLANC DE BLANC, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: L. Viscek Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 355
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Yeasty, bready, apple bouquet.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and lemon flavours. Crunchy on the palate. Well-balanced and lingering.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or will hold 4-5 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Salmon bagel with cream cheese and capers, grilled asparagus with blood orange and toasted hazelnuts, lemon pepper chicken wings, braised leeks with red snapper, and lobster rolls with citrus and dill slaw.
RESERVE PINOT NOIR, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 280
Appearance: Light ruby colour.
Nose: Strawberry bouquet with oak spice and a note of violets.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted red berry flavours; beautifully balanced with a lingering raspberry flavour. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Butter-poached lobster, portobello mushroom and green pea stir-fry, duck confit poutine with gouda, beef tenderloin with caramelized mushrooms, and spinach and artichoke ravioli.
VIN GRIS GAMAY, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 802
Appearance: Palest pink in colour.
Nose: Minerally, cherry pit bouquet.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with cherry and yellow plum flavours and a long mouth-freshening finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Chicken and hummus naan wraps, panko-crusted grilled salmon, spinach and brie stuffed chicken breast, spice rubbed turkey with mole sauce, and grilled vegetable and quinoa tacos with chimichurri yogurt sauce.
WHITTY VINEYARD GAMAY, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 294
Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Earthy beetroot nose with a light floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, red cherry flavour carried on zesty acidity with a light tannic finish to give the wine structure.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Hanger steak with shallots and steamed broccoli, pork spare ribs with orange marmalade, lentil and rice stuffed bell peppers, lamb tagine with prunes and dates, and white bean and asparagus salad.
L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: L. Viscek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 183
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale gold core.
Nose: Toasted oak spice, butterscotch, green apple, lemon.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Baking spice, vanilla, citrus, green apple. Buttery, smooth finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold 1-2 years for added complexity.
Food Pairing: Grilled pork chops with blueberry and peach salsa, corn and crab bisque, pierogies stuffed with cabbage and bacon, eggplant gratin with feta cheese, and Hawaiian fish tacos with pickled jalapenos.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2017
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Lakeshore Farm Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 182
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, blackcurrant nose with vanilla oak spice and herbal notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury blackberry and plum flavours with lively acidity and ripe tannins.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Moroccan beef kebabs with curried couscous, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, roast rack of lamb with mint sauce, roasted sunchokes and fennel, and turkey burgers with goat cheese and roasted red peppers.
PINOT GRIS, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Market Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 511
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw-coloured core.
Nose: Green apple, pear, stone fruit, floral note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Dry, crisp notes of green apple, lime, and peach, with a hint of minerality.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Chickpea polenta cakes with chive oil and lemon, honey and sriracha grilled chicken skewers, green dragon sushi roll, grilled zucchini succotash, and fresh oysters with cucumber and mint salad.
CABERNET FRANC, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: June’s Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 271
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Deep ruby-coloured core, lighter rim.
Nose: Violet, dark cherry, red currant, blackberry, licorice, herbal notes.
Palate: Medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Dark cherry, raspberry, green pepper, smoke, pepper spice.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Sausage and rice casserole, sweet potato and spinach spring rolls, roasted chicken legs with olives and capers, pepperoni pizza, and braised brisket stew.
GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR, 2018
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 357
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale yellow core. Tiny bubbles, light effervescence with a fine mousse.
Nose: Green apple, pear, peach, red berries, baked bread/toasty note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Dry. Pear, lemon, raspberry, green apple flavours. Hint of baking spice, minerality.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now.
Food Pairing: Fried calamari with sweet Thai sauce, spaghetti squash with roasted tomato marinara sauce, smoked salmon and gruyere grilled cheese, herb roasted chicken thighs with parsnip puree, and strawberry and arugula salad with poppy seed dressing.