PondView Estate Winery
We were proud to feature PondView Estate Winery in December 2020.
Nestled amongst the sprawling vineyards of the prestigious Four Mile Creek sub-appellation, PondView Estate Winery sits on a 50 acre grape farm that has been tended to by the Puglisi family since 1974.
The family-owned winery is headed by Luciano (Lou) Puglisi who draws on grape-growing knowledge and experience that has been handed down from one generation to the next. As you sip any one of PondView’s wines, you are tasting three generations of grape-growing and winemaking experience.
Lou’s enthusiasm and respect for the winemaking process, alongside his dedication and commitment to excellence, earned him the prestigious title of Grape King in 2008, awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture to the finest vineyard operator in Ontario.
Tasting Notes
BELLA TERRA WILD FERMENT RIESLING, 2019
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Minerally, pink grapefruit bouquet with a light floral top note.
Palate: Light- to medium-bodied, crisply dry, lime and grapefruit flavours with a zesty, fresh finish and great length.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Prawn and ginger soba noodle salad, black bean and mushroom enchilada casserole, golden beet carpaccio with parmesan, maple glazed salmon with sliced grapefruit, and chicken breast with beurre blanc sauce.
BELLA TERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2016
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) & Merlot (8%)
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, black cherry and plum bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury, dark chocolate and plum flavours with grainy tannins on the finish. Rich and full on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Hold a year or two.
Critic Rating: 90 – 92 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Aged cheddar-stuffed burgers with mixed greens, warm burrata with black truffle and berries, venison meatball sub, chicken and chorizo chili, and warm lentil salad with goat cheese.
BELLA TERRA FUMÉ BLANC, 2017
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Corus Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 4.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Light straw colour.
Nose: Spicy, toasty, lanolin and passionfruit on the nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, passionfruit and gooseberry flavours; beautifully balanced and very Loire in style. Elegant with a long fresh finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now through 2021.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Carrot salad with dates and feta, seared sea bass with cannellini bean stew, grilled chicken pesto sandwich, turkey with tarragon sauce and wild rice, and pizza topped with smoked salmon and crème-fraîche.
BELLA TERRA RED, 2018
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Merlot (44.3%), Cabernet Franc (35.3%) & Cabernet Sauvignon (20.4%)
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 800
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, black plum, cherry and dark chocolate bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, mouth-filling flavours of plum, blackcurrant and cherry; firmly structured with ripe tannins and well-integrated oak finishing on a floral note.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinking well now, but will reward cellaring for a couple of years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Ribeye steak with garlic okra, lamb kofta with pearl couscous, red pepper and caramelized onion quiche, cornish hens with brandied cherries, and ricotta and chargrilled vegetable lasagna.
BELLA TERRA BLANC DE BLANC, 2016
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 3.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Straw colour. Very active mousse.
Nose: Breadcrust nose of apple, toast and white blossoms.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, lemony, green apple flavour; lively acidity with a touch of bitterness on the finish for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinking well now but will hold for 2 – 3 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Mascarpone and lemon pasta, pistachio-crusted scallops, crab ceviche with blueberries and popcorn, pea soup with foie gras, and roasted squash with mint and salted pumpkin seeds.
BELLA TERRA CABERNET FRANC, 2016
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (85%) & Merlot (15%)
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy, plum and cherry purée nose with a tobacco note.
Palate: Medium-bodied dry, well-structured flavours of plum and cherry with firm but ripe tannins on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 – 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Brisket poutine, pork banh mi burger with pickled carrots, spiced chicken tortilla soup, tomato and olive stuffed portobello caps, and smashed sunchokes with thyme-butter.
BELLA TERRA VIOGNIER, 2018
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw core.
Nose: Aromas of tropical fruit, white flowers, red apple, lemon, and pineapple.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Peach, green apple, pear, and lemon-lime zest. Hint of minerality on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points.
Food Pairing: Pork belly and kimchi stir-fry, curried chicken flatbread with pancetta, walnut-stuffed potstickers, soy-ginger grilled scallops, and braised leek and persimmon salad.
BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY SUR LIE, 2019
PondView Estate Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay (85%) & Viognier (15%)
Vineyard: Bella Terra Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale yellow core.
Nose: Peach, red apple, and white flowers. Hints of honey and vanilla.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Granny Smith apple, tangerine, and stone fruit flavours. A hint of baking spice and honey on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points.
Food Pairing: Flame-torched tuna sushi, tortellini carbonara, chicken with black bean sauce, potato salad with lemon-kale pesto, and lobster tails with brown butter sauce.