We’re getting down to the nitty gritty of my Top 10 Favourite Niagara Wineries to Visit. To be honest, Nos. 2-4 are almost interchangeable, depending upon my mood. For now, Tawse Winery in Vineland holds down the No. 3 spot.

When attempting to separate the top three from the pack, two key factors emerged—the sheer breadth and depth of high-quality wines across the entire spectrum or red, white and everything in between; and very good quality-to-price ratios.

Tawse has that in spades. Under Director of Winemaking Paul Pender, they’ve claimed the title of Canadian Winery of the Year on four occasions in the previous decade. And as their awards page suggests, pretty much everything is worthy of praise—the Riesling, Chardonnay, Cab Franc, Meritage, Pinot Noir, etc. Correspondingly, the medals have piled up through the years, including a prestigious Platinum distinction for Tawse’s 2015 Meritage at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

I personally love their Laundry Cabernet Franc ($35), which was named among Canada’s Top 10 Cab Francs at last year’s WineAlign Awards (Tawse’s Grower’s Blend, at $29, also made the list.)

There are also great ciders here, if you’re looking for something palate-cleansing that’s low in alcohol, and they’ve moved into spirits and even syrups as well.

This year marks the 20th anniversary since founder Moray Tawse purchased six acres on the Cherry Avenue property. In 2005, he opened the winery, replete with a six-level, gravity-flow design that allows winemakers to employ gravity as much as possible to gently move the wine as it’s processed, from pressing through cellaring. There’s also a wetland bio-filter that enables the re-use of sanitary and winery process water. A modern geothermal system, meanwhile, reduces the of traditional forms of energy by 80%.

Moray’s passion for Burgundy—both the famed French region’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—inspired the development of his own Niagara winery, but also the creation of Marchand-Tawse in Burgundy with acclaimed consulting winemaker Pascal Marchand.

Closer to home, the annual concert series (COVID permitting) has always been a sellout. Tawse long ago partnered with Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo/the Jim Cuddy Band), with Cuddy Chardonnay, Cab-Merlot and sparkling wine labels), so the famed musician is a regular in these parts.

But some of my best memories are of simple weekend afternoon cover bands on the patio at Tawse, ordering a glass of wine and snacks. And of the winery’s excellent cellar tours, while sampling their Spark bubbly and upcoming Pinot Noir releases.

So take in the wonderful view down the Niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario, and toast one of Canada’s perennially great wineries.

Check out all of Niagara’s Top 10 Wineries:

#1: Domaine Queylus

#2. Creekside

#3. Tawse

#4. Kacaba

#5. Southbrook

#6. Vineland

#7. Colaneri

#8. Ravine

#9. Back 10

#10. Malivoire