The countdown continues of my Top 10 Favourite Wineries to visit in Niagara. Malivoire came in at No. 10 yesterday. Entering the list today at No. 9 is Beamsville’s Back 10 Cellars (which, as fate would have it, is a scant two-minute drive from Malivoire).

If you ever hear a wine-loving friend say something like, “I found this cool little boutique winery in Beamsville,” there’s a really good chance they’re talking about Back 10. This place cleans up in TripAdvisor reviews (45 of 53 rate it as “excellent,” with the remaining eight classifying their visits as “very good”). And yes, I happen to share their opinions.

Inside the doors you’ll discover an intimate setting furnished with a few tables, with the owners, Christina and Andrew Brooks, often stopping by to chat. And if you can corral them, they’ll have a great story to tell, having taken a huge financial leap in 2005 to purchase their 10-acre property, while taking 10 years to make their first wine.

The Big Reach, a dry, mouth-puckeringly delicious mid-weight Riesling, is among their calling cards. It’s superb for the price ($22.95). Their “Smitten” sparkling Riesling ($24.95) is also a favourite. But it’s all good here.

And you’ll love the down-to-earth philosophy of these folks. “We are committed to nurturing our environment and having the least invasive footprint as possible,” the couple note. “We plant and grow many of our own fruits and vegetables and also raise our own chickens.”

They also hand-harvest every grape from their backyard vineyard.

There’s much to love.

 

Check out all of TheLushLife.ca’s Top 10 Niagara Wineries:

#1: Domaine Queylus

#2. Creekside

#3. Tawse

#4. Kacaba

#5. Southbrook

#6. Vineland

#7. Colaneri

#8. Ravine

#9. Back 10

#10. Malivoire