Wine White Wine
Expression Riesling 2022
Expression Riesling 2022
TASTING NOTES
Pale in the glass with aromas of peach, lime zest and flowers, with notes of minerality. The palate is refreshing with bright acidity balanced by subtle sweetness and flavours of candied peach, lime and spice. The finish is flavourful and long with lingering acidity. Enjoy on its own or pair with spicy foods to contrast or acidic foods to balance. A perfect compliment to pork or turkey with dried apricot stuffing with fresh herbs!
Wine, like art, is an expression. An expression of the winemaker’s style, the vineyard’s terroir, the grape variety, and your taste.
WINEMAKING NOTES
Our Expression Riesling is a blend of our four estate vineyards in Creek Shores, created to showcase both a perfect Expression of Niagara Riesling and also of our winemaker’s style! The grapes were harvested in mid-October and immediately pressed into stainless steel tanks for a cool fermentation which was stopped to retain balancing residual sugar. The wine was lightly fined and filtered before bottling in April 2023.
VINTAGE NOTES
In 2022, a polar vortex swept through Niagara late January, leading to record lows in temperature. The cold persisted through much of the first quarter causing the growing season to be slightly delayed (Bud break recorded May 17th). Upon the arrival of spring, temperatures reverted to seasonal averages causing rapid growth within the vineyard. Conditions throughout the summer were warm and dry with little precipitation leading to full phenolic maturity across all varieties. Harvest began early September with Chardonnay for sparkling. Followed by aromatic whites and lighter reds such as Riesling and Gamay in late September through early October. Later ripening reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were harvested mid November concluding harvest. Conditions throughout harvest were favourable consisting mostly of dry, warm days and cool nights with little precipitation. Overall quality was good to excellent, but yields were very low. Wines should have the capacity to age for the medium to long term.
93 pts NATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2023, WINEALIGN
Average final score from judges at the 2023 National Wine Awards of Canada. Tasted blind June 2023
About 13th Street Winery
Established in 1998 by four wine-enthusiast friends, 13th Street Winery marks over a quarter-century of winemaking in the beautiful Niagara region in 2023. Purchased in 2008 by its current owners, the Mann and Whitty families, the winery represents not just a legacy of excellent wines, but also a place that visitors can call their home away from home. It has evolved into an entity that mirrors the unique terroir of Niagara, and offers guests an immersive experience that goes beyond just winetasting.
The 13th Street Winery’s dedication to quality and innovation was recognized in 2022, when it was named the No.1 Winery in Ontario and ranked second across Canada at the National Wine Awards. Notably, the winery also received the Outstanding Achievement in Architecture from the Niagara Biennial Design Awards 2020, further testament to its commitment to offer the very best to its patrons.
At the heart of the winery’s operations are its owners and partners, Doug and Karen Whitty, and John and June Mann. Bonded by their shared passion for wine, food, art, and a keen sense of hospitality, they continue to uphold the vision for the 13th Street Winery. Both families, deeply rooted in Niagara and devoted to its community, have brought together their unique strengths and experiences to shape the winery’s journey.
Women Wine Leaders
Karen Whitty is Doug’s wife and the General Manager of 13th Street Winery. With a degree in Biochemistry from McMaster University, Karen started her career working for the federal government with Agriculture Canada. Following eighteen years and several scientific publications, Karen left her Vineland Agricultural Research Station in 2005 to devote her time and energy to facilitate the growth and excellence of Whitty Farms. Upon her introduction, Karen implemented and directed administration, marketing, processing and value-added initiatives at Whitty Farms. Congruently, Karen excels at these same responsibilities as General Manager at 13th Street.