Cave Spring Cellars
by
K. L. Sullivan
Summary: Located in the center of Jordan, Ontario, Cave Spring Cellars is a winery with vineyards in the surrounding area. The tasting room is large with numerous displays of wine bottles and gift items. A few feet away is the On the Twenty Restaurant where gourmet meals are served. Across the street is a lovely 28-room inn, the Inn on the Twenty, also owned by the Pennachetti family. With a winery, retail and tasting bar area, restaurant and inn, Cave Spring Cellars is a destination site where you can easily spend a few hours or several days.
At Cave Spring Cellars, we met Tom Pennachetti, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. As he graciously gave us a tour of several vineyards, he pointed out the Niagara Escarpment and explained the influence of the area’s climate on the vineyards. As we enjoyed viewing the vineyards we noticed numerous clouds moving quickly over the escarpment. According to Tom, Riesling and Chardonnay are the most consistent grapes. Tom noted that the name of the winery came from caves with springs. Early settlers named the area Cave Spring in the late 1700’s because of the limestone caves and mineral springs. The hawk is a symbol of the winery and chosen because of the many hawks that fly the currents from the Niagara Escarpment over the vineyards. Trellising in the vineyards uses bow training. The soil is of heavy clay and limestone. From the vineyard one can see Lake Ontario and on clear days see the Toronto skyline.
In 1973, the Pennachetti family purchased the land. They believed that the area could produce good quality wine grapes due to the soil and climate. They were some of the early growers of Chardonnay and Riesling in the area. Today grape varietals also include Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Cave Spring Cellars produces 50,000 to 60,000 cases of wine each year meeting the standards of VQA. With 190 acres of grapes, Cave Spring Cellars obtains 80 percent of the grapes from their own vineyards.
Cave Spring Cellars winery is located in an old winery building built in1871. Beneath the tasting room and retail areas are massive underground rooms filled with oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Four levels of oak barrels reach up to a wood paneled ceiling. A wooded tasting bar and wood tables built around oak barrels offer a space for special events and tastings. A wine library extends through one of the rooms and closeby a large events room is available. On one wall of the events room, an alcove displays an old wooden winepress. The alcove once served as a well.
In the main tasting room, the tasting counter is of concrete with large limestone posts. Behind the counter is a large limestone wall creating a dramatic effect. Throughout the tasting room, visitors can browse an assortment of gifts including grape seed oil, balsamic glazed cherries, a decanter set with a funnel and filter, stemware and more.
Five of the Rieslings we tasted were crisp with a long fruit aftertaste. Riesling Dry 2006 had a mineral nose and a very fruity taste of grapefruit and citrus. Riesling 2006 had a mineral nose with a fruity taste and notes of citrus, peach, and apricot. Riesling Dolomite 2006 had a wet slate nose and red grapefruit taste. Riesling Estate 2006 estate bottled, had a floral nose with an apples and spice taste. CSV Riesling 2006 also estate bottled was produced with grapes from the oldest vines. It had a mineral and fruit nose with a red grapefruit taste.
Brut 2005 offered apples on the nose and was crisp and palate cleansing. Chardonnay 2005 was aged in stainless steel. It had a slight apple nose with medium body. Chardonnay 2005 VQA Beamsville Bench had an apple nose with medium body. It had an apple and pear taste with lime on the finish. Chardonnay 2005 Estate Bottled 100% barrel fermented offered an apple nose, pear taste with citrus on the finish and a long aftertaste. Chardonnay Musqué had a floral nose with apples, pears and lime taste.
The Pinot Noir 2006 VQA Niagara Peninsula was a light red with a strawberry and red cherry nose. It had a red cherry taste and strawberry on the finish. The 2005 Estate Bottled Cabernet Franc had a spice nose and cherry taste. It was crisp with tannins. The 2005 Cabernet/Merlot was a dark red color with a blackberry and spice nose. It had a blackberry taste with a crisp finish.
We tasted two dessert wines. The 2006 Riesling Indian Summer reminded us of an apple and pear pie. There was a hint of honey on the taste and the acid balanced the sweetness on the finish. The 2006 Riesling Icewine had a pear nose and taste. Although sweet, the acid was crisp on the finish.
Cave Spring Cellars is a destination site. Enjoy an experience; discover the Cave Spring Cellars tasting room and retail store. Delight in a gourmet meal of regional cuisine prepared by chef Kevin Maniaci at the On the Twenty Restaurant. You can spend the evening or several days at the beautiful Inn-on-the-Twenty. Rooms are spacious and comfortable. Also, walk through Jordan and enjoy some of the small stores including an antique store. If you are trekking to several wineries, Cave Spring Cellars can be your central location to dozens of wineries within a short drive.
Cave Spring Cellars
3836 Main Street
Jordan, Ontario, Canada
GPS N 43° 14.882' W 079° 36.896'
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