How Fielding Created an Award-Winning Ontario Red Blend
The concept behind Fielding Estate Winery Red Conception is right there in the name: create a distinctive Niagara red by bringing together premium grape varieties that work harmoniously in the final blend.
Rather than following a traditional blending formula, Fielding’s winemaking team vinified each variety separately before aging the wines for just under a year in a combination of seasoned and new oak barrels. The focus throughout was on fruit-driven aromatics, soft tannins, rich mouthfeel and approachability.
Then came the blending trials. After tasting through individual barrels in the cellar, the team selected those that worked best together to create the final Red Conception blend: 39% Syrah, 23% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 11% Blaufränkisch and 11% Malbec.
The result certainly caught the attention of the judges. Red Conception earned Gold at the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada, while wine critic Jamie Goode awarded it 92 points, highlighting its expressive fruit, density and underlying tannin.
It’s a creative approach to blending—and a delicious example of what Ontario red wine from Niagara can deliver.
