Reif Estates (pronounced as ri-fe) is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake and have been in business since 1980s. One of the largest vineyards and pioneers of the Ontario wine industry, Reif has both premium wines and value wines.
Winemakers Notes: This reserve wine was made using our oldest four-acre block of chardonnay planted in 1981. A slow warm fermentation in stainless steel was followed by aging nine months in new French oak, a departure from previous vintages which were aged partly in American oak.
Vintage & Viticulture: A mild winter followed by a warm spring led to early bud break, raising hopes for an abundant harvest. However, the summer brought unexpected challenges, including sporadic heatwaves and intermittent rainfall. Timely irrigation and canopy management played critical roles in ensuring grapes could uptake all the required nutrients from the soil and ripen fully.
