Notes about the winery: Reif Estate Winery is one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s founding family wineries, established in 1982 by The Reif Family, and later fulfilled by Klaus W. Reif. Today, Reif produces wines from its 125-acre vineyard first planted in 1977 and is in the Niagara River sub-appellation where sun-loving grape varieties grow most excellently. A long growing season is refined by the river, as air currents hinder early spring and late fall frosts.
Notes about the 2020 growing season: It began with a wet cool spring, summer brought typical temperatures across Ontario. July was particularly warm and sunny with intense heat waves and high humidity. Early-ripening grape varieties escaped the wild weather of late fall and the unusual early cold snap in November. Harvest extended into early December, sometimes taking place in the snow.
