Dedicated followers of the Ontario wine industry will remember Stoney Ridge Estate Winery in Vineland, where Winemaker Jim Warren worked his magic. Today, the facility is a winemakers’ collective where vintners can make or finish their wines without the expense of building a winery.
If you’re ever visiting Oakville in the Napa Valley, there’s a similar enterprise called the Napa Wine Company which was undoubtedly the model for The Crush on King, Niagara Custom Crush Studio.
In Crush’s bright, contemporary tasting room, you can taste, buy a glass or buy a bottle of 20+ of the resident winemakers’ products.
The current resident winemakers are:
Graham Rennie, Rennie Estate Winery: 15+ years in winemaking, Grand Cru Vineyard sites, pioneer of Appassimento winemaking, pioneer in virtual winemaking.
Marlize Beyers, The Long Way Home: Award-winning winemaker with 15+ years winemaking experience (Global Consulting Winemaker, Hidden Bench, Flat Rock Cellars).
Adam Kern, Kern & Co.: 15+ years in winemaking (sommelier & virtual Winemaker, Lundy Manor, Pearl Morissette).
Marco Piccoli & Mike Pohorly, Unscripted: 25+ years as winemaker (head winemaker, Arterra; Mike is a respected winemaker, film, TV and commercial director).
Angela Aiello & Ryan Zanette, Juice Wine Company: Celebrity sommelier, Super Wine Girl lifestyle brand, founded largest wine club in Canada and Niagara College Winemaking Graduate.
On a recent visit I tasted through the Juice Wine Company’s portfolio.
Juice Wine Company Chardonnay 2024 ($33)
Straw colour, fresh bouquet of Granny Smith apple; medium-bodied, dry, Chablis style, with a peachy, apple flavour. (89)
Juice Wine Company Cabernet Franc Rose 2025 ($33)
Pink with a bluish tint; strawberry nose with watermelon; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and pomegranate flavour. (90)
Juice Wine Company St. Urban Riesling 2025 ($33)
Pale straw in colour; lime and grapefruit nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry with lime and grapefruit flavours. Great length. (90)
Juice Wine Company Gamay Noir 2024 ($33)
Ruby colour; cherry bouquet with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively cherry flavour. (90)
Juice Wine Company Haynes Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2025 ($39)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, vanilla, blueberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and blueberry flavours carried on lively acidity. (89)
3201 King St, Vineland, Ontario, Canada L0R 2C0
Open every day, 11 am to 6 pm
