Food & Drink.
The Niagara Escarpment regional VQA appellation contains three sub-appellations inside Lincoln — Beamsville Bench (the westernmost), Twenty Mile Bench (middle), and Lincoln Lakeshore (between the lake and the bench). Beamsville, Vineland, and Jordan are the Twenty Valley corridor anchor villages, with sloping vineyards backed by the Niagara Escarpment, mineral-rich soils, and lake-moderated breezes producing cool-climate Riesling, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, and Pinot Noir.
The brief.
The Beamsville Bench appellation runs westernmost; the Twenty Mile Bench appellation runs middle, stretching east to west from Fifteen Mile Creek to west of Cherry Avenue, with a distinctive double-bench formation west of Twenty Mile Creek. Lincoln Lakeshore sits between the bench appellations and the lake.
The three appellations are regulated by the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority and labelled VQA. The Twenty Valley corridor — Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan — runs along the bench north of the QEW.
Most wineries operate seasonal hours with peak access May through October; harvest falls in September. Lincoln is roughly an hour from downtown Toronto on the QEW, with Hamilton and Niagara Falls each closer.
4. places.
- 01
Beamsville Bench (VQA sub-appellation, Niagara Escarpment regional appellation)
Westernmost sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment; sloping vineyards backed by escarpment; mineral-rich soils with moderating breezes and excellent drainage; cool-climate Riesling, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir.
- 02
Twenty Mile Bench (VQA sub-appellation, Niagara Escarpment regional appellation)
Middle bench between Fifteen Mile Creek and west of Cherry Avenue; bisected by Twenty Mile Creek with a distinctive double-bench formation west of the creek; cool-climate whites and reds.
- 03
Lincoln Lakeshore (VQA sub-appellation)
Niagara Peninsula sub-appellation between Lake Ontario and the bench appellations.
- 04
Twenty Valley Tourism corridor (Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan)
Tourism corridor brand for the Lincoln wine country, anchored on the bench between the QEW and the escarpment brow.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01VQA appellation labelling on Beamsville Bench, Twenty Mile Bench, and Lincoln Lakeshore wines is regulated by the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority.Source ↗
- 02The Twenty Valley corridor sits across the Niagara Escarpment Plan area; land use on bench vineyards is co-regulated by the Niagara Escarpment Commission.Source ↗