Tasting Note York Vineyard generously poured three different sparklers at the CCC Grand Finale and Celebration, this being my favourite of the evening. It shows intense salmon-pink colour. The nose is reticent but refined with well-integrated vaguely sour-cherry fruit, foresty earthiness and fine toast. Classic aromas for a 100% pinot noir traditional method bubbly! It is very elegant, vaguely off dry and delicate, with impressive flavour intensity. A touch earthy on the finish. The length is excellent to outstanding. Tasted November 2024, April 2025 and January 2026.
Backgrounder York Vineyard opened in late 2024, billed as “Canada’s first dedicated traditional-method sparkling-wine house.” It is the creation of Marty and Rachael Werner, who both grew up in Niagara farming families. They also own a new still-wine project called MW Cellars. They began blending and bottling sparkling wine in 2013, in preparation for what would become York. They were mentored by Niagara-based consulting winemaker Peter Gamble, who had helped develop sparkling projects in Nova Scotia. In 2018, the Werners purchased an historic 200-year-old stone farmhouse and orchard below the escarpment on York Road and planted 6.5 acres. The Brut Rosé is made from 100% pinot noir from a site planted in 1981. It is from the 2017 vintage but there is no vintage date on the label. It was aged an incredible 78 months on lees and finished with a three g/L dosage. Such precision here.
