Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Cave Spring

Cave Spring Vineyards
3836 Main Street,
Jordan, L0R 1S0

Cave Spring is nestled along a gently sloping terrace of the Niagara Escarpment. Overlooking Lake Ontario, this area known as the Beamsville Bench has proven ideal for cool-climate viticulture.

More than three decades ago, the Pennachetti family helped to pioneer the cultivation of noble European grape varietals on the Niagara Peninsula with the planting of their first Riesling and Chardonnay vines at Cave Spring Vineyard. In the years since, Cave Spring Cellars has established itself as one of Canada’s most acclaimed wineries.

The history of the Pennachetti family in the Niagara region began in the early 1920s when Giuseppe Pennachetti emigrated from his hometown in Fermo, Italy, to work as a mason building Niagara’s Welland Canal. After establishing a successful concrete business along with his sons, Giuseppe retired and proceeded to explore a passion from his days as a young man in Italy—winegrowing. On lands of modest quality and with the native labrusca grape (a variety that was the order of the day), Giuseppe would prune and tie his hobby vineyard with his son John Sr. and grandson Leonard. The wines that came from these vines were made with heart, but wanting in quality, and the family knew that better was possible.

This early experience inspired a lasting love of viticulture in both John Sr. and Len, and in 1973 the Pennachetti family acquired its first farmland at Cave Spring on Niagara's Beamsville Bench. To realize the region’s full viticultural promise, they focused on planting time-honored European grape varietals, and cultivating these vines with a mixture of traditional and modern techniques. In 1978, the Pennachettis were among the first to plant Riesling and Chardonnay vines on the Niagara Peninsula, helping to pioneer this emerging North American wine region.

In 1981, recognizing his passion for Niagara’s promising wine industry, Len built a house on the vineyard. “I saw a chance for getting back to the land and creating a place where our family could do something special,” says Len. “Vineyards exist from generation to generation. The way they grow and evolve reflects all the energy and commitment you put into them. What better family business could there be?”

Five years later, Len and the Pennachetti family took the next step, partnering with winemaker Angelo Pavan to found Cave Spring Vineyard in the picturesque village of Jordan. A true family business, Len is joined by his wife Helen, as well as his brothers John Jr. and Tom. John is active in the business planning side of the winery, while Tom, along with his wife Anne (of the Weis family, owners of the famed St. Urbans-Hof winery in Germany’s Mosel Valley) directs the winery's sales and marketing activities.

Features

Wheelchair Accessible, Dog-Friendly, Family-Friendly, Tastings, Tours, Restaurant on site, Seasonal patio, Accommodation on site.

With growing conditions similar to the great northern winegrowing regions of France and Germany, Cave Spring Vineyard has proven ideal for the cultivation of exceptional Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. In addition to these core varieties, we also grow superior Gamay, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer.

Winemaker Angelo Pavan a founding partner of Cave Spring Vineyard, for more than three decades Angelo Pavan has guided winemaking at Cave Spring Vineyard crafting wines of authentic character and sophistication from the fruit of the Niagara Peninsula’s Beamsville Bench

In the summer of 2021 Cave Spring will break ground on a new tasting room at their Beamsville Vineyards

One of the words best producers of Riesling!

The winery has two tasting rooms one in the village of Jordan and one in Beamsville

“The measure of a winemaker is not his ability to speak for great vineyards, but rather his faith in the idea that great vineyards can speak for themselves.”
- Angelo Pavan, Winemaker

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