Great Wines Under $25

Zesty & Mineral

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara. 

The 2019 Riesling is the epitome of what makes bench Riesling great. The nose explodes with beautiful lemon-rind, lime-leaf, nectarine, nutmeg, and honeysuckle aromas. Those flavours continue on the palate while adding green apple, honeycomb, cumin, white lilac and the distinctive chalky minerality of the Twenty Mile Bench. There is unusual weight and texture here, with a mouth-filling sensation that is not very common in Riesling. As the wine sweeps across the palate towards the finish, a bright green leafiness and flinty/gravelly appear in waves, leading to an amazing, crunchy finish. The wine will age well for the next decade.

Rieslings are great to pair with spicy Indian and Asian cuisines and do excellently alongside duck, pork, bacon, shrimp and crab.

Mineral & Zesty

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The 2022 The Fifty Chardonnay is a blend of three different vineyard with four different picking dates. 100% of this wine was fermented in concrete with spontaneous fermentation. Once fermentation was completed, the wine was aged on full lees in concrete for 8 months. After lees-aging, it was racked, lightly filtered, and bottled on September 7 th , 2023.

The 2022 vintage was beautiful, warm and sunny throughout, but with very small yields. As a result, wines are very concentrated with great acidity. The nose of this wine is full of pineapple, nectarine, red apple, and orange blossom followed up with lemon meringue and crème fraiche. The palate has a refreshing reflection of the nose, adding lemon-curd, peach blossom, and spice, but it also showcases a mineral and wet stone characteristic that leads to the long, elegant finish.

This wine will age well for the next 5-8 years. Enjoy with brie, sole meuniere, and lemon-roasted chicken.

Floral & Juicy

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The 2022 vintage offered low cropping yields which give us the opportunity to craft a rose from numerous different vineyards across the Niagara region. Over a five-week period, 3 different vineyards were harvested for this rose starting on September 21st with Pinot Noir, October 12 was Gamay and finally on October 24 th the Cabernet Franc was harvested. The three red varieties were left on skins over night to extra their beautiful colour, then were direct pressed into stainless steel tanks where the juice was allowed to settle. All grape varieties were fermented separately at cool temperatures to preserve aromatics and fresh fruit. This wine was bottled in March 2023. 

Our house style of rose is bright and refreshing with the most beautiful colour and great fruit. The nose is so vibrant the red fruits such as raspberry, strawberry and watermelon with savoury notes of white pepper, lemon basil and hints of orange blossom. The palate reflexes the nose with rich texture and a delicate finish. This bright, refreshing Rose was built for warm summer days and good company!

Juicy & Earthy

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The depth of this wine was structured by the warm summer and wet autumn. This wine stays true to the Leaning Post style and terroir of Armbrust Vineyard, it demonstrates lots of earth, mushroom  on the nose which is complimented by blackberry and cherry fruit with some beautiful freshly picked lavender. In the mouth there is lots of beautiful beet, blackberry, kirsch, and cracked pepper. The finish is long and delectable.

Try with brie, camembert, your favourite burger, or anything on your plate this Thanksgiving.

Zesty & Mineral

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This classic county chardonnay has a beautiful baked lemon nose, with some flinty reduction characteristics. The lean palate offers notes of green apple, with its age adding layers of brown sugar. The finish is quite refreshing and offers an additional lemon note that makes it a wonderful pairing wine. The refreshing acidity pairs perfectly with lemon chicken, mixed green salad with vinaigrette and seafood linguini.

Juicy & Spiced

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

Strawberry, raspberry and red cherry aromas lead the way on the nose, with hints of sweet spice and tomato leaf in the background. Freshly crushed ripe berries continue on the palate, with dried leaf, minerality and spice in the background. The mouthfeel is lean and silky smooth, with very fine tannin and great County acidity.

This Pinot Noir is a very versatile wine given it’s acidity and low tannin. Pinot Noir pairs particularly well with duck, chicken, pork, and mushrooms.

Zesty & Fruity

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This crushable summer-sipper is a blend of 43% Gewürztraminer, 43% Riesling and 14% Pinot Gris. The nose shows soft citrus, with a grapefruit focus. The palate is very clean with very approachable lemon and grapefruit flavours. It's an off-dry white, perfect to pair with aperitifs and spicy Thai cuisine.

Intense & Mineral

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This Riesling presents a classical aroma profile, characterized by notes of minerality and ripened pear. Upon tasting, the wine exhibits an off-dry style, balanced by a subtle sweetness that avoids cloyingness. The palate unfolds with flavours of ripe pear and peach, accompanied by a sweet, slightly granular texture that adds depth and complexity to the overall experience.

Juicy & Fresh

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This delicate, dry rose is bursting with fruit, both on the nose and palate. Vibrant cherry and strawberry are immediately present on the nose, transitioning to strawberry and fresh watermelon at the forefront of the palate. Nuttiness and ripe raspberry are followed by a finish of refreshing acidity. A wonderful choice for holiday meals, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.

Food and patio friendly - enjoy with summer salads, grilled chicken and salmon.

Creamy & Fresh

3XP (Trois-X-P) - Pearce | Predhomme | Pender - is a small-production Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay collaboration that was started in 2015 by négociants Nicholas Pearce & Will Predhomme with vigneron Paul Pender.

The 2021 3XP is a blend of french oak barrels from mostly Tawse Estate all farmed using sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic practices. A large portion is from the infamous Quarry Road Vineyard blended with select barrels from other sites such as Limestone Ridge, Cherry Avenue and a small portion (8%) sourced from like minded sustainable growers.

We strive to show the delicacy, tension & purity of Ontario-grown Chardonnay with this small-production collaboration. Brilliant straw colour, youthful, light-intensity aromas of white peach, green apple, citrus, with delicate integrated subtle lees. Bright lemony & limestone acidity on the palate with a round & refreshing mouthfeel. A clean, fresh, textured... distinctly Ontarian-style Chardonnay.

Ideas for pairing 3XP? This full throttle Chardonnay calls for all shades of seafood and fish: spaghetti with clams and tons of parsley, halibut, crab cakes... or even pork tenderloin! It's also wonderful as an apéro wine.

Fresh & Balanced

Emblematically Niagara, this vibrant Chardonnay is made with organic, biodynamic and sustainably-farmed grapes from the Niagara Peninsula. The 2021 Crew Sauvage a blockbuster; 100% Tawse Estate fruit, mainly from the Robyn's Block young vines (2 Cadus puncheons, 4 barrels) which were showing best in the initial tastings with Moray and Jessica. This created the baseline for cuvée which was then blended with 3 beautifully balanced barrels from the Tawse Hillside vineyard and 2 immensely structured barrels from the Robyn's Block Old Vines parcel; the oldest Chard on the property. Et voila, another star is born.

Expect straw gold in the glass with gorgeous orchard fruits, apple and peach on the nose with notes of marine, hazelnut, lemon custard, and blonde caramel essence. This elegant wine offers a lovely texture on the palate, rich and round with biscuits and cream, while boasting a lip-smacking acidity with an herbal tea tannin.

This world class Niagara Chardonnay is ready to pair with just about anything, but we are thinking white fish in beurre blanc, cream based pastas or fresh salads garnished with lots of cheese.

Bright & Creamy

Our favourite bubbly wine is back for its 10th vintage and as always, made in partnership with Lighthall Vineyards in Prince Edward County. This is a small batch “Brut Blanc” Cuvée, made using the Charmat method bottled as VQA Ontario.

We had an instant crush on this new vintage: the beautiful bubbles are so nicely integrated and complement the wild floral and orchard fruit aromas, all backed by the bracing acidity of the Vidal grape when grown in our cool climate. Dangerously delicious in the glass, this wine is built for both celebration and gastronomy.

The Ward 5 Brut Blanc’s very well balanced acidity makes it perfect to pair with oily and fatty foods, such as cheese boards, salmon, roasted chicken or even fish and chips!

Creamy & Fresh

3XP (Trois-X-P) - Pearce | Predhomme | Pender - is a small-production Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay collaboration between négociants Nicholas Pearce & Will Predhomme with vigneron Paul Pender. This wild ferment Chardonnay is 100% certified organic & biodynamic and is produced with minimal intervention.

We strive to show the delicacy, tension, & purity of expression of Ontario-grown Chardonnay with this small-production collaboration.  Brilliant straw colour, youthful, light-intensity aromas of white peach, green apple, citrus, with delicate integrated subtle lees. Bright lemony acidity on the palate, round mouthfeel, & refreshing. A clean, fresh, & distinctly Ontarian-style Chardonnay.

Ideas for pairing 3XP? This rich Chardonnay calls for all shades of seafood and fish: spaghetti with clams and tons of parsley, halibut, crab cakes... or even pork tenderloin! It's also wonderful as an apéro wine.

Mineral & Creamy

“The Farm” is a 10-acre vineyard in Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench, planted to Pinot Noir. The property is rooted in traditions of gathering family & friends, and where Peter and Dora Neudorf call home.

Made from hand picked Chardonnay from the Beamsville Bench where the soil is rich in
limestone. Pressed whole cluster, wild fermented, aged in 50% stainless tanks and 50%
French oak Puncheons (500L barrels) for 16 months. During ageing the wine completed
Malolactic fermentation and was blended and bottled unfiltered in the farm cellar. 

This wine is vibrant with a chalky minerality – the wild ferment delivers layered notes of pear, lemon, honey and stone fruits. The finish is focused and complex.

Pair this creamy Chardonnay with any chicken dish, baked, grilled, or fried. It would also pair beautifully with seafood.

Spicy & Smooth

“The Farm” is a 10-acre vineyard in Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench, planted to Pinot Noir. The property is rooted in traditions of gathering family & friends, and where Peter and Dora Neudorf call home.

Made from a blend of Pinot Noir from select vineyards across Niagara. After fermentation, the wine was aged in French Oak Burgundy barrels (228L) for 14 months. This particular vintage we were given ideal weather conditions during ripening and at harvest with warm sunny days and cool nights.

This is translated through the glass as we find our Black Label has firm structured tannins with notes of dark cherries and earthy undertones. Blended and bottled unfiltered in The Farm cellar. 

Enjoy this Pinot with grilled salmon or other fatty fish. It would also be ideal with duck and other game birds.

Earthy & Floral

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

A blend of fruit from 4 different Vineyards from 4 different sub-appellations, this wine explodes out of the glass with wonderful mulberry, cherry kirsch, pomegranate, and raspberry followed closely by dried basil and tarragon, layered over mushroom and tobacco leaf. It shows up with some air, with more fullness and roundness than some previous vintages. The palate in particular shows good fullness in the mouth with glace cherry married to sugar beet, followed closely by damp leaves and dirt mixed with wet stone with traces of spice lingering on the wonderfully long finish. Balanced acidity follows a soft and supple mouthfeel that will age for 3-4 years but can certainly be enjoyed now.

Pair this Pinot Noir with smoky glazed ham or grilled salmon.

Citrusy & Floral

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The intense aromatics of this wine leap from the glass, lifted by beautiful, creamy bubbles. Explosive aromas of fresh mandarin orange, Meyer lemon, fresh ginger, and notions of nutmeg and honeysuckle immediately engage the olfactory senses.The palate echoes the nose, but also brings in mango, lychee and rose-petal with the light citrus and floral components wiping through the background. A rich mouthfeel is brought on with this warmer vintage as well as the lees in bottle. Serve well chilled. Pour immediately.

Creamy & Fresh

3XP (Trois-X-P) - Pearce | Predhomme | Pender - is a small-production Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay collaboration between négociants Nicholas Pearce & Will Predhomme with vigneron Paul Pender. This wild ferment Chardonnay is 100% certified organic & biodynamic and is produced with minimal intervention.

We strive to show the delicacy, tension, & purity of expression of Ontario-grown Chardonnay with this small-production collaboration.  Brilliant straw colour, youthful, light-intensity aromas of white peach, green apple, citrus, with delicate integrated subtle lees. Bright lemony acidity on the palate, round mouthfeel, & refreshing. A clean, fresh, & distinctly Ontarian-style Chardonnay.

Ideas for pairing 3XP? This rich Chardonnay calls for all shades of seafood and fish: spaghetti with clams and tons of parsley, halibut, crab cakes... or even pork tenderloin! It's also wonderful as an apéro wine.

Waxy & Floral

Lighthall Vineyards is a small, proud, low volume and high quality winery located in enchanting Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. All their wines are produced in a non-interventionist manner and fuelled by passion as hearty as our vines. They also make cheese, designed to pair with their wines.

One of Lighthall's most aromatic wines, this off-dry Riesling is bursting with kiwi, starfruit, nectarine, and a lovely bouquet of white flowers. The classic Jolly-Rancher and crisp green apple punch follows through on the palate with vivacious acidity. Pairs
excellently with spicy south-Asian cuisine, curries, and tacos.

With the little touch of residual sugar in the wine, it makes a great match for foods
with a bit of heat. Spicy curries, Guaitiao (Thai noodle soup), Shrimp with noodles,
or Chicken Masala with mango chutney for example. Leaner white fish like bass,
pickerel, red snapper served with a fresh salad of greens with citrus segments makes a
great summertime match. Creamy fresh cheeses like Brie, Camembert, or Crottin all
are great, while classic Germanic foods like weisswurst, pretzels, and spaetzle also
work well.

Nutty & Waxy

Lighthall Vineyards is a small, proud, low volume and high quality winery located in enchanting Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. All their wines are produced in a non-interventionist manner and fuelled by passion as hearty as our vines. They also make cheese, designed to pair with their wines.

This wine is unmistakably County Pinot Gris. The aromas of pear and cantaloupe yogurt are delicate, rich, and inviting. The use of an Alsatian yeast strain and our method of partially fermenting in old French oak barrels give a smooth and rich mouthfeel, while the waxy finish of unctuous confit apple with a hint of nutmeg keep you coming back for more.

Choucroute garnie, foie gras, pork dishes, veal parmiggiano, chicken with cream sauces, and a traditional turkey dinner are all wonderful. Pizza bianca with a cream base, taleggio and pear is delightful, while meatier fish like halibut, cod, trout, or arctic char are ideal for the fish lovers. Chèvre and brie make great cheese options.

Intense & Mineral

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This Pinot Gris presents a straw-like hue with subtle grey undertones, characteristic of the varietal. The aromatic profile is dominated by notes of mint and minerality, with undertones of eucalyptus and a floral backbone that provides depth and complexity. The palate is light-bodied and refreshing, with citrus flavours of lemon and lime that linger pleasantly. The mouthfeel is lubricative, typical of Pinot Gris, leaving a clean and revitalizing finish.

Vibrant & Crunchy

“The Farm” is a 10-acre vineyard in Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench, planted to Pinot Noir. The property is rooted in traditions of gathering family & friends, and where Peter and Dora Neudorf call home.

THE FARM, Poolhouse Rosé, is made from Gamay grown in Lincoln Lakeshore where the soils are rich in clay and high in minerals. We macerated the grapes on skins for 12 hours before gently pressing into a stainless tank where we started with a slow cold wild ferment, which harnessed the vibrant, dark fruit characters and bright acidity. Fermented dry and bottled shortly after.

The wine is dry & refreshing with notes of cherry & raspberry, and a lingering bright acidity.