Oakville Galleries

About the Winery

Leaning Post

A leaning post is what you find at the beginning of a row of grapes, anchoring the wires that are the frame-work for growing grapevines. It is the beginning of an obsession to translate a time and place into liquid. Leaning Post wines take you to that beginning by finding small, unique plots of land in Niagara and putting them in bottle. Because after stripping away all the fancy buildings and high-tech equipment you are left with a place on this earth that grows wine unlike any other. When you taste that in a glass you just know it. Nadia and Ilya have had to rely on the support of family, friends and financial institutions to make the dream of owning a winery a reality. Leaning Post began as a virtual winery and is so proud to now have the quaint tasting room at 1491 Hwy 8 on their home property in Winona, Ontario.

Ilya and Nadia are the brains and passion behind Leaning Post Wines. It started with a dream to take unique, interesting single vineyard blocks in Niagara and turn them into distinctive, terroir driven wines. Nadia and Ilya first met in their hometown of Winnipeg, MB where their passion for wine and each other was born.

Ilya has been a winemaker in the Niagara Region for the last 17 vintages working at Daniel Lenko Estate Winery, Foreign Affair and now at Leaning Post Wines. Ilya is also a consulting winemaker at the Good Earth Winery. Ilya’s true passion in life is to make world renowned wines from Niagara that really showcase the distinct terroir that Niagara offers.

About the Winery

Keint-He

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.

About the Winery

Pearce Family Wines

In the early 2000's Nicholas Pearce was exposed to the garagiste movement in Bordeaux and was particularly inspired by négociants like Jean Luc Thunevin (Saint Emilion), James Sichel (Margaux) and Nicolas Potel (Beaune) from Burgundy.

After returning home to Ontario and starting his own wine company, he has had a hand in making 10+ wines in two hemispheres, 3 countries and 5 different appellations since the 2013 vintage.

Pearce Predhomme

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from around the globe. Founded with a mission to build and import wines from our favourite appellations while offering an unequaled value/quality ratio for the sommeliers & wine buyers in Ontario. This is a project between Toronto Sommelier and entrepreneur Will Predhomme and Ontario wine importer Nicholas Pearce they have partnered with Radford Dale in South Africa and NorthWest Wine Co in Oregon to create these special cuvées.

About the Winery

Keint-He

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.

About the Winery

Château Haut-Grelot

Château Haut Grelot is located in Saint Ciers Sur Gironde, approximately 50 kms north of Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary. It was established by the Bonneau family in 1922 and now run but the 4th Generation. Today Château Haut-Grelot comprises 58 hectares of vineyards and is run by Céline and Julien, who was recently awarded the title 'Best Young Talent' in Bordeaux.

The vineyards are made up of sandy-gravel on the hillsides bordering the Gironde Estuary and sand-clay-silt on the hillsides further inland. Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux benefits from an ideal microclimate where there is a high level of sunshine and enough rain to guarantee the perfect environment for grape production. As a result the reds are fruity and concentrated and the whites are fresh, vibrant and delicate.

About the Winery

Pearce Family Wines

In the early 2000's Nicholas Pearce was exposed to the garagiste movement in Bordeaux and was particularly inspired by négociants like Jean Luc Thunevin (Saint Emilion), James Sichel (Margaux) and Nicolas Potel (Beaune) from Burgundy.

After returning home to Ontario and starting his own wine company, he has had a hand in making 10+ wines in two hemispheres, 3 countries and 5 different appellations since the 2013 vintage.

Pearce Predhomme

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from around the globe. Founded with a mission to build and import wines from our favourite appellations while offering an unequaled value/quality ratio for the sommeliers & wine buyers in Ontario. This is a project between Toronto Sommelier and entrepreneur Will Predhomme and Ontario wine importer Nicholas Pearce they have partnered with Radford Dale in South Africa and NorthWest Wine Co in Oregon to create these special cuvées.

About the Winery

Château de Montfaucon

Just across the Rhone river from the beautiful vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the Lirac appellation extends itself on the low hills alongside the river. The history of Château de Montfaucon dates back to the 11th century when the castle's first tower was built. The castle's role in history was strategic; the Rhône River was the border between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman German Empire. Montfaucon was one of many castles and fortresses along the Rhône River constructed to guard the border.

Rodolphe de Pins took over the family estate of Montfaucon in 1995 and subsequently rebuilt the winery and began practicing sustainable agriculture. He honed his winemaking skills in Barossa at Henschke and Vieux Telegraphe in Châteauneuf du Pape before returning to Lirac, so needless to say, his familiarity with the local varieties is well established.

About the Winery

Mas Codina

The Mas Codina estate is located in the heart of the Alt Penedès region, comprising of low-lying plains and hills between 250 and 300 metres high.
Until recently, the farm has always grown, and made a livelihood from, cereals, grapes, peaches and vegetables, as well as farm animals. Now, apart from century-old olive trees, all the land is devoted to vineyards.
Mas Codina has been in the same family for generations. They have adopted organic farming practices promoting natural processes and seeking a balanced ecosystem. All because of their love for land and tradition. There are currently 40 hectares of vineyards that are being organically farmed.

About the Winery

Bodega Marco Zunino

The dream of 4 French partners in Argentina's Mendoza region can be found 200 kilometers from the district capital, in the South of the region, in the town of San Rafael. It's an oasis surrounded by large canyons and crossed by two rivers, Diamante and Atuel, vital for agriculture and tourism in the region.

The arid climate, rugged landscape coupled with the plane trees located along the country roads and weeping willows bordering its rivers that makes the area reminiscent of the midi region in the South of France.

The thirty-hectare vineyard boasts an exceptional site and an idyllic regional climate for wine producing. The low rainfall, vineyard altitude (670m) and high temperature variations are key to the diversity and quality of San Rafael’s terroir and offers the ideal setting for a truly exceptional quality of grape.

About the Winery

Groupe Bellene

Groupe Bellene is composed of the négociant “Maison Roche de Bellene” and the winery “Domaine de Bellene” both located in Beaune. Nicolas Potel grew up at the Volnay Domaine Pousse d'Or, where his father, Gérard, had worked since 1964.

Nicolas trained abroad and returned home in 1996, hoping to build a négociant business and that was the start of Maison Nicolas Potel. Potel began sourcing grapes from good parcels, often working with the growers to improve quality. By 2002, he was making 120 wines from 50 different appellations.

Today he runs Maison Roche de Bellene, a micro-négoce that offers a complete range of wines, with an emphasis on individual terroirs from vieilles vignes (old vines - 40 years or older) that are farmed responsibly. All of the growers that Nicolas works with are either organic certified or farming according to the principles of lutte raisonée (sustainable viticulture). This enables Nicolas to consistently produce the expressive, terroir-driven style that is his vision. In addition he owns his own vineyards and bottles these wines under the label Domaine de Bellene. You can also find some special back vintage offerings that Nicolas has sourced from his friends in region, this is labelled under Collection Bellenum.

About the Winery

Kellerei Bozen - Cantine Bolzano

Cantina Bolzano, based in the town of Bolzano, traces its roots to two of Alto Adige’s most historic cooperatives: Santa Magdalena, est. 1930 and Cantina Gries, est. 1908. After deciding to merge in 2001, Cantina Bolzano was created. Bolzano is located in the middle of a valley basin surrounded by hilly vineyards that grow from 200 meters above sea level up to 1000. North and south meet in this valley, and the sun warms the stony soils with its pronounced diurnal temperatures, protecting the vines from the cold.

The average growers’ plots in Sudtirol averages only approx. 1 hectare, and the area, with its famed reputation and steep slopes, is an expensive area to farm. The member of Bolzano (approx. 300 in all) own many of the best vineyards throughout the region, including the Valle Isarco, and pool their resources to create top quality wines. And while no grower is certified organic, many practice organic viticulture and all of them adhere to natural practices in their vineyards. Most growers have lived on their farms with their families for generations. They protect their land and cultivate their vineyards as they have done for generations with total respect of the environment where they live.

About the Winery

Ca' del Monte

Ca del Monte is situated on the hillsides overlooking the village of Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella. It has belonged to the same family for generations, and is now run by brothers Umberto and Giuseppe Zaconte. There’s nothing fancy about this place. The house and winery are modest - and are attached to a 17th century monastery.

The estate is approximately 50 acres, and its 15-65 year old vines lie on gentle slopes at 800-900 meters. They grow on four soils including clay, limestone, red volcanic soil with red stones, and “Toar,” a green volcanic soil. The vineyards of Ca Del Monte are planted with 20-40 year old vines of Corvina, Rodinella and Molinara grapes that are planted in poor soils that stress the vines and nurture the fruit. All of the farming is done traditionally and non-certified organic.

About the Winery

Cortonesi

The “La Mannella” farm, owned by the Cortonesi family, covers a surface of 56 hectares (138 acres), eight (19 acres) of which are especially devoted to the production of “Brunello di Montalcino”. Its wine-making activity started at the beginning of the seventies, and its vineyards are placed in one of the most valuable areas of the region, both north and south-east from Montalcino.

The Cortonesi family has been making wine since the 1970’s however at the time the wine was simply for family, friends and neighbours enjoyment. In 1985 they began to offer their wines commercially. It is strictly a family business, and works according to tradition, while also employing modern technologies that help to the enhance the quality of the wines made.

Tommaso, in his early 30s, is the third-generation winemaker at the winery that was started by his grandfather. The favorable location of its vineyards, and the rocky soil where they are planted, all contribute to the making of a deep and elegant Brunello. Tomasso says “I’m a lucky man who has been given the opportunity to realize my dream and continue my family’s efforts making wine in the land where I was born.”

About the Winery

Domaine Andre Aubert

At the very heart of the Rhône Valley, at the northerly tip of the Southern Rhône, lie the vineyards of Grignan-Les-Adhémar. The chances are you haven’t heard the name before, few people have, but the wines are worth seeking out. It’s not a new wine region – vines have been planted here since around 500BC but it is a new name (formerly known as Côteaux-du-Tricastin). Domaine André Aubert, has been formed over decades and today comprises of more than 280 hectares spread from north to south of the prestigious Southern Rhone Valley on the appellations Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône villages, Visan, and Grignan-les-Adhémar.

About the Winery

Matthias Hager

The Hager Matthias winery is located in the small village of Mollands in the Kamptal area of Lower Austria. Matthias took over the 12-hectare land and the family business at an early age. He aims to produce the best quality wine possible and to focus on being in balance with nature. The lands are cultivated according to biodynamic principles and are certified Demeter. Matthias has a vast knowledge about plants and insects, and about keeping the flora and fauna in harmony with the vines. Matthias Hager is one of the most experimental winemakers in the Kamptal region, Austria. He understood early how to work with different soil types from loess to clay. He established different product lines to highlight these differences: the blue one representing fresh, lively wines including Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc; and the brown line gravitating towards more earthy, flavourful produce and the red line stands for no sulphites!

About the Winery

Château Tour de Gilet

Château Tour de Gilet is located in Ludon Médoc, 16 km north of Bordeaux in the Médoc area. The Château was built on the foundation of an ancient abbey from the 12th century. At that time the vineyard was already surrounded by “jalles” or small criss-crossing drainage canals to help produce wines of higher quality. Today, oenologist Claude Gaudin makes an extraordinary wine at this small property, using techniques such as dense planting in the vineyard and green harvesting to lower the yield, sorting at the harvest and very natural wine making for maximum expression of the fruit.

About the Winery

Pearce Family Wines

In the early 2000's Nicholas Pearce was exposed to the garagiste movement in Bordeaux and was particularly inspired by négociants like Jean Luc Thunevin (Saint Emilion), James Sichel (Margaux) and Nicolas Potel (Beaune) from Burgundy.

After returning home to Ontario and starting his own wine company, he has had a hand in making 10+ wines in two hemispheres, 3 countries and 5 different appellations since the 2013 vintage.

Pearce Predhomme

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from around the globe. Founded with a mission to build and import wines from our favourite appellations while offering an unequaled value/quality ratio for the sommeliers & wine buyers in Ontario. This is a project between Toronto Sommelier and entrepreneur Will Predhomme and Ontario wine importer Nicholas Pearce they have partnered with Radford Dale in South Africa and NorthWest Wine Co in Oregon to create these special cuvées.