Small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shaped by the cool climate and limestone soils of Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench.
Cloudsley Cellars is a boutique Niagara winery dedicated to small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Twenty Mile Bench. Founder Adam Lowy’s love of Burgundy informs the wines’ classic, elegant direction, while the focus remains firmly on Niagara’s cool climate and limestone-rich soils.
Working with winemaker Matthew Smith, Cloudsley follows a transparent, minimalist approach designed to reveal the character of carefully selected vineyard sites. The wines are fermented with wild yeast and made in limited quantities, with restrained use of French oak.
| Website | cloudsleycellars.com/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 3795 Victoria Avenue Vineland, Ontario L0R 2C0 Canada |
| Wine Maker | Matthew Smith — Head Winemaker Matthew Smith works with proprietor Adam Lowy to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that emphasize vineyard character, balance and the cool-climate identity of the Twenty Mile Bench. The cellar approach is restrained, using wild-yeast fermentation and carefully judged French oak. |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Niagara Peninsula |
Cloudsley’s Twenty Mile Bench Chardonnay is sourced from the Wismer family’s Foxcroft (73.5%) and Wingfield (26.5%) vineyards, both located near the winery. Barrel-fermented with wild yeast and aged for 18 months in French oak, including 28.5% new oak, it is a precise expression of Chardonnay from Niagara’s limestone- and shale-rich bench.
A multi-vineyard expression of the Twenty Mile Bench, sourced from Glen Elgin (33.33%), End of the Road (23.81%), Parke (19.05%), Cuesta (14.29%) and Hanck (9.52%). Fermented with wild yeast and aged for 18 months in French oak, including 28.57% new oak, it captures the character of carefully selected Pinot Noir sites around the winery.
A single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the End of the Road Vineyard, owned by Tom and Loring Wiley and planted in 2007. Fermented with wild yeast and aged for 18 months in French oak, including 30% new oak. Only 120 cases were produced.
A single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Parke Vineyard, owned by the Wismer family and located northeast of the winery. Planted in 1999 to clones 667 and 115 on magnesium-rich clay loam. Fermented with wild yeast and aged for 18 months in French oak, including 27.27% new oak. Only 65 cases were produced.