Featured Winery

Trius Winery at Hillebrand

Trius Winery at Hillebrand
1249 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara -on -the Lake, Ontario

Trius Winery at Hillebrand
1249 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara -on -the Lake, Ontario

The winery is more often referred to as Trius Winery

Nestled between the Niagara escarpment and Lake Ontario, Hillebrand is a Niagara winemaking pioneer. For more than 30 years, they have been crafting fine VQA wines from premium grapes grown in the four appellations of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

In 2017 Trius received no one not two but three Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines

Trius 2015 Showcase Clean Slate Sauvignon Blanc Wild Ferment
A beautifully balanced wine with a bouquet of cut grass, orange blossom with a thread of minerality. Medium-bodied, dry, round on the palate with flavours of gooseberries and passion fruit.

Trius Showcase Riesling Ghost Creek Vineyard 2015
Pale lemon colour with orchard fruit aromas of peach and apple with a floral grace note; good tension between sweet fruit and citrus acidity with a long, mouth-freshening finish.

Trius 2014 Showcase Vidal Icewine
Deep golden-amber colour; botrytis and floral notes on the nose redolent with mango, honey and peach aromas; full-bodied, sweet and unctuous on the palate with dried fig, tropical fruit and honey flavours kept in check by balancing acidity.

Craig McDonald  leads the winemaking team, crafting VQA wines for Trius Winery

Founded in 1979, as Newark wines, later changed to Hillebrand Winery, then to Trius Winery at Hillebrand they are an innovative leader in the Niagara wine industry and Canada 's leading producer of premium Vintner's Quality Alliance (VQA) wines. Based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Hillebrand Winery makes full use of the characteristics unique to the region, creating a range of premium wines, as well as stylish and energetic wine and culinary experiences . The winery is owned by Andrew Peller Ltd.

among their achievements they list:

In 1983, we created the region's very first Icewine.

In 1991 we opened the first underground sparkling wine cellar.

In 1995, we were the first Canadian winery to receive highest honours with the Pichon Longeuville Comtesse de Lalande Trophy (Best Red Wine in the World) at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

In 1996 we opened the first winery restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake .

The sufficient role played by the winery in devloping Canada's icewine helped paved the way for Canada's renowned sucess acrosss the globe.

Hillebrand Winery combines the quality vinifera grapes from the growers of the Niagara region with the skill of its Winemakers to produce award-winning varietals, such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet, Gamay Noir and blends, such as the renowned Trius Red and White. Making full use of the microclimate, Hillebrand Winery is a pioneer producer of Icewine in the Niagara Region and has been making this rare wine since 1983

 

Among the many fine VQA wines produced, is the premium Trius series. Trius was launched in 1989 with a wine known simply as ‘Red'. This family of wine has grown to include Trius Chardonnay, Trius Riesling, Trius Grand Red, Trius Icewine, Trius Brut, Trius Cabernet Franc, Trius Cabernet Sauvignon and Trius White – a celebrated blend of white varietals.

The life of any great wine begins in the vineyard

The winery family has grown to include more than 20 of Niagara-on-the-Lake's most dedicated growers over the last 30 years

Ghost Creek Vineyard
Ghost Creek appears and draws out excess moisture from the vineyard. Add the 20 year old Riesling vines, and this vineyard really is a special place.

Clark Farm
During harvest, viticultural students live on this vineyard site. This long, narrow strip of unique clay holds the soils' nutrients giving the red wines from this vineyard intense cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavours.

Carlton Vineyard
The free draining soil of this vineyard forces the roots to grow deep. Deep rooted vines pick up more character from the earth and the stony soil captures and reflects the sun's heat. This combination gives us a more full-bodied complex red wines.

Winery “Backyard” Vineyard
The wineries own backyard is planted to Riesling and Cabernet Franc. This vineyard receives the most attention from the winemaking team, as well as play host to guests while they enjoy tasting wine amongst its vines.


Craig McDonald

 

Winemaker

Australian born Craig McDonald leads the winemaking team, crafting VQA wines for Trius.

Craig's talent in crafting premium wines has been honed over 23 vintages in a number of countries, including the U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He has devoted the last 13 vintages to creating award-wining VQA wines in Niagara, and was named Ontario Winemaker of the Year in 2008.

Believing that winemaking starts in the vineyard, Craig looks to the fertile land to inspire and guide his "hands-on" winemaking style: “Being in tune with the vineyard and adapting to the specific growing season is fundamental to our winemaking. Only when we have attained this synchronicity can we then add our personal touch.”

Trius offeres a number of great experiences for the visitor. From wine tastings in the Vineyard, Harvest Table Dining Series to icewine tours. Special events are help through out the year.

 



Established in 1996 as Niagara-on-the-Lake's first winery restaurant, Trius Winery Restaurant grew out of the desire to integrate Hillebrand 's fine wines with cuisine inspired by and made with locally grown and produced ingredients. Spearheaded by Executive Chef Frank Dodd , a self proclaimed ‘Locavore' Hillebrand Winery Restaurant is dedicated to working closely with local farmers and growers, therefore creating a regional cuisine that is seasonally-inspired and true to Niagara. Newly refurbished in 2007, the restaurant offers patio seating with a view of the picturesque Backyard Vineyard and the Niagara Escarpment and features artwork from local Canadian artists. Hillebrand Winery Restaurant has been awarded a Four Diamond Award from the CAA /AAA.

Platinum at 2017 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
Trius 2015 Showcase Chardonnay Wild Ferment Oliveira Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore

edited July 2017

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