PILLITTERI ESTATES WINERY, Canada Vineyard, IcewinePILLITTERI ESTATES WINERY
Pillitteri Estates Winery is The Largest Estate Producer of Icewine. As a local Niagara winery, producing local Niagara wine we are proud of the many services we offer both at our winery and online wine shop. We feature daily wine tours and complimentary wine tastings, showcasing one of the most unique barrel cellars in Niagara-on-the-Lake and all of the Niagara Region. Visit us to try some true Niagara Icewine and sample some of the best Niagara red and white wines we have to offer. Our wine club offers you even more opportunity to explore Niagara wine country with private wine tours and tastings, food and wine pairings and delivery of our premium Niagara wine right to your door every month. Reconnect with that local Niagara taste by ordering through our online wine store. Don't forget to stay connected with us by joining our facebook page and following us on Twitter, we'll keep you up to date with everything happening at Pillitteri and in Niagara-on-the Lake, Including wine festivals and events.
About Pillitteri Estates WineryPillitteri Estates Winery proudly continues a family tradition of viticulture and winemaking excellence. For Gary Pillitteri, the opening of Pillitteri Estates Winery in June of 1993 was the culmination of a lifetime dream. Since arriving in Canada from his native Sicily in 1948, and through many years as a grape grower in Niagara and amateur winemaker, his goal had been to open his own winery. The turning point had taken place five years earlier when Gary won a gold medal for his Icewine in Niagara's amateur wine competition. He knew then that he could make his dream come true. But he had been thinking about early retirement and could only build a professional and high-quality winery with the expertise and full commitment of his family. Pillitteri Estates Winery is truly a family enterprise: Gary's son Charles is C.E.O. President of Sales, daughter Connie is C.F.O President of Operations, daughter Lucy is C.M.O. President of Marketing. and son-in-law Jamie Slingerland is the Director of Viticulture. The grapes are harvested primarily from the family's vineyards of just over 100 acres, planted with vitis vinifera and French Hybrid grape varieties. Following the exacting standards of the VQA (Vintner's Quality Alliance) production has increased steadily since the winery's opening, and currently stands at 600,000 litres. The winery's production facilities have recently undergone a major expansion, although growth in production is carefully controlled to ensure that the family's high quality standards are maintained. Throughout the rapid growth and recent expansion of the winery, the family has not forgotten their heritage. The Pillitteri Logo contains a Sicilian cart, called a carretto, which is intricately painted with scenes of Pillitteri ancestors. The carretto represents the history of a family whose roots are deep in the cultivation of the land and the making of wine. The original antique, a cherished family heirloom, is proudly displayed in the winery's reception area. The Pillitteri ChairsGary and Lena Pillitteri, founders and proprietors of Pillitteri Estates Winery, commissioned the creation of the twenty-three stainless steel chairs now hanging on the walls of our barrel cellar. The chairs symbolically tell the story of the family of Gary and Lena Pillitteri. Throughout his life the combination of 2's and 3's have been significant and auspicious for Gary. November 23 was the day he left his native Sicily and arrived in Canada. His wife Lena celebrates her birthday on December 23rd. Their eldest child, Connie, was born on September 23rd and their other daughter Lucy was born on February 23rd. Charles, their son, is the 3rd child and was born on the 2nd of August. The 23 chairs symbolize the importance of these numbers. Gary is one of seven children. They are signified by the seven vertically placed squares on the back of each chair. The Roman numeral MCMXLVIII (1948) beside the second square signifies the year Gary came to Canada . The next set of five squares refers to Lena Pillitteri who is one of five children. The Roman numeral MCMLVII (1957), is the year she left Sicily for Canada . The set of three squares represents their three children, Connie, Lucy and Charles. These are followed by the Roman numeral MCMXLIII (1993), the year the winery was opened. The lines on the seats of the chairs signify Gary and Lina's five grandchildren: Richard, Rachel, Gary, Alexander and Julia. The lines converge at the Roman numeral MMVI (2006), the year the chairs were constructed. The position of each chair at the table is indicated by a small triangle above one of the 23 circles on the chair's back.
The Barrel CellarThe architectural intent of the cellar design is Neo Norman. A sense of antiquity is evident in the concrete texture and form and simplicity. One thousand three hundred and fifty metric tons of concrete were used to construct the cellar. The immense and impressive monolithic concrete table with its terrazzo surface remains the cellar's focal point. The table measures 500 inches in length and is arguably the longest concrete table in existence. Additional and stunning features are the twenty-three stainless steel chairs displayed on the walls above. The Barrel Cellar, while being a handsome sight, is primarily a wine cellar. It meets the essential criteria: a constant temperature of 12° C (54° F), relative humidity of 50 to 70%, no vibration and protection against light. Barrel aging of wine is a convention that dates back over 2000 years. Oak barrels have traditionally been used for storing and aging of wines, contributing to the character development of the wines and enhancing flavours and aromas. The barrels at Pillitteri Estates Winery are of French and American oak. Pillitteri IcewineAs the worlds largest estate producer of Icewine, Pillitteri Estates Winery is proud to produce this exquisite gift of nature, "The Nectar of the Gods". Harvest of the Icewine grapes occurs when temperatures have reached -8*C or colder. When pressed,these hand picked, naturally frozen grapes yield a juice with an intense concentration of sugars, acids, flavours and aromas. The yield, however, is far lower than that of most wines, requiring ten times more grapes per bottle. The resulting wine is high in natural sugar, low in alcohol, has an amazing acidity level, and is intensely sweet and flavourful. Pillitteri Icewine is a unique tasting experience with flavours that can range from honeyed peach and apricot to more tropical fruit like mangos. Pillitteri Estates, takes great pride in producing Icewine within the strict VQA standards -- a recognition of the highest level of quality attainable. Pillitteri Estates Icewine has been recognized at wine competitions throughout the world, earning some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Icewine - one of the world's most luscious and celebrated wines - is one of the most difficult and challenging. The extreme weather for harvest, the brutal force required for juice extraction and the rigors of fermentation are in complete contrast to the soft, luscious, intense, soothing feel the wine evokes on you once on the palate. The long, extensive finish of Icewine is simply heavenly. One would have to wonder what originally inspired man to press frozen grapes for wine. The simple idea of it seems preposterous but all we can do is say "thanks" and then, "enjoy"! The transformation of the grapes while hanging on the vine awaiting their winter harvest date is nothing short of magical. As the grapes slowly evolve from a simple green to a beautiful golden colour, the flavour becomes much more "golden" as well since the flavour intensifies, the complexity increases and the quality escalates. It is a process that only Mother Nature can accomplish in her own special way
1696 Niagara Stone Rd, RR #2, Niagara- on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 Canada P: (905) 468-3147 F: (905) 468-0389 E-mail: winery@pillitteri.com Web: www.pillitteri.com Founded 1993 Personnel: Owner & Pres., Gary Pillitteri; Owner, Lena Pillitteri; Pres. Ops., Connie Slingerland (connie@pillitteri.com); Vyd. Mgr., Jamie Slingerland; Winemkr., Marc Bradshaw (marc@pillitteri.com); Pres. Sls., Charles Pillitteri (charlie@pillitteri.com) Annual Case Prod.: 50,000 - 499,999 Products: table wine, sparkling wine, dessert wine Tasting Room: Yes E-Commerce: Yes Top Varietals: Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Vidal, Merlot Vyd. Acres: 53 Related PostsHenry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Canada, WineINNISKILLIN WINES, INC., Ice Wine CALONA VINEYARDS Canada PELEE ISLAND WINERY & VINEYARDS, INC., Canada |