The Viticulture Edge

In this episode we interview Scott McGregor, winemaker at Lakeview Wine Co., and Rob Power, winemaker at Creekside Estate Winery. Based in Niagara, Ontario, Lakeview Wine Co. and Creekside Estate Winery are two wineries under the same ownership but of different scale and different varietal focus. These varietal differences are influenced by Niagara’s diverse growing conditions facilitated by glacial tilled soils, the Great Lakes, and the Niagara escarpment. Everything from Riesling and Chardonnay, grapes with refreshing elegance, to bolder grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in Niagara. As veterans of the Niagara wine scene we discuss with Scott and Rob how the industry and Niagara has changed over the past 30 years and the how the stories we tell ourselves influence our perception of “good”. Small-batch isn’t necessarily always better, what Niagara was 30 years ago is not what it is today, and Canada isn’t igloos and kayaks.In this episode we discussed different wines from both producers, including the Lakeview Wine Co. Fume Blanc and the Creekside Winery Blanc de Blanc traditional method sparkling. We’d love for you to enjoy these and other wines from these producers. As a special offer for podcast listeners, get 10% off when you purchase Lakeview Wine Co. and Creekside Estate Winery wines from Heavenly Vines. Use the code CreekLake10 at checkout!Find wines from Lakeview Wine Co. and Creekside Winery on Heavenly Vines:​Lakeview Wine Co.​Creekside Estate WineryFollow Lakeview Wine Co. on Instagram:@lakeviewwinecoFollow Creekside Winery on Instagram:@creeksidewineYour questions and comments are appreciated and help us guide and improve the show! Also, if you think you’d make a good guest on the show, let us know! Feel free to reach us on Spotify, on Instagram (@the_viticulture_edge_podcast), or email us at the.viticulture.edge@gmail.com.If you like this show please consider rating it or telling a friend about it! Every additional listen and like helps us share the unique stories of these underrepresented wine regions with the world.

​80年以上前、日本でワイナリーはどのように始まったのでしょうか？​そして、ワイン造りは80年前から今日まで、どのように進化してきたのでしょうか？今回のエピソードでは、東京の北、埼玉県の山々に囲まれた秩父ワインを訪ねました。秩父ワインの歴史は1940年以前にさかのぼります。創業者である浅見源作は、まだ日本でワインを飲む文化が一般的ではなく、ワインを保存するための容器も一升瓶（1.7リットルの日本酒瓶）しかなかった時代に、秩父ワインを立ち上げました。現在、その志と伝統は、ディレクター兼ソムリエの村田道子さんと、5代目当主でありヘッドワインメーカーの島田昇さんによって受け継がれています。お二人は、曾祖父である浅見源作から続く、世代を超えたワイン造りの系譜を守り続けています。村田道子さんとの対談では、曾祖父のエピソード、ワイン造りの家庭で育った幼少期の思い出、そして時代とともに変化してきた秩父ワインの醸造について、貴重なお話を伺いました。このエピソードでは、「唐沢メルロー」を一緒に味わいました。このワインは、樹齢25年のメルローが植えられた自社畑のブドウから造られています。畑を造成する際には、近隣の武甲山から石をトラックで運び込み、排水性やミネラルバランスを高めるために土壌に埋め込むという、非常に手間のかかる工程が行われました。この一本には、秩父ワイン一家のワイン造りへの深いこだわりが表れています。秩父ワインの最新情報はこちらからご覧いただけます：Instagram@chichibuwinegensaku公式ウェブサイトwww.chichibuwine.co.jpWine Searcher（お近くでの取り扱い情報）https://www.wine-searcher.com/merchant/154077-chichibu-wineご質問やご感想は大歓迎です。皆さまの声が番組の改善につながります。また、「ぜひ出演してみたい」という方も、ぜひご連絡ください。Spotify、Instagram（@the_viticulture_edge_podcast）、またはメール（the.viticulture.edge@gmail.com）でお気軽にどうぞ。

​How do non-Japanese drinkers feel about Japanese wine?​For someone starting out with Japanese wine, where should they start?In this episode we visited 3Grapes near Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, a local experience space focusing on Japanese wine introduction and education to non-Japanese speakers. Anzu Kojima, founder of 3Grapes, and Alex Kellerhals, wine specialist at 3Grapes, share their discovery of Japanese wine, how the business got started, and the importance of curation with the experiences they provide and when selecting wines in an emerging wine region.In this episode we feature Hinoe Winery’s “Amber”, a skin-contact wine made from the Koshu white wine grape that Japan has claimed as one of its signature grapes. Located in land-locked Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo, Hinoe Winery is a new winery with origins as a vegetable and shiitake mushroom farm. The tree rings on their wine labels pay homage to their shiitake mushroom growing roots, which they still grow on cut logs from the forest.Follow 3Grapes on Instagram:@3grapes_tokyoFollow Hinoe Winery on Instagram:@hinoewineryFind Hinoe Winery wines in Japan at 3Grapes or on the Hinoe Winery website. Your questions and comments are appreciated and help us guide and improve the show! Also, if you think you’d make a good guest on the show, let us know! Feel free to reach us on Spotify, on Instagram (@the_viticulture_edge_podcast), or email us at the.viticulture.edge@gmail.com.

​Can a single wine represent what an entire region has to offer?​What factors differentiate wines within a single region?Happy new year! The Viticulture Edge is back with more exciting episodes in 2026, including more winemaker interviews and introducing more wines from Japan and Canada. In this episode we discuss how many vineyards and subregions wine regions get broadly categorized into a single region name. Furthermore we often assume a single wine experience from that region represents all wine produced there. In reality there are numerous factors creating differences between producers and even individual wines from a single producer within a wine region. This creates a vast world of often overlooked wine to explore within each region. Fitting with this theme, this episode features Bachelder Niagara’s Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir. Known as Canada’s “terroir-ist”, Thomas Bachelder is a Niagara producer obsessed with understanding and mapping the various growing sites within Niagara. His wines focus on single vineyard bottlings of Gamay, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir that express the different growing conditions of each site.Follow Bachelder Niagara on Instagram:@bachelder_winesFind Bachelder Niagara wines in Japan:Heavenly VinesFind Bachelder Niagara wines in your local region:Wine SearcherYour questions and comments are appreciated and help us guide and improve the show! Also, if you think you’d make a good guest on the show, let us know! Feel free to reach us on Spotify, on Instagram, or email us at the.viticulture.edge@gmail.com.

​How can the vintage change the direction of your winery?​How do you create a business with the next generation in mind?We delve into these questions and more with Vittorio De Stefano, proprietor of On Seven Estate Winery in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada. On Seven Estate Winery is a boutique producer crafting small batches of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With only 5 acres under vine and only 250 cases of wine produced per year at the recording of this episode, they’re a micro-production project dedicated to the highest level of quality.The project started in 2009 with Vittorio and his wife purchasing an abandoned farm with the potential to grow great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to the limestone content in the soil. Although only 5 acres are under vine now, the project doesn’t aim to grow too much larger — growing to a point where about 800 cases of wine are produced a year, or a little over 3 times their current production. The goal is maintain uncompromising quality and cooperating with nature to best express the terroir.In this episode we feature the 2021 Chardonnay from the estate’s “The Devotion” series, a beautiful wine with an interesting backstory that Vittorio details in the episode. Follow On Seven Estate Winery on Instagram:@onsevenwineryMany thanks to Vittorio for his time for the interview, to Lailey Winery for letting us use the space for the tasting and recording, and to @brentwithglasses for the amazing photography!Your questions and comments are appreciated and help us guide and improve the show! We read everything! Feel free to post your questions or comments on the show itself, on our Instagram, or email us at the.viticulture.edge@gmail.com.

​How is harvest conducted in Japan?​What role do volunteers play in the harvest and sorting process?In this episode we discuss Adam’s second volunteer excursion to Tomi, Nagano, this time to help with harvest and grape selection. Due to the small scale of many wineries in Japan, many producers rely on volunteers to help them with harvest. The small scale of many producers also means that hand labor is required for harvesting and grape selection for hundreds of kilos of grapes. Our discussion particularly focuses on Adam’s experiences at Domaine Murayama, a boutique producer in Tomi, Nagano producing wine and cider from both estate and purchased grapes and apples. Koki Murayama, the proprietor and winemaker, moved from Osaka in western Japan to Tomi for its potential for producing great wine grapes. In this episode we feature Domaine Murayama’s 2024 Cedrillon Blanc, a white wine made from Chardonnay with a delicate palette and a precise acidic backbone. Follow Domaine Murayama on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/domaine_murayama?igsh=N2YybGl2dHhleG5t

* How do you create different flavors for blending beyond different grape varieties?* How do you continue to evolve your winemaking while still respecting tradition?Located just outside the historic and postcard-esque town of Niagara-on-the-lake, Stratus Vineyards is located just far enough from Lake Ontario to get warmer growing conditions for red varieties during the summer and just close enough to get protection from winter frost. Stratus vineyards produces wines that showcase the art of assemblage or blending. With over 16 varieties planted to the estate, 10 red and 6 white, this wide array of grape varieties gives Stratus a wide palette of flavor profiles to use in their signature blends.In this episode we discuss how “kaizen” or constant small improvements have played a role in Stratus better understanding its vineyards, its land, its wine, and improving with each vintage. This is exemplified in the episode’s featured wine, the Stratus red, an evolving blend of red grapes to create a wine of elegance and complexity. Each vintage is different, reflecting Stratus’ latest understanding of its land, its vines, its grapes, the year, and how to best ferment and blend each parcel.In Japan, find Stratus Vineyards wines at Heavenly Vines:https://heavenlyvines.com/winery/winery_detail.cfm?lang=JP&dmnID=1793&srsltid=AfmBOoouUNbbllhpo3eWEYd2LTLOZQEyDbNwuOK0i4l5xJaPdyNGmPSTOr look for their wine in your local area on wine searcher:https://www.wine-searcher.com/merchant/15605-stratus-winesBe sure to follow Stratus Vineyards on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stratuswines?igsh=MW9rNnA4d3NjZmdybw==Many thanks to Stratus Vineyards for their incredible hospitality during our stay and to Dean Stoyka (@lordofvines) for his time during the interview and tour. Also, a huge thank you to Brent Toda (@brentwithglasses) for taking amazing photos during our interview!

​What kinds of challenges do you face with winemaking in Niagara?​How do you create a wine with vintage integrity?We answer these questions and more with Doug Mackenzie, head winemaker at Rosewood Estates Winery in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. Located about an hour and a half south of Toronto on the southern end of Lake Ontario, Rosewood Estates Winery is not only a winery, but a meadery, apiary and a restaurant. With beehives, an estate vegetable and herb garden, and, of course, lots of vines, Rosewood makes their own honey, mead, and kitchen creations from scratch while keeping sustainability and authenticity at the forefront of what they do. Doug shares his journey into wine-making, how they craft wines that reflect each unique and varied Niagara vintage, the challenges of growing grapes and making wine in Niagara, and more in our discussion. During our discussion we discussed Doug’s favorite wines, the Rosé Charmat and the Neptune Riesling. Find these and other wines at your local retailer on wine searcher:https://www.wine-searcher.com/merchant/47734-rosewood-estates-winery-meaderyOr at heavenly vines:https://heavenlyvines.com/winery/winery_detail.cfm?lang=EN&dmnID=1799&srsltid=AfmBOorRLVSWYz-uW9Eb3r7JAumXe4qCQR4iVz-N5qOmCvZPdYI5LxEFAlso, follow Rosewood Estates Winery on Instagram:@rosewoodwineMany thanks again to all of the folks at Rosewood Estates Winery for the incredible hospitality during our visit and the fabulous lunch at the winery (if you go, you don’t want to miss it!). Also, thank you to Brent Toda (@brentwithglasses) for the beautiful pictures taken during the interview!

「テロワールを表現するワインは、どうやって造るのか？」「細部にこだわりながら、ワインに干渉しすぎないためには？」今回は、カナダ・オンタリオ州プリンス・エドワード・カウンティにあるClosson Chase（クロッソン・チェイス）の醸造責任者キース・タイヤーズ氏とアシスタントワインメーカーのブレイドン・スカリー氏に、彼らの美しい畑と場所について紹介していただきます。プリンス・エドワード・カウンティ半島内陸部に位置するClosson Chaseは、前回のNorman Hardie Wineryとは異なるミクロクリマを持ち、より力強く、それでいて独自の土地の個性を感じさせるワインを生み出しています。英語版のエピソードでは、Closson Chaseの「South Clos」畑でキース氏とブレイドン氏にお話を伺いました。湖から吹き込む午後の強い風が、温かい内陸の畑に届く様子など、この土地ならではの雰囲気が感じられるロケーションです。収録時には、彼らの「Unoaked Vineyard Chardonnay」と「Vineyard Pinot Noir」をいただきました。どちらも「South Clos」と「Churchside」畑をブレンドしたワインです。お近くの販売店はこちらから検索できます：https://www.wine-searcher.com/merchant/40499-closson-chaseまた、日本にお住まいの方はHeavenly Vinesでもご購入いただけます：https://heavenlyvines.com/winery/winery_detail.cfm?lang=EN&dmnID=1773&srsltid=AfmBOopkQvb_gngFPGkz-zLtxQeptTmMDGydcggeX9Z8M6cyUq9CLBoYClosson ChaseのInstagramもぜひチェックしてください：@clossonchasevineyardshttps://www.instagram.com/clossonchasevineyards?igsh=MmprdG9iOXV2M2Vp今回の訪問で温かいおもてなしをしてくださったClosson Chaseの皆さん（敷地内のレストランもぜひ！）、そして素晴らしい写真を撮ってくれた@brentwithglassesに心から感謝します。

​How do you make a wine that expresses terroir?​How do you care about the details while not meddling with the wine?Head winemaker Keith Tyers and assistant winemaker Braydon Scully of Closson Chase in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada introduce us to the beautiful vineyards and location of Closson Chase. Located inland on the Prince Edward County peninsula, Closson Chase has a different micro-climate from our previous episode at Norman Hardie Winery, resulting in more powerful wines that still express a unique sense of place.In this episode we talk with Keith and Braydon in the “South Clos” vineyards of Closson Chase where you can really hear the sense of place, a strong afternoon breeze that comes off the lake into the warm inland fields. We apologize for the wind in the recording, but also hope you enjoy the conversation about this special place and the people behind it as much as we did!During our conversation we shared bottles of their Unoaked Vineyard Chardonnay and their Vineyard Pinot Noir, each blends of their “South Clos” and “Churchside” vineyards.Find these and other wines at your local retailer on wine searcher:https://www.wine-searcher.com/merchant/40499-closson-chaseOr at heavenly vines:https://heavenlyvines.com/winery/winery_detail.cfm?lang=EN&dmnID=1773&srsltid=AfmBOopkQvb_gngFPGkz-zLtxQeptTmMDGydcggeX9Z8M6cyUq9CLBoYAlso, follow Closson Chase on Instagram:@clossonchasevineyardsMany thanks to all of the people at Closson Chase for their incredible hospitality during our visit (be sure to check out their onsite restaurant as well!) and to @brentwithglasses for their fantastic photos!

​ソムリエからワインメーカーへ、どうやって転身したのか？​カナダのプリンス・エドワード・カウンティは、ワイン造りにおいてなぜ特別で、そして挑戦的な土地なのか？​「私がワインを造る理由は…」今回は、カナダを代表するワインメーカー、Norman Hardie（ノーマン・ハーディ）氏をお迎えして、番組初のワインメーカーインタビューをお届けします。オンタリオ州プリンス・エドワード・カウンティにあるNorman Hardie Wineryにて収録し、ノーマン氏がどのようにワイン造りの道に入ったのか、彼のワイン造りにおける3つのルール、そして「なぜワインを造るのか」というテーマまで幅広く語っていただきました。今回ご紹介するのは、Norman Hardie Wineryの「Calcaire（カルケール）」。石灰岩土壌に由来する名前を持ち、爽やかで伸びやかなミネラル感が魅力の白ワインブレンドです。日本にお住まいの方は、Heavenly VinesでCalcaireやその他のNorman Hardieワインをご購入いただけます：https://heavenlyvines.com/winery/winery_detail.cfm?lang=JP&dmnID=1789&srsltid=AfmBOoraKMzQ0cKPOZOQXb8mwFD0uGCb9p6yQRQtP08j6U3OhGSn_He5日本国外にお住まいの方は、お近くの販売店をこちらから検索できます：https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/norman+hardys+calcaire+ontario+canada?srsltid=AfmBOorXZvr_2PWGdUikw8_-avZ2JQC6nQtcSekVUBYIxrV8M3ohl4Er今回の訪問で温かいおもてなしと素晴らしい料理（夏にはピザパティオや新鮮な牡蠣も楽しめます！）を提供してくださったNorman Hardie Winery（@normanhardiewinery）、そして素晴らしい写真を撮ってくれたBrent Toda（@brentwithglasses）に心から感謝します。

​How did you go from sommelier to winemaker?​What makes Canada’s Prince Edward County both special and challenging for wine?​I make wine because…We delve into these questions and more in our first winemaker interview with renowned Canadian winemaker, Norman Hardie of Norman Hardie Winery.Recorded on location at Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, we discuss a range of topics around Norman Hardie’s journey into winemaking, his 3 rules for winemaking, and why he makes wine.In this episode we feature Norman Hardie’s Calcaire, a white wine blend with a deliciously racy minerality and named after the limestone soils featured in his vineyards. Find the wine at your local supplier on wine searcher:https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/norman+hardys+calcaire+ontario+canada?srsltid=AfmBOorXZvr_2PWGdUikw8_-avZ2JQC6nQtcSekVUBYIxrV8M3ohl4ErAlso see the winery’s official wine agencies for your country:https://normanhardie.com/pages/international-licensee-liquor-monopoly-ordersA huge thank you to Norman Hardie Winery (@normanhardiewinery) for the incredible hospitality and great food (summer features a lovely pizza patio and fresh oysters!) during our visit as well as Brent Toda (@brentwithglasses) for the incredible photos.

長野でワインを造っているって知っていましたか？長野はどんなワイン産地なんでしょう？どんな造り手がいるのでしょう？ワインの味わいはどんな感じ？今回は、アダムが長野県東御（とうみ）地域のAperture Farm and Wineryでボランティアをした体験をもとに、こうした疑問に迫ります。Aperture Farm and Wineryは、写真の世界からワインの世界へと歩みを進めた田辺 良さん（たなべ りょう）が立ち上げ、運営しているワイナリーです。そのユニークな経歴や、彼が手掛ける魅力的なワインについてもエピソード2でたっぷりご紹介します。今回いただくのは、Aperture Farm and Wineryの「ポリクローム・シリーズ」から、Soil 2024。詳しくは、こちらの記事もご覧ください：https://www.nagano-wine.jp/special/winery/aperture.htmlInstagramはこちら：https://www.instagram.com/aperture_farm_and_winery/それでは、乾杯！

They make wine in Nagano??What is Nagano like as a wine region?What are the vineyards and producers like?What does the wine taste like?We delve into these questions and more as Adam shares his experiences volunteering at Aperture Farm and Winery in the Tomi region of Nagano, Japan. Aperture Farm and Winery’s founder and winemaker, Ryo Tanabe, found his way into wine from photography! Find out more about his story and the delicious wines he’s making in episode 2!In this episode we share a bottle of Soil 2024 from the polychrome series of Aperture Farm and Winery.Learn more about them from this article:https://imadeya.co.jp/blogs/brewery/aperture-farm-and-winery?srsltid=AfmBOoqSbT3UXLt52bSm6ahRR-bvuuwJMdnrm04uUI-O1qMpHeFofZpZ…or follow them on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aperture_farm_and_winery/As always, cheers!

あなたはどうやってワインの世界に入りましたか？ワインのどんなところが好きですか？この番組は、日本とカナダというあまり知られていないワイン産地に焦点を当てています。エピソード1では、カナダ・ブリティッシュコロンビア州オカナガン・ヴァレーのマイヤー・ファミリー・ヴィンヤーズのゲヴュルツトラミネールを飲みながら、アダムとジェイミーがワインに興味を持つようになったきっかけや、このポッドキャストを始めた理由について語りました。今回は、ゲストと共に日本語でエピソード１のおさらいと振り返りを行いました。ご質問やご意見がありましたら、ぜひお寄せください。皆さまの声が、今後の番組づくりのヒントになります。一緒に味わい、聴いていただき、ありがとうございます！それでは、乾杯！ワインは下記のリンクからご覧ください！https://heavenlyvines.com/wines/product_detail.cfm?lang=JP&pdtID=17874&srsltid=AfmBOoqmD_kjm4qNGh_oYPAl13VOUHuCDuZZIAoH_kU6vgJPxZ2VBWf2

How did you get into wine?What do you enjoy about wine?These are questions we answer in episode 1 of the Viticulture Edge, a show dedicated to the little-known wines of Japan and Canada. While sharing a bottle of Meyer Family Vineyards Gewurztraminer from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada, Adam and Jamie discuss how they got into wine and why they started this podcast.Have a question or a thought to share? We’re happy to hear your comments and questions to further guide our content and this podcast. Many thanks for listening and tasting along with us!Cheers!