Niagara Escarpment Wine

The Niagara Escarpment wine region in western New York benefits from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie's moderating influence, extending the growing season for both European and hybrid grape varieties. The area is best known for its ice wine production, with naturally frozen grapes producing intensely sweet dessert wines each winter. Concord grapes still dominate the landscape, carrying forward a grape-growing heritage that dates to the 1850s, but a growing number of producers are working with Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc. The dramatic Niagara Gorge and the area's proximity to Niagara Falls make this one of New York's most scenically compelling wine destinations.