Varallo Vineyards is more than a vineyard; it is a destination. The vineyards are uniquely located in the Town of Lockport and are a part of the family's 78 acres (which also includes an 8-acre spring fed lake, unique woods, and the winery). From Gravel to Grapes: The pea gravel used in the landscape today around the grounds was once mined from the property. Around the 1960's there was not much gravel left to mine and water filled in the pit which is now the lake. When the family first purchased the land they built a cabin and enjoyed the grounds for several years. In the early 1990's the dream began to build a winery and the search for a grape that would grow in the sandy soil. After four years of research and a test vineyard, the Varallos determined that the best grape to grow on the property would be a Riesling variety. The process began and over 10 acres of vines were planted. The vineyard & grape growing process: We use a state of the art vineyard netting system on our premium Riesling grapes. This consists of a double panel mesh secured on top and below the fruiting wires. Because our grapes are harvested late in the season this system serves several purposes. Early in the growing season the netting helps train the vines. Once the grapes reach maturity they aide in bird & deer protection. Grapes are hand harvested by opening the net panels. By the time grapes are ready for harvest, some have dropped off the vine and the netting collects and protects grapes allowing the extra maturation to take place. Our Rieslings: Varallo Estate Riesling: Smooth semi-dry, full bodied,with hints of citrus. Full bodied with a sweetness appropriate for both entrées and desserts. Varallo Estate Select Late Harvest Riesling: When the grape leaves fade to a crisp shade of gold and the temperatures reach 28ºF for three days it’s time for our Select Late Harvest. Part geography, part soil and part timing and captured in every bottle from Varallo Vineyards. This wine is one step under an ice wine. The grapes are hand harvested in late December. Come join the fun during harvest or any time! Ti’aspettiamo! We await your visit!

The Niagara Escarpment American Viticultural Area The land beneath our vineyards was once an ancient beach- the shore of a prehistoric Lake Ontario. The Great Lake is now 11 miles away, but the majestic Niagara Escarpment remains, towering 250 feet above us holding the warm, moist lake air like a blanket over our vines. It’s this unique geography- where the water meets the land- that is reflected in every bottle from Varallo Vineyards. Click to Enlarge The Niagara Escarpment is an American Viticultural Area in Niagara County. The region was officially recognized as an AVA on October 11th, 2005 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The regions growth began in the late 1990s and today there are 15 wineries and growing, all members of The Niagara Wine Trail. Wines range from traditional varietals such as Merlot, Cabernets, Chardonnays and Rieslings to fruit wines. Ask to see the fossils that are on display in the wine tasting room! What Makes Us Unique Planting Techniques and Root Stock Our Riesling Variety is grafted onto a NYS root stock and planted in sandy loam soil. The vines have 3' x 6' spacing to force plants to fight harder for survival, thus developing grapes with more character. Climate and Soil Conditions The Niagara Escarpment AVA is similar to the latitude of the Bordeaux region of France. The lake air hits the escarpment, forming a micro-climate over the vineyards. Wine Making With the philosophy that wine begins in the vineyard, the Varallo family concentrates all efforts to be as organic as possible. The vineyard is worked all year long with no use of herbicides and minimal use of fungicides. At harvest time the family, along with our loyal customers, goes in the vineyard and hand picks the best fruit. No sugar is added to our estate wines during the winemaking process, and minimal amounts of sulfites are used to ensure the truest characteristics of grapes to come through.