NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — For many years, the names of Donald Ziraldo and Inniskillin Wines have been inextricably linked. Now, many years after co-founders Ziraldo and winemaker Karl Kaiser sold the winery to Constellation Group in 2006, the co-founder of Inniskillin Estate Winery and founder of Ziraldo Icewine has partnered with Inniskillin (and its new ownership group) to produce Ziraldo Icewine at the company’s original estate winery.
The Ziraldo Icewine continues to have strong connections back to Inniskillin as the Ziraldo VQA Reisling Icewine is made from estate-grown fruit naturally frozen on the vine. Planted in 2007 on the original Inniskillin winery site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Ziraldo vineyard exclusively grows Riesling grapes. The gently rolling hillside of the sandy loam terroir was also established as a research vineyard in collaboration with the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, CCOVI, Brock University.
“I’m very excited to be returning to my roots,” says Ziraldo, owner of Ziraldo Estate Winery. To celebrate the partnership, Inniskillin and Ziraldo have partnered to create a limited-edition gift pack featuring the classic 2019 Inniskillin Niagara Estate VQA Riesling Icewine and 2014 Ziraldo VQA Riesling Icewine. The gift pack will be available for purchase at the Inniskillin Niagara Estate Winery boutique in the coming months as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Ziraldo will also be playing a role to help continue to share the Inniskillin story supporting its legacy in producing quality wines since 1974.