Niagara’s Best Wineries to Visit — No. 1. Domaine Queylus

We’ve reached the No. 1 spot—my favourite Niagara winery. Welcome to Domaine Queylus.

Situated on a quiet country road atop the Niagara Escarpment in St. Anns, nine kilometres due south of Vineland, the boutique Domaine Queylus was not conceived for purposes of appeasing the casual wine drinker. Rather, they’re obsessed with engaging wine lovers. There are no tour bus crowds and no $14.95 entry-level bottles. In fact, there’s nothing under $29.95, save for their $25-ish rosé. Just premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Domaine Queylus’ head winemaker Kelly Mason.

And everything Queylus does, they do exceptionally well. Their Google Review rating of 4.9 out of 5, and TripAdvisor rating of 5/5 probably tell you all you need to know. But I’m here to tell you more.

First, there’s the history of all-star winemaking: the highly acclaimed Kelly Mason has been the head winemaker since 2018 (she also fashions the wines at Honsberger Estate and The Farm, while growing her own grapes at her own Mason Vineyard). And then there’s Thomas Bachelder, the almost legendary founding winemaker who worked through the 2018 vintage, and who has a near cult following for his self-named Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The talent packed into the overlapping few years that the dynamic duo worked together at Queylus is revealed in many of the stellar current releases.

The winery’s unusual name (pronounced Kay-loos), honours Gabriel Thubières de Levy de Queylus, a Sulpician priest from France who is believed to have overseen the first-ever wine vinification on the shores of Lake Ontario, roughly 350 years ago.

The more recent history dates back a generation, when Gilles Chevalier and a group of passionate investors from Quebec hired an expert from France to help select grape varieties (and their clones) that were ideally suited to the complex soils and microclimate of Queylus’ vineyards. (A lover of the finessed wines of Burgundy, the tales of Chevalier’s own wine collection will absolutely floor you!)

The first vines were planted in 2002 (at their Jordan Bench Vineyard—nine acres of Pinot Noir). The team unveiled its inaugural vintage eight years later, before opening the winery retail store and tasting room in 2014.

As a result of their efforts, and those of their adept winemaking team, the Pinot Noir all tastes as that fickle grape should—elegant and alluring, beautifully balanced and not overly reductive or distractingly tart. The Chardonnays, meanwhile, with their retrained Burgundian oak aging and mineral-backed citrus flavours, have turned many a Chardonnay hater into a true admirer of the grape’s expression under Queylus’ expert guidance.

Queylus G.M. John Nadeau with noted wine writer Tony Aspler.

The unquestioned best-supporting actor award, however, goes to the winery’s Cabernet Franc—pure rustic Ontario with a splash of Merlot to add jammy meat to the bone.

But the customer experience here is arguably even more sublime. The tasting room and shop are little more than a cozy upscale log cabin, but the staff treat you like it’s the Fairmont Gold Lounge. From the first time I ever visited here, in the midst of a blizzard, when my wife and I were shocked that anyone was even open on that snow-swept Sunday, I have felt like an honoured wine club member. Continued kudos to V.P./G.M. John Nadeau, Direct-to-Consumer Sales Manager Arlo Johnson and staff for their unsurpassed customer service.

The extra level of professionalism includes varietal-specific Riedel stemware, and a plush leather seating area beyond the tasting bar for a visiting group to relax as they sample their way through the wine menu. There’s a longer wooden table in a separate room for events and group tastings, as well as a scenic deck out back, where you can order cheese and charcuterie. And they’ve got Chef J.P. Challet on retainer, who serves up five-star cuisine during special events here.

There’s even a bocce ball court out back that guests can enjoy, with glasses in hand.

And fear not—despite the high quality of service and wines, Queylus is not here to gouge you with exorbitant tasting fees. It’s about the experiential package.