Two Riesling Fanatics. One Bold Vision for Niagara.

A 93-point, 70-case debut from Horseshoe Cellars, and the first step in a five-year plan to define Niagara Riesling, site by site.

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For the second producer in this month's collaborative 'build-a-case' feature, we are thrilled to introduce Horseshoe Cellars.

 

This tiny production, 93-point Riesling comes from the Kelson Block on the Grimsby Hillside, with only 70 cases produced. But what excites us even more is the vision behind the project.

 

Founders John-Daniel Steele and Scott Woody are true Riesling fanatics. Inspired by the work of Thomas Bachelder and his single-vineyard approach to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they have set out to build a collection of Niagara Rieslings that each tell the story of a specific site. 

 

Their goal is to expand from a single vineyard today to five or six distinct single-vineyard Rieslings over the next five years.

 

We genuinely believe this is the beginning of something special.

 

This first release is already an outstanding success, showcasing the precision, energy, and mineral character that make the Grimsby Hillside one of Canada's most exciting places to grow Riesling.

 

We're incredibly excited to share this wine with our members and to follow the journey of Horseshoe Cellars as they help define the future of Niagara Riesling, one vineyard at a time.

 

Click here to go directly to the order page...or keep scrolling to see the tasting notes.

 

Cheers,

Carl

🔥Get this wine here (click or tap)
2024 Horseshoe Cellars “Grimsby Hillside Vineyard” Kelson Block Riesling 🔥 93 pts

2024 Horseshoe Cellars “Grimsby Hillside Vineyard” Kelson Block Riesling 🔥 93 pts

$34.99

From the Grimsby Hillside Vineyard, the Kelson Block is one of the closest vineyard blocks to Lake Ontario, bringing more moderate temperatures, and very well suited for the varietal. This Riesling is extremely well balanced, showcasing the perfect synergy between the 12 g/L of residual sugar and vibrant acidity. The spectacular 2024 vintage in Niagara, especially for Riesling, gave winemakers the opportunity to produce wines with remarkable ripeness while preserving exceptional natural acidity. This wine is a textbook example of what the vintage had to offer.

 

On the nose, classic aromas of wildflowers, lime, gooseberry, green apple, fresh ginger, and a hint of white peach. The palate is concentrated and beautifully defined. The edges are precise, while the energy and tension are both impressive.

 

The flavours mirror the aromas to a T, highlighting sweet Key lime, golden and green apple, yellow plum, guava, apricot and fresh ginger. The beautiful texture even hints at a touch of lees stirring during the winemaking.

 

The finish is more than spectacular. I would say the finish is the highlight of this wine. Chalky, mineral, salty, and spicy, it lingers for a very long time. This is everything you could hope for from a premium Riesling grown on the Grimsby Hillside. The expression of terroir is absolutely on point.

 

This is an outstanding first release for Horseshoe Cellars, and I can't wait to see where these guys take this project over the next few years. (Carl Boucher, 11/07/26)  70  cases made.

 

93 points Carl's WIne Club | 94 points Rick VanSickle

ON Niagara Peninsula Lincoln Lakeshore VQA

100% Riesling

 

Dry Wine | RS: 12.0g/L | 11.1% ABV | Drink from 2026 to 2035

Pairings: seared pork chop with maple spice, tomato Feta and white bean salade

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does this work?

Carl's Wine Club is Canada's first pan-Canadian, direct-to-consumer wine club.

 

Being a member of the wine club is FREE and you have access to our informative emails and our live virtual events with Carl to learn more about Canadian wineries.

 

We feature a different Canadian winery every 1-2 weeks with a specially curated mix of wines. You choose if and how much wine to purchase, with winery direct pricing and shipping deals. 

 

On Wednesdays (yes Wine Wednesdays!) we also go LIVE on our social media platforms to chat about Canadian wine and often interview winemakers. Cheers!

How does shipping work?

The wineries ship these wines to you via couriers like Canada Post, UPS, Purolator, ATS or GLS and the wines arrive right to your doorstep! No need to spend time or gas or manpower to visit a store.

 

Your wines will ship within 1-2 weeks of your order date, as wineries ship out our club orders all together in a few batches. You'll receive a tracking number from our system and sometimes also from the winery's system.

 

Someone over the legal drinking age must be present at the time of delivery and provide ID to the delivery driver (this is a legal requirement). Please do your best to ensure that an adult is available to receive the order on the anticipated delivery date.

What if there's a problem with my order or wines?

We will be very happy to assist you if there are any issues, and find a suitable solution. Please contact us at carl@carlswineclub.com or call 587-899-8249.