Niagara Falls from Goat Island
Growing up in Niagara Falls, I really couldn't wait till I was old enough to go to college and live in a fast-paced city. Sure the Falls was nice, but as a kid, I felt that after a few visits the excitement fades. It wasn't until recently that I began to appreciate Niagara Falls and Niagara County as a whole. More recently the Niagara Wine Trail has blossomed into a certified destination for wine drinkers with the recent designation of the Niagara Escarpment AVA. This motivated me and my future wife to move back to the area for a simpler day to day lifestyle, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
My interest in wine prompted me to obsessively research grape growing and general agriculture in Niagara County. The wine trail across the border in Ontario, Canada has achieved international attention because of its ice wines, the Finger Lakes in central New York has received widespread recognition for its rieslings, and Long Island has been a destination for Bordeaux varietals, with Merlot taking center stage. It turns out that the geology of Niagara County has an important feature that creates a unique micro-climate called the Niagara Escarpment. Our Canadian friends across the border have known for decades that this specific feature makes it ideal for wine-grape growing as well as producing all types of fruits and vegetables.
Current Niagara Wine Trail Map
A recent report from Cornell University indicates that Niagara is #1 in peaches, plums, prunes and sweet cherries among New York counties. It is tied for second in tart cherries and pears and 2nd in tomato production. The county is tied for 3rd in cucumber, cantaloupe, and cabbage acreage and 4th in apples, corn for grain, and floriculture acreage. All these numbers, combined with Niagara being the fastest growing wine country in New York State points towards a bright future for agri-tourism in this area. We can expect to see more restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other tourism-dependent businesses thriving in the future.
This site is intended to keep track of the wine, food, and agriculture of Niagara County around the escarpment. I plan on speaking with winemakers, farmers, and restaurateurs -- with the hope of entertaining and informing locals and tourists alike. But niagaraescarpment.net will only be successful if readers contribute by commenting and pointing me to some of the lesser-known gems like small farm stands or even scenic spots in the area. What makes this place so special is the fact that millions of visitors every year come here to see the mighty Niagara Falls, and I hope that this website as well as other sources let these tourists and locals know that we have much, much more to offer.
