Reif Estate Winery is an Estate Winery set on a 135 acre vineyard nestled between the shores of Lake Ontario and the Niagara River in the recently deemed heritage district of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Winemakers for 13 generations, this family owned and operated winery has been producing internationally recognized Icewines and VQA wines for over 20 years.

The Reif family tradition of winemaking began over half a century ago in Germany's renowned wine region along the Rhine River. In 1977, their winemaking expertise transcended the continent and landed on the fertile banks of the Niagara River. Following six years of careful nurturing and tending of the land, the vineyard's potential superceded expectations and in 1983 the Reif family opened the doors of the historic Reif Estate Winery to the public.

President Klaus Reif holds degrees in both Oenology and Viticulture from the renowned wine-making Geisenheim Institute in Germany. As a winemaker, Klaus made a commitment to combine his family's time-honoured traditions of winemaking with innovative modern technology. It is under his watchful eye that Reif produces wines that are wholly embody the term "estate bottled"; using only grapes harvested from our 135 acre vineyard to produce our premium quality wines. At Reif Estate we make every effort to limit human interference in the delicate process of wine production, as we believe it is "Nature that makes wine."

Klaus believes real winemaking depends on the quality of the vineyard and its product. This is known as the Terroir. There is no English equivalent for this word. Translated, the Terroir is the heart and soul of the vineyard. It is the character of the wine. Today, we are "growing wine in the vineyard". Klaus feels strongly that you will only produce an outstanding wine by first producing premium grapes.

In 1990 Klaus was joined by Roberto DiDomenico, a graduate from the University of Guelph with a specialized honors microbiology degree, as our newest winemaker. Klaus and Rob work closely in developing the vineyards by pruning and thinning the vines to produce smaller yields of grapes that result in exceptional quality wines. Our winemakers continually explore new territory and pioneer innovative styles while continuing to rely on a solid foundation of time honored traditions in winemaking. Reif Estate grows and produces traditional vitis vinifera grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well as unique and exciting wines such as Icewines, Shiraz and Zinfandel.

Reif Estate Wines have gained a world renowned reputation of elegance, character and quality. Winning over 120 awards for our Icewine alone, including the Grand Gold in Vinitaly and the "Best Canadian Winery" in 2002 in London, England; Reif Estate has proven to be not only a pioneer in the industry, but also a leader.

Our charming unique Stagecoach Boutique is open year-round with extended hours in season. Please contact us for more information on our facilities including tours, wine and cheese seminars, corporate functions and wedding accommodations.