Icellars Estate Winery is a small boutique VQA member winery located in Niagara Wine Country.
The 60 acre fallow land was carefully selected by owners Adnan and Elif ICEL based on precise research of ideal growing conditions for premium vinifera varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Viognier. Extensive investigation included soil testing and weather data analysis as well as consultation with scientists, local grape growers and neighbors to determine which varieties would perform best in the vineyard.
The winery uses mainly estate grown fruit from its 48 acres hand-manicured vineyard. The vineyard is overseen and inspected by owners Adnan and Elif, who walk their vineyard on a daily basis, knowing each vine intimately. They sometimes source premium single vineyard grapes in exceptional years.
Since August 2020, Icellars has started full organic farming practices in all of its 60 acres and received Certified Organic designation after completing the 36 months certification process in August 2023. Icellars is not only Certified Organic in farming but also Certified Organic in the cellar dictating much less sulphur use, 100% wild fermentations and minimal intervention. All of 2023 wines and beyond will be Certified Organic by Ecocert Canada.
Icellars follows Regenerative Farming practices which mainly focuses on soil protection for future generations with less tillage. Please read more about this practice at Regeneration Canada.
Icellars is also Certified Sustainable both in vineyard and winery practices. Please check out Sustainable Wine Growing Ontario program.
Icellars has just finished a big Greenhouse Gas Reduction project with the help of a Government of Canada grant to be the first Net Energy Zero Winery in Canada by June 2023 including solar PV electricity generation, geothermal heating&cooling and precise agricultural technologies.
Icellars is also a signatory of THE PORTO PROTOCOL which guides wineries around the world to implement good enviromental practices.
Small batch wines are made by owner/winemaker Adnan Icel. Between 2014 and 2016 Ross Wise MW was the consultant winemaker. Starting with the 2016 harvest Peter Gamble and Ann Sperling are the current consultant winemakers. Our Vineyard Manager Mark Williamson and Cellar Hand Caleb Harris are both graduates of Niagara College Winemaking&Viticulture program.
With this team distinct wines that best show the terroir of the farm are produced, inspired by the classic winemaking styles deeply rooted in the history of viticulture and winemaking.
The winery building was designed and built on the principles of having everything under one roof, creating a simple yet functional space. The winery building designed and engineered by Adnan Icel was chosen to be the most compatible winery building by the Town of N.O.T.L. In 2018.
Small lot wines are processed separately by gravity flow in an environmentally friendly design. The simplicity of the architectural design is echoed by offering only our own limited production wines for sale in a practical but cozy tasting room.
