Niagara’s next chapter: Inside the estate redefining wine country in Canada

Walking through the glass doors to Stone Eagle Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, you wonder if you’ve stepped into a luxury five-star hotel instead of a winery. The sleek white and grey marble floor is polished to a gleaming shine to bounce softly diffused beams from sparkling chandeliers. It’s bright yet soft, offering a flattering glow to the guests lounging in the foyer.

It took the Marotta family five years to refine every design detail before opening the doors to their winery on Niagara Stone Road, a striking 35-acre estate that exemplifies how Niagara can stand among the world’s best wineries across wine quality, cuisine and hospitality.

From the inviting low-lying chairs of the tasting area, to the softly lit intimacy of private tasting rooms in the barrel cellar to the exquisite winery restaurant, The Nest at Stone Eagle, each feature was built to create an immersion into pure luxury for discerning wine lovers seeking elevated experiences in Niagara.

“The market is growing for premium wines in Niagara,” says Angela Marotta, who owns and operates Stone Eagle Winery with her sister, Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli. “You don’t have to go to Napa. I want people to experience first-hand how elevated our regional wines are.”

The winery is now taking reservations for private tastings, held one-on-one with an accredited sommelier. This unique tasting format allows one of the winery’s in-house educators the time to create a deeper, more meaningful experience with the guests. The program has been enthusiastically received by sophisticated wine lovers searching for refined, sensorial experiences.

“It took a year to develop the programming,” says Melissa of the winery’s three tasting options. “We wanted to create a more curated experience, tailored to the guest.”

To ensure preferred dates are available, the visionaries behind Two Sisters Winery, and now Stone Eagle Winery recommend booking early. The Estate flight is a tasting of three wines for an elegant introduction to Stone Eagle; the Founder’s flight features four wines; and the Signature Experience, the flagship of the winery, offers guests an exploration of all five wines in the Stone Eagle portfolio, each glass expertly paired to a culinary creation from the winery’s restaurant. Each bite is intentionally designed to enhance the character of the wine.

“It’s the celebration and articulation of food and wine,” says Melissa. “It’s exciting to open a bottle and enjoy it with great food. Intentional pairings can enhance and, at times, change the wine in unexpected ways. It can blow your mind.”

Stone Eagle has a thoughtfully composed list of wines: rosé, Eagle Eye White (a blend of sauvignon blanc and sémillon), Stone Eagle Red (a bordeaux blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc) and Stone Eagle Special Selection, the top-tier wine of the estate.

“It’s our premium red blend, made only in the very best vintages,” says Angela.

“With a small, concise collection, every wine holds flagship status and represents the core of who we are,” explains head winemaker Adam Pearce. “The vision behind our winemaking is rooted in consistency and precision. By focusing on blends, we can maintain a steady stylistic direction from vintage to vintage.”

The winery offers an immersive tour, giving guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the premium estate. Lasting just over an hour, the tour winds through the vineyards, working production area and the enchanting Grand Cellar for a look at how Stone Eagle’s ultra-premium wines are created from grape to glass.

At Stone Eagle, wine comes first, even in the kitchen. At The Nest at Stone Eagle, dishes are created to enhance and showcase the wine. The locally sourced, globally inspired menu, features such starters and mains as Hokkaido scallops, lobster gnocchi and Ontario spring lamb sirloin.

“Stone Eagle redefines expectations by elevating every aspect of the winery experience,” says Dieter Unruh, Stone Eagle’s wine director and master sommelier. “It is the staff at Stone Eagle, with a focus on warm hospitality and dedicated professionalism, that will make every visit memorable.”

Book a reservation today for your visit to Stone Eagle Winery at exploretock.com/stone-eagle-winery and The Nest at Stone Eagle at exploretock.com/the-nest-niagara-on-the-lake.