Several factors go into producing great wine such as grape varietals, growing practices, weather, climate, winemaking practices, and more. At M Cellars Winery, the key ingredient in great wine is superior fruit. The grapes that go into every bottle of M Cellars wine have been meticulously planted, grown, and tended to ensure a balanced yield and superior quality. But as much as growing our fruit is a labor of love, the terroir is the true star of the show.
We are fortunate that our M Cellars vineyards lie in heart of the beautiful Grand River Valley AVA, a sub-region of the larger Lake Erie AVA. Our region provides optimum growing conditions for our cool-climate varieties. The valley has rolling hills with a cool climate impacted by a large body of water creating a circulation of warmer air, lessening the risk of frost in the springtime, and increasing our growing season into the Fall.
A view of the M Cellars Vineyard on Stoltz Road
What makes our vineyard unique is that we’re less than a half-mile from the Grand River. We’re also fortunate to have a higher elevation site than many other vineyards in the region, helping avoid heavy frost and the risk of damage to our vines. Our second vineyard located on Stoltz Road, just a short distance away, has the same benefit of elevation plus it’s planted on a south-facing slope, providing for longer, warmer growing days.
While the predominant varietals grown in the Grand River Valley AVA are Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. We’ve been fortunate enough to successfully add Merlot, Gewurztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon to the vineyard.
We have true respect for the region, the land, and the vines we tend. We respect tradition but are never bound by it. Our focus on sustainable farming practices helps to ensure that the quality of our grapes is reflected in every bottle of M Cellars wine we produce. We would love to have you visit and take a tour of the vineyard to learn more about our history, production, and wines. Book a tour here.
