The D'Angelo family brought their winemaking tradition over from Italy to Canada in the 50's. Sal started helping his father with making their wines in Ontario as a very young boy, learning how to process the grapes and must. As a young man, Sal returned to Italy to spend time with his grandfather, Salvatore. Sal fondly remembers the many times he would follow his grandfather out into the fields, often starting at four in the morning, where Salvatore would teach his eager student how to properly care for and renew the vineyard soils.
"Fresca!", his grandfather would proudly announce to Sal as they would come to the end of each long, three foot deep trench. They would carefully fill each trench with the dirt from the next trench they were digging. In this way they would renew the used topsoil on the surface by replacing it with fresh earth from deep down. Only after the trenches had been dug out and refilled with 'fresh' topsoil were they ready for planting with new vines. Sal returned home and started making his own wines with the knowledge that had been passed down to him and the various types of grapes available in Ontario. |
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In 1979, Salvatore D’Angelo began his search for the land on which to plant his vineyard. As an accomplished amateur winemaker, his ambition was to start his own winery within the heart of Essex County, in Southern Ontario. In 1984 he bought fifty acres in Amherstburg, just south of Windsor. Later during that auspicious year he planted his first acre of grapes. Today, the magnificent vineyard covers forty-two acres of the fifty-acre property.
By this time, Sal had read every book he could get his hands on about wine, thoroughly studying all aspects of growing and making it. He was becoming evermore aware of the impressive winemaking history of the beautiful Okanagan Valley. By the early 80's he had resolved to follow up on his extensive research of the area with a visit. After he was presented with the Grape King Award 1999, the top honour for the year in Ontario for having the finest vineyard, he knew it was time to reach even higher. So, he searched out the best property he could find in the Okanagan Valley and bought it. This is where he would eventually bring his art to an even higher level of perfection.
The year 1999 also brought the D’Angelo Estate Winery’s tenth anniversary as a wine producer. Sal has a unique philosophy as a vintner. “Quality is grown” are the words he lives by. Throughout the vineyard, only the finest French viniferas and hybrids are planted. The Ontario wine list consists of Cabernet, Marechal Foch, Vidal, Chardonnay, select late harvest and ice wine.
Today, some of the new D'Angelo vineyards in the Okanagan Valley have been planted on the famous Naramata Bench and more are in the process of being developed. This makes Sal the first individual grower-vinter to produce wines in both Ontario and British Columbia. The first D'Angelo Estate Winery Okanagan vintage is expected in 2005.
'Best Dessert Wine' Award |
 We did it again! |
Since the first vintage in 1989, The D’Angelo Estate Winery in Ontario has won almost sixty awards and medals. Specializing in Ice Wine has lead to several awards, including the trophy for 'Best Dessert Wine in Ontario' for two consecutive years. The D’Angelo Estate Winery holds the distinction of being the only winery to win back-to-back gold medals for Ice Wine at the Cuvee Awards. The 1996 D'Angelo vintage of icewine won a double-gold medal for 'Best Dessert Wine' at the Great Lakes Wine Competition and the D'Angelo 1996 Foch was ranked in the top 100 wines in the world. One of Sal's most cherished awards was the 'Best of the Best' award for his 1993 Pinot Noir.
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In 1999, Sal D’Angelo was the first recipient outside of the Niagara region ever to win the coveted Grape King Award. The prestigious award, begun in 1956, is presented each year to officially proclaim the highest quality vineyard in the province of Ontario for that year. It was established to recognize the tremendous efforts put forth by the winning vineyard to achieve production of the most superior quality vineyard in Ontario for that season. The award's recipient is designated by research and viticultural specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the province as having 'The Best of The Best' vineyard for the year.
