" Our focus is to produce quality Wines, 100% estate grown and hand harvested. Quality is grown.”

- Sal D'angelo

Our Story

In 1979 Salvatore D’Angelo began his search for the land on which to plant his vineyard. An accomplished amateur winemaker, his ambition was to start his own winery within the heart of Essex County, in Southern Ontario. In 1983 he bought 50 acres in Amherstburg, just south of Windsor. Then in 1984 Sal planted his first acre of grapes, and made his first vintage in 1989.

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 even more aware of the impressive winemaking history of the beautiful Okanagan Valley. 

By the early 80s 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 honor presented each 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 decided on the Naramata Bench on the east shore of Okanagan Lake.
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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 Amherstburg Ontario location was sold in 2017.

Today, D’Angelo Vineyards has eight acres of vines planted in the Okanagan Valley on the renowned Naramata Bench and more are in the process of being developed. This makes Sal the first individual grower-vintner to produce wines in both Ontario and British Columbia.

D’Angelo Estate Winery produced its first vintage from its BC Winery in 2005. ​

Meet Our Team

A family run estate, passing the winemaking tradition through generations.

Sal D'Angelo
Owner​

Chris D'Angelo​
​Winemaker

Stephanie D'Angelo​
Operations Manager

The Story Behind the Label
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Our Bordeaux blend is named SETTA COPPA after Sal’s great-grandfather Donato’s nick name. When translated it means seven measures (a measure was an amount of grain like a bushel).

In the 1860s, Great-grandfather Donato went to the town gristmill to have his wheat ground into flour. The mill owner said that he was using the barter system and informed Donato that for every 6 measures he ground into flour he would take 1 for payment. Donato disagreed and stated that he would have to grind 7 measures, not 6, before he got 1.

The mill owner said that 6 was the standard in town, but Donato said 7. The mill owner repeated loudly “everybody is 6″, Donato repeated loudly “well I am 7.″ The mill owner replied, “SO YOU ARE!” Henceforth, the family nickname was "7 measures" or SETTA COPPA.

In 1976 as a 21-year-old, Sal went back to Italy to the small town where he was born, to live with his grandfather Salvatore (whom he is named after). As he was walking down the street, a little old lady who must have been 100 years old asked him, “Who are you?” He replied, “Sal D’Angelo.” She asked again louder, “WHO?” This time, Sal replied, “Salvatore Giovanni D’Angelo.” Again she shouted “WHO?” Sal said to her in Italian, “I am the son of the son of the son of SETTA COPPA”. She knew who he was right away because she knew his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. She leaned and kissed him on the cheek .

When he returned home he asked his father once again about this nick name and was told the story again. He said each family was given a nickname that was used to keep track of the male side of all the families.

The old woman was Sal’s great-great aunt. ​