September in Niagara is that fine edge between sun-warmed afternoons and jacket-on evenings.
Out in the rows, you can feel the shift.
After a bone-dry summer, we finally caught two well-timed rains in late August which was just enough to push the vines through the home stretch without turning the fields into mud.
The team took a breath, the tractors got a rest, and now the pre-harvest jitters are officially here. (Marty would prefer no more rain, please and thank you.)
Here’s what’s happening on the vines, in the cellar, and at The Shed.
🍇 Out in the vineyard : tidy, watchful, and ready
Late-season irrigation (even on older vines) told the story: it’s been a dry one.
Veraison has rolled through and thePinot and Gamay are already blushing; Cab Franc, as always, likes to keep us waiting.
We did our final hedging and fruit checks earlier, so September is mostly eyes-on: spot sprays only, clean alleyways, and careful canopy.
This is the “don’t mess it up” window.
Rituals we never skip:a deep fall clean, tanks spit-shined, hoses coiled and one family “soil sampling” outing (farmer code for golf) to clear the head before the sprint.
🍷 In the cellar: a blank canvas
This is the month when a hundred small choices add up to the wines you’ll pour next year.
This year, we will be doing alighter pressing.With thicker skins in a warm, dry season, we’re gentler on the press to keep tannins fine and texture clean.
We will also bewatching soak time for rosé. Color comes fast in hot years; we’ll move quickly to keep the line bright, not heavy.
Carbonic for Gamay? On the table this year. When the season runs hot, a bit ofcarbonic macerationcan turn up vivid fruit and silkier tannin without losing structure.
Why toast level matters
Barrel “toast” is how much heat the coopers apply to the inside of the barrel.Lighter toastkeeps the frame lean which means more fruit clarity, less sweetness and spice.Heavier toastbrings caramel, smoke, and plush texture.
As forMarty's barrel philosophy, in warmer, drier seasons the wines get lighter toast. This is to let the fruit speak and not mask it.
It’s not the common play, but it’s ours.
On the bar & newly on the shelf👀
2023 Petit Verdot- Our first PV. Floral lift, dark cherry, a little wild at the edges in the best way.
2024 Syrah- Cracked pepper, blackberry, cardamom, and savoury herbs; one American oak puncheon, bottled by gravity.
Mini Brut 4-Pack- Little bottles, big celebrations. Handy for “just one glass” nights and porch wins.
2022 Reserve Chardonnay- Almost gone (about five cases left as we write this). Once it leaves the online shop, the last few bottles live behind the bar at The Shed.
2023 Pinot Blanc- Quietly stealing the show this month at the Shed. Clean lines, mineral glide, and the kind of finish that makes you raise the glass for another look.
🏠People make the place at The Shed
Morgan Buisis back with us for September!
If you remember her from last season, you’ll know why we’re thrilled.
Pop in to say hello (and to congratulate her on the new teaching degree!).
In case you’re new to MW: we build tastings forvarietal integrity. Side-by-side, each glass should introduce itself with distinct fruit, texture, and structure.
It’s the fastest way to find your own lane. And because more than half our lineup livesoutside Niagara’s usual suspects,the conversation stays fun, honest, and a little surprising.
Two summers in, the best part is the community we’ve built on both sides of the bar. Regulars keep returning, staff come back season after season, and the room still feels like the kind of place where you can actually get a seat and a real conversation. Growth is good but keeping the charm is better.
That balance matters to us: still a seat at the bar, still time to talk, still our people.
The fall is the perfect time to come in and grab a spot and a little drink.
Marty’s monthly 6-Pack Draw - a thank you!
Every time we launch a newsletter, we do a draw for a 6-pack handpicked by Marty.
It’s not a contest. It’s just our way of saying thanks for reading, for showing up, for telling your friends, and for being part of this thing we’re building.
🎉 This month’s winner: Mara Dimatteo.
You’ll get an email from us soon. Enjoy the bottles, Mara!
Know someone who’d be into this too?
If you’ve got someone in your life who’d dig what we’re doing, send them our way. Whether they’re curious about local wine, love a good cellar story, or just want to stay in the loop, they’re welcome!
Not a subscription member yet?
This is your excuse to jump in. Early access, member-only wines, pick-up parties, and (starting this May) a few extra surprises! The MW Cellars wine subscription is how you get the good stuff first.
No fluff, no gimmicks! Just great wine, made for people who love to drink it.
There’s a sweet pocket of calm at The Shed before harvest roars. It's the perfect time for tasting through the lineup, asking the nerdy questions, and deciding what your fall glass is going to be.
