The St David's Bench is the southernmost in Niagara-on-The-Lake (NOTL.) The ancient glacial lakebed covers a thin strip of land roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the edge of Lake Ontario, but 'the bench' is visually prominent at the posted coordinates (as well as along most of the north-south concession roads in NOTL.) This geological feature gets its name from the village located on 'the bench' at the 4 Mile Creek Rd and York Rd.
St David’s Bench rises from what was the ancient shoreline of Glacial Lake Iroquois (the predecessor to Lake Ontario) to the base of the escarpment.The western boundary abuts the southern suburbs of St Catharines. The eastern edge is bordered by the Niagara River, at the very beginning of the deep, 11km-long (7-mile) gorge that ends at the famed Niagara Falls.
Deep clay soils over a base of Queenston shale provide year-round water retention for the vines in St David's Bench, and many small streams offer drainage during the spring snow-melt. Water runoff from the limestone soils of the Escarpment is rich in minerals and is said to contribute to the stony minerality of the finished wines made here.
The ancient clay lakebed of Glacial Lake Iroquois, in this area, along with the shelter provided by the Niagara Escarpment, has created a unique agricultural area for fruit growing - especially grapes.
St David’s Bench is one of four VQA sub-appellations in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Located just below the rise of the Niagara Escarpment, the region is at a slightly higher altitude than the areas closer to the lake. The other three sub-appellations of the Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA are: Niagara River, Niagara Lakeshore, Four Mile Creek.
Growing conditions here are well-suited to Chardonnay, Gamay and the Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. While St David's Bench is better known for its dry wines from both red and white grape varieties, the climate in late fall and early winter is conducive to the production of ice wine. Here these are made from Riesling and Cabernet Franc. (from wine-searcher.com)
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Congratulations to Sagaries on the FTF!
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Logging Requirements:
1. When (approximately) was Glacial Lake Iroquois created? (An easy internet search should provide the answer.)
2. What is the main soil type of 'The Bench'?
3. Using your GPSr (or other means) report the elevation at GZ (the posted coordinates.)
4. While at GZ, take a photograph of you, with the slope to the St David's Bench behind you (or include only your thumb or GPSr in the photo if you are camera shy) and post it with your log.
5. Using your GPSr (or other means) report the elevation at WP1. What is the distance in kilometers between GZ and WP1? How would you describe the slope (sudden, steep, gradual, etc.)
6. Using your GPSr (or other means) report the elevation at WP2. What is the distance in kilometers between WP1 and WP2. How would you describe the slope (steep, gradual, etc.)