On my way to visit Tawse last week, I noticed a bunker like structure set into the top of a hill, far away from the roadside. I noticed the sign for Megalomaniac Wine out front and decided that I had to drop in for a visit.
Driving up the long, windy driveway, one approaches the winery which truly is built in a bunker carved out of the limestone of the Beamsville Bench. The view from the top of the hill is fantastic. Like the cold war era safety bunkers, it would appear to have one entrance area only. This would be the pair of huge doors you see in the photo above and a man door beside it. The structure looks somewhat like one would expect a megalomanic to build for his protection. For John Howard, the bunker protects his wine.
Sadly, the one way in, one way out structure means that the cast off grape hulls are removed through that entrance and appear to be stored outside. Rotting fruit is rather odoriferous and in the closed alcove entry, the barnyard scent is a bit oppressive. Fortunately, the initial impression does not carry over to the wines or the interior of the cave.
Beyond the entry lies a small room that is used as a store. Nice enough, but not overly grand. Go through the door to the tasting area however and you are transported to an oenophile’s underground haven. The large oak tasting bar is flanked on both sides by magnificent, ribbed stainless steel fermentation vats. Beyond the bar lies barrel after barrel of Megalomaniac Wines. On either side of the cave, the concrete walls have cut out sections that allow visitors to see the limestone rock outside the bunker.
I picked up a bottle of Howard’s SonOfaBitch Pinot Noir and a bottle of the Bigmouth Merlot. As the gentleman I spoke with at the winery suggested, we will lay down the still young merlot for about a year before enjoying it.
Megalomaniac Wines is definitely an interesting spot to visit and the excellent wines are a good value. John Howard is a strong believer that one shouldn’t have to go broke to enjoy good wine, so most bottles are under $25.
You can learn more about Megalomaniac Wine at their website.
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