The Farm

IN 1978, RICK AND FRIEDA LAKEIT PURCHASED A 50 ACRE VINEYARD ON LINE 2 IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, WITH SOME HELP FROM RICK’S MOTHER CAROLINE. AT THE TIME, RICK AND FRIEDA WERE IN THEIR EARLY 20’S, BUT BOTH HAD GROWN UP ON LOCAL VINEYARDS AND HAD A PASSION FOR THE INDUSTRY AND A VISION FOR THEIR OWN FARM. AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF CARING FOR THIS LAND, THEIR VISION CAME FULL-CIRCLE WITH THE OPENING OF CAROLINE CELLARS. OUR WINES ARE AN EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE AND DEDICATION TO THE LAND AND OUR FAMILY – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

IN TRANSITION

Over the years they came to have four children: Justine, Stephanie, Rick Jr. and Jaclyn, and the entire 50 acres was becoming difficult for the two of them to manage with a young family so they sold 24 acres to a neighbouring farmer. Around that time they also began to replant the farm in vinifera grapes, which were more suited to winemaking than some of the grapes that were planted on the farm when they purchased it. At the time, the grapes produced on the vineyard were sold to other local wineries. For many years, while the farm was in transition, Rick and Frieda also grew many different vegetables on the farm, and had an especially loyal following for their tomatoes. In fact, we still get phone calls looking for ‘Frieda’s Tomatoes’!

As the years passed the entire farm was transitioned into vinifera grapes, and gone were the vegetables and the days of Frieda’s Tomatoes. In 2000, after many years of being in the grape growing industry and watching the wine industry, Rick decided it was time to take a big leap and build a winery of his own. Construction for the winery, which at the time was unnamed, began in 2000 and was completed for an August 2002 opening of the winery – with both 2000 and 2001 vintages of wine ready for sale.

Rick and Frieda, with their family, decided to name the winery Caroline Cellars after their late mother and grandmother, who had always believed in them and supported all the hard work they had done on the farm.

DOWN TO EARTH

Caroline Cellars takes pride in four generations of grape growing tradition – in Germany and in Canada – in order to produce wines for all to enjoy. We are situated on prime grape growing soil and employ many years of experience and skill in order to produce grapes and wines of exceptional quality. It is also important to us to create a customer experience unlike any other – we take pride in our personal approach to customer service and our unpretentious approach to our fabulous wines.

Our highest priority is customer satisfaction, and that priority guides us in our determination to make wines which boast the approval of VQA standards without sacrificing affordability. Our wines are priced to please!

All of our wines are made on-site from grapes that we grow on our 26 acre home farm. Our wines are available exclusively at the winery, and we can also ship anywhere within Ontario. Our on-site wine boutique has a tasting bar with all of our wines, as well as a large selection of unique giftware.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Don’t miss out! View a complete list of upcoming events here.

Mother’s Day 2025

Valentine’s Dinner 2025

Icewine Pairing 2025

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