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Seasons in the Vineyard: Photographer turns her lens on spring in Niagara wine country

July 3, 20196

By Elena Galey-Pride

Seasons in the Vineyard is a Wines In Niagara photo essay series by local photographer Elena Galey-Pride.

Elena spends a great deal of her time documenting the circle of life in the vineyard — from new beginnings in spring, the season of hope, then moving into summer, where warmth and gentle rains give life to the vines, to fall, when plump ripe grapes are harvested to make delicious wines, to winter, the dangerous season when vines are dormant and it’s a fight for survival out there. We are documenting the four seasons in the vineyard with this series.

All photos are copyright by Elena and cannot used without permission at winestains

Niagara vineyards
Pruning the vines at Featherstone winery in early spring.
Niagara wine
Andrew Sullivan, vineyard manager at Featherstone, prunes in early spring.
Prunings left in rows to be mulched later at Featherstone winery.
Featherstone vineyard shimmers in the sun.
Post-pruning at Reif Estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Gnarly old vine at Reif.
Getting ready for bud burst at Stratus Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Pre-bud burst at Reif.
Bud burst at Reif Estate.
Bud burst at Reif Estate.
Early shoot growth at Hidden Bench on the Beamsville Bench.
Early shoot growth at Peninsula Ridge.
Early shoot growth on the Pinot Noir in the Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard.
Wild flowers grow between the rows in the On Seven Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
A view to the main retail and winery facility at Peninsula Ridge winery.
Sauvignon Blanc grapes at Reif.
Early application of sulphur to prevent powdery mildew at Stratus.
A view overlooking Lake Ontario from the Thirty Bench vineyard on the Beamsville Bench.

About Elena Galey-Pride

Elena Galey-Pride switched gears 20 years ago, leaving the corporate world to take her PR and marketing skills to wine country. After successful start-ups with two innovative Niagara wineries, Elena launched her solo effort as a marketing and social media consultant, dealing primarily with winery and wine event clients. Along the way, she picked up her camera again, and began focusing in on vineyards, wineries, wine events and wine people. Her company, Winestains, is named for the stain that wine made on Elena’s life, and for the indelible impressions that she helps her clients to make.