Nestled amongst the sprawling vineyards of the prestigious Four Mile Creek sub-appellation, Bella Terra Vineyards sits on a 50 acre grape farm that has been tended to by the Puglisi family since 1974. Our family-owned winery is headed by Luciano (Lou) Puglisi who draws on grape-growing knowledge and experience that has been handed down from one generation to the next. As you sip any one of our Bella Terra's wines, you are tasting three generations of grape-growing and winemaking experience.
Where It Started
The family first grew grapes and produced their own wine, as many Italians did. When Giuseppe Puglisi emigrated to Canada in 1965, he brought with him his passion for grape-growing and winemaking. His son Lou has been passed the torch, and now carries on the family tradition. He has embraced this traditional art form and has cultivated some of the finest wines in the Niagara Region.
Continuing Traditions
Lou’s enthusiasm and respect for the winemaking process, alongside his dedication and commitment to excellence, earned him the prestigious title of Grape King in 2008, awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture to the finest vineyard operator in Ontario. In celebration of Niagara’s unique topography, soils and climate we refer to our estate vineyard as BELLA TERRA or “beautiful land”.
About The Brand
The design of the Bella Terra logo celebrates the connection of Luciano (Lou) Puglisi’s family roots in Sicily with the connection between earth and sun that are the foundation of excellent grape farming. The design is a simplified and modernized version of a Sicilian clay tile with the sun at its very centre. These colourful tiles have been popular in Sicily for centuries and can be found on many stairs and buildings around the island.
Lou is excited to share the Bella Terra story in a new way, saying “it is important to me to let our guests know that our wines start right here in our own vineyards in one of the most exciting and still developing growing regions in the world.”