Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. is purchasing two high-profile vineyards and a cider producer in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The company is finalizing its purchase of the Equity Wine Group and the Shiny Apple Cider brand, according to lakeviewwineco.com, a subsidiary of Diamond Estates.

The company is looking to raise $8.5 million in equity to complete the acquisition, according to its website.

Equity Wine Group owns Creekside Estate Winery in Jordan Station and the Queenston Mile Vineyard in St. Davids.

Shiny Apple Cider was founded in 2014 and operates out of Small Talk Vineyards on Irvine Road.

Diamond Estates already produces several wine brands such as Dan Akroyd Wines, Twenty Bees and Eastdell Wines. 

The Queenston Mile Vineyard has been the subject of controversy surrounding its push to install commercial cooking equipment on-site.

Town councillors have repeatedly rejected the request and added conditions that require the vineyard not to have a restaurant on site. Those restrictions are still under review by town staff, Lord Mayor Betty Disero said in an interview Wednesday.

Diamond Estates will assume all planning matters regarding the Queenston Mile once it takes over.

The mayor is optimistic about Queenston Mile changing hands.

“At this point, anything would be more co-operative,” she said.