The Wow Factor

Published on February 9, 2015February 9, 2015 by Ingrid Sapona

Cuvée is all about showcasing the best of Ontario wine and food, and the Grand Tasting on Friday night (Feb. 27^th) is undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend. It’s a given that the wines will wow – the winemakers are pouring their favourites.

Getting the wow factor right in the food department is a bit trickier, but a welcome challenge for the 13 chefs who will be serving up their special creations at the gala. In the next few posts I’ll talk a bit about what a few chefs who will be at Cuvée have to say about the event.

MVI_2418 — Chef Giovanni Del Priori of Criveller Cakes

“Cuvée is one of my favourite events,” says Chef Giovani Del Priore of Criveller Cakes. “It’s work, but I enjoy it. People are beautifully dressed, it’s very glamourous, the whole atmosphere is special. It’s a chance for us to showcase our work,” says Del Priore, who will be responsible for all the desserts. Del Priore, a veteran of Cuvée, is delighted to be returning. (To ensure and promote variety, the general rule is that chefs are not invited back for a few years. But, the Cuvée organizers have made an exception for Del Priore and his Criveller Cakes team — no doubt because they do such an amazing job.)

Chef Del Priore talked about the challenge he and his team face. “We have one of the largest stations – only the Fallsview Casino’s station is bigger. The reason ours is so big is because pretty much all the guests eat dessert, while they might not try something at all the stations – most people eat at least one dessert,” says Del Priore.

Last week a friend and I dropped in on Criveller Cakes and Chef Del Priore showed us around and talked about Cuvée. Click here to watch a short video of Chef Del Prioe talking about Cuvée. Warning: your mouth may water and you may find yourself craving chocolate.

Days of Wine and Chocolate Event is Underway

Published on February 6, 2015 by Ingrid Sapona

I played hooky from my real work today and a girlfriend and I stopped in at some wineries for the first day of the annual Days of Wine and Chocolate event. The wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake have been running this February event for some time but this was the first time I’ve been.

En route to the wineries we stopped in at Criveller Cakes in Niagara Falls – a fabulous European pastry and chocolate shop. While there, we sampled a few decadent desserts, so when we were choosing the wineries we’d stop in at, we made sure we stopped at a few that had pairings that didn’t involve dessert.

We stopped at four wineries – two that were featuring pairings with savory nibbles, and two that were featuring pairings with dessert items. Rancourt Winery served their lovely, oaky 2013 Chardonnay Reserve paired with Lobster Bisque with White Chocolate Shavings. The oak in the Chardonnay paired very well with the rich bisque.

Stratus was serving their 2010 Tollgate Fume Blanc paired with Roasted Fennel, Beet, & Dark Chocolate Salad prepared by Treadwell’s. One of the few tastes I really do not like is licorice – and fennel is basically a licorice-flavoured plant. So, let’s just say I was ambivalent about whether to stop in at Stratus. But, I do love Fume Blanc (and it’s not a particularly common wine these days in Ontario), so I thought I should be open to the idea. Well – I’m sure glad I did.

The wine was gorgeous and the appetizer was exceptional. The roasting seemed to take away the (dreaded) licorice flavour and the sugars in the beets. The vinaigrette had little nuggets of chocolate, and a week bit of crunch and a lovely finish that brings the whole thing together. This pairing is one of the best I’ve had at such events. Don’t miss it – even one of the ingredients turns you off – the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.

Ravine Vineyards is serving their not-yet-released 2012 Sand & Gravel Cabernet Franc and they are pairing it with a light, tasty Chocolate Mint Opera Cake. The pastry chef at Ravine did a lovely job with the opera cake – just a hint of mint. This too was a surprisingly tasty pairing.

Our last stop was Jackson-Triggs. They are serving their 2012 Grand Reserve Shiraz paired with a Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Smoked Almond Cream. The Shiraz is very nice and it pairs well with the cake – but the cake was less delicate than other desserts we had sampled today, and I thought it had a bit too much cinnamon. (The spice might have been in the red wine reduction that they drizzled over the cake along with the smoked almond cream, rather than in the cake – it was hard to say.)

Days of Wine and Chocolate continues on Fridays-Sundays (11-5 p.m.) all month.

Gotta love February!

Published on February 3, 2015February 9, 2015 by Ingrid Sapona

So – I know it’s the dead of winter here in Ontario, but I’ve always loved February. Honest. My friends and family figure I love it because it’s my birthday month. Well, sure, that’s part of it. (My dream birthday present growing up was a day off from school because of snow!) But it’s not just that. I love the fact that it’s a no brainer in terms of what you wear – it’s cold so you bundle up, right? Simple! And of course, smack dab in the middle is Valentine’s Day! If that doesn’t appeal to your heart (even if you’re single) – well, you may as well stop reading this …

Anyway – if the reasons I’ve already mentioned aren’t enough to win you over to the “loving February side”, the wineries of Ontario go all-out in February to get your mind off winter. The wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, for example, are hosting their Days of Wine and Chocolate (more on that in a minute) on weekends throughout the month and on Feb. 7 and 8 the wineries in the Lake Erie/Pelee Island region (EPIC, as it’s known) are having their Festival of Ice, and at the end of the month is Cuvée (which I’ll be writing more about in coming posts).

As well, various wineries are hosting winter-themed events. Here’s just a sample of what you’ll find: Georgian Hills hosts an Après Ski tasting of their Vidal Frozen Wine and chocolates and roasted marshmallows ($20/person), on Saturday afternoons there’s Raclette at Malivoire with The Cheesy Guys ($10/person and it includes tasting of 3 wines – great deal!), Peninsula Ridge’s lovely restaurant is featuring a very reasonably priced ($24.95) Surf & Turf dinner every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. As well, many wineries are hosting Valentine’s Day dinners. So – really – what’s not to love about February?

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Days of Wine and Chocolate

As mentioned, 27 wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region are hosing Days of Wine and Chocolate on Fridays-Sundays in February (ending on Sunday, March 1) from 11-5 p.m. The passports ($35/person; $30/person for designated driver passports) are good throughout the event, which means you can enjoy wine and chocolate all month long. Tickets can be purchased on line and at participating wineries.

Here’s the list of the wineries and what they’re serving:

Between the Lines — 2013 Cabernet Franc paired with a Raspberry Filled Chocolate Truffle
Cattail Creek Estate Winery — 2008 Select Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a Nutella Crunch Cream Cake
Château Des Charmes — 2011 Cabernet Franc, Estate Bottled paired with a Spicy Double Chocolate Cookie Bar Topped with Cassis Dark Chocolate Truffle & Dried Berries
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery — 2012 Cabernet Merlot paired with a Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake
Diamond Estates — 2008 Lakeview Cellars GMR Sparkling paired with Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Hinterbrook — 2012 Cabernet Franc paired with a Cabernet Franc Chocolate Cake
Inniskillin Wines – 2012 Cabernet Franc Icewine paired with a Chocolate Soba Noodle Salad with Cocoa and Soy Cured Duck
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery — 2012 Grand Reserve Shiraz paired with a
Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Smoked Almond Cream
Joseph’s Estate Wines — 2010 Late Harvest Vidal paired with a White Chocolate Almond Biscotti
Konzelmann Estate Winery — Konzelmann Merlot paired with a Nutella Cheesecake
Lailey Vineyard — 2012 Merlot paired with a Flourless Chocolate Brownie
Niagara College Teaching Winery — 2011 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay paired with a Roasted Butternut Squash with Chocolate Mole
Palatine Hills Estate Winery — 2011 Lakeshore Red paired with a Caramel Brownie
Peller Estates Winery — Ice Cuvée Classic paired with Sea Salt Caramel & Valrhona Dark Chocolate Truffles
Pillitteri Estates Winery — 2012 Rose paired with Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark Topped with Caramel & Sea Salt
PondView Estate Winery — 2012 Cabernet Merlot Reserve paired with Milk & Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Drizzled with Caramel and Sea Salt
Rancourt Winery — 2013 Chardonnay Reserve paired with Lobster Bisque with White Chocolate Shavings
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery – 2012 Sand & Gravel Cabernet Franc paired with Chocolate Mint Opera Cake
Reif Estate Winery — 2011 Merlot paired with Chocolate Chicken Tortilla Soup
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery — 2012 Rosso Cabernet Merlot paired with a Chocolate Cronut
Small Talk Vineyards — 2011 Riesling Icewine Cocktail paired with Pineapple infused white chocolate
Southbrook Vineyards — Triomphe Cabernet Franc paired with Bresaola dusted in thyme and cacao nibs
Stratus Vineyards — 2010 Tollgate Fume Blanc paired with Roasted Fennel, Beet, & Dark Chocolate Salad
Strewn Winery — 2010 Merlot Terroir paired with Herb & Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin on Crostini with Red Currant & Chocolate Glaze
Trius Winery At Hillebrand — Trius Brut Rosé paired with a Dark Chocolate and Bacon Truffle
Two Sisters — 2011 Eleventh Post paired with a Roasted Mushroom Crostini with Gorgonzola, Arugula and Agrodulce sauce

Cuvée 2015 Chefs Announced

Published on January 24, 2015February 9, 2015 by Ingrid Sapona

The chefs that will be serving at the Grand Tasting for Cuvée 2015 has been announced and the lineup is better than ever! This year, in addition to chefs from the Niagara region, they’re also showcasing three chefs from the Toronto area.

Here’s the lineup:

Ray Taylor of the Fallsview Casino Resort (the Casino always does an amazing job at Cuvée)
Alex White of Benchmark Restaurant (that’s the resto at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College)
Frank Romano of On the Twenty Restaurant
Tim Mackiddie of Le Clos Jordanne, Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin Wineries
Rob Webster of Oliv Restaurant (at Strewn Winery)
Jason Parsons of Peller Estates
Ross Midgley of Ravine Winery Restaurant
Justin Downes of Vineland Estates Restaurant
David Chrystian of the Centre for Wine and Food Experimentation
Trista Sheen of Crush Wine Bar
Carlos Deveyra of Woods Restaurant

The chefs will be presenting their signature dishes at cooking stations throughout the event, so you’ll have a chance to watch them in action and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Chef Giovani del Priore of Criveller Cakes will be serving desserts and Italian Ice Cream by Chef Andrew Rigolati will be served.

Tickets for the Feb. 27, 2015 Grand Tasting are available on-line.

Last Weekend of Taste the Season 2014

Published on November 30, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

A friend and I checked out the last weekend of Taste the Season 2014 yesterday. After feeling a bit disappointed last weekend, I’m happy to report that yesterday’s outing was up to the standards that I’ve come to expect of such events.

Most of the wineries yesterday were a lot quieter than the previous weekends of the event – perhaps because folks were out taking advantage of Black Friday sales. Mind you, the fact that the wineries were less crowded might have also been one of the reasons we enjoyed it more than the previous weekend.

I’m also really pleased to say that after ragging about the fact that some wineries were doing a lame job in terms of the effort they put into serving the food they were featuring – yesterday was much better. Indeed – hats off to Strewn – they did a magnificent job. They are running Taste the Season in their Cooking School facilities where they’ve created proper place settings with information about the wine (a 2007 “intentionally aged” Riesling). When guests arrive, a member of the staff pours the wine and carefully describes it and the Canadian-sourced trio of nibbles that are plated on unique-shaped dishes. Well done!

My favourite wine of the day was the PondView 2012 Bella Terra Cabernet Franc, which is on sale for the event. My favourite pairing was at Riverview Cellars, which was serving its 2013 Sauvignon Blanc with a golden beet salad on a bed of arugula.

Today is the last day of Taste the Season 2014, so there’s still time for you to get out and enjoy. And don’t forget – many of the wineries are running their own Black Friday-type specials. I took advantage of one such sale at Riverview – they’re offering any three of their VQA wines for $35 – that’s a great deal! I brought home 3 of their 2013 Sauvignon Blancs, which are normally $16.95/each.

Taste the Season — Part 2

Published on November 22, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

Just back from another day of Taste the Season in Niagara-on-the-Lake with another friend. We stopped at five wineries and the pairings were very different at each.

By far our favourite was at Diamond Estates where they were pouring their 2013 EastDell Estates Black Label Barrel Aged Chardonnay paired with creamy, cheesy autumn potato and sweet leek bisque. The wine paired very well with the soup. Of course, an overcast, cold November day is perfect for a hearty soup. But, it wasn’t just the taste that we appreciated. Indeed, the fact that it was served in demitasse china cups was a welcome touch. (I don’t mind saying I’m always a bit disappointed when they serve something on a cheap white napkin – they don’t serve their wines in a paper cup – show some respect for the food!)

The other pairing we gave high marks to was at Southbrook. They were serving their 2012 Triomphe Cab Franc with a bite-size duck confit/pear and brie phyllo tart.

To be honest, there were a few disappointments, especially in terms of the food. At the last place we stopped (it was about 3:30), I’d say the chafing dish of food probably tasted good around noon – but by later in the day it was pretty unappealing. But, you win some, you lose some…

A Sampling from Taste the Season

Published on November 16, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

A friend and I stopped in at six Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries participating in Taste the Season yesterday. It was great to see so many people out and I got the distinct impression that many folks started by sampling the wine that was featured as part of Taste the Season, but they then headed over to the tasting bar to try other wines.

My favorite pairing of the day was Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery’s 2012 Ravine Chardonnay paired with a rich chicken stew with mushrooms foraged by the chef. Delicious!

In terms of notable wines, both my friend and I both liked the 2012 Cabernet Merlot at Palatine Hills and we agreed that it seems like a wine that would be even better as it ages a bit. My friend’s favourite wine was Hinterbook’s 2011 Cabernet/Merlot. My favourite (despite the silly name) was Stratus’ 2011 Kabang Red, which is a blend at Stratus.

It was also great to have a chance to try Lemberger, a varietal that I’ve never tried before. Between the Lines was featuring their 2012 Lemberger.

We also did an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting at OLiV, which is at Hinterbrook. We were both wowed by the infused oils and the different combinations. As one person doing the tasting with us said when we tried the OLiV Italian Herb Extra Virgin Olive Oil & OLiV Garlic Cilantro Balsamic, it was like liquid bruschetta!

Taste the Season continues the next two weekends – and I’ll be heading back to NOL to stop in at some of the other 20 wineries we didn’t get to yesterday.

You know it’s good when…

Published on November 5, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

Last week Tom Magliozzi died – he was one of the co-hosts of National Public Radio’s Car Talk. I never listed to the show, but I gather it was very popular and Tom was well loved. A couple of different newscasts that mentioned his passing ran a clip that was so funny (and so true). In response to the question of how you know if you have a good auto mechanic, Tom answered, “by the size of his boat!”

Well, that indirect indication of the popularity of something came to mind recently I asked three friends if they’d be interested in going to Taste the Season with me. Without a moment’s hesitation they all responded with, “I’d love to!”

I was honestly surprised by how fast they all got back to me. I don’t know about you — but I find that everyone is so busy these days, it can be a truly up-hill battle trying to get together with friends for fun outings. (Especially as we get near the holidays, which means year-end projects at work and busier than usual social schedules.)

My takeaway from the overwhelming positive response I got from my friends is that the wineries have hit on a terrific idea with Taste the Season.

So – if your November weekends aren’t already chock full – or if there are some friends you may be wondering what to get for the holidays – why not invite them to join you for a day (or more) of winery hoping and wine shopping. I’ll bet you’ll find they’ll jump at the idea.

Taste the Season starts this Friday (Nov. 7, 2014).

Taste the Season 2014 Pairings

Published on October 28, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

The wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake announced the pairings for their Taste the Season event, which starts Novemer 7, 2014 and runs for four weekends in November (Fridays – Sundays).

Passports are on sale now for $44.25 (totalling $53.39 with the tax and service charge). There’s also a designated driver pass for $35 ($42.94 all in). Passports can be purchased on-line.

I’m planning on popping down to NOL for the event and I’ll do a posting then, but in the meanwhile here’s a list of the 26 wineries and the food pairings for 2014:

BETWEEN THE LINES
2012 Lemberger paired with venison goulash, braised red cabbage with cherries and buttery spatzle

CATTAIL CREEK ESTATE WINERY
2010 Estate Series Pinot Noir paired with mixed wild mushroom risotto drizzled with handcrafted rosemary oil and topped with shaved parmesan

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES
Brut Sparkling Wine paired with brown butter roasted squash and dijon mascarpone strudel

COYOTE’S RUN ESTATE WINERY
2012 Cabernet Merlot paired with open faced focaccia charcuterie stack with a tomato basil chutney

DIAMOND ESTATES – THE WINERY
2013 EastDell Estates Black Label Barrel Aged Chardonnay paired with creamy autumn potato and sweet leek bisque, made with full country cream and aged white cheddar

HINTERBROOK ESTATE WINERY
2011 Cabernet/Merlot paired with slow-cooked shredded steak and fusili compote

INNISKILLIN WINES
2012 Vidal Icewine paired with carmelized onion tart with Ontario goat cheese and thyme

JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA ESTATE WINERY
2012 Niagara Estate Grand Reserve Riesling paired with cold water shrimp jambalaya with house cured taso ham

JOSEPH’S ESTATE WINES
2008 Caroline Gamay Rose paired with Nutella opera slice

KONZELMANN ESTATE WINERY
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with slow cooked black angus Alberta beef topped with PEI lobster

LAILEY VINEYARD
2013 Cabernet Merlot paired with rustic pork terrine with maple smoked bacon and cranberry compote

MARYNISSEN ESTATES WINERY
2013 Red Blend paired with sundried tomato and olive tapenade on French bread

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY
2012 Dean’s List Prodigy Icewine paired with spiced pumpkin cheesecake with a chocolate crust and ginger cream

PALATINE HILLS ESTATE WINERY
2012 Cabernet Merlot paired with spiral of beef on infused quinoa enhanced with raspberry preserve and merlot wine reduction

PELLER ESTATES WINERY
2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Franc paired with carmelized onion pulled pork with roasted red pepper and feta compote on a peppercorn and shallot focaccia

PILLITTERI ESTATES WINERY
2012 Oak Aged Chardonnay paired with chef Collin Goodine’s savoury sage and squash soup

PONDVIEW ESTATE WINERY
2012 Bella Terra Cabernet Franc paired with 5 bean chili with pulled pork and ground beef on an open-face mini ciabatta bun

RANCOURT
2009 Merlot paired with garlic teriyaki oven-roasted chicken wing

RAVINE VINEYARD ESTATE WINERY
2012 Ravine Chardonnay paired with chicken and biscuits: farm chicken stew with foraged mushrooms, autumn vegetables and ravine puff pastry biscuits

REIF ESTATE WINERY
2009 ‘Back Vintage’ Riesling Icewine paired with jalapeno pepper flatbread topped with Niagara pear, brie and icewine apricot glaze

RIVERVIEW CELLARS ESTATE WINERY
2013 Sauvignon Blanc paired with herbed goat cheese and wood oven roasted vegetable tart

SMALL TALK VINEYARDS
2013 Riesling paired with handmade speculaas, a Dutch cookie, with nutmeg, allspice, mace and other delectable spices and brushed almond spread

SOUTHBROOK VINEYARDS
2012 Triomphe Cab Franc paired with duck confit/pear and brie phyllo tart

STRATUS VINEYARDS
2011 Kabang Red paired with Treadwell “Farm to Table” tortière

STREWN WINERY
2007 Riesling (Dry) Library Release paired with harvest vegetable terrine, fig, pear & orange compote on cured meat, aged Ontario cheddar

TRIUS WINERY AT HILLEBRAND
2013 Trius Cabernet Franc paired with spiced quinoa with chorizo sausage and a vine tomato sauce

Rain Didn’t Dampen Spirits at the i4C Gala

Published on July 21, 2014July 21, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

These photos from the i4C Chardonnay World Tour Tasting and Dinner are proof that the only thing the rain dampened on Saturday was the plan for pre-dinner sipping among the Rhododendron Garden at Vineland Research & Innovation Centre.

With one eye on the weather radar, the resourceful and resilient organizers quickly moved the tasting under the dinner tent. Though the tent was crowded because it was set for dinner, the guests and winemakers didn’t seem to mind. And, by 7 the rain let up and the crowd moved from under the dining tent to the Oyster and Sparkling Wine Reception on the patio.

Mike Langley, the Canadian oyster shucking champion, and his crew from Tide and Vine Oyster Co., shucked hundreds of French Kiss oysters from New Brunswick and Beach Angels from B.C. (If you’ve never tried Beach Angels, make a point of seeking them out – they are spectacular.) Guests mixed and mingled their way between the oyster bar and the tent where a variety of Chard-based (of course) sparkling wines were being poured.

One of the most interesting sparkling wines on hand was from Thelema, a South African winery. I had spoken with Thomas Webb of Thelema at the School of Cool tasting the day before, so I was interested in trying the Thelema Mountain Blanc de Blanc 1994. As soon as I tried it I realized there was something different about it. When I said this to Thomas, he confirmed that there is indeed something different about it: the wine spent 17 years on the lees (from 1994 to 2001 when it was bottled)! The classic method (Méthode Cap Classique, as they say in South Africa) wine is rarely available – not even in South Africa, according to Thomas – but the LCBO has brought in a limited supply (Product #378653).

After the oyster/sparkling interlude guests went back to the dinner tent to enjoy a family style Al Fresco Feast. Winemakers and sommeliers (the Ambassadors of Cool) circulated, serving wines and chatting about them as guests passed around the six dishes created by well-known local chefs.

When dinner finished, guests and winemakers mixed and mingled on the patio – enjoying the live band and a last drink or two. (And, figuring that people might have been Chardonnayed-out, they were serving up some reds and even some local craft beer!)