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!)

All-in-all a fantastic celebration – not just the evening — the whole i4C weekend!

i4C School of Cool — Let’s Talk Sustainability

Published on July 19, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

I’m wrapping my head around some of the topics raised at the i4C School of Cool Chardonnay Camp yesterday. Questions like: how much intervention is too much when making wine? Is stirring too much? What about additives? Lots to consider and blog about – but first, more great Chards to enjoy this weekend!

Just one more teaser about the kinds of things discussed at the Chardonnay Camp: sustainability. That’s a concept that comes up in many realms – and rightly so – but it’s also a concept that’s not always evenly applied. Take the topic of using oak chips, for example. There’s many a (snooty) wine lover who looks down on them as the cheap way of infusing oak in wines. But, as Ron Giesbrecht (formerly of Henry of Pelham, now professor at Niagara College) pointed out, when you fell a 200 year old oak and get 2-3, sometimes 4 barrels, and you plant a sapling in its place, while that is responsible, is it sustainable enough? Looked at that way, perhaps wood chips are something that should be more embraced… (Or, as someone put it – maybe we should think of wood chips as ‘micro barrels’!)

Cool Climate Chardonnays

Published on July 13, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C for short) is this coming weekend – July 18-20, 2014. This is the fourth year of the celebration and there will be 58 wineries participating from nine countries.

I love structured events like this because they help me look at wine a different way. For example, those of us living in Canada – the great white north – realize we live in a cool climate. And the particularly harsh winter we had this past year certainly drove home to all wine lovers that growing grapes in this climate carries special risk. But I don’t often think about the unique characteristics the climate imparts on the grapes – and that’s what this festival is all about!

The other thing that this event has helped me focus on is the idea that climate is a complex notion. The fact that Ontario grapes grow in a cool climate is a no-brainer – but chardonnay grapes in Argentina, Spain, or South Africa? Clearly, latitude isn’t the only factor that contributes to cool climate viticulture. Altitude and the moderating influence of large bodies of water (like oceans and lakes) also come into play.

The three-day event features a variety of programs – from the Chardonnay Camp, which is a seminar on cool climate production at Brock University that I’m particularly excited about attending – to a Barrel Bonfire BBQ on Friday night at 13^th Street Winery, to lunches, dinners, and tastings at various participating wineries. There’s something for everyone.

Tickets and additional information about the event can be found on-line.

i4C Preview

Published on May 22, 2014May 23, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

Depending on who you ask, International Chardonnay Day is either always on a (late) Thursday of May (like Beaujolais Nouveau is in November) in which case it’s May 22 this year), or it’s on May 23th each year. Why quibble? I say celebrate it both days!

Anyway – in celebration of International Chardonnay Day and in anticipation of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay (i4C for short) celebration in July, some of the wineries that’ll be participating in i4C held a “pop-up” tasting in Toronto today.

This year 58 wineries from around the world will be at i4C and of the handful of wineries at today’s event, there wineries terrific examples from South Africa, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Ontario.

I have to say, the differences – some subtle, some quite distinct – was remarkable. I’ve always thought that one of the best ways to learn about a varietal is to try different examples of it – and at i4C you’ll be able to try Chardonnays from cool climate growing regions around the world. Can’t wait!

i4C runs from June 18-20, 2014. Information about the events happening over the three days (and ticket information) can be found at: coolchardonnay.org.

(More) Snapshots from Sip & Sizzle

Published on May 19, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

I was at Sip & Sizzle in Niagara-on-the-Lake again on Saturday. (Hats off to the NOL wineries for making the passports valid on any of the event days and for making them transferrable — that way you don’t have to feel that to “get your money’s worth” you need to stop in to an unreasonable number of wineries on one day or on one weekend! You can double your pleasure by spending time in NOL on different May weekends.)

There’s one more weekend for Sip & Sizzle 2014 and if you haven’t yet been to any of the participating wineries, here are some photos of what you’re missng…

Spring Fever Meets Sip & Sizzle

Published on May 11, 2014May 19, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

A friend and I were down in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOL) for Sip & Sizzle yesterday and it was obvious we weren’t the only ones who were so happy to finally see the first sings of spring! The weather was lovely – breezy and mainly sunny – and the fruit trees and forsythia have just started to bloom. We stopped at about a half dozen wineries (there are 26 participating in the passport event) and everywhere we went the wineries were hopping – it was SO nice to see.

The Sip & Sizzle event was clearly a draw – and rightly so. The food and wine pairings were truly inspiring. At Reif Estate Winery, for example, it was quite amazing how well their 2012 Empress (unoaked) Chardonnay paired with the mussels – if you don’t believe how the great pairings of food and wine bring out the best in both – Sip & Sizzle will convince you. (Another one of our favourite combinations was at Ravine Vineyards – they were serving the 2011 Sand and Gravel Cab Franc with a grilled lamb kabob.)

While Sip & Sizzle might have been what brought people out – it was clear that it wasn’t just a case of eat and run. People were taking their time to stop and enjoy other wines – sampling different new releases and old favourites. My friend and I also had a wonderful tutored Terroir Tasting at Reif with Archie Hood, one of their resident sommeliers – I’ll do a blog posting about that soon (no time today, as it’s Mother’s Day) – it was so much fun and quite memorable – so stay tuned for that.

Anyway — if you don’t already have Mother’s Day plans, or if you’re looking for something to enjoy with your Mother – head out to a few wineries, where spring is (finally) in bloom!

Sip & Sizzle – No Strategy Needed, but…

Published on May 6, 2014 by Ingrid Sapona

A girlfriend and I are headed down Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOL) this weekend for Sip & Sizzle and I can’t wait! It’s a new event with 26 participating wineries serving passport holders one of their VQA wines paired with sampling fresh off the grill (hence the sizzle).

We’re only going down for the day, so we’ll only have time to stop at five or six wineries. Fortunately, the event takes place every weekend in May so I’ll probably pop back down there later in the month to take in some others. This particular friend isn’t that familiar with the wineries down there and so I’m in charge of planning the day.

I’ve come up with a few different strategies and I’ll let her choose. Here are the ideas I’ve come up with for organizing the day:

By colour: I was looking at the list of what wine each winery is serving and I was pleasantly surprised by the split – looks to me like 12 are serving whites, 9 are serving reds, and 5 are serving rosés. Since rosés are such a terrific summer sipper, it’s tempting to focus on rosés, with a view toward picking up some bottles for sharing with friends over the summer. On the other hand, the list of whites being poured include some wines my friend might not be familiar with, or maybe is especially fond of – so that’s another option. Of course, if she’s looking forward to firing up the BBQ for some burgers, brats, chops, or steaks, maybe she’ll want to find a few reds to take home for enjoying with her dinner guests.

By Location: Planning the day based on a particular route may sound odd, but it is really fun. You’ll put your day in fates hands in terms of the wines and food you’ll sample, but in doing so, I’m sure you’ll discover lots of new favourites. The wineries in NOL tend to be clustered and so it’s really easy to hit five or six that are all near each other. For example, you might try wineries along the Niagara Parkway, or on Niagara Stone Road (aka Highway 55), or along the Lake.

By what they’re grilling: If you’re into grilling, or if you’re looking for new ways of serving some of your favourite BBQ foods, why not pick the wineries based on what they’re grilling up? You might be inspired to try different recipes this summer and you’ll find some great wines to serve with your summer BBQ creations.

By wineries you’ve never been to: Unless you’re a regular (or you’ve written a winery guide), chances are there are at least a handful of wineries in NOL that you’ve not stopped at. Well, why not use Sip & Sizzle as your reason to try those wineries you’ve never been to before.

By favourite: If you’ve got some favourites – and most of us do – Sip & Sizzle is a great way to reconnect – see how they fared during the winter, raise a toast to their wines, and see what they suggest goes well with something on the grill.

Sip & Sizzle is happening every weekend in May (Fridays-Sundays 11-5 p.m.). Passports are $43+HST ($35+HST for designated driver passports). You can order them on-line and pick them up at the Chamber of Commerce in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake, 26 Queen St.

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