Events and Festivals

i4C School of Cool — Let’s Talk Sustainability

Published on 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!IMG_1948

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 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.IMG_2361

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 13th 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 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!IMG_1709

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!

IMG_1710i4C 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 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.)IMG_1685

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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…IMG_1707IMG_1698

Spring Fever Meets Sip & Sizzle

Published on by Ingrid Sapona

IMG_1651A 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.IMG_1663

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.)

IMG_1646While 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.

IMG_1643Anyway — 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 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.

Terroir – a County Wine Celebration is Early this Year!

Published on by Ingrid Sapona

Terroir is a Prince Edward County (PEC) event in the charming Crystal Palace in Picton. A friend and I attended last year and had a terrific time. Most of the PEC wineries are there, as are some local restaurants and food purveyors, and it’s a great way to kick off the summer.IMG_0195

It’s normally on the Saturday after Victoria Day, which means the County’s lilacs are in full bloom and riding around the County is even lovelier than usual. Since Terroir is on the Saturday, if you go to the County for the weekend, you have all of Sunday to stop in at wineries before heading home.

Well, this year it seems they’ve moved the event up to the beginning of May – Saturday the 3rd, to be exact. This change came to my attention last week when I was updating the app and I noticed that Keint-he Winery & Vineyards mentioned on their website that they’ll be at Terroir on May 3rd. When I read that, I honestly thought the date was a mistake, so I checked Terroir’s official website and saw that it wasn’t a typo. I don’t mind saying that I’m kind of bummed out because I won’t be able to attend on May 3rd.

When I saw Bryan Rogers of Keint-He at the OWS 5 Star event last week I asked him about it and he said that the Terroir organizers (and apparently he’s one of them) moved Terroir up because they want a bit of time between Terroir and the County’s well known Great Canadian Cheese Festival, which is always the first weekend in June. Rogers also noted that they’ll see how it goes this year, and they may move the data again – until they figure out what works best.

Anyway – the date for 2014 is set – and it’s right around the corner (Saturday, May 3, 2014 from noon to 5 p.m.) – so start making your plans. Tickets are the same price as last year: $35 in advance and $40 at the door (if still available). I’m sure it’ll be a terrific event – and I guess those who are lucky enough to attend will just kick off their summer a bit early – nothing wrong with that!

Here’s what they poured at Cuvée 2014

Published on by Ingrid Sapona

As noted in my last post, the Cuvée 2014 Gala featured 51 Ontario wineries. Each winery poured only one wine — their favourite. I promised I’d publish the list after the event because I think readers would like to know what the different winemakers would encourage people to try, if you were only able to try one of their wines!IMG_1551

So here’s what the wineries poured at Cuvée 2014:

  • 13th Street Winery  — 2011 Essence Arome
  • Bachelder Niagara — 2011 Bachelder Chardonnay Wismer Vineyard
  • Big Head Wines — Pinot Noir 2012
  • Burning Kiln Winery — 2012 Burning Kiln Cabernet Franc
  • Calamus Estate Winery — 2013 Pinot Gris
  • Cave Spring Cellars — 2010 Reisling CSV Estate Bottled
  • Château des Charmes — 2012 Merlot, St. David’s Bench Vineyard (a wine that’s not even on the shelf yet!)
  • Colaneri Estate Winery — 2011 Coraggioso Cabernet Sauvignon — it’s 80% appassimento
  • Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards Estate Winery — 2012 Merlot Reserve
  • Cornerstone Estate Winery — 2010 Cabernet Merlot
  • Coyote’s Run Estate Winery — 2010 Rare Vintage Meritage
  • Domaine Queylus — 2011 Pinot Noir Reserve
  • EastDell Estates by Diamond Estates Winery — 2012 EastDell Estates Black Label Chardonnay Sur Lie
  • Five Row Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards — 2010 Pinot Noir
  • Foreign Affair Winery –2010 Conspiracy — a Meritage blend
  • G Marquis Vineyards –2010 EPIC The Silver Line — a Cab Sauv-Cab Franc-Merlot blend
  • Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery –2011 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve
  • Hidden Bench Vineyards &Winery — 2011 Estate Pinot Noir
  • Inniskillin Niagara Estate — 2012 Inniskillin Reserve Series Merlot
  • Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate — 2013 Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Grand Reserve White Meritage – a Semillion-Sauv Blanc blend
  • Kacaba Vineyards & Winery — 2011 Terrace Vineyard Syrah
  • Konzelmann Estate Winery — 2012 Gewurztraminer
  • Lailey Vineyard Wines — 2012 Syrah
  • Lakeview Cellars by Diamond Estates Winery — 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Le Clos Jordanne — 2011 Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir
  • Magnotta Winery  — 2010 Cabernet Franc Limited Edition
  • Malivoire Wine Company — 2011 Malivoire Courtney Gamay
  • Megalomaniac – John Howard Cellars of Distinction — 2010 Bravado Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Mike Weir Winery  — 2012 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
  • Niagara College Teaching Winery — 2012 Niagara College Balance Sauvignon Blanc
  • Nyarai Cellars — 2012 Viognier
  • Palatine Hills Estate Winery — 2010 Newfeld Vineyard Meritage
  • Pelee Island Winery — 2012 Singing Moon Pinot Blanc
  • Peller Estates Winery — 2012 Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
  • Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery — 2013 Peninsula Ridge Wismer Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
  • Pillitteri Estates Winery — 2010 Exclamation Winemaker’s Red – a Meritage-style blend
  • PondView Estate Winery — 2011 Bella Terra Chardonnay
  • Reif Estate Winery — 2012 Gewurztraminer Reserve
  • Rennie Estate Winery — 2011 Assemblage G
  • Ridge Road Estate Winery — 2013 Pinot Gris
  • Riverview Cellars Estate Winery — 2012 Gewurztraminer
  • Rockway Vineyards — 2011 Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Block 11-140 Cabernet Franc
  • Southbrook Vineyards — 2011 Whimsy Winemakers White Blend – a Chard-Semillon-Muscat blend
  • Stoney Ridge Estate Winery — 2011 Excellence Pinot Gris
  • Stratus Vineyards — 2010 Stratus Red – Bordeaux blend
  • Strewn Winery — 2011 Strewn Terroir French Oak Chardonnay
  • Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery — 2012 Riesling Loved by Lu
  • Thirty Bench Wine Makers — 2010 Thirty Bench Small Lot Benchmark Red (Merlot-Cab Sauv-Cab Franc)
  • Trius Winery at Hillebrand — 2012 Showcase Sauvignon Blanc
  • Vieni Wine & Spirits — 2011 Aglianico Al Passo — a ripasso-style wine
  • Westcott Vineyards — 2012 Reserve Chardonnay

Cuvée en Route 2014

Published on by Ingrid Sapona

Cuvée en Route is a passport event involving 32 wineries this weekend — March 1-2, 2014. At the wineries passport holders can sample themed flights that are either Horizontal tastings (different vintages of the same variety) or a Winemaker’s Selection.

Here are the wineries featured in Cuvée en Route 2014:

  • Calamus Estate Winery
  • Calaneri Estate Winery
  • Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard Estate Winery – note that Cooper’s Hawk is located in the Lake Erie/Pelee Island area. Cuvée en Route Passport holders can use their passports for a Winemaker’s Section flight any time they visit this summer
  • Cornerstone Estate Winery
  • Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
  • Diamond Estates Winery
  • Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards
  • Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
  • Inniskillin Niagara Estate
  • Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate
  • Kacaba Vineyards and Winery
  • Konzelman Estate Winery
  • Lailey Vineyard Wines
  • Magnotta Winery
  • Malivoire Wine Company
  • Megalomaniac – John Howard Cellars of Distinction
  • Niagara College Teaching Winery
  • Peller Estates Winery
  • Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
  • Pillitteri Estates Winery
  • Reif Estate Winery
  • Ridge Road Estate Winery
  • Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
  • Rockway Vineyards
  • Southbrook Vineyards
  • Stoney Ridge Estate Winery
  • Stratus Vineyards
  • Strewn Winery
  • Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
  • Thirty Bench Wine Makers
  • Trius Winery at Hillebrand
  • Vieni Wine and Spirits

You can purchase a passport at the participating wineries.

Spoiler Alert?

Published on by Ingrid Sapona

Cuvée 2014 kicks off Friday, February 28 with the 26th Annual Cuvée Grand Tasting – a black tie gala at the Fallsview Casino Resort. The participating wineries (there are 51 on the list) will be pouring one wine each – one they’ve chosen as their favourite. I love that idea – it’s kind of the ultimate in curated content, don’t you think?

I was so excited when I found out that’s the format for the Gala, I immediately began wondering what each winery would be pouring. I checked the Cuvée website, but it only lists the wineries (and the chefs that will be on hand serving their signature dishes). So, I did what any normal journalist would do: I contacted the wineries and asked them.

As the wineries started getting back to me, I also heard from a public relations person who works at one of the wineries and who was on the Cuvée Committee. This person advised that I should not do a pre-event blog post about any of the wines that are going to be served because they are only to be “revealed” on the night of the event.

I was quite surprised by this because before I e-mailed the wineries, I double checked to see whether there was any indication that the wines being served at the Gala are a secret. I saw nothing to indicate that. Indeed, the fact that a number of wineries responded to my earnest inquiry (in which I made it clear that I planned on publishing the information in a blog before the event) and conversations I had with some wineries about the event, leads me to believe that if the Cuvée committee intended for the wines to be a secret, they kept that fact to themselves.

So, for the past few days I’ve been debating about whether to “reveal” the wines. On the one hand, I suppose there are folks who would rather not know in advance what will be poured. On the other hand, I’m sure there are also wine lovers like me whose enjoyment is increased knowing exactly what to look forward to.

As you can tell by the title of this post, I considered playfully using the spoiler alert warning that we’ve all heard so often the past couple of weeks and then going ahead and sharing with you what I’ve found out. But, in deference to the Cuvée organizers and those who love surprises, I will hold off on publishing the list of wines.

For those who can’t be at the Gala but who are interested in knowing what the wineries chose as their favourites, I’ll publish the information shortly after the Gala. That way, next time you stop in at one of the participating wineries, you’ll have an idea about what you might want to sample and buy.

Tickets are still available for the Gala fundraiser ($200) and Cuvée en Route passports ($30/person) are also available. For information on how to purchase Gala tickets and passports, check out Cuvée’s website.