Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!

Our Icewine Arrives

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Long time readers may recall this post from January 20th this year when Paul and I (and our equally brave pal Catherine) got to participate in the ice wine harvest at our favourite Niagara winery, Malivoire. Now ice wine, while originally discovered in Germany, is a unique Canadian treat (recognizing a cash 'cow' when they see it, other nations are jumping on board). Canada remains the largest producer of ice wine in the world.

Icewine (or, in German, Eiswein) is an expensive type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, so the result is a concentrated, often very sweet wine. In the case of ice wines, the freezing happens before the fermentation, not afterward. Only healthy grapes keep in good shape until the opportunity for ice wine harvest, which may be in the next calendar year. This gives ice wine its characteristic refreshing sweetness balanced by high acidity.

Most ice wines are harvested at night (after midnight) when the temperature is - 8 degrees Celsius or colder. Because of the cold temperatures it was easy to snap the frozen clusters of berries off of the vines and place them in the bins on the ground below.

We made quick work of the harvest and traveled back to the winery where Martin, the owner, had cooked up chili and stew to help us warm up. As we slowly got the feeling back into our hands, we watched Shiraz, the winermaker, start the process of pressing the grapes.

About a month ago we received an e-mail from the winery saying that the wine was ready and we could pick up our complimentary bottle. Additionally, we could purchase additional bottles at a picker's discount of $ 35 (normally this liquid gold retails for $ 50 for a 200 ml bottle). These were special bottles - not only did we assist in the harvest, but our names were printed on the labels! I ordered 5 additional bottles and made arrangements with the winery to come in and pick them up.

Oh oh. I received another e-mail indicating that they had spelled my name wrong so they planned on printing 6 labels with it spelled correctly just for me. Additionally the winemaker was going to sign the bottles because of my inconvenience. I wrote back saying not to bother, it was likely my fault for having written my name messily! But they insisted.

Last week I received notification that the special bottles were ready and I could go and pick them up. When I arrived at the winery on Thursday, Eric, the manager of the tasting bar, insisted that I try the wine which I gladly did. I also managed to taste their recently released reserve pinot noir which shows great aging potential. When he brought my wine to me it was in a special canvas bag, and included with the 6 bottles of ice wine was a bottle of rosemary wine syrup (amazing with salads) and a bottle of their verjus - all because of my 'inconvenience'. This is why I adore this winery and those who work there!

 

These bottles are special. Not only did we assist with the harvest but because of the name fiasco, these are the only 6 bottles like this in existence. Additionally, you'll notice that they have been signed by the winemaker. Recently when Palma was asking for donations of door prizes for the great Slow Travel get together in Savannah April 4 - 6, I offered one of these precious babies as a prize.

If you should be so lucky as to win this prize you'll notice Paul's name on row 4/5 and mine on row 10. I didn't have the heart to tell them that it was still spelled wrong!

Ice wine is served well chilled in small glasses. It is sweet so a tiny bit goes a long way.

While we haven't tasted any of this vintage yet, I can share the tasting notes from the winemaker:

2006 Cabernet Franc Icewine VQA

The classic full flavours of Cabernet Franc stand out in our icewine. Aromas of strawberry glaze and apricot, followed by a surprisingly fresh and lively palate, expressing ripe strawberry and caramel.

Winemaker's Notes:
Sourced from the Eastman Vineyard, these grapes were hand harvested by friends of Malivoire between -9 and -10C in the early morning hours of January 21st, 2007. Pressed in vertical basket presses delivering juice at 38.6 degrees brix and 11.4 g/l titratable acidity. This juice was then fermented cool in stainless steel. The finished icewine has 11% alcohol and a residual sugar of 212 g/L.

Food Pairings:
Enjoy in place of dessert or with blueberry or apple-based desserts. Also excellent with hard cheeses such as fontina, aged raw-milk cheddar or washed rind cheese, with a reduction of Rosemary wine syrup.  For adventure, bring on the 64% cocoa butter white chocolate.

Niagara Wineries - Part 4

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What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday we enjoyed yet another wonderful day in Niagara wine country. The weather was hot, the grapes were practically popping on the vines as the juice slowly cooked within the skins. Here it is a week later and it is cool, cloudy, and I am sure that the grapes hiding beneath the leaves for warmth!

The Niagara Peninsula is the largest viticultural areas in Canada, accounting for 80 percent of Canada’s grape-growing volume. The climate during the growing season is comparable to that of Burgundy, France. As if to compensate, wines grown in such temperate climates can produce superior fruit, with better aromas and more intense flavours than in warmer climates.

Previously I have blogged about visiting wineries in Jordan, Vineland, and the Beamsville Bench. Last Saturday we visited five wineries (with some long breaks in between) in the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region.

The historic town of Niagara on the lake is described as "the prettiest town in Canada" and is located on the southern shores of Lake Ontario where the Niagara River ends its journey into this famous Great Lake.   It is surrounded by countless award-winning vineyards and wineries and is home to 3 theatres including the world-famous Shaw Festival Theatre.  The town is rich in historical, architectural and natural beauty, featuring historic sites and museums.  Also featured are casual and fine dining locations, quality shopping selections, local farm markets, a marina, and golf courses.

Earlier this year I made a 'pact' that I was going to focus my wine visits on wineries I hadn't explored previously. I have been relatively successful although I have found it impossible to turn my back on old friends completely *smile*

Coyote's Run

http://www.coyotesrunwinery.com/index.html

Coyote's Run Estate Winery, one of the newer wineries in the region, is located just outside the town of St. David's. It is a bit off the beaten path, but it is well worth seeking this one out as they are receiving critical acclaim for their small-batch, hand-crafted wines. Come in and sample their award-winning premium wines or enjoy a glass of wine on the patio in their relaxed, rural setting.

Being a new winery it came as a shock Pinot Noir of the Year! Their hand-crafted wines of quality and distinction are representative of their unique terroir and microclimate.

When we arrived the tasting room was quiet which allowed for a very friendly exchange with the staff.

We tried four wines here:

2005 Rosé                                                                         $15

This one had hints of wild berries, and a wonderful perfume on the nose. We found it dry and refreshing, with cranberry and red currant fruit flavours with a hint of spice on the finish. Having said that, we didn't enjoy it as much as some other Niagara dry rosés which we have tried.

2005 Pinot Noir                                                          $30

This was amazing - bursting with back cherries and blackberries on the nose with pomegranate and black cherries on the palate. Still young, this will age nicely.

2004 Bob Izumi Red                                                $25

We were told that Bob Izumi is some well know fisherman with a show on the sport network. Guess what? I don't even know where to find the sports network! Apparently he was looking for a fund-raiser and the winery owner partnered with him. This blend (the exact make up is known only to the wine maker) is an enticing mix of berry fruit on the nose with mouth-watering raspberry and blackberry fruit and hints of spice, vanilla and toast on the palate. Better yet, a dollar for every bottle sold goes to support wetland preservation.

2005 Meritage                                                                 $24

The 2005 vintage was a great one for Bordeaux-style blends.  This wine features a blend of berry fruit and mulling spices on the nose.  A rich, silky mouth-feel with a dark chocolaty finish.

We ended buying the last three bottles to bring home (so much for the 'no wine before you go to Paso Robles' rule which Paul had imposed upon me).

Lailey

http://www.laileyvineyard.com/

Donna and David Lailey are long-term grape growers in the Niagara-on -the-Lake region of Niagara. The Lailey Vineyard was first planted in 1970. The vineyard totals 23 acres planted in vinifera grapes and vidal for ice wine. In partnership with Derek and Judith Barnett, Tonya Lailey and Yves Starreveld, the Lailey Winery was established in 2000. Lailey Winery has been producing ultra-premium wine under the Lailey brand since that time. The target production in full crop years is 10,000 cases.

I must admit that I was not all that impressed with my visit here. the staff seemed bored and couldn't be bothered with us. It wasn't until we were leaving and I indicated that I had a cooler in the car to keep the wine from 'cooking' in the heat that they started treating us with some enthusiasm.

We tried three wines here: the 2005 Pinot Noir VQA: Spiced cherry and raspberry on the nose with a delicate floral note. Fresh raspberries on the palate along with ripe cherry and toasted spice. A silky texture with some roundish tannins give this wine balance.
$24.95 / 750 ml

2004 Merlot VQA: Only two barrels were made in "04, available in half bottles. Richly coloured with aromas of dark ripe fruits and spice. Medium bodied showing well integrated oak and a long finish.
$19.95 / 375 ml

2004 Cabernet Franc VQA: An often overlooked red wine. Full-bodied with cherry aromas and flavours of cassis and currants. This wine will benefit from aging. Pair with grilled venison.
$28.95 / 750 ml

I had heard about the Cab Franc and it was every bit as good as I had been told. We purchased a bottle to bring home for the cellar.

Marynissen

www.marynissen.com

Marynissen Estates is a small, family owned and operated winery featuring premium vinifera varieties. The Marynissen family has been growing grapes for 50 years and have some of the oldest vinifera vines in the country.

This winery was our 'old friend' on this trip. We have enjoyed their wines before. In fact, this was the first winery where I ever purchased wines by the case. I have about 20 bottles down in the cellar of various vintages which I should be enjoying soon.

Here we tried the 2006 Gamay which had the following written about it as a tasting note:
Cheery cherry colour.
Nose: Strawberry/beet and floral characteristics with a bit of spiciness as well.
Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight. Great expression of young gamay in the flower of youth. This is a sample drawn for this tasting. Lovely strawberry/cranberry/beet/cherry profile, some richness midpalate, well-integrated ripe tannins, long clean finish.
Conclusions: Early days for this wine but indications of great Gamay are already there. Gamay is looked down-upon by some, and is certainly not the flavour-of-the-month. Ontario may well produce the best Gamay wines in the world. Lovely, fruity, food-friendly and gulpable. This has not yet been priced, but if it comes out below $20 grab some and drink it within 3 years. The wines were below $ 20 so we bought three bottles and headed off for our picnic lunch!

Strewn

http://www.strewnwinery.com/english/home/default.asp

This is a HUGE operation. Strewn offers a unique winery & culinary experience combining a premium estate winery with a Provencal-style restaurant and Canada's only winery cooking school. Surrounded by orchards the property was originally the home of a fruit cannery and has been restored and extensively rebuilt. Strewn is located on scenic Lakeshore Road, bordering Four Mile Creek just before it enters Lake Ontario. Special events at the winery include the Icewine Harvest in January and "Celebrate the Crush", an annual hands-on wine celebration the last Saturday in September, monthly seminars and special tastings each day.

We enjoyed a tasting of three reds: the Strewn 3 (Strewn's flagship red wine made only in the best of vintages. This blend is 65% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. Powerful aromas of sweet black cherries, leather and tobacco are followed by woodland and dried fruit flavours), The 05 Cab Franc Terroir (Powerfully complex aromas of, plums and the earth fill the glass. A sumptuously textured mouth feel envelopes the rich flavour of dark fruits and ground pepper. The ripe, silky tannins will reward cellaring until 2009 through 2112.), and the Strewn Three meritage. This was a BIG wine bursting with luscious berry flavours and hints of black cherry. It was almost $ 70 a bottle but Paul didn't care - he had to take a bottle of this wonderful stuff home!

Stratus

http://www.stratuswines.com/

This last winery of the day was by far the most visually stunning. Established in 2000, Stratus is a sophisticated, ultra-modern winery that is poised to be one of Niagara’s most prominent top-end wineries. Situated on a mature 53-acre estate, in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, this state-of-the-art wine making facility focuses on producing small quantities of premium and ultra-premium blended wines. The winery produces two signature blends, Stratus Red and Stratus White, and also produces a limited number of single varietals including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Riesling Icewine.

This innovative winery utilizes a gravity-flow production system, which ensures a much gentler handling of the grapes and results in a far superior final product. Stratus is also acutely aware of the environmental impact of wine making and utilizes environmentally sustainable practices in its day to day operations. The winery does not use fertilizers or herbicides, is heated and cooled by using geothermal technology, and also utilizes a system for composting organic waste.

Stratus’ tasting room is contemporary in nature, designed by famed designer Diego Burdi; it is well-worth a visit. The room is sleek and sophisticated with floor-to-ceiling windows, an impressive tasting bar and open-rack shelves, which all lend to its modern feel. Guests are invited to sample Stratus’ exceptional wines in comparative “flights” of three wines which are all served in premium crystal stemware. The tasting room adjoins a terrace, which offers guests picturesque panoramic views of the surrounding lush vineyard.

Because their production is so new many of their releases had sold out. We did enjoy the 04 Cab Franc which had an interesting spicy note on the nose that has nothing to do with cool climate Cabernet Franc. It’s a provocative warm spice component that sets the stage for an impressively full Cabernet that makes the most of its raspberry/blackberry fruit and bright balanced acidity. We also enjoyed their ice wine and a Riesling.

I have to say, this notion of trying new wineries has worked wonders. There are so many wineries that have recently opened here in Niagara that I have been missing out on. I have forced myself to try new ones and have been stunned by the complexity and character of the wines. Niagara has come such a long way in just the past five years, it is exciting to imagine where it will be in five more!

A Saturday in Wine Country

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Every year for the past 6 or 7 years my mom has given Paul and I tickets to the theatre for our birthdays. Generally we go and see a play at the Stratford Festival. This year she did something different; she bought us two tickets to see a play at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Shaw festival is the only theatre in the world which specializes in the works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries (1856 - 1950).

Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Canada's best-kept secrets. This charming and historic Ontario town is located about 20 minutes beyond those amazing waterfalls at Niagara Falls. For years tourists of all kinds have traveled here for the scenery, the shopping, the wineries, and to see world-class performances at the Shaw Festival. Perhaps the greatest attraction is the Niagara-on-the-Lake environment itself. Small in scale, Niagara-on-the-Lake inspires walkers, hikers, joggers, and bike riders to explore its beauty

Our tickets were for last evening and given all the wonderful things about the area we decided to make a day of it. It was a brilliant day! We left home about 10:45 am and got back at midnight.

During the day we visited 5 wineries in the region around the town (which some call the Napa of Ontario ). We had brought a cooler along with us so that the wine didn't 'cook' in the car. This turned out to be a smart move on our part because it was a sunny, warm day. Again we visited wineries that we had not been to before in an effort to spread our wine 'horizons' a bit.

In the little town of Virgil we stopped at a bakery/cafe I had read about on-line called The Pie Plate Bakery and Cafe. There we bought the makings of a picnic lunch. We picked up an Egg Salad sandwich on 8 grain bread, a chicken and apple salad sandwich on walnut bread, a small wheatberry salad, two oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and two small botles of Perrier water.  Into the cooler this went and we later enjoyed the lunch on the banks of the Niagara river.

After lunch we visited some historical sites in the area. The area has many sites of historic interest because it was the location of so many conflicts between the British and the Americans (who kept invading and losing!) Later it was the capital of Upper Canada for a short time until the capital was moved to a site further away from the US border.

The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is also quite a mecca for shoppers. The streets are lined with all kinds of neat little stores to duck into and check out. Many of these stores are set in very old buildings with great character. There are many types of shops for kids and wonderful things for adults to appreciate. We parked on a side street and took a stroll down the main street and some of the side streets.

 

Later we had a wonderful dinner at a recently opened restaurant called the Old Winery. This trattoria has only been open for two months but is winning rave reviews from area residents who appreciate the fresh mediterranean cuisine inspired by the tuscan countryside. The food is traditionally prepared and served in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We were amazed at how inexpensive the food was; we had an amazing dinner with appetizers, mains, drinks, and wine for $ 88 which for this area is a STEAL. The mark-up on the wine was low as well - many bottles of wine could be had for under $ 35. We arrived early at 6 pm but by 7:30 when we left the place was full - if you hope to eat here do make reservations.

After dinner we headed off to the theatre where we saw an incredible performance of George Bernard Shaw's classic play St Joan. The actress playing John of Arc was outstanding - her performance actually moved this old guy to tears at one point. I see why the Toronto theatre critics loved this production.

Later, on the drive home, Paul asked me why we only visit Niagara-on-the-Lake once every 5 years or so. Good question, good question . . .

Lunch with Rose at EastDell Winery

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Last week I posted about the day in Niagara wine country that I enjoyed with my sister who was visiting from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. I mentioned that we stopped for a nice lunch but haven't said anything more since then. Today is review time.

Part of EastDell's claim to fame is that Dan Akroyd is a part owner. We had a wonderful lunch there. The VIEW Restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows provide a picturesque view of rolling vineyards and Lake Ontario shimmering in the distance. Our guests enjoy the natural ambiance of rustic wood and stone décor in a casual and relaxing atmosphere. Patio deck dining is available in summer and, in winter, guests can cozy up to the warmth of a roaring fire in the large Escarpment stone fireplace

We both decided upon sandwiches. Rose enjoyed the VIEW burger which is described as Wine country’s premier burger, homemade with Ontario ground beef topped with melted Swiss cheese and mushrooms sautéed in Chardonnay. She agreed that it was incredible.

My choice was the Cabernet Beef Tip Sandwich.  It was made with Cabernet marinated Beef Tips which were topped with marinated red peppers, caramelized onions and “cream du village” cheese. Both our sandwiches came with a great salad.

We both decided to throw caution to the wind and order dessert. Rose odered a raspberry mousse cake which was served under a 'bowl' of spun sugar. I ordered a blueberry gelatin which was studded with lemon zest, blueberries, and flavoured with subtle hints of lemon thyme. It was topped with whipping cream and gold flake. YUM!

Niagara Wineries - Part 3

As I mentioned earlier, yesterday my sister and I went to the famed Niagara wine region for a day of wine tasting (and as it turned out, purchasing!). I have visited wine regions in the US and in Italy and I have to admit that Niagara was a bit of a back water until about five years ago. The change has been dramatic. The vintners stopped trying to produce a wide variety of varietals and started to concentrate on grapes that were better matched to the climate. The result - some excellent wines!

I normally try and limit myself to four wineries so that my palate isn't fried by the end of the day. Yesterday I made an exception for my sister - because she only gets out here every few years she really wanted to go to all of them but I managed to limit her to 6! Well, 7 if you include East Dell Estates where we had lunch.

The weather wasn't cooperative - it couldn't decide if it wanted to rain or what. The pattern seemed to be that whenever we wanted to stop the car and wander about a bit the clouds opened up! Isn't that always the way? Oh well, it was a nice day of wonderful wines, great company, and new discoveries.

Earlier this year I found that I was in a bit of a rut when it came to Niagara wineries; I always returned to the same ones. Yes I knew that there were other good ones out there but I had made my friends and apparently planned on sticking with them through good years and bad. This year I have been on a mission - to visit new wineries on every visit. I have made some wonderful discoveries this way.

The first few wineries were in the Jordan/Vineland area.

Vineland Estates

http://www.vineland.com/

This was the first winery on the list. It was also the 'biggest' of them all. Once we got out of the car it reminded us of some of the wineries we had visited in California, the ones that seem to be something they are not. Who knew that we had medieval French Chateau in the middle of Niagara? Eventually I was able to get past my snobbery and go into the tasting room.

Vineland Estates Winery is an exceptional destination winery offering a renowned wine and culinary experience in an idyllic setting. With its award-winning VQA wines, gourmet restaurant with patio, wine boutique, Carriage House for elegant functions and bed and breakfast, Vineland Estates offers its guests the ultimate wine-country experience. Established in 1998 this elegant winery is one of the pioneers of Niagara’s wine industry and is one of the largest wineries in the area. An array of grape varietals are grown in Vineland Estates 250-acres of vineyards, including, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. Producing some of the best Riesling in the area, the winery is also well-known for its exceptionally rich Chardonnay’s, fine Pinot Blanc, world-renowned Icewines and Bordeaux style reds.

While doing some research about this winery I discovered that it has won numerous awards both in Europe and North America. It is amazing how far they have come in only 9 years!

I enjoyed the 2005 Baco Noir (one of Paul's favourite wines). It is a fresh, lively and juicy wine. This wine showcases examples of mature red fruit that dance on your tongue in a medium bodied easy drinking red.

I also enjoyed the 2002 Merlot. This wine had pleasing aromas of berry fruit and fresh plums which gave a richness to this its softened bitter sweet chocolate finish.

Ridgepoint Wines

http://www.ridgepointwines.com/

Ridgepoint Wines is a small estate winery on the Niagara Escarpment, dedicated to production of premium and ultra-premium  wines from our estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes.  Ridgepoint Wines is also responsible for the first commercial bottling of Nebbiolo in Ontario.

I selected this winery because of its production of Nebbiolo. For those of you unfamiliar with this varietal, Nebbiolo is the source of the renowned Barolo wines of the Piedmont region of Italy. The success at growing this grape in Niagara has been spotty with very low yields.

Nestled on the slopes of the Niagara Escarpment Ridgepoint is a family-owned and operated winery that is dedicated to producing premium and ultra-premium VQA wines. Situated on an 18-acre vineyard this charming European-style winery offers an eclectic array of wines. In addition to the mentioned Nebbiolo, the vineyard is also planted with Chardonnay, Riesling, with has an emphasis on red varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir as well as the Italian grape Sangiovese. I discovered that it is well known for producing big bold red wines.

The Ridgepoint 2002 Nebbiolo reflects the Ontario vintage of the year: 2002 was severe with heat and drought-like conditions. But hard weather can make great wine, giving smaller and more concentrated berries on the grapevine. This wine is a deep bright ruby in colour, intense with red-berry aromas. The evident tannins are fine, not gripping, which bodes well for a long, gracious life. There is fruit, too a hint of black cherry and some herbal notes. Barrel-aging has added spice, and the finish comes clean with acid. It is altogether a wonderful rehearsal, and gives the promise of a memorable performance to follow. This is not an inexpensive wine though, I bought 1 bottle at $ 40. Ideally it should age for ten more years in the bottle for the maximum flavour. I'm not sure I can wait that long!

Leaving the Jordan/Vineland area we headed into Beamsville for the next part of the day. I was 'raised' in this area. My mom lived there until she was married. I spent most of my holidays here visiting my grandparents. This areas has changed dramatically since the intensive focus on fine wine production began.   

Thomas & Vaughan

http://www.thomasandvaughan.com/

I have passed this winery many times but never stopped in. partially because it is across the street from my favourite winery Malivoire, and partially because it just doesn't look inviting. Rose suggested that we give it an try and I am glad that she did.

In 1998, Thomas Kocsis, a second generation wine-grower, decided to bring his extensive viticultural and winemaking knowledge to the Niagara wine industry. Along with wife Barbara Vaughan, Thomas opened Thomas & Vaughan Vintners along the Niagara wine route in Beamsville, releasing their first vintage of just 500 barrels in 1999. In 2002, production increased to 5000 barrels. The winery also sells wine grape juice to local amateur winemakers.

The estate winery now farms some 40 acres of vineyards. While popular vinifera grapes make up the bulk of the acreage, T & V haven't lost sight of the value of Niagara's "traditional" grapes. The winery offers Baco Noir, Maréchal Foch, Vidal, and de Chaunac, all of which produce excellent and award-winning wines. Since opening their doors, the winery has received more than 50 awards for their estate wines.

They had just bottled their 2006 Baco Noir. I looked at the date and sniffed. However, being the wonderful spouse that I am I remembered that this was Paul's favourite varietal and agreed to 'take one for the team'. I was shocked! I tasted a full bodied red wine with smoke and berry on the nose. It would pair wonderfully with barbequed meats.

I also enjoyed the 2005 Cabernet Sauvgnion. This wine was a bright ruby-garnet. On the tongue you could taste pepper, plum, raspberry, blackberry, with hints of cherry and green pepper. It has rich tannins, firm acidity, and rich, juicy berry flavours. I enjoyed the good body and length. It does come across as young, so it will need to age another year or two.

Malivoire

http://www.malivoirewineco.com/

Yes, I said I was only going to wineries I hadn't been to before. I know I have been here before. In fact, I generally visit this winery with a cult-like following EVERY time I am in the area to see what is new and exciting.

Because of holidays and the such it has been almost two months since I was last here. It was great to be back. They had a rare vintage - a Cabernet Merlot blend. Now this isn't an unusual blend as far as wines go but generally Malivoire uses their Cabernet grapes for the production of ice wine. In 05 the conditions weren't the best for ice wine productions so the grapes were blended with Merlot to make a lush wine.

This wine is a blend of 51% Cabernet Franc and 49% Merlot. The grapes were hand harvested on October 13th and 14th, the fruit was sorted in the winery, destemmed and co-fermented in oak tanks. Once pressed, the wine was left to age in 50% new and 50% once used French oak barrels for 10 months. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation in barrel and was bottled April 24, 2007. Drink now until 2011.

The nose presents mocha, coffee, toast and oak-vanilla. The firm tannins will soften with age. Flavours of cocoa, strawberry, blackberry, truffle, nutmeg, and prosciutto greet the palate.

I also stocked up on their wonderfully dry Rosé. Under the Ladybug name, Malivoire consistently crafts one of Ontario's most expressive and classy rosés. The newly released 2006 is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gamay. This refreshing and brightly fruity wine with notes of strawberry, peach, raspberry and sweet herbs can be enjoyed with summer salads, antipasto plates, tapas or as a summer sipper on the patio.

Fielding

http://www.fieldingwines.com/index2.php

Fielding is a rewarding winery visit—the kind of place that immediately says Ontario has arrived as a wine destination. Set against a forest backdrop high on the Beamsville Bench it boasts a great vista: 20 acres of vineyard and a view of Lake Ontario. (The Fieldings own another 40 acres on the Lakeshore). The modern, tasteful building combines smart upscale retail within a cottage country lodge ambiance. The tasting room offers a full range of varietal wines, glassware and corkscrews, with an amiable, enthusiastic staff managed by daughter-in-law Heidi Fielding.

Fielding Estates creates only small batches of complex premium wines from several varietals, to ensure that they can control the quality of every bottle. The winery creates some of the areas finest wines, and is well-known for their exceptional Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Franc bottlings. Fielding Estates selects, inspects and sorts the grapes by hand to ensure wines of exceptional quality and taste and their meticulous attention to detail can be found in each bottle of wine. Fielding Estate’s wines are available in limited quantities and are available on-line or in the winery shop, so be sure to visit the gift shop to take home some of the regions finest handcrafted premium VQA wines.

When we stopped into the shop there was a family from Pennsylvania who were dragging their trailer back south and I presume home. While I was annoyed at the thought of someone bringing young children into a winery - I mean, really, what is there for them to do? I got over it when I realized that these folk from the States were knowledgeable enough about wines to arrange to stop in here and pick up a case to take home with them.

I was taken with the 2004 Meritage Reserve. It was a blend of 50% Merlot , 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc with an intense flavor profile with a berry laced core of ripe fruit, blackberry, black and red currant, cassis and plum, chocolate, dark cherries, with notes of cedar, & mint. Best 2008 to 2010

Thirty Bench

http://www.thirtybench.com/

I realized when we stopped into this last winery that I had been here before and I recall not enjoying the wines at all! A lot can happen in 3 years so I decided to go in and see what was new. The short answer . . . A LOT!

Thirty Bench Vineyard & Winery is situated near the Thirty Mile Creek on the Beamsville Bench (Niagara Penninsula) hence the name. The main vineyard was established in the early 1980's with Riesling vines, with several additional varieties of vines added over the years. Another 5 acres of various red grapes traditionally used in Bordeaux-style wines were planted in 1991. In the spring of 2000, an additional 35 acres of land was planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinto Gris.

In the mid- to late-nineties Thirty Bench was one of the best producers in Niagara, with a treasure trove of old vine Bench vineyards, including a variety of blocks of Riesling, some dating back to the early 1980s, and managed by Deborah Paskus (who became really well known for her Tempkin-Paskus micro-cuvée Chardonnay). They were producing outstanding, opulent Chardonnays, and impressive Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Bordeaux blends (in vintage years that allowed the Bordeaux varietals to ripen). Then she left. Then the wines turned really inconsistent, sometimes nasty...

Andrés (a horrid bulk wine producing company! ARGH - danger Will Robinson) bought the winery in 2004 (which I thought would be a bad thing) and to their credit, did exactly what I thought someone should do: bring in a really outstanding vineyard manager, dramatically reduce the number of wines they were producing, and hired a talented, young wine maker named Natalie Reynolds. The turnaround in the quality of the wines has been unbelievable. Her 2005 Rieslings were all wonderful, including both the base Estate Riesling and the single vineyard wines.

Despite my belief that Niagara's climate isn't well-suited to create consistently good Bordeaux-style wines, for $22, the 2005 Red Blend is one of the better Bordeaux varietal-based wines I've had from Niagara in a long while: dark, rich, almost jammy in its intensity. Do tread with caution though on older vintages: some are very good, some not.

The tasting room has undergone a marked transformation. You used to just belly up to the bar and sip whatever was poured for you. Now you pay $ 10 and are brought back to a very Feng Shui room overlooking the vineyard and taking through a private tasting by the extremely knowledgeable staff. Even though it was near the end of the day, I was tired and my palate was fried, I still could recognize the change in Thirty Bench!

Thirty Bench is most known for its whites, particularly the Rieslings.

1.5 acres of Pinot Meunier are grown at Thirty Bench (heck I think maybe 1.5 acres of Pinot Meunier are grown in Ontario), but the one five combination does not stop there. The grapes have been growing in the “back part of the vineyard” for about 15 years. For those not familiar with Pinot Meunier, it is the third grape used in Champagne, and a grape variety rarely mentioned because it is blended in such a small quantity … what’s more it’s one grape that is rarely, if ever, seen on it’s own, especially as a still table wine … and specifically as a rose. For those expecting sweet in their pink, move on, this one has been born and bred fairly dry, with cranberry, raspberry and strawberry on the nose. The taste is tart and tangy, drier than the fruity nose indicates, with a lingering finish of rhubarb. Delightfully refreshing when served chilled.

The other wine which 'wowed' me was the 2005 Thirty Bench Red in a tasting on Monday, and thought it was quite good. Its drinking nicely right now with a black cherry/ raspberry compote/milk chocolate character, but has the stuffing to warrant some mid-term aging. A good medium-to-full body Niagara red.

By now it had been a full, but rewarding day. With the car loaded down with wine we headed back home. Once again I was reminded that when it comes to wine complacency and routine isn't a good thing. It seems as if every year a new winery or five opens up in Niagara. Clearly I need to visit more of them!

Upper Canada Cheese Company

Located in the small town of Jordan, in the heart of Canada's premier (folk from BC will argue this point - get over it! *smile*) wine region, this cheese manufacturer makes wonderful artisinal cheeses. I first tried their cheeses a few weeks ago when I was trolling through wineries with Dave, Rosanne, and Paul. Featherstone winery had samples of the Comfort Cream cheese. It paired so well with the wine that I purchased a wheel to bring home.

Yesterday my friend Ruth was graduating with her Master's of Education and I had invited friends and family here for a post graduation glass of wine, some cheese, and nibbles prior to going out for dinner. I was off for a vacation day so I decided to travel to Jordan to visit the cheese factory and purchase some cheese directly from the manufacturer.

The cheese company has the following 'philosohpy':

• To utilize the gifts of the region as much as possible: the long growing season, the escarpment, the protection of two Great Lakes and the limestone provide the Terroir;
• The high solids, large percentage of Vitamins, calcium, Beta-Carotene and the presence of only Beta-Casein A2 make the milk the finest and healthiest that is available;
• To make cheese daily from ONLY fresh milk with no additives and no preservatives is our commitment;
• To intervene as little as possible mechanically, but to be traditional with hand moulding, hand salting, hand brine washing and hand wrapping is our philosophy.

The owners have gathered a motivated crew of employees who understand the rare combination of all these things. The cheese making facility is a simple, but state of the art facility located in Jordan Station. It is set on 17 acres of land and the creamery itself is built along the rail line, as it would have been done a century ago, when the iron rails were the main form of transportation. History has seen the passing of some 1200 cheese plants down to less than eighty today; their hope is that this trend will be reversed.

This reversal has started with two delicious cheeses. One is a bloomy rind cheese, which they have named “Comfort Cream” which is patterned after the famous “Camembert”. It is rich and creamy. It was wonderful with some of the Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar Jam with Black Peppercorns I made last week.

The second cheese is a washed rind, with tremendous flavour that was developed by the Trappist Monks to get them through long, meatless fasts. The staff have combined the milk, the recipe and married them together in our “Niagara Gold”. This cheese has a nutty flavour, it is a semi-hard cheese and paired very well with fruit, and the last of the fig balsamic jelly that my friend Palma gave me when I was in California.

I see the emergence of this artisinal cheese maker as part of an exciting development in Niagara. First came the wines, followed by the foods. The area is becoming a wonderful spot where you can find interesting things to tantalize your palate, excellent accommodation, art galleries, and fine shopping. It is no wonder that so many Americans flock to this region!

Niagara Wineries - Part 2

On Saturday we visited three wineries with Elise.

On Sunday Dave and Rosanne called, wondering if we wanted to check out some more. I asked Paul and his response was a hearty 'SURE" so not long later we were off to Niagara again.

On this trip we returned to some of our old favourites as well as some new ones.

Flat Rock Cellars

This was one of the new wineries we went to (note - when I say new it means new to US not necessarily new to production). Because it was the furthest away we went there first.

This 98 acre environmentally friendly vineyard, based in Jordan features a unique hexagonal building with clear views of Lake Ontario, a five level gravity flow system, a geothermal energy system and natural bio-filtration system. Flat Rock is specializing in Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Rieslings which are best suited to the winery’s soil, and weather conditions found on The Bench. Retail operations are direct from the winery.

Paul and I tried the Pinot Noir (2004 and the Gravity Reserve) The Gravity Pinot Noir has had a total of about 14 months' barrel aging. Look for well balanced, good full fruit (sweet and sour cherry on top) with notes of spice, pepper and earthiness. The tannins are quite big and grippy. It's drinking now (try it with rare lamb) or you can hold it up to five years.

The tasting room is bright and airy with huge windows overlooking the vineyards. On a clear day you can see down to the lake. They had a nice selection of Reidel glasses so we bought a set for Pinot Noir (fitting because we left the winery with 4 bottles of their reserve Gravity Pinot Noir).

Confession time - I have avoided Pinot Noir for years because of the so-called 'Sideways effect'. No one was going to accuse me of drinking them because the characters in the movie had raved about them so much! I've gotten over that - I like this varietal so much that if I'm accused of tasting this grape only because I saw the movie I think I can deal with it!  *SMILE*

Flat Rock Cellars

Cave Spring Cellars

Next up was Cave Spring Cellars located in the lovely village of Jordan. We discovered that lots of others were making a stop in Jordan so parking was a challenge. We drove around and around and finally found a spot - be sure to do the same. You don't want to miss this winery (or the shops).

Cave Spring Cellars was founded in 1986 by grape grower Leonard Pennachetti and wine maker Angelo Pavan. From the beginning, they have vinified vitis vinifera grapes - the noblest grape varieties of the Old World - from vineyards along Niagara's Beamsville Bench in Canada. Nestled at the heart of this narrow, fifteen kilometre shelf of the Niagara Escarpment, Pennachetti's Cave Spring Vineyard is one of Niagara's oldest vinifera plantings.

Their Pinot Noir is 45% Cave Spring Vineyard; 5% other Beamsville Bench; 40% Twenty Mile Bench; 10% Creek Shores, and is composed of 90% Pinot Noir; 10% Gamay. The wine is barrel aged for 1 year in older French, American, and Hungarian oak.

The result is a medium-bodied Pinot with delicate cherry fruit and some vanilla. Maybe be some earth, as promised. It has nice tannins, and a dry finish with a slight touch of pepper. We bought two bottles of the Pinot Noir (thank goodness we bought those glasses back at Flat Rock).

We also tried the 2002 Reserve Cabernet Merlot blend. It was a medium bodied Cabernet/Merlot with dark berry fruit, smoky oak, supple tannins and cedar/tobacco complexity. We liked it so we bought two bottles of that as well.

Dave tried the Rieslings and said that they were excellent. For some reason which I can't fathom Paul and I only try red wines . . . Dave informed us that we didn't know what we were missing. Oh well, a reason for a return visit.

Cave Spring Cellars

Featherstone

This is one of the area wineries we have visited the most over the years, yet lately we had neglected it. It was great to be back. I think that Featherstone of any of the wineries in the area this one packs the most value for the money: great wines at a great price!

Even though Featherstone Estate Winery is one of the smallest full-time wineries in the Niagara region, it has produced several recognized, high quality and award-winning wines. Established in 1998 by the husband and wife team of David Johnson and Louise Engels, Featherstone brings a high level of excellence to the Niagara winemaking community. Their holistic approach to winemaking sets them apart from many contemporaries in the region and has led to significant success over a short period of time.

Featherstone Estate Winery is completely self-contained and self-sustaining, which allows them to control the winemaking process from the start of the growing season through to the bottling stage. When Johnson and Engels purchased the 23-acre estate in 1998, it was already an established grape growing operation with Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines that were up to 30 years old. The estate house became a multi-purpose building with a sweeping veranda offering gorgeous views of the rolling hills of vines surrounding the property. Visitors can enjoy the view from the veranda while relaxing with a glass of wine and one of the delectable choices from the summer “noshing” menu.

The winery always has samples of a wonderful white artisanal cheese made in the area and Fabia's Berry Blast Jelly. We left with some of each. They also had cheese from the Upper Canada Cheese Company which was amazing. We bought some of that as well. I also made a note that I would need to visit this cheese company soon!

We sampled the 2005 Cab Franc blend. Fermented in small batches and aged in American oak, this wine has aromas of cherry, tobacco, mint and spice. It would pair well with just about anything off the BBQ as well as Mediterranean foods and veal or pork tenderloin with lots of herbs. Paul quite liked it and while I was scarfing back more cheese (I hadn't eaten lunch and was quite peckish) he placed three bottles on the counter for me to buy.

Featherstone Winery

Malivoire

This is our favourite winery in the region. We pop by a few times each year and stock up on their wines. In fact, this was the winery where we assisted with the ice wine harvest back in January. You can read about our adventure here.

By now Rose was getting sick of wineries. She was giving Dave that look only wives can give: 'you don't need any more wine dear'. Happily that look is not in Paul's repitoire; he is more apt to sneak a few bottles of wines he enjoys onto the counterwhen I'm 'not looking'. Like the trooper that she is Rose persevered and let the boys have their fun!

Martin Malivoire, a well-know movie special effect artist purchased the 1994 and set out to make wine. The estate property provided an opportunity to develop a unique approach to the winemaking process. With input from winemaker Ann Sperling, a highly accomplished winemaker from BC’s Okanagan Valley, Malivoire set out to utilize the natural undulations of the land to create a gravity driven winery. The small Quonset hut at the top of the ravine was transformed into a three-tiered building flowing down a 30 foot incline. This allows gravity to move the wine from the crush level to the press level to the bottling level. Using gravitational forces, it reduces the need for mechanical manipulation and results in wines with “greater balance and finesse”.

This "gentle handling" approach is adopted by Malivoire throughout the winemaking process. In fact, winemaker Sperling prefers to think of herself as a “winegrower” rather than a “winemaker” as she indicates “that the vineyard is what makes the wine”. The winery employs several grounds keeping crews to manage the vineyards using hands-on methods. Malivoire Wine Company does not use pesticides or herbicides in either their Moira or Estate vineyards. Moira Vineyard has been certified organic with the 2004 vintage being the first officially organic line.

Our favourite wines here are the:

Gamay (a fragrant, easy-drinking red with classic strawberry-floral notes and light twiggy-leafy character. No candied quality as in gamays made via carbonic maceration—that is, most beaujolais. Light but cushy, with delicate acidity and very fine tannin. Great summer sandwich and picnic red);

Old Vines Foch (Very dark garnet, clear edge. Bold red and black-cherry aromas dominate in the aroma, with a back note of something intriguingly like dark toast. Impressive flavor, big and bold, fresh plums cherries, a hint of oaky vanilla, with soft tannins and tart, almost piercing acidity. It bears some stylistic resemblance to a good but young Chianti Classico Riserva);

Pinot Noir (satiny, supple, yet well-structured pinot shows fragrant, beguiling aromas of cherry-raspberry fruit, floral notes and dried herbs, plus chocolate and spice from aging in French oak. Fine tannin and excellent flavour focus. );

Ladybug (Tony Aspler calls it the best pink he has ever tasted from Canadian soil. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and less than 5% each of Gamay, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Musqué. The wine is deep pink in colour with a bluish tint; on the nose, it has a lovely rose petal note above the strawberry bouquet; full-bodied, clean with a hint of residual sweetness, a lychee nuance to the strawberry fruit and a tannic lift on the finish. This is our favourite summer drinking wine).

If you're in the Niagara area do not miss this winery!

Malivoire Winery

Peninsula Ridge

The last winery of the day was Peninsula Ridge. This is a lovely winery which has only been in operation for less than 10 years.  Located on Niagara's Beamsville Bench, is unique for several reasons, not the least of which is its rapid rise to prominence. With their first vintage, they immediately won accolades, especially for their Reserve Chardonnay. Winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas honed his skills in Burgundy and he brings a definite old-world savvy to the Peninsula Ridge cellars.

Specializing in Bordeaux-style reds, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the core vision at Peninsula Ridge is to produce the finest wines Niagara has to offer by combining the best of Old World Tradition with New World Technology.

The Peninsula Ridge wine boutique is a tribute to Canadian heritage. An ancient post-and-beam barn serves as the framework. After raising the floor and installing a modern infrastructure, the barn was rebuilt using antique barn boards sourced locally. The second floor wine shop serves as an antique boutique.

The tasting room is bright, modern and welcoming. Through the tall windows, you can see the coach house, which can be booked for special occasions, and the newly opened restaurant. The red brick Victorian house that houses the restaurant also adorns the Peninsula Ridge label. I've eaten at the restaurant a few times - while it isn't cheap, the food is amazing!

We were thrilled to discover that the wine tasting room had a new feature - cheese tasting! They had selected about 12 artisanal cheeses from Quebec and Ontario which paired well with their wines. You could sample any for a small fee. Paul and I shared a wine tasting (4 samples for $ 2 ha ha Napa!) and three samples of cheese ($ 1 each for a large sample).

We liked the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve so much that we bought two bottles! We also bought two pieces of cheese that we liked.

All in all it was a great two days of wine experiences! I think I bought 36 bottles of wine in all. My wine racks in the cellar are full and I shall have to buy more today. Paul has informed me that I am not allowed to buy any more wine until February when we are in Paso Robles! ARGH

Oh well, if anyone wants a wine guide for Niagara I'd be happy to help out!

A Full Day of Food, Shopping, and Wine (and some truly dreadful traffic!)

Yesterday was a hectic day. A good friend of Paul's had read about one of our trips across the border for wings and shopping on my blog and wanted us to show her where the restaurant was. We left here at 9 and didn't cross until 12! There was an accident and then a huge wait at the border. ARGH

It was to be a pit-stop for wings and beers (YUM) which she loved, and a quick shop and back over. We didn't delay in the US because we wanted to visit some wineries in Niagara before heading home.

My plan was to go to three I had never been to before. We ended up going to Tawse, Daniel Lenko, and EastDell. Two were amazing and one was OK. This post is about the wine.

Niagara was beautiful yesterday. This area is one of the main fruit growing areas of the country and many trees were still in full blossom. Lovely green leaves were sprouting from the vines and the promise of another vintage was there.

Tawse

This winery is a new one to the area. The winery is named after the owner Moray Tawse and opened in the spring of 2005. It is situated on the hillside terrain of the Niagara Bench in Vineland. It is so new that they are still working on the landscaping. Both the winery and the wines show much promise.

To take advantage of the locale the winery utilizes a six-level, gravity-fed system to process the harvest. Piping is also laid underground to store the heat accumulated from the soil and is used to generate power for the winery's use.

The winery is known for producing quality wine in small quantities. They had many Chardonnays, both oaked and unoaked. Elise tried one and declared it amazing - although the $ 50 price tag put her off. They only had one red for sale (which is the bad side of high quality/small quantity wineries!), a 2004 Cab Franc.

The tasting notes declare it to be:

Mid-weight, juicy, charming, slightly soft cab franc with ripe raspberry-strawberry jam fruitiness. Not as green as many Ontario examples. Fine to enjoy now with a loose, hottish feel. May age out by 2010. 750s releasing soon at $30 range.

We declared it to be GREAT! and departed with 4 bottles.

Tawse Winery

Daniel Lenko

While at Tawse we overheard the owner telling an obvious well-heeled wine lover that he HAD to stop in at Lenko for an amazing wine experience. This made me smile because it was already on my list.

I've driven past this winery many times in the past and had never stopped in - who based upon visual alone? The pic to the right is the tasting room. This is also the charm.

Daniel Lenko has been described as one of Niagara’s most interesting and outspoken winemakers. And based on the quality of his wine, he has every right to continue to do so. His focus and dedication have turned out some of the best wines in Niagara, but even with the continued attention his wines are receiving, he has little interest in expanding much beyond the current 3,000 case capacity.

While the Daniel Lenko Estate Winery has only been in operation for six years, the vines on the Lenko estate are some of the oldest in the region. The Lenko family has owned the 35 acre property since they moved from Manitoba in 1947. The original chardonnay vines were planted in 1959 and by the early 90s earned the reputation of supplying grapes for some of the best wines in the region.

Lenko’s keep it simple approach toward winemaking can be witnessed first-hand with a visit to the Daniel Lenko Estate Winery. Lenko’s establishment is a stark, but welcoming contrast to the multi-million dollar wineries/tourist attractions that are sprouting in the Niagara region. The only identifying mark for the winery is the three foot high sandwich board at the end of the driveway. His “wine shop” is the kitchen of his family’s home.

While the atmosphere of Daniel Lenko Estate Winery holds no air of pretension, many of his wines would be welcome on the most sophisticated wine drinker’s table. The care and quality Lenko brings to winemaking comes through in every sip. British wine critic Jancis Robinson says Daniel Lenko’s 2002 syrah is the best Canadian red she’s tasted. Unfortunately both it and the 2005 are all sold out.

We were greeted by Lenko's father who pressed a glass into our hands. When a spot became available at the family dinner table we took our seats and proceeded to try some amazing wines. We enjoyed the Meritage, the Merlot, and the Cab Sauvignon. I wanted to buy some of the Merlot but it is only available by the case and I wasn't sure if I wanted to drop $ 400 after our shopping in the US and other winery stops. I ended up buying two bottles of the Meritage and 2 of the Cab Sauvignon. Elise picked up a bottle of his Raspberry Reserve.

Daniel's father makes his own apricot and cherry jam. He was handing out samples and Elise declared it to be excellent (although a strange flavour combination when slathered on a Vegetable Thin cracker!). Certainly many of the people who bought wine also left with a bottle of jam.

Don't, don't overlook this winery because all you see is a non-descript house from the road. As with most family homes, the best is what is going on inside.

Daniel Lenko Winery

EastDell

Next up was EastDell. Now in the interest in full disclosure, when I said that I wanted to go to three wineries I had not been to before I was not completely truthful. I had been to EastDell but had never tried the wines because the tasting room was closed. A technically I know, but one must be accurate.

There's no denying that EastDell Estates is one of the most family-friendly wineries in the region with lots of things to do and space to roam for kids and adults. There is the spectacular view and the warm, casual ambiance of the Bench Bistro from which to enjoy it. There is the Bench Boutique where you can sample, and shop for, EastDell's award-winning wines, and a new winemaking facility to tour. There are also 5 km of nature trails to explore winding through the property's vineyards and lush Carolinian woodlot, along with a charming cabin for two, hidden deep in the vineyards.

EastDell was opened and pouring some new releases yesterday. We tried one of the new releases and before we tasted it the 'pourer' set us off by stating that she was interested in our opinion because she wasn't sure what she thought of it. This tells us - danger, danger! Of course, we did not like it at all. It was an insipid, weak wine. Our first dump into the sludge bucket of the winery tour.

We decided to forgo the other new release (although in researching for this post I note that the Black Cab is quite well-reviewed) and tried the 2003 Cabernet-Merlot blend. It was much better with true depth and hints of tobacco and cassis.

The 'pourer' (what do you call these folks?) indicated that they were almost sold out of their dry Rose so we committed a wine tasting room faux pas and tried it AFTER a full-bodied red (GASPs all around). It was clean and crisp with hints of strawberry and citrus. It was a nice summer wine for sipping outdoors and it was priced well so we bought 4 bottles.

EastDell Winery

It was 6 pm by the time we returned home. It had been a full day and I was tired but it was a fun day, great company, and great times. Imagine everything from wings and beers to fine wines.