2013 Cuvée Winemaker's Choice
REDS
13th Street Winery
1776 FOURTH AVENUE, ST CATHARINES, 905.984.8463
www.13thstreetwinery.com
Winemaker: Jean Pierre Colas
Favourite wine: Essence Pinot Noir 2010, $44.95
The “Essence” label Pinot Noir at 13th Street was a real gift to me. It was my chance to provoke and push the limits. I was given free rein to listen to the vintage and make the decisions I thought would result in my most honest and personal expression of Pinot Noir possible. I put it all on the line. It’s literally my signature in winemaking. I hope you like it.
Château des Charmes
1025 YORK RD. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.262.4219
www.chateaudescharmes.com
Winemaker: Paul Bosc
Favourite wine: Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard 2010, $40.00
It is our flagship, made only in the best years. 2010 was a remarkable vintage. This wine has been called one of the “icon” wines of Canada.
Colaneri Estate Winery
348 CONCESSION 6 ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.682.2100
www.colaneriwines.com
Winemaker: Andrzej Lipinski
Favourite wine: Insieme 2010, $34.95
The word Insieme in Italian means “together”. The label is dedicated to Maria and Joseph Colaneri that worked so hard together on the vineyard. They did everything together so it seemed only fitting that we honour their memory with our first red blend that brings together our Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Colio Estate Wines Inc.
1 COLIO DRIVE, HARROW, 519.738.2241
www.coliowinery.com
Winemaker: Lawrence Buhler
Favourite wine: CEV Small Lot Syrah 2010, $19.95
Our 8-acre block of Syrah is a stroll from Lake Erie’s north shore giving our grapes an extended growing season similar to that of the Rhone Valley. When I arrived last year as winemaker, I realized the privilege this proximity to the lake gives us. Particularly when I tasted our Syrah. I was so impressed with its purity. It’s got the distinctive note of black pepper, but what I like best is its sheer elegance and layers of complexity. With every sip there’s something else underneath to think about.
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
485 CONCESSION 5 ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.682.8310
www.coyotesrunwinery.com
Winemaker: David Sheppard
Favourite wine: Rare Vintage Pinot Noir 2010, $49.95
In 2010, all of our Pinot Noir was really very good — great depth, health and ripeness. One block with clone 828 was particularly beautiful, with extraordinary ripeness, great depth with smaller, tighter berries, so we sorted the grapes and vinified them separately. The wine was “hands down,” the most concentrated of all the Pinot Noir we did. Then we did a barrel-by-barrel selection to refine the final product even further to the five best barrels. It was a wonderful vintage so we honored it by producing the best from the best.
Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards
361 TANBARK ROAD, ST. DAVIDS, 905.262.5113
www.fiverows.com
Winemaker: Wes Lowrey
Favourite wine: Five Rows Pinot Noir 2009, $50.00
We were among the first to plant Pinot Noir back in 1984. Karl Kaiser from Inniskillin encouraged us and used our grapes in many of his award-winning Pinot Noirs. Later, so did the winemakers from Creekside. Their success gave us the incentive to open up a winery of our own; so now, we’ve come full circle with our wine for this 25th anniversary of Cuvée. A special wine for a special occasion. It was drinking well right out of the gate and we’ve had a great response to it.
Flat Rock Cellars
2727 7TH AVENUE, JORDAN, 905.562.8994 OR 1.855.994.8994
www.flatrockcellars.com
Winemaker: Jay Johnston
Favourite wine: Pinot Noir Reserve 2009, $45.00
We don’t make a reserve every vintage. In 2009, which was a very good year for Pinot Noir, we selected seven of the best barrels and made what I think is an iconic Niagara pinot noir. It comes from a very unique vineyard. No one else makes wine from this vineyard but us. We take extraordinary care of it. And now, the vines are getting older which is making it really exciting.
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
1469 PELHAM ROAD, ST. CATHARINES, 905.684.8423
www.henryofpelham.com
Winemaker: Ron Giesbrecht
Favourite wine: Henry of Pelham 2010 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot 2010, $50.00
The ‘SFR’s’ are made only in the best of our best years, when harvest is the magical fruition to a fairy-tale summer. 2010 was such a vintage. Our mature Estate vineyards on the sun-drenched Short Hills Bench were supported by nature’s gift of the perfect combination of heat, sunlight and periodic rainfall. In the hands of a winemaking team with nearly two decades making this specific wine, we have created a rich, balanced and deeply coloured vinous treasure that reflects both the continuity of our house style and the amazing traits of the 2010 year.
Inniskillin Wines
1499 LINE 3, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.2187
www.inniskillin.com
Winemaker: Bruce Nicholson
Favourite wine: Winemaker’s Series Three Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2010, $22.95
Having made wine for twenty years in the Okanagan and not made much Cabernet Franc there, I found Cabernet Franc in Ontario to be an underestimated red variety. As I selected grapes from three specific vineyards for this 2010 vintage I was excited to find this wine showed the exceptional potential of what Cabernet Franc can really excel at.
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate
2145 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,
905.468.4736
www.jacksontriggswinery.com
Winemaker: Marco Piccoli
Favourite wine: Delaine Vineyard Syrah 2010, $32.95
I never dreamt that I would be producing this level of quality but this vintage truly shows the real expression of Niagara Syrah. I have watched the vines develop in the Delaine Vineyard so I have a personal connection with the vineyard and what I can expect from it.
Kacaba Vineyards and Winery
3350 KING STREET, VINELAND, 905.562.5625
www.kacaba.com
Winemaker: John Tummon
Favourite wine: Syrah Reserve 2010, $69.95
The grapes for the 2010 Reserve Syrah were hand selected from some of the oldest Syrah vines in Ontario, planted in 1996, on the terraced slopes of Kacaba Vineyards. I took my inspiration, not from Australian Shiraz, but from Northern Rhone Syrah. I cold-soaked a small percentage of estate-grown Viognier then co-fermented it with the Syrah grapes, which added just the right amount of fruit. I put the wine in both French and American barrels for nineteen months, which brought out some really interesting complexities in this wine.
Lailey Vineyard Winery
15940 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.0503
www.laileyvineyard.com
Winemaker: Derek Barnett
Favourite wine: Impromptu (Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot) 2010, $45.00/750ml, $100.00/1500ml
Gold medal at Intervin international wine competition, Gold medal at wine access Canadian Wine Awards, Silver medal at Ottawa wine challenge.
Lakeview Cellars at Diamond Estates Winery
1067 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.685.5673
www.lakeviewcellars.ca
Winemaker: Peter Toms
Favourite wine: Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2010, $18.95
It is from one of the best Vintages ever. In my 20 years in the Ontario wine business I have never seen the winemakers so excited about a vintage, well until maybe 2012. This Cab/Merlot is about 40% Merlot, which gives it a soft, approachable mouth feel right now, but the big Cab Sauv backbone tells me it will last for quite a few years. Being so approachable now it is amazingly food friendly, from a casual lamb burger to a full on roast of game meat, it has not let me down yet.
Le Clos Jordanne
2540 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, JORDAN STATION, 905.562.9404
www.leclosjordanne.com
Winemaker: Sebastien Jacquey
Favourite wine: Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2009, $45.00
This red I considered my personal favourite from the 2009 vintage and it is my first choice to drink when selecting amongst my range of Pinot Noirs. It’s so true to its vineyard name – Claystone – with its terroir of clay and limestone. It offers the earthy gaminess that I love. I always enjoy the time I spend in this particular vineyard. I can taste the vineyard when I sip this wine!!
Malivoire Wine Company
4260 KING STREET EAST, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.9253
www.malivoire.com
Winemaker: Shiraz Mottiar
Favourite wine: Malivoire LadyBug Rosé 2012, $15.95
I’d like to think our rosé embodies much of my own personality. It can be fun or sophisticated, energetic or easy-going. Making “Ladybug” is a team effort. Taking cues from our Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir components, we challenge each other to bring out their finest. The result in the bottle, like the process, brings people together, always for a good time.
megalomaniac
John Howard Cellars of Distinction
3930 CHERRY AVENUE, VINELAND, 1.888.MEGALO1
www.megalomaniacwine.com
Winemaker: Sue-Ann Staff
Favourite wine: Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2008, $44.95
We believe Cabernet Franc is one of the best Bordeaux reds suited to the Niagara Peninsula and appreciate its versatility. This estate grown, handpicked and sorted Cabernet Franc has been aged exclusively in French oak “cigar shaped” barrels for 22 months. It displays the depth of character that Cabernet Franc can have in any vintage when the yields are low and attention to detail is high.
Mike Weir Winery
4041 LOCUST LANE BEAMSVILLE, 1.888.934.7444
www.mikeweirwine.com
Winemaker: Adam Pearce
Favourite wine: Mike Weir Meritage Reserve 2010, $24.95
I feel really privileged to have joined the Mike Weir team to help launch our 2010 Mike Weir Meritage. We are launching it at Cuvée in honour of Cuvée’s 25th anniversary. I think the wine really over delivers at the $30 price point. It’s got structure, refined tannins, dynamic flavours, drinking well now and has the promise of a long life ahead.
Pelee Island Winery
455 SEACLIFF DRIVE, KINGSVILLE, 1.519.733.6551
www.peleeisland.com
Winemaker: Martin Janz
Favourite wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot - Vinedresser 2010, $19.95
Even though technology has enabled us to produce wine on a larger scale, the art of wine making itself has remained very much the same. It is still a combination of soil, weather coupled with the skill of the individual winemaker which influences the outcome of each variety and vintage. Our Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot is medium bodied and dense with firm tannins and a wild cherry bouquet, and a special favorite of mine.
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
5600 KING STREET WEST, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.0900
www.peninsularidge.com
Winemaker: Jamie Evans
Favourite wine: Vintner’s Private Reserve Merlot 2010, $29.95
This is the best Merlot I’ve ever made. Almost entirely from the Peninsula Ridge Beale vineyard. It has lovely brooding flavours – dark fruits like cassis and black raspberry, however, its strength is in its elegance – multi-layered, well integrated and a beautiful coming together of the whole. It’s really seamless with a satin finish. We’ve neglected Merlot here in Ontario for so long, but I think we can make an extraordinary wine with the flavours and texture for which fine Merlots are most celebrated.
Pillitteri Estates Winery
1696 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.3147
www.pillitteri.com
Winemaker: Alex Kolundzic
Favourite wine: EXCLAMATION Cabernet Franc 2010, $35.00
This wine was a select crop from our best soils in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in one of the best vintages in recent memory.
PondView Estate Winery
925 LINE 2, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.0777
www.PondviewWinery.com
Winemaker: Fred DiProfio
Favourite wine: Meritage 2010, $39.95
July 2010 was hot and dry. It was shaping up to be a near perfect growing season for maturing our late-season reds. Yet, we were faced with a dilemma: Do we relax, leave the crop heavier, harvest early and have decent wines safe in the barrel well before Christmas, or do we start thinning the crop to produce less tonnage but exceptional fruit? We opted for exceptional. So we took the risk and let the grapes hang much longer than usual, and worked really hard to keep the vines healthy. The result: extremely big, bold Cabs with tannins now mellowing after 18 months in barrel. Sometimes you just have to take a risk to reap the reward.
Reif Estate Winery
15608 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.WINE (9463)
www.reifwinery.com
Winemaker: Klaus W. Reif and Roberto DiDomenico
Favourite wine: Meritage 2010, $29.95
Klaus and I have been making wine together for over twenty years and in the early nineties after a trip to Europe we were inspired to begin cultivating big bold red varietals on the farm, convinced that great Bordeaux blends could be made here in Niagara. Even before the Niagara River sub-appellation was conceived, delineated and classified, we recognized that the Reif vineyards would allow these tender varietals to flourish and mature over time. Now understood and mapped to be the warmest in the region, the long growing season moderated by the Niagara River sustains these vines, and our dream, to express the terroir of the vineyards in our 2010 Meritage.
Ridgepoint Wines
3900 CHERRY AVENUE, VINELAND, 905.562.8853
www.ridgepointwines.com
Winemaker: Barclay Robinson
Favourite wine: Merlot Cabernet Aglianico 2010, $30.00
The Aglianico, a premium Italian variety, is grown up here in the Vinemount DVA, where we get great breezes off the lake along the slopes of the escarpment. No one else is growing it. The Aglianico, made in the appassimento method, comprises 20% of the blend and was then blended into the rest of the wine. As I expected, the Aglianico portion brings beautiful dried fruit flavours and aromas along with silky tannins. It’s a big wine that goes well with prime rib.
Rockway Vineyards
3290 NINTH STREET, ST. CATHARINES, 905.641.5771
www.rockwaysglen.com
Winemaker: David Stasiuk
Favourite wine: Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Cabernet Franc 2010, $23.95
It started with an awesome vineyard; a hidden gem never pushed to its limits. I decided to change that. I could sense something unique about the land, I knew it was great. If I was going to make great wine, this is where it had to start. We tuned the vineyards ‘til they were like purring kittens and then watched them like one would a child. The fruit was spectacular. This Cabernet Franc was rich and juicy, packed with dark berry fruit, savoury spice and ripe tannins. A long graceful ferment, 18 months at rest, then assembled using the ‘crème de la crème’. Full bodied, a wine of many layers; a ‘more please’ finish. This is a treat, but the best is yet to come.
Vignoble Rancourt Winery
1829 CONCESSION 4, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.2882
www.rancourtwinery.com
Winemaker: Eric Pearson
Favourite wine: Meritage 2007, $19.80
When I joined the winery in July last summer this wine impressed me with its elegance and vibrancy, which blew me away. It tasted like a much younger wine with red berry fruits, but the tannins had mellowed to soften the wine. I think it’s in its prime and reflects the terroir of one of the best areas in Niagara for growing red wines.
WHITES
Angel’s Gate Winery
4260 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.3942
www.angelsgatewinery.com
Winemaker: Philip Dowell
Favourite wine: Carte Blanche 2010, $19.95
I put in a bit of everything in this wine. Whatever it took to make a fine wine, I did it. I couldn’t decide what to call it. I had just seen the most recent James Bond movie and said “Carte Blanche, that’s a good name”. Bond did whatever it took to rid the country of a national threat. I did whatever I could to make a fine wine. He had carte blanche, and so did I.
By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery and Vineyard
17432 LOYALIST PARKWAY, WELLINGTON, 613.399.2992
www.bychadseycairns.com
Winemaker: Vida Zalnieriunas
Favourite wine: Riesling 2011, $23.00
We have always loved the way the Brighton Gravelly Sands and the calcerous limestone underpinnings of our Apple House vineyard have infused a unique minerality into our Rieslings, the first planted in Prince Edward County. In 2011, a wet ending to the harvest brought “noble rot” that has added a broader range of flavours and aromas to the normal crisp citrus acidity of the wine.
Calamus Estate Winery
3100 GLEN ROAD, JORDAN, 905.562.9303
www.calamuswines.com
Winemaker: Arthur Harder
Favourite wine: Pinot Gris 2011, $17.20
We have a perfectly suitable site with a subtle slope where our Pinot Gris ripens beautifully. It catches summer breezes to stay healthy and hang longer than many other places in the peninsula. I like the intensity of flavours in this wine — they’re not wimpy. The wine is also very well balanced. With such healthy grapes my approach is fairly conventional. I learned a long time ago in Germany “to do as little as possible and as much as necessary,” so with such good fruit I usually just get out of the way. I think it’s a delicious and accessible wine.
Cave Spring Cellars
3836 MAIN STREET, JORDAN, 905.562.3581
www.cavespring.ca
Winemaker: Angelo Pavan
Favourite wine: Riesling CSV 2009, $29.95
Produced from the oldest, lowest-yielding vines at the estate, our CSV wines embody our highest commitment to quality and authenticity. 91 points in the Wine Spectator, chosen to be poured at the Wine Spectator Grand Tour as the only Canadian dry white wine in 2012.
Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards
1425 ILER ROAD, HARROW, 1.519.738.4295
www.coopershawkvineyards.com
Winemaker: Rori McCaw
Favourite wine: Riesling 2011, $15.95
This wine is fresh and perfectly balanced. The chemistry specs are ideal allowing the wine to be processed naturally, with very little intervention.
Konzelmann Estate Winery
1096 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.935.2866
www.konzelmann.ca
Winemaker: Herbert Konzelmann and Fabian Reis
Favourite wine: Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2011, $17.00
Gewürztraminer brings the family’s winemaking style to life. It is a product of over 100 years of traditional practices and has proven to be one of the best representations of the qualiy you can expect associated with the Konzelmann name.
Niagara College Teaching Winery
135 TAYLOR ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.641.2252 EXT 4070
www.niagaracollegewine.ca
Winemaker: Terence VanRooyen
Favourite wine: Dean’s List Chardonnay 2010, $27.95
The Dean’s List Chardonnay 2010 has been my most successful wine ever. I’ve always thought, like Ernie Els who says there’s only one birdie in a golf ball, that there was only one gold in any wine, but in this case in 2012 we received two gold medals: Best White Wine at Intervin and Gold Medal at the Canadian Wine Awards.
Palatine Hill’s Estate Winery
911 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.646.9617
www.palatinehillsestatewinery.com
Winemaker: Jeff Innes
Favourite wine: Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay 2010, $22.95
The 2010 Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay Reserve is my current favourite wine for its rich and creamy texture. This cold-climate, barrel fermented wine tastes great and is fun to make. I enjoy seeing the casual but sophisticated evolution from start to finish as this wine takes its full-bodied shape. Finally, watching guests’ faces as they sample this masterpiece and seeing their appreciation for a Chardonnay proves that Niagara can make world class wines.
Ravine Vineyard
1366 YORK ROAD, ST. DAVID’S, 905.262.8463
www.ravinevineyard.com
Winemaker: Shauna White
Favourite wine: Reserve Chardonnay Barrel Select Unfiltered 2009, $40.00
The 2009 vintage was the vintage I learned the most about Chardonnay. I wanted to soften the acids in the wine, but what usually is three months for the malolactic fermentation, instead took nine months. I was so worried and stressed out that the wine would oxidize, but I keep stirring the lees and tasting each barrel. By the tenth month I discovered my patience paid off. The wine had become one of the most complex Chardonnays I had ever made. I didn’t filter to keep the texture and subtleties. I blended my five best barrels for this reserve and I think it’s going to be a great wine for aging.
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
15376 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.262.0636
www.riverviewcellars.com
Winemaker: Angela Kasimos
Favourite wine: Gewürztraminer 2011, $18.95
Riverview has two blocks of Gewürztraminer, one planted in 2004 and the other in 1992, making it the oldest grape variety on the property. The youngest block produces classic Gewürztraminer wines with characteristics of lychee and spice, where the older block offers a lot of rose petal and citrus flavours. When blended, the wine becomes a delicate balance of floral and fruity aromas with a sweet spicy finish. Gewürztraminer has always been a popular white wine varietal because it is bold yet elegant. The soft, off-dry wine is also a favourite among customers because it is versatile with many dishes but also drinks well on its own.
Stoney Ridge Estate Winery
3201 KING STREET, VINELAND, 905.562.1324
www.stoneyridge.com
Winemaker: Gordon Robert
Favourite wine: Excellence Chardonnay 2010, $27.95
Winner of Governor General Award of Excellence!
Stratus Vineyards
2059 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.1806
www.stratuswines.com
Winemaker: J-L Groux
Favourite wine: Stratus White 2009, $44.00
The 2009 Stratus White is a renewal of our signature white. 2009 was a very cool and difficult year so we picked late — November 2nd for the Sauvignon Blanc and finished by December 2nd for the Sémillon, with all varieties coming in at very low yields. Although the blend is composed of 33% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 18% Chardonnay, 16% Viognier and 3% Gewürztraminer I hope you’ll see that no one wine dominates the other. It’s a serious dry white wine made in a less aromatic style with a long aging potential in mind. Aged two years in French oak with 25% new oak.
Strewn Winery
1339 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.1229
www.strewnwinery.com
Winemaker: Dr. Marc Bradshaw
Favourite wine: Strewn Gewürztraminer Terroir 2011, $17.95
The 2011 Gewürztraminer Terroir is a wine that I, as a winemaker, am very proud of. The 2011 vintage saw many brilliantly made white wines, but this Gewürztraminer was one of our shining lights. She bursts with classic varietal nuances of rose petal, lychee and spice. These sensations are carried through on the palate which is bone-dry, allowing the inherent mouth-filling richness and viscosity of Gewürztraminer to truly flare. A wonderful kiss of acidity, balanced with the lingering finish, ensures a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
3210 STAFF AVENUE, JORDAN, 905.562.1719
www.staffwines.com
Winemaker: Sue-Ann Staff
Favourite wine: Grace’s Dry Riesling 2011, $18.95
“Grace” is my Great-Grandmother Grace (Moyer) Staff who had to raise two headstrong and hearty sons plus establish vineyards through the “dry movement” of Prohibition. She could have used a drink! And these sons! Lavelle (my grandfather) was particularly animated and opinionated and Lyle (my great uncle) was Canadian Two-Time Amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion, so neither could have been a dream to raise. If anyone in our family deserves a wine named after them, it is certainly Grace! This bone dry Premium Riesling comes from the land Grace once tended with her husband Howard A. Staff.
Thirty Bench Wine Makers
4281 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.1698
www.thirtybench.com
Winemaker: Mary McDermott
Favourite wine: Thirty Bench Small Lot Chardonnay 2010, $30.00
Chardonnay can be tricky, so I watch it carefully in the vineyard as it grows. At harvest I practically babysit it, because things can unravel so quickly. When we picked I was determined to treat it as gently as possible, hand picking, using only free run juice, pressing it gently and using only French barrels. I did a lot of experimenting with different clones and yeasts and barrels, trying to discover which combinations might bring out its best expression for the final blend. I’m proud of the final result.
Thomas Bachelder
mary@thomasbachelder.com
www.thomasbachelder.com
Winemaker: Thomas Bachelder
Favourite wine: Bachelder Wismer Chardonnay 2010, $44.95
Sourced from the classic 20-year old Wismer vineyard on the Vineland Bench, this wine took an incredible 12 months to ferment using wild yeasts. While in French oak barrels, it was protected by the slow release of CO2 due to fermentation. The resulting texture and length is simply incredible. It has an elegant stoniness underpinning a seamless mouthfeel of butter and silk. It may be the most amazing white wine I’ve ever had the luck to watch grow and mature.
Vineland Estates Winery
3620 MOYER ROAD, VINELAND, 1.888.846.3526
www.vineland.com
Winemaker: Brian Schmidt
Favourite wine: St. Urban Vineyard Elevation Riesling 2011, $19.95
We chose to enter the 2011 St. Urban Elevation Riesling as it both honours our history and guides us forward. It is simply the best wine that we make and it is sourced from our much loved and respected St. Urban Vineyard Riesling plantings. These vines are now well over thirty years old and have clearly set their rhythm and reason within our vineyard. It is also important to note that the majority of the Riesling in Ontario came from the same stock as our vines. We feel very honoured to be able to put forth this entry.
13th Street Winery
1776 FOURTH AVENUE, ST CATHARINES, 905.984.8463
www.13thstreetwinery.com
Winemaker: Jean Pierre Colas
Favourite wine: Essence Pinot Noir 2010, $44.95
The “Essence” label Pinot Noir at 13th Street was a real gift to me. It was my chance to provoke and push the limits. I was given free rein to listen to the vintage and make the decisions I thought would result in my most honest and personal expression of Pinot Noir possible. I put it all on the line. It’s literally my signature in winemaking. I hope you like it.
Château des Charmes
1025 YORK RD. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.262.4219
www.chateaudescharmes.com
Winemaker: Paul Bosc
Favourite wine: Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard 2010, $40.00
It is our flagship, made only in the best years. 2010 was a remarkable vintage. This wine has been called one of the “icon” wines of Canada.
Colaneri Estate Winery
348 CONCESSION 6 ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.682.2100
www.colaneriwines.com
Winemaker: Andrzej Lipinski
Favourite wine: Insieme 2010, $34.95
The word Insieme in Italian means “together”. The label is dedicated to Maria and Joseph Colaneri that worked so hard together on the vineyard. They did everything together so it seemed only fitting that we honour their memory with our first red blend that brings together our Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Colio Estate Wines Inc.
1 COLIO DRIVE, HARROW, 519.738.2241
www.coliowinery.com
Winemaker: Lawrence Buhler
Favourite wine: CEV Small Lot Syrah 2010, $19.95
Our 8-acre block of Syrah is a stroll from Lake Erie’s north shore giving our grapes an extended growing season similar to that of the Rhone Valley. When I arrived last year as winemaker, I realized the privilege this proximity to the lake gives us. Particularly when I tasted our Syrah. I was so impressed with its purity. It’s got the distinctive note of black pepper, but what I like best is its sheer elegance and layers of complexity. With every sip there’s something else underneath to think about.
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
485 CONCESSION 5 ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.682.8310
www.coyotesrunwinery.com
Winemaker: David Sheppard
Favourite wine: Rare Vintage Pinot Noir 2010, $49.95
In 2010, all of our Pinot Noir was really very good — great depth, health and ripeness. One block with clone 828 was particularly beautiful, with extraordinary ripeness, great depth with smaller, tighter berries, so we sorted the grapes and vinified them separately. The wine was “hands down,” the most concentrated of all the Pinot Noir we did. Then we did a barrel-by-barrel selection to refine the final product even further to the five best barrels. It was a wonderful vintage so we honored it by producing the best from the best.
Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards
361 TANBARK ROAD, ST. DAVIDS, 905.262.5113
www.fiverows.com
Winemaker: Wes Lowrey
Favourite wine: Five Rows Pinot Noir 2009, $50.00
We were among the first to plant Pinot Noir back in 1984. Karl Kaiser from Inniskillin encouraged us and used our grapes in many of his award-winning Pinot Noirs. Later, so did the winemakers from Creekside. Their success gave us the incentive to open up a winery of our own; so now, we’ve come full circle with our wine for this 25th anniversary of Cuvée. A special wine for a special occasion. It was drinking well right out of the gate and we’ve had a great response to it.
Flat Rock Cellars
2727 7TH AVENUE, JORDAN, 905.562.8994 OR 1.855.994.8994
www.flatrockcellars.com
Winemaker: Jay Johnston
Favourite wine: Pinot Noir Reserve 2009, $45.00
We don’t make a reserve every vintage. In 2009, which was a very good year for Pinot Noir, we selected seven of the best barrels and made what I think is an iconic Niagara pinot noir. It comes from a very unique vineyard. No one else makes wine from this vineyard but us. We take extraordinary care of it. And now, the vines are getting older which is making it really exciting.
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
1469 PELHAM ROAD, ST. CATHARINES, 905.684.8423
www.henryofpelham.com
Winemaker: Ron Giesbrecht
Favourite wine: Henry of Pelham 2010 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot 2010, $50.00
The ‘SFR’s’ are made only in the best of our best years, when harvest is the magical fruition to a fairy-tale summer. 2010 was such a vintage. Our mature Estate vineyards on the sun-drenched Short Hills Bench were supported by nature’s gift of the perfect combination of heat, sunlight and periodic rainfall. In the hands of a winemaking team with nearly two decades making this specific wine, we have created a rich, balanced and deeply coloured vinous treasure that reflects both the continuity of our house style and the amazing traits of the 2010 year.
Inniskillin Wines
1499 LINE 3, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.2187
www.inniskillin.com
Winemaker: Bruce Nicholson
Favourite wine: Winemaker’s Series Three Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2010, $22.95
Having made wine for twenty years in the Okanagan and not made much Cabernet Franc there, I found Cabernet Franc in Ontario to be an underestimated red variety. As I selected grapes from three specific vineyards for this 2010 vintage I was excited to find this wine showed the exceptional potential of what Cabernet Franc can really excel at.
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate
2145 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,
905.468.4736
www.jacksontriggswinery.com
Winemaker: Marco Piccoli
Favourite wine: Delaine Vineyard Syrah 2010, $32.95
I never dreamt that I would be producing this level of quality but this vintage truly shows the real expression of Niagara Syrah. I have watched the vines develop in the Delaine Vineyard so I have a personal connection with the vineyard and what I can expect from it.
Kacaba Vineyards and Winery
3350 KING STREET, VINELAND, 905.562.5625
www.kacaba.com
Winemaker: John Tummon
Favourite wine: Syrah Reserve 2010, $69.95
The grapes for the 2010 Reserve Syrah were hand selected from some of the oldest Syrah vines in Ontario, planted in 1996, on the terraced slopes of Kacaba Vineyards. I took my inspiration, not from Australian Shiraz, but from Northern Rhone Syrah. I cold-soaked a small percentage of estate-grown Viognier then co-fermented it with the Syrah grapes, which added just the right amount of fruit. I put the wine in both French and American barrels for nineteen months, which brought out some really interesting complexities in this wine.
Lailey Vineyard Winery
15940 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.0503
www.laileyvineyard.com
Winemaker: Derek Barnett
Favourite wine: Impromptu (Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot) 2010, $45.00/750ml, $100.00/1500ml
Gold medal at Intervin international wine competition, Gold medal at wine access Canadian Wine Awards, Silver medal at Ottawa wine challenge.
Lakeview Cellars at Diamond Estates Winery
1067 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.685.5673
www.lakeviewcellars.ca
Winemaker: Peter Toms
Favourite wine: Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2010, $18.95
It is from one of the best Vintages ever. In my 20 years in the Ontario wine business I have never seen the winemakers so excited about a vintage, well until maybe 2012. This Cab/Merlot is about 40% Merlot, which gives it a soft, approachable mouth feel right now, but the big Cab Sauv backbone tells me it will last for quite a few years. Being so approachable now it is amazingly food friendly, from a casual lamb burger to a full on roast of game meat, it has not let me down yet.
Le Clos Jordanne
2540 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, JORDAN STATION, 905.562.9404
www.leclosjordanne.com
Winemaker: Sebastien Jacquey
Favourite wine: Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2009, $45.00
This red I considered my personal favourite from the 2009 vintage and it is my first choice to drink when selecting amongst my range of Pinot Noirs. It’s so true to its vineyard name – Claystone – with its terroir of clay and limestone. It offers the earthy gaminess that I love. I always enjoy the time I spend in this particular vineyard. I can taste the vineyard when I sip this wine!!
Malivoire Wine Company
4260 KING STREET EAST, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.9253
www.malivoire.com
Winemaker: Shiraz Mottiar
Favourite wine: Malivoire LadyBug Rosé 2012, $15.95
I’d like to think our rosé embodies much of my own personality. It can be fun or sophisticated, energetic or easy-going. Making “Ladybug” is a team effort. Taking cues from our Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir components, we challenge each other to bring out their finest. The result in the bottle, like the process, brings people together, always for a good time.
megalomaniac
John Howard Cellars of Distinction
3930 CHERRY AVENUE, VINELAND, 1.888.MEGALO1
www.megalomaniacwine.com
Winemaker: Sue-Ann Staff
Favourite wine: Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2008, $44.95
We believe Cabernet Franc is one of the best Bordeaux reds suited to the Niagara Peninsula and appreciate its versatility. This estate grown, handpicked and sorted Cabernet Franc has been aged exclusively in French oak “cigar shaped” barrels for 22 months. It displays the depth of character that Cabernet Franc can have in any vintage when the yields are low and attention to detail is high.
Mike Weir Winery
4041 LOCUST LANE BEAMSVILLE, 1.888.934.7444
www.mikeweirwine.com
Winemaker: Adam Pearce
Favourite wine: Mike Weir Meritage Reserve 2010, $24.95
I feel really privileged to have joined the Mike Weir team to help launch our 2010 Mike Weir Meritage. We are launching it at Cuvée in honour of Cuvée’s 25th anniversary. I think the wine really over delivers at the $30 price point. It’s got structure, refined tannins, dynamic flavours, drinking well now and has the promise of a long life ahead.
Pelee Island Winery
455 SEACLIFF DRIVE, KINGSVILLE, 1.519.733.6551
www.peleeisland.com
Winemaker: Martin Janz
Favourite wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot - Vinedresser 2010, $19.95
Even though technology has enabled us to produce wine on a larger scale, the art of wine making itself has remained very much the same. It is still a combination of soil, weather coupled with the skill of the individual winemaker which influences the outcome of each variety and vintage. Our Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot is medium bodied and dense with firm tannins and a wild cherry bouquet, and a special favorite of mine.
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
5600 KING STREET WEST, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.0900
www.peninsularidge.com
Winemaker: Jamie Evans
Favourite wine: Vintner’s Private Reserve Merlot 2010, $29.95
This is the best Merlot I’ve ever made. Almost entirely from the Peninsula Ridge Beale vineyard. It has lovely brooding flavours – dark fruits like cassis and black raspberry, however, its strength is in its elegance – multi-layered, well integrated and a beautiful coming together of the whole. It’s really seamless with a satin finish. We’ve neglected Merlot here in Ontario for so long, but I think we can make an extraordinary wine with the flavours and texture for which fine Merlots are most celebrated.
Pillitteri Estates Winery
1696 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.3147
www.pillitteri.com
Winemaker: Alex Kolundzic
Favourite wine: EXCLAMATION Cabernet Franc 2010, $35.00
This wine was a select crop from our best soils in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in one of the best vintages in recent memory.
PondView Estate Winery
925 LINE 2, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.0777
www.PondviewWinery.com
Winemaker: Fred DiProfio
Favourite wine: Meritage 2010, $39.95
July 2010 was hot and dry. It was shaping up to be a near perfect growing season for maturing our late-season reds. Yet, we were faced with a dilemma: Do we relax, leave the crop heavier, harvest early and have decent wines safe in the barrel well before Christmas, or do we start thinning the crop to produce less tonnage but exceptional fruit? We opted for exceptional. So we took the risk and let the grapes hang much longer than usual, and worked really hard to keep the vines healthy. The result: extremely big, bold Cabs with tannins now mellowing after 18 months in barrel. Sometimes you just have to take a risk to reap the reward.
Reif Estate Winery
15608 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.WINE (9463)
www.reifwinery.com
Winemaker: Klaus W. Reif and Roberto DiDomenico
Favourite wine: Meritage 2010, $29.95
Klaus and I have been making wine together for over twenty years and in the early nineties after a trip to Europe we were inspired to begin cultivating big bold red varietals on the farm, convinced that great Bordeaux blends could be made here in Niagara. Even before the Niagara River sub-appellation was conceived, delineated and classified, we recognized that the Reif vineyards would allow these tender varietals to flourish and mature over time. Now understood and mapped to be the warmest in the region, the long growing season moderated by the Niagara River sustains these vines, and our dream, to express the terroir of the vineyards in our 2010 Meritage.
Ridgepoint Wines
3900 CHERRY AVENUE, VINELAND, 905.562.8853
www.ridgepointwines.com
Winemaker: Barclay Robinson
Favourite wine: Merlot Cabernet Aglianico 2010, $30.00
The Aglianico, a premium Italian variety, is grown up here in the Vinemount DVA, where we get great breezes off the lake along the slopes of the escarpment. No one else is growing it. The Aglianico, made in the appassimento method, comprises 20% of the blend and was then blended into the rest of the wine. As I expected, the Aglianico portion brings beautiful dried fruit flavours and aromas along with silky tannins. It’s a big wine that goes well with prime rib.
Rockway Vineyards
3290 NINTH STREET, ST. CATHARINES, 905.641.5771
www.rockwaysglen.com
Winemaker: David Stasiuk
Favourite wine: Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Cabernet Franc 2010, $23.95
It started with an awesome vineyard; a hidden gem never pushed to its limits. I decided to change that. I could sense something unique about the land, I knew it was great. If I was going to make great wine, this is where it had to start. We tuned the vineyards ‘til they were like purring kittens and then watched them like one would a child. The fruit was spectacular. This Cabernet Franc was rich and juicy, packed with dark berry fruit, savoury spice and ripe tannins. A long graceful ferment, 18 months at rest, then assembled using the ‘crème de la crème’. Full bodied, a wine of many layers; a ‘more please’ finish. This is a treat, but the best is yet to come.
Vignoble Rancourt Winery
1829 CONCESSION 4, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.2882
www.rancourtwinery.com
Winemaker: Eric Pearson
Favourite wine: Meritage 2007, $19.80
When I joined the winery in July last summer this wine impressed me with its elegance and vibrancy, which blew me away. It tasted like a much younger wine with red berry fruits, but the tannins had mellowed to soften the wine. I think it’s in its prime and reflects the terroir of one of the best areas in Niagara for growing red wines.
WHITES
Angel’s Gate Winery
4260 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.3942
www.angelsgatewinery.com
Winemaker: Philip Dowell
Favourite wine: Carte Blanche 2010, $19.95
I put in a bit of everything in this wine. Whatever it took to make a fine wine, I did it. I couldn’t decide what to call it. I had just seen the most recent James Bond movie and said “Carte Blanche, that’s a good name”. Bond did whatever it took to rid the country of a national threat. I did whatever I could to make a fine wine. He had carte blanche, and so did I.
By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery and Vineyard
17432 LOYALIST PARKWAY, WELLINGTON, 613.399.2992
www.bychadseycairns.com
Winemaker: Vida Zalnieriunas
Favourite wine: Riesling 2011, $23.00
We have always loved the way the Brighton Gravelly Sands and the calcerous limestone underpinnings of our Apple House vineyard have infused a unique minerality into our Rieslings, the first planted in Prince Edward County. In 2011, a wet ending to the harvest brought “noble rot” that has added a broader range of flavours and aromas to the normal crisp citrus acidity of the wine.
Calamus Estate Winery
3100 GLEN ROAD, JORDAN, 905.562.9303
www.calamuswines.com
Winemaker: Arthur Harder
Favourite wine: Pinot Gris 2011, $17.20
We have a perfectly suitable site with a subtle slope where our Pinot Gris ripens beautifully. It catches summer breezes to stay healthy and hang longer than many other places in the peninsula. I like the intensity of flavours in this wine — they’re not wimpy. The wine is also very well balanced. With such healthy grapes my approach is fairly conventional. I learned a long time ago in Germany “to do as little as possible and as much as necessary,” so with such good fruit I usually just get out of the way. I think it’s a delicious and accessible wine.
Cave Spring Cellars
3836 MAIN STREET, JORDAN, 905.562.3581
www.cavespring.ca
Winemaker: Angelo Pavan
Favourite wine: Riesling CSV 2009, $29.95
Produced from the oldest, lowest-yielding vines at the estate, our CSV wines embody our highest commitment to quality and authenticity. 91 points in the Wine Spectator, chosen to be poured at the Wine Spectator Grand Tour as the only Canadian dry white wine in 2012.
Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards
1425 ILER ROAD, HARROW, 1.519.738.4295
www.coopershawkvineyards.com
Winemaker: Rori McCaw
Favourite wine: Riesling 2011, $15.95
This wine is fresh and perfectly balanced. The chemistry specs are ideal allowing the wine to be processed naturally, with very little intervention.
Konzelmann Estate Winery
1096 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.935.2866
www.konzelmann.ca
Winemaker: Herbert Konzelmann and Fabian Reis
Favourite wine: Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2011, $17.00
Gewürztraminer brings the family’s winemaking style to life. It is a product of over 100 years of traditional practices and has proven to be one of the best representations of the qualiy you can expect associated with the Konzelmann name.
Niagara College Teaching Winery
135 TAYLOR ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.641.2252 EXT 4070
www.niagaracollegewine.ca
Winemaker: Terence VanRooyen
Favourite wine: Dean’s List Chardonnay 2010, $27.95
The Dean’s List Chardonnay 2010 has been my most successful wine ever. I’ve always thought, like Ernie Els who says there’s only one birdie in a golf ball, that there was only one gold in any wine, but in this case in 2012 we received two gold medals: Best White Wine at Intervin and Gold Medal at the Canadian Wine Awards.
Palatine Hill’s Estate Winery
911 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.646.9617
www.palatinehillsestatewinery.com
Winemaker: Jeff Innes
Favourite wine: Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay 2010, $22.95
The 2010 Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay Reserve is my current favourite wine for its rich and creamy texture. This cold-climate, barrel fermented wine tastes great and is fun to make. I enjoy seeing the casual but sophisticated evolution from start to finish as this wine takes its full-bodied shape. Finally, watching guests’ faces as they sample this masterpiece and seeing their appreciation for a Chardonnay proves that Niagara can make world class wines.
Ravine Vineyard
1366 YORK ROAD, ST. DAVID’S, 905.262.8463
www.ravinevineyard.com
Winemaker: Shauna White
Favourite wine: Reserve Chardonnay Barrel Select Unfiltered 2009, $40.00
The 2009 vintage was the vintage I learned the most about Chardonnay. I wanted to soften the acids in the wine, but what usually is three months for the malolactic fermentation, instead took nine months. I was so worried and stressed out that the wine would oxidize, but I keep stirring the lees and tasting each barrel. By the tenth month I discovered my patience paid off. The wine had become one of the most complex Chardonnays I had ever made. I didn’t filter to keep the texture and subtleties. I blended my five best barrels for this reserve and I think it’s going to be a great wine for aging.
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
15376 NIAGARA PARKWAY, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.262.0636
www.riverviewcellars.com
Winemaker: Angela Kasimos
Favourite wine: Gewürztraminer 2011, $18.95
Riverview has two blocks of Gewürztraminer, one planted in 2004 and the other in 1992, making it the oldest grape variety on the property. The youngest block produces classic Gewürztraminer wines with characteristics of lychee and spice, where the older block offers a lot of rose petal and citrus flavours. When blended, the wine becomes a delicate balance of floral and fruity aromas with a sweet spicy finish. Gewürztraminer has always been a popular white wine varietal because it is bold yet elegant. The soft, off-dry wine is also a favourite among customers because it is versatile with many dishes but also drinks well on its own.
Stoney Ridge Estate Winery
3201 KING STREET, VINELAND, 905.562.1324
www.stoneyridge.com
Winemaker: Gordon Robert
Favourite wine: Excellence Chardonnay 2010, $27.95
Winner of Governor General Award of Excellence!
Stratus Vineyards
2059 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.1806
www.stratuswines.com
Winemaker: J-L Groux
Favourite wine: Stratus White 2009, $44.00
The 2009 Stratus White is a renewal of our signature white. 2009 was a very cool and difficult year so we picked late — November 2nd for the Sauvignon Blanc and finished by December 2nd for the Sémillon, with all varieties coming in at very low yields. Although the blend is composed of 33% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 18% Chardonnay, 16% Viognier and 3% Gewürztraminer I hope you’ll see that no one wine dominates the other. It’s a serious dry white wine made in a less aromatic style with a long aging potential in mind. Aged two years in French oak with 25% new oak.
Strewn Winery
1339 LAKESHORE ROAD, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, 905.468.1229
www.strewnwinery.com
Winemaker: Dr. Marc Bradshaw
Favourite wine: Strewn Gewürztraminer Terroir 2011, $17.95
The 2011 Gewürztraminer Terroir is a wine that I, as a winemaker, am very proud of. The 2011 vintage saw many brilliantly made white wines, but this Gewürztraminer was one of our shining lights. She bursts with classic varietal nuances of rose petal, lychee and spice. These sensations are carried through on the palate which is bone-dry, allowing the inherent mouth-filling richness and viscosity of Gewürztraminer to truly flare. A wonderful kiss of acidity, balanced with the lingering finish, ensures a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
3210 STAFF AVENUE, JORDAN, 905.562.1719
www.staffwines.com
Winemaker: Sue-Ann Staff
Favourite wine: Grace’s Dry Riesling 2011, $18.95
“Grace” is my Great-Grandmother Grace (Moyer) Staff who had to raise two headstrong and hearty sons plus establish vineyards through the “dry movement” of Prohibition. She could have used a drink! And these sons! Lavelle (my grandfather) was particularly animated and opinionated and Lyle (my great uncle) was Canadian Two-Time Amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion, so neither could have been a dream to raise. If anyone in our family deserves a wine named after them, it is certainly Grace! This bone dry Premium Riesling comes from the land Grace once tended with her husband Howard A. Staff.
Thirty Bench Wine Makers
4281 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD, BEAMSVILLE, 905.563.1698
www.thirtybench.com
Winemaker: Mary McDermott
Favourite wine: Thirty Bench Small Lot Chardonnay 2010, $30.00
Chardonnay can be tricky, so I watch it carefully in the vineyard as it grows. At harvest I practically babysit it, because things can unravel so quickly. When we picked I was determined to treat it as gently as possible, hand picking, using only free run juice, pressing it gently and using only French barrels. I did a lot of experimenting with different clones and yeasts and barrels, trying to discover which combinations might bring out its best expression for the final blend. I’m proud of the final result.
Thomas Bachelder
mary@thomasbachelder.com
www.thomasbachelder.com
Winemaker: Thomas Bachelder
Favourite wine: Bachelder Wismer Chardonnay 2010, $44.95
Sourced from the classic 20-year old Wismer vineyard on the Vineland Bench, this wine took an incredible 12 months to ferment using wild yeasts. While in French oak barrels, it was protected by the slow release of CO2 due to fermentation. The resulting texture and length is simply incredible. It has an elegant stoniness underpinning a seamless mouthfeel of butter and silk. It may be the most amazing white wine I’ve ever had the luck to watch grow and mature.
Vineland Estates Winery
3620 MOYER ROAD, VINELAND, 1.888.846.3526
www.vineland.com
Winemaker: Brian Schmidt
Favourite wine: St. Urban Vineyard Elevation Riesling 2011, $19.95
We chose to enter the 2011 St. Urban Elevation Riesling as it both honours our history and guides us forward. It is simply the best wine that we make and it is sourced from our much loved and respected St. Urban Vineyard Riesling plantings. These vines are now well over thirty years old and have clearly set their rhythm and reason within our vineyard. It is also important to note that the majority of the Riesling in Ontario came from the same stock as our vines. We feel very honoured to be able to put forth this entry.
