July 20 Wine Picks: BBQ + Cool-Climate Chardonnay

The next Vintages release will be on LCBO shelves across the province on Saturday, July 20. The major focus in this release is on wines for the BBQ - perfectly timed as we get into the hot days of Summer. Of the 20 wines featured - including a surprising white wine and a rosé - 3 of 20 wines made my list. At the top of this short list of wines for the BBQ is the Portuguese Porca de Murça - a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz that is perfectly suitable for lamb. Also very good choices are the Tuscan Mazzei Badiola (70% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot) and the Las Moras Bonarda (100%) from Argentina.

The secondary feature is on cool-climate Chardonnays, showcasing 12 wines from various parts of the world, including Ontario, South Africa, Burgundy and Spain. This feature coincides with the 4th annual i4c International Cool Climate Chardonnay celebration that takes place in Niagara. This year, the celebration will take place next weekend, from July 19-21.

Personally, I love Chardonnay, from oaked to unoaked styles. In this release, there are 4 cool climate Chardonnays worth my recommendation. The Château des Charmes Chardonnay Musqué is a highly aromatic clone of the Chardonnay grape and is unoaked. Also of the unoaked variety is the Chablis. For oaked-Chardonnay fans, check out the Hamilton Russell and the Bachelder Chardonnays.

From the rest of the release, the Domaine de Bila-Haut is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, while the Vacqueyras is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. The Baron de Ley is 90% Tempranillo and 10% "other". And finally, the Rosé from Loire is made with 100% Cabernet Franc.

As a reminder, you can click on the product code (#xxxxxx) to take you to the Vintages website to view stock levels of the wine you're interested in. It will also show where you can find your wine. Inventory levels are updated daily, so check the next day if you don't see it listed by Saturday.

Enjoy my wine picks for the week and happy BBQ-ing! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• LAS MORAS BLACK LABEL BONARDA 2010 - San Juan, Argentina (#260901) (XD) - $15.95
• SISTER’S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ 2011 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#269464) (XD) - $16.95
• PORCA DE MURÇA RESERVA TINTO 2010 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#684753) (XD) - $17.95
• COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#240093) (XD) - $17.95
• CARMEN GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2011 - El Peñasco Vineyard, Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#439166) (D) - $17.95
• MAZZEI BADIOLA 2010 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#662197) (XD) - $18.95
• QUINTA DE VENTOZELO TOURIGA NACIONAL 2009 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#657452) (D) - $19.95
• DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2010 - AC Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Latour de France, Midi (#643239) (XD) - $24.95
• ROMAIN DUVERNAY VACQUEYRAS 2010 - AP, Rhône, France (#280966) (D) - $26.95
• BARON DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2004 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $29.95

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2010 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#640516) (XD) - $16.95
• FRAMINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#606848) (XD) - $17.95
• DUCK POND CELLARS PINOT GRIS 2011 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#333286) (D) - $18.95
• ROLLY GASSMANN ROTLEIBEL DE RORSCHWIHR AUXERROIS 2007 - AC Alsace, France (#328872) (M) - $19.95
• CASAL FARNETO CRISIO VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI RISERVA CLASSICO 2010 - DOCG, Marche, Italy (#326926) (XD) - $19.95
• HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2011 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#931006) (XD) - $32.95
• CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2010 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#241182) (M) - $35.20
• BILLAUD-SIMON VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#330175) (XD) - $35.95
• BACHELDER WISMER VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#345819) (XD) - $44.95

Rosé Wine:

• COULY-DUTHEIL RENÉ COULY CHINON ROSÉ 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#323360) (D) - $15.95
• FLAT ROCK CELLARS PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#039974) (XD) - $16.95

Honey Wine:

• ROSEWOOD HARVEST GOLD MEAD 2011 - Ontario, Canada (#346767) (M) (500 mL) - $14.95  reviewed here

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Lapostolle Tasting with Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle

Last month I attended an exclusive tasting with Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle at the Trialto Wine Group's office in downtown Toronto. Charles represents the 7th generation of the Marnier-Lapostolle winemaking family and was recently named Chief Executive Officer of the company's Chilean arm.

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Charles' parents Alexandra Marnier and Cyril de Bournet. Alexandra Marnier is the great grand-daughter of the creator of the famous brandy liqueur - Grand Marnier. They chose to expand their wine production to Chile because it was (and still is) free of phylloxera. A major reason why Chile is free of this disease is because its longitudinal borders - the Andes Mountains to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West - help to naturally protect the vines from this grape-killing disease.

Lapostolle's first ever wine was the 1994 Sauvignon Blanc. I tasted their latest iteration (the 2012) on this evening and compared it with a Sauvignon Blanc from Lapostolle's French arm - Château de Sancerre in the Loire Valley. Tasting notes for these two wines, along with the other 4 wines I tasted are below.

My favourite wine of the evening was the Carmenère, for which Chile is famously known for, and I personally love. This varietal's leaves turn red first, before all other grapes. The shade of red is called "Carmin". It is from this interesting fact that the grape gets its name - Carmenère.

The winery is very much devoted to help protecting our environment. 100% of their vineyards certified organic. All of their vineyards are also certified biodynamic, creating self-sustainable eco-systems. One of the ways they help protect the environment is by using the cool-maceration process. Grapes are picked at night  when it's cooler (who wants to pick grapes during the hot, Chilean day?) so the freshness of the flavours are captured. This also eliminates the need to machine-cool the grapes.

It was a pleasure to meet Charles, he is very knowledgeable and passionate about wine. I am sure he could talk about wine for hours (in a good way). I look forward to seeing him again and visit Lapostolle's estate when I visit Chile. Perhaps I'll even get the chance to pick some grapes. =)

Tasting Notes:
CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#321554) (XD) - $14.95
From the LCBO General List and always available, the 2012 version has herbaceous, citrus, lemon rind, butter aromas of medium intensity. Palate is medium-bodied and extra dry with unexpected pear and butter notes. Nice acidity with a lingering finish that shows hints of spice. Also contains 8% Semillón and 2% Sauvignon Gris. Easy drinking and food friendly. Score: 88 pts

CHÂTEAU DE SANCERRE BLANC 2011 - Loire, France (#340893) (XD) - $25.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. This version from Loire has aromas of fresh tropical fruits and herbal/green notes. Light-bodied with crisp acidity, flavour profile consists of herbal, mineral, and slate. Zippy acidity goes into high gear mid-palate, but tapers quickly thereafter. Length finish and highly recommended to serve with food. Score: 89 pts

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#947937) (D) - $20.75
Made with organic grapes, quite aromatic with smooth and pleasing butter, apple and pear. Creamy and oily on the medium-full bodied frame, and lovely aroma replays. Balanced, long finish. Good acidity for pairing with food. Very nice! Score: 90 pts

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CASA GRAND SELECTION CARMENÈRE 2011 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#168740) (XD) - $15.95
Blended with 6% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Lovely red & black fruits, meaty, earthy and wood aromatics. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays. Mouth-watering acidity and a long, smooth finish. Shows great balance with nicely integrated tannins. Could be aged 2 years, but is definitely (very) enjoyable now! Amazing that this is part of the LCBO General List. My favourite of the tasting. Highly recommended. Score: 90 pts

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE MERLOT 2011 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#459206) (XD) ~ $35
Made with organic grapes and also contains 15% Syrah. Aromas of black fruits, planked wood and meaty notes. Full-bodied with crushed black fruits and cherry flavours, with hints of mint and cedar. Big tannins are integrating nicely. Well-balanced overall with mouth-watering acidity. Subtle hints of spice on the medium-length finish. Still a bit young, I would give this another year or two in cellar. Expect this red wine to be in Vintages in the Fall. Score: 90 pts

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#947929) (XD) ~ $25
Made with organic grapes and is blended with 7% Cab Franc and 5% Syrah. Low-to-medium intensity aromas of cassis, red fruits and oak aromas. Full-bodied with chalky tannins that are integrating nicely. Cedar, black fruit, cassis and sour cherry on the palate. Mouth-watering acidity and a smooth, lengthy finish. Expected in Vintages this Fall. Score: 90 pts

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#TOWineDinner at The Miller Tavern on Bay - June 2013

On June 10th, I joined fellow food and wine folks at The Miller Tavern on Bay for the thrice yearly(?) #TOWineDinner. The event was organized by @TylerOnWine, and in attendance were @EssexWineReview, @GrapeSelections, @KristaLamb, @WhitbyFoodie, @WhitbyWino, @WineGPCi and @YYZdesign. And crashing the party towards the end, we welcomed @Vinetopia.

The format was very casual, we ordered whatever we liked off the menu for our appetizer, main, and if we were up for it - dessert. We also indulged in a charcuterie platter to start the night.

Everyone who attended brought (at least) one bottle of wine to share with the group and also shared their story about how they came to own that bottle of wine. One story seemed entirely made up, and provided 100% entertainment value. =) Wines were opened one at a time, over the course of the evening. We talked about the wine at great length before moving on to the next bottle. In all, there were 10 bottles of wine.

This was my first #TOwinedinner, and, reflecting back, it was a fun night overall. Everyone got to taste some wines that they otherwise probably would not have had the chance to taste. We laughed, wined, dined, and enjoyed each other's company. As always, it was great to meet some new winos! I am sure planning for the next #TOwinedinner is already in the works and I personally can't wait to do it all over again. Below you will find tasting notes along with food pairings.

The first bottle of the evening was a Cremant Sparkling Wine and was sabered by Tyler Philp outside on the patio. Here's my video recording:

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D'AURORE BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE (NV) - Burgundy, France (#048793) (XD) - $18.95

Grapefruit and lemon rind aromas. Fine mousse with balanced aroma replays on the dry palate. Mid-palate is a little bumpy, while the finish is long and quite smooth. Score: 87+ pts

For my appetizer, I ordered the Fried Mozzarella sticks with Marinara dipping sauce. A rather simple dish, with simple flavours, but it paired really well with the dry Chardonnay. The sweeter Gewürztraminer and Riesling Spätlese both offered good acidity to allow it to pair well with the fried cheese, but flavours in the wines were more conducive to sipping them on their own on this night.

BURROWING OWL CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#208694) (XD) - $35.95
Medium-intensity and inviting aromas of smoke, pear and hints of sweet fruit. Creamy mouthfeel and medium to full bodied, this white wine has flavours of butterscotch and orchard fruits. Laser-focused acidity and medium-long finish. One of my favourites of the evening. Score: 90 pts

JOSMEYER GEWÜRZTRAMINER BRAND 2004 - AOC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#) (D) - $????
Lovely peach, lychee and hints of honey and lime aromas. Creamy and oily viscosity. Lychee and peach on the palate with a lingering, dry finish. Aromas are much sweeter than palate would suggest. Good acidity and well-balanced. Is ageing gracefully and could last a few more years. Score: 91 pts

REICHSGRAF VON KESSELSTATT PIESPORTER GOLDTRÖPFCHEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE 1999 - Mosel, Germany (#313502) (MS) - $19.95
Medium intensity beeswax and mineral aromas with hints of petrol. Nice floral notes off the mark, with balanced aromas replays following. Quite sweet, but the high acidity really cuts the sweetness down. Finish is medium-long. Score: 89 pts

My main meal of the night was the Adobo Chicken Taco. These were soft taco shells wrapped in grilled chicken, roasted poblano & sweet peppers, goat cheese, sour cream and Adobo sauce. Except for some mild smokiness, there were no strong, intense flavours from the tacos, thus lending itself to be paired quite nicely with all of the red wines.

ALAIN HUDELOT-NOELLAT CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 2005 - Burgundy, France (#979252) (XD) - $59.95
Medium-intensity aromas of sour cherry, red fruits and hints of earth. Sour cherry, bramble and red fruits on the long-finishing palate. Mouth-watering acidity and good tannins. Will continue to drink well 3-4 years from now. Score: 91 pts

ROSEWOOD MERLOT 2010 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#211896) (XD) - $22.00

First tasted (and enjoyed) last Fall, this red wine now has medium-high intensity inky, cedar and blackberry jam aromas. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, palate is spicy with blackberry, black fruits and oak. Score: 87 pts

TULIP SYRAH RESERVE 2009 - Upper Galilee, Israel (XD) ~ $28
Quite intense aromas of fresh black and red fruits, ink and oak. Medium-bodied and very spicy on the palate with flavours of black fruits, violets and a steely quality. Good acidity for pairing with foods, and firm tannins will reward with 2-3 years cellar time. Finish is medium-length. Score: 89 pts

CREEKSIDE LOST BARREL RED 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $65

From the great 2007 vintage, this red wine was crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz, and Malbec (exact quantities unknown). Intense aromas of lovely black fruits, cedar and plum. Medium-bodied dark fruits, plum, cassis, blackberry and some eucalyptus flavours. Complex. Big wine with very grippy tannins. I would cellar this another 2-3 years. Favourite red of the evening! Score: 91+ pts

I paired the final two wines of the evening with the daily dessert special - a large and decadent Chocolate Peanut Brownie topped with Ice Cream. Both wines were sweet and delicious by themselves, but could not hold their own against this very sweet creation.

STONEY RIDGE PASSION 2009 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#) (MS) - $24.95
Fortified wine made with 50% Cabernet Franc Icewine, and the rest Baco Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, dried fruit with a mix of blackberry/strawberry jam aromas. Very smooth on the medium-full bodied palate with flavours of blackcurrant, cassis and sweet black fruit. Long, smooth finish. Delicious! One of the favourites of the evening. Only available at the winery. Score: 90 pts

ROYAL TOKAJI 5 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZÚ RED LABEL 2007 - Hungary (#959031) (S) (500 mL) - $41.00
Medium-high intensity and charming aromas of honey, apricots and hints of orange marmalade. Medium-bodied palate with notes of orange, apricots and honey. Sweet, but has good acidity so as to not feel cloying. Very clean, smooth and lengthy finish, while showing great balance throughout. Score: 91 pts

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Lailey Chardonnay 2010 (Ontario) - Wine Review

With it being Canada Day today, it's only appropriate to drink Canadian wine. As such, I've chosen this locally made Chardonnay from Ontario. It was purchased from last September's Vintages release, which focused on wines from Ontario. This delicious white wine is still available in very small quantities throughout the GTA.

LAILEY CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#193482) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
From the very good 2010 vintage. Yellow apple and tropical fruit aromas from the cork. Fresh, ripe aromas of tropical fruits (pineapple), apple, butter, popcorn, and hints of barnyard on the nose. Medium-bodied and a crisp mouthfeel with flavours of butterscotch, apple, and tangy tropical notes. Slight creaminess on the mid-palate. Hints of smoke on the long, smooth finish. Delicious! Enjoyed with homemade Halibut and Chips and Onion Rings.

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July 6 Wine Picks: Cali Wines + Pure Whites

The next Vintages wine release will be on LCBO shelves this Saturday, July 6th. The major feature in this edition is on California wines for Summer gatherings. What you'll find among the 17 wines are many easy-drinking wines suitable as patio sippers, and for backyard gatherings where meals are prepared on the BBQ. Among my recommendations below, you will find a sub-$20 Cali Pinot and a couple of premium whites - a Viognier and Chardonnay.

The secondary feature is titled "Pure Pleasure" and focuses on white wines that have had minimal intervention in the winery. Thus, the 10 wines featured show off their true varietal character, along with the nuances that their terroir brings with it. From this portion of the release, the Hidden Bench Riesling, an Austrian Grüner Veltliner, and a Spanish Albariño are all worth checking out.

From the rest of the release, the Peter Zemmer red wine is made with the Lagrein varietal. This grape is native to northern Italy and rarely shows up at the LCBO. The Château de Panigon is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. I tasted the Featherstone Rosé recently at the Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival and is a blend of 52% Gamay and 48% Merlot. And finally, the Garenne Bandol Rosé is made with 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 20% Mourvèdre.

Enjoy my wine picks for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ST. DAVID’S BENCH VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR DROIT 2010 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#346742) (XD) - $16.95
• PETER ZEMMER RAUT LAGREIN 2011 - DOC Alto Adige-Südtirol, Piedmont, Italy (#326918) (XD) - $17.95
• PINYOLET GARNACHA 2011 - DO Montsant, Spain (#271791) (XD) - $17.95
• CHÂTEAU DE PANIGON 2010 - AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#230367) (XD) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES OLD VINES CABERNET/MERLOT 2010 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#222372) (XD) - $19.95
• CLINE PINOT NOIR 2011 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#329649) (XD) - $19.95
• COLLEFRISIO UNO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2008 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#337857) (XD) - $19.95
• MAZZEI SER LAPO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2008 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#288530) (XD) - $24.95

White Wine:

• MARTÍN CÓDAX ALBARIÑO 2011 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#984906) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINES DU CHÂTEAU DE RIQUEWIHR LES MURAILLES RIESLING 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#933069) (XD) - $19.95
• RABL KÄFERBERG GRÜNER VELTLINER 2011 - Kamptal Reserve, Austria (#032532) (D) - $19.95
• BOLLIG-LEHNERT DHRONER HOFBERGER RIESLING AUSLESE 2009 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#313536) (MS) - $21.95  reviewed here
• SERESIN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#735043) (D) - $21.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2011 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (XD) - $23.95  reviewed here
• STAGS’ LEAP WINERY VIOGNIER 2012 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#597369) (XD) - $36.95
• RIDGE VINEYARDS ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA (#241646) (XD) - $55.95

Rosé Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $14.95
• DOMAINE DE LA GARENNE BANDOL ROSÉ 2012 - AP, Provence, France (#323550) (XD) - $19.95
• SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#279117) (D) - $19.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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2011 Vollenweider Wolfer Riesling (Germany) - Wine Review

Purchased this white wine from the May 25th Vintages release that had a minor focus on German Rieslings. Many of the German offerings in this release were very good to spectacular. Lucky for you - this wine is still available at the LCBO.

VOLLENWEIDER WOLFER RIESLING 2011 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#324335) (D) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Light floral aromas from the cork. Delicate slate, apricot, peach and hints of honey and lemon rind aromas. Slightly off-dry with a spritz that subdues the sweetness. Flavour notes of slate, beeswax, lemon peel and orange rind. Good acidity and a finish that is long and slatey with a beeswax-tinged finish. Nice! Enjoyed this with one of my favourite Indian comfort foods - homemade chicken curry.

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2013 Niagara New Vintage Festival Review

Last weekend I visited Niagara for the annual New Vintage Festival, which focuses on new-release wines paired with culinary adventures for the senses. Due to a late departure from Toronto, coupled with lots of traffic on the QEW, we arrived later than expected and had to be swift with our stops.

We picked up our passes at our first stop - Featherstone Estate Winery and ventured back on to their patio to partake in their Discovery Pass Experience. The first pairing was their 2012 Rosé paired with a grilled angel food cake - which was hot off the grill - and topped with roasted balsamic strawberries. Both the rosé wine and angel food cake were good on their own, and when tasted together, there was a delicious flavour sensation full of strawberries in my mouth.

The second experience was also delightful, with their 2011 Late Harvest Cabernet Franc paired with a mild Québecois bleu cheese crostini that was topped with a sour cherry preserve. Once again, lots of strawberry and cherry flavours when paired together, while the cheese also helped cut down the sweetness of the Late Harvest. Good acidity in the wine also helped make this a very nice pairing.

After quickly tasting a few wines in the tasting room, we bumped into @wine_gems on the way to the car and then headed over to Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery.

It was pretty cool to meet Winemaker Sue-Ann Staff at a recent Churchill Cellars tasting, and now, to be in her home for the Discovery Pass Experience was the strawberry & whipped cream on top of a waffle! On the menu inside Sue-Ann's dining room was a sweet & savoury waffle topped with a light, summer-inspired cream sauce containing organic chicken and vegetables - which turned out to be mushrooms. Paired with this creation was her 2011 Pinot Grigio. This white wine was not your typical PG, it was big and very flavourful (and very good!) The wine pairing with the waffle was of contrasting flavours and generally went well together. But since I have a mental allergy to mushrooms, I didn't really enjoy the dish, and the waffle was much too sweet - I would have preferred it with whipped cream and strawberries instead.

The staff tending to patrons inside the house were the most enthusiastic I've ever seen at a winery - they love their job! This was my first visit, so we took a small, self-guided walk around the house and couldn't help but notice the contrasting styles - a very large, modern kitchen that seems to take up half the house, combined with an early 1900's look everywhere else. It felt quite grand and is definitely something worth checking out!

Up next was what-will-be a grand property, if it isn't already - Colaneri Estate Winery. With the property still under construction, and expected to be for 2 more years, we headed downstairs into a great room overlooking the vineyards for some homemade pizza paired with their 2010 Riesling. The pizza was topped with roasted red peppers, red onions, zucchini, and goat's cheese. The Riesling was light and fruity and complemented the pizza quite well as there were no strong flavours coming from either the wine or the pizza. In fact, this wine could have complemented many other light dishes as well. We ventured upstairs into the tasting room to sample a wide assortment of wines. Being my first ever visit here, I wanted to taste as much I could. Full reviews of the wines tasted during this trip for all the wineries I visited will be posted in the coming days.

Since it was now already past 5 p.m., we ventured to the only winery that was still open for the Discovery Pass Experience - megalomaniac / John Howard Cellars of Distinction. We arrived at megalomaniac after driving upon a long, winding road up the hill to what is the highest vantage point of the Escarpment - it was really was a nice view! Without about 10 minutes left before they had to close, the staff was nice enough to let us taste their Discovery Pass Experience offering, and also taste a few wines afterwards. We tasted their first ever "Bubblehead" Pinot Noir Sparkling Wine - the wine is so new that it hasn't even been labelled yet - with a white chocolate ganache tart that was topped with a strawberry compote. The pairing was, once again, quite good with the sweet flavours from the tart being cut by the dry, sparkling wine and providing good overall balance. Strawberry notes in the wine were brought to the forefront during this pairing.

This concludes my review of the 2013 Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival. Overall, I enjoyed my rather short visit and am sure I will return next year. Look out for my detailed reviews of the wines tasted as there were some fine wines that I would happily recommend - many of which can only be found at the winery.

If you're interested, this weekend will be the final weekend for the New Vintage Festival. There are over 40 wineries participating in the Discovery Pass Experience, and the weather looks like it will be hot and mostly sunny! Let me know if you're heading out to the escarpment - shoot me an email or post a comment - and tell me where you're going or where you went. Until the next wine event... cheers!

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