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Becoming a Local Wine Prophet
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Let’s talk about becoming a "Local Wine Prophet". Firstly, I will preface all I am about to say by stating that I am not, nor do I ever claim to be, and expert. In anything. I know what I like, what I feel is right, and what is good for me, my personal tastes, and levels of comfort. That being said, I drink about 95% local wines because I truly believe that Ontario has taken its place as a world leader in vinification. What I want to show is that there is a systematic way in which, if you choose, you can learn about all Ontario has to offer in the world of wine; to find wines that you enjoy drinking and sharing with friends and family, while supporting your local wine industry.
Let's lay it out:
- Visit wine country - pick 4-5 wineries to visit to do tastings, and to pick up some bottles that are not available at the LCBO
One of the key things is the sixth point above, actually visiting the wineries. Most Ontario wineries do not have their entire catalogue available at the LCBO, and this is where the real gems and experiences are to be had (for example, at Henry of Pelham there are 15+ non-LCBO releases available for sale). Wineries will allow you to taste, usually for a nominal fee (that will be waived if you make a purchase), wines that they have on offer. This brings everything to life, and will show you the passion that the people in the industry have for their wines.
Recently I visited some wineries in the Niagara region to speak to them about the subject of non-LCBO released wines. There are varied reasons why certain wines are not submitted to the LCBO for general release, but I believe the reasons are insignificant, and the point here is that there are amazing things to discover just a short drive from the city. All wineries have different production amounts, which is one barrier to entry at the LCBO. Small batch wines, which are often of good value, are to be discovered.
Below are some of my raw tasting notes from some wineries I had the pleasure of spending time at, where I asked to try only non-LCBO released product. I use my own language here to describe what I think I am tasting, and as I said, I am still very much learning. I am the first to admit that it is quite difficult for me to undertake tasting notes, but I do know what I like and what tastes good to me. This is an exercise I am using to try to increase my knowledge, and to be able to better express myself. Wineries will provide their own tasting notes for you, so you can help yourself to identify what they feel the wines should taste like. This can be very helpful as part of the learning process. I use my iPhone to send myself an email and transcribe my notes directly.
Flat Rock Cellars
2006 Sparkling (75% pinot 25% chard)
Not overly yeasty or sweet. Nice balance.
2008 Rusty Shed Chardonnay
Smooth mouthfeel. Vanilla. Nose matches palate.
2008 Seriously Twisted White (blend)
Chard. Riesling. Gewürztraminer. Pinot noir. Great balance of flavour. Midpalate strength and nice finish.
2009 Najdas Riesling
Strawberry and flowers on nose. Berry tea. Amazing acid.
2008 Gravity Pinot (100% Pinot Noir)
Faint blackberry nose. Sharp on palate. Pepper. Mild. Easy drinking.
Tawse
2009 Gewürztraminer Vinemount Ridge, Quarry Road.
High minerality. Fruity nose but acidity balance neutralizes the fruit. Petrol on midpalate.
2009 Sketches Unoaked Chardonnay
Steel on the nose. Naked and wonderful balance. What a chard should taste like. Easy to drink and pair.
2008 Pinot Noir Vinemount Ridge.
Pepper and cherry berry on the nose. Clean dry finish. Stone. Faint caramel.
2007 David’s Block Merlot, 20 Mile Bench.
Plum nose. Pencil shavings and earth. Dry finish. Pair with rich meats. Pheasant.
2008 Cab Franc. Lincoln Lakeshore.
Dark fruit. Moss. Spice. Great with strong cheese.
2007 Meritage.
Limited release. Oaky. Dark. Complex. Ageability. Dark fruit. Earthy.
2008 Cabernets Ice Wine. Cab Franc & Cab Sauv.
Grape jelly grape soda nose. Rhubarb. Currant. Pair with bitter chocolate. Long, long finish. Remnant acid.
Henry of Pelham
Cuvée Catherine Rose Brut.
Bitter grapefruit. Minerality on palate. Juicy.
Cuvée Catherine Brut.
Fresh nose. Sharp taste and finish.
2008 Baco Noir.
Fruity and juicy. Dark berry nose.
2007Baco Noir.
Dryer than 06 with a lot more Pepper.
Creekside
2007 Pinot Noir Rose.
Tangy. Sharp. Candy.
2007 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Grapefruit, oak, vanilla.
2008 Butlers Grant Riesling.
Ginger and peach.
2007 Broken Press Shiraz.
Deep nose. Plum. Pepper. Smoke palate with spice. Tobacco.
2007 Laura’s Red (Bordeaux blend). 39.5% Cab Sauv 39% Merlot 15% Cab Franc 6% Malbec .5% Petit Verdiot.
Berry nose with vanilla in back. Cedar. Palate is overburdened by the tanins
2009 Undercurrent. Small batch limited release wines, differ each vintage.
1. Muscat $19.95
Juicy, sharp grapefruit.
2. Gewürztraminer $14.95.
Wild yeast ferment for half. Less juicy and muted fruits.
13th Street
2007 Sparkling Cuvée Rose
Floral. Peach nose. Palate of toasty peach. Back palate of berry and floral.
2009 Old Vines Riesling.
Chalky acid mouth. Hard press leaves. Wet stone. Lemon lime.
2009 June’s Chardonnay.
Fresh nose with steel. Lemon and apple with almost bitter acidity. Rich mouthfeel.
2009 Sauv Blanc Essence. Niagara-on-the-Lake
Aged in new oak, produced 200 cases. Described as "rich without being fat". Almost grassy. Acidic. Sharp.
2009 Pinot Noir
300 Cases aged in French oak. Wow. Juicy and fabulous example of Pinot noir. Roasted notes of earth. Complex.
2008 Wiener Syrah.
Prune, pepper, leather. Monster. Palate front is peppercorn. Oak. Spice bites the tongue. Feisty.
Remember that Ontario wine is much more than Niagara, and even within Niagara there are many regions, each with their own characteristics. Check out the list of appellations on the VQA site here to learn about the places where we grow grapes in this province.
El Gastrónomo Vagabundo, at Flatrock Cellars
The Restaurant at Vineland Estates Winery
Ravine Deli & Bakery, at Ravine Vineyards
Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine, in Port Dalhousie
On the Twenty, Jordan Village
Peller States Winery Restaurant
The Deck, at Creekside Estate Winery
Stone Road Grille, Niagara-on-the-lake
Benchmark Restaurant, at Niagara College
There are many more restaurants in Niagara that are worth checking out, but be sure to check what is open as a lot of them tend to close seasonally. There are other culinary treats to be found, so keep your eyes open and you will discover some great treasures, that in and of themselves will make you want to come back.
You might have heard the word "terroir" before, and this is of great importance when talking about wine, especially in Ontario. In its most basic definition, terroir refers to how the soil in which the grapes are grown affects the taste of the wine. Then, you have to speak about the winemaking process, of which there are so many methods and factors which all effect the final product. This is part of your education, and I will leave this to you. Oaked, unoaked, natural ferment, and on and on.
Another great idea is to engage your peers who are interested in wine, and challenge them to embrace local wine with you. Form your own wine club, meet and taste local wines together. You will learn more as a group, and the process will be more enjoyable. Pick a winery, a varietal, or a specific vintage, whatever you like and just have fun with it. Interact, and take notes to keep track of what you enjoy. It really is that simple.
Did you know you can bring wine to a lot of restaurants, and simply pay corkage? This is a great way to learn while exposing people to the wonderful wines that Ontario has to offer. Check out the Bring Your Own Wine website for details, and this is only a partial list, so consult the restaurant in advance.
Above I talk about tapping in to the resources that are available to you in order to best immerse yourself in the local wine culture and to be able to take advantage of some great sources of information. There are formal wine clubs out there like iYellow Wine Club, which is one approach to learning about, and socializing around wine. While they do not totally focus on local wine, they do have some events and bus tours that are of good assistance on your journey. Also, there is the Ontario Wine Society, which is solely focused on Ontario wine with chapters in Niagara, Oakville, and Toronto.
I also mentioned attending wine events, of which there are many throughout the year. Recently I attended a great event put on by Vintages called Taste Ontario. It took place at the AGO and was a strictly Ontario wine event, where one was given the opportunity to try wines from all of the major producing wine regions in the province under one roof, and there were nearly 50 wineries in attendance. I took the opportunity to focus on only white wine, not to overload my palate. I did sip a few devilish reds, but I wanted to really enjoy the subtleties of Ontario white and see if there were any surprises for me at the show. There most definitely were, but I will leave that for you to discover for yourself.
Also, there is the Gourmet Food and Wine show coming up from November 18-21 at the Metro Convention Centre (details here). This is another great opportunity, and while it is not 100% Ontario focused, there are a good number of local wineries who will be participating. Coming this spring there will be the next installment of the Wine & Cheese Show, and while it is not 100% local it's a fun afternoon nonetheless. A great series of events this past spring, which I hope to see return, was Salut Wine & Food Festival. Again not 100% local, but this week-long celebration of wine featured many fun and educational seminars and events. Finally, there is Ontario Wine Week, which is the third week in June and sees many events, including the Ontario Wine Awards and Sip & Savour Ontario, an evening dedicated to local food and wine. Keep your eyes and ears open, there are opportunities everywhere.
Other sources to learn about local wine are some websites that I visit on a regular basis.
LCBO Go Local Blog
Spotlight Toronto
Wines in Niagara
Wines of Ontario
VQA Ontario
So, I think this is a good start for those you want to become fans of local wines. Is there something that I didn't touch on that you have questions about? Feel free to post a comment and I will do my best to provide an answer. Cheers!
