A gift by ontario: icewine

Visit The Wineries in Niagara Region

2009-10-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Organizing and managing a wine tasting tour can be a little complex on your own therefore it is advisable to go in for some packages offered by some travel companies.

They will arrange a day wise trip for you wherein you will get to taste maximum number of wines. The trip will also comprise of visiting Niagara on the lake top attractions.

As in most of the wineries the tasting areas are only open for the tourist for some couple of hours, it is advisable to schedule the tasting tour accordingly. Your travel agency will arrange the appointments with the winery producers regarding the visit.

The producers will assure that you are attended properly and get to see all areas of the winery from the vineyards to the wine lab and making rooms so that you get acquainted with the entire course behind making of the Canadian icewine.

They travel companies also arrange for local professional guides and chauffeurs who will guide you through the routes of Niagara on the lake.

Plan a magical wine tour of Niagara on the lake and visit Peller Estates winery, the wine making pioneers. Taste some of their award winning wines and their specialty Trius, Trius is a blend of selected best Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.
Peller is known for offering the best of best icewines in the area.

Peller Estates Niagara Winery

2009-10-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

Niagara on the Lake is truly a tourist’s haven and offers a paradisaical environment to pamper one’s senses. The awesome Niagara Falls Ontario Restaurants are really a visual and appetite treat for the beholder. The place is an amalgamation of Niagara Restaurants, beautiful Niagara Falls Wineries, marvelous natural sights, delectable treats, and what not’s. The climatic conditions offered by the Niagara on the Lake are an asset to the tourism and Niagara Escarpment Wineries. If you have already basked in the majestic glory of the place, then you would know the splendor of Niagara on the Lake.

The whole magic of Niagara Falls Ontario Wine Tours can turn sour if you don’t visit a Niagara on the Lake Winery. You will find umpteen Niagara Escarpment Wineries offering the best ice wine in the world. You will never get to know what you have been missing on until and unless you don’t set your foot in a Niagara Falls Winery. You will have your plate full with fun and merriments while your stay in Niagara on the Lake. The festive mood in the place during the ice-wine festival will drown you in the pool of seamless joy and fun.

Book a Niagara Falls Ontario Wine Tour to drench yourself in some exotic fun. With a marvelous climate and landscapes the Niagara winery tours offers you the memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. One of the leading wineries of the region is Peller; it brings in for you the largest variety of pure ice-wine from the vineyards of Niagara. For more information on ice-wine, browse through www.peller.com.

Niagara Escarpment Wineries

2009-10-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Niagara on the Lake is a great tourist destination especially for the wine lovers. Every year thousands of tourists travel to this heavenly place from all parts of the world to taste the best ice wine and visit some of the most renowned Niagara Escarpment Wineries. The tourists who visit Niagara on the Lake not only get to taste the award winning ice wine but also get to see some picturesque scenery that will leave them spellbound.

Niagara on the Lake is often referred to as the “Land of wineries” and if you had been lucky enough to visit the land, you won’t ask why? The minute one sets foot in Niagara, the mesmerizing smell of the liquid gold of Niagara Escarpment Wineries and delicacies of Niagara on the Lake Restaurants begins to fire their imagination. The pristine ambiance, friendly people, calm atmosphere, serene life style, and sumptuous Niagara on the Lake Wineries provide an impetus to the dormant desire of booking for a Niagara Falls Ontario Wine Tours.

Buying Wine Online

2009-10-12T03:55:00.000-07:00

Buying wine online is steadily gaining popularity as everything else on the internet. The internet offers a convenient means to order wine from the comforts of home. However, due to the nature of wine, there are issues you must consider when purchasing wine online. This is especially true if you are new to purchasing anything online.

1. Legal issues. Some states will require you to provide identification as to whether you are of legal age. Some states prohibit the delivery of wine products across different states. Also make sure you read the purchase agreements between you and the online wine store. Don't hesitate to ask questions or make your expectations known. Most online stores have support e-addresses to contact in this case. Make sure the seller has a return guarantee on bad wine.

2. Reliability of the online store. Most people, when new to purchasing online, are tentative regarding online payments and orders. For added security, you should make follow up confirmations through phone and fax. If the company you are purchasing wine from doesn't have numbers regarding such, skip that company and look for others that do.

3. Shipping. Shipping may add a significant amount to your purchase so make sure you consider the shipping costs of each delivery. If your online store doesn't mention the price of the shipping, it would be wise for you to find out.

4. Look at auctions. When you get comfortable with the ins and outs of online purchasing - and feel sufficiently secure in you dealing and buying skills, you may want to look at online icewine auctions and sales. Although they pose a significant risk to buyers (as do all auctions), they present the greatest chance for you to purchase vintage wines at affordable costs.
When doing so, you will have to increase your care ten-fold. However, the payoff for such activities is so big; you might just about find yourself stalking the internet for such deals.

Always make sure that the wine you purchase has an undamaged label. You shouldn't buy those wines that have faded labels. It might mean that the bottle may have been exposed to sunlight and wasn't properly stored in coolers.

Three of Canada’s largest wine producers change bottle labels after complaints

2009-10-12T02:50:00.000-07:00

VANCOUVER - All three of Canada's largest wine producers are working on new labels for some of their best-selling wines after complaints that consumers were being hoodwinked into thinking they were made from Canadian grapes.

The winemakers say they've listened to the outcry.

A source at B.C.'s Mark Anthony group, which produces the popular Mission Hill wine as well as the blended Sonora Ranch and Mission Ridge wines, say the company will announce details of its changes when a new label has been designed.

And John Peller, who runs Ontario's Andrew Peller Limited, says his company's bottles will also be relabelled.

The third largest Canadian wine producer, Ontario-based Vincor, has also said it will change its labels.

Wine writer John Schreiner says the new labels will probably clear up some of the confusion, but not all of it.

He says the changes are also probably being motivated by the wine-makers desire not to associate the cheaper wines they make with their more marquee brands.

News Source : Three of Canada’s largest wine producers change bottle labels after complaints

Drink up! Niagara wineries celebrate fall

2009-10-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

Fall is a busy time at Niagara’s wineries, with a variety of tasting events on offer as well as sales that let customers stock up for the winter entertaining season.

In November, the 21 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake revisit their popular weekend touring and tasting program called The Taste Season.At each stop, there’ll be a premium VQA wine and food pairing. A limited number of passes are available for each of the four weekends in November.

Here are some of the sales taking place at Niagara wineries this fall:

Peller Estates Annual Bin End Sale, Oct. 17, noon to 5 p.m.: Get your hands on wines that are in limited supply and only available at the winery. Let Peller Estates’ wine consultants help you try these wines on for size before you buy them at a 15 per cent savings in lots of three, six and 12. Book by calling 1-888-673-5537 ext. 2; visit www.peller.com.

Swirl, Sip and Shop — 2007 Reds, Strewn, Oct. 24 to 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Visit Strewn’s Wine Buyers Weekend and discover new rich red wines from the outstanding 2007 vintage. This is your chance to enjoy complimentary tastings of the winery’s premium ready-to-drink reds, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit www.strewnwinery.com, or contact 1-905-468-1229 or info@strewnwinery.com.

The Red Sale at Reif Estate Winery, Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Visit Reif Estate Winery this fall or buy online to stock up for the season with rich and flavourful reds for fall and winter dining. You will get the year’s best pricing on limited edition and estate bottled red wines, perfect for entertaining and the holidays. This limited time pricing is only offered once a year. Feature wine tastings complimentary. Visit reifwinery.com, or contact 1-905-468-WINE(9463).

News source : Drink up! Niagara wineries celebrate fall

Taste the top class wines – Go for wine tasting tour

2009-10-07T03:07:00.000-07:00

Wine tours are an amazing journey that is designed around the best Niagara wineries canadian ice wine where you get to taste the top class icewines. Niagara on the lake wineries is the region where icewine grapes are grown for the production of icewine.

This region has the best climatic conditions that are perfectly suitable for growing icewine grapes. These grapes are handpicked frozen from the vines and then processed to produce icewine.

People who go for wine tasting tours get to taste hundreds of different varieties of icewines from some of the best niagara wineries.
They get to know more about the details of making of different icewines canada - wineries in ontario and their exotic tastes.The wine tasting tours are planned around the wineries and include knowing every aspect of the icewines. You also get to meet wine producers and see some tasting rooms where wines from some of the best Niagara wineries are poured.

Travel to Ontario wineries while visiting Niagara Falls

2009-09-24T00:51:00.000-07:00

Ontario, Canada is home to more than 108 wineries, second only to British Columbia with over 180 wineries. The providence has several regions for wine enthusiasts to travel. The region with the most wineries is Niagara-on-the-Lake. Just a few miles north and west of Niagara Falls is a wine region that is diverse. French vinifera and hybrid grapes grow well in this area. One can travel to small boutique wineries or large wineries with worldwide distribution.

Perhaps the most widely sought after wine is the Icewine. By law, the grapes can not be harvest until the temperature dips to 17º F. This means that if the temperature falls to 20º F the grapes cannot be harvested. Grapes can go through several nights of below freezing temperatures just to warm up again during the day. This freezing and thawing gives the grapes character and perhaps the excellence of the regions Icewines.

News Source : Travel to Ontario wineries while visiting Niagara Falls

Ice Wine Is More Than Just Frozen Grapes

2009-09-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

One of the most rapidly growing trends in the world of wine seems to be with the rise in popularity of ice wines. This is interesting because these wines have been around for almost 200 years yet have not had much time in the spotlight until recent history. The most famous ice wines are from Niagara on the Lake Wineries, however many other countries such as Germany, Austria, and even Australia have been known to produce ice wines of their own. Because Canada is much colder and is capable of more consistent freezing temperatures has actually surpassed Germany in the production of ice wine.

Ice wine is a dessert wine that is made from frozen grapes. Natural ice wines require a hard freeze to occur after the grapes have ripened. In Niagara winery of Canada , this temperature is a minimum of 17 degrees Fahrenheit while in Germany this temperature is 19 degrees. This means that the grapes must remain on the vines for several months after a normal harvest and risk being lost to rot if there is no freeze. At the other extreme, if the freeze is too severe the grapes cannot be harvested and pressed.

Ice wines are becoming the latest trend in the wine world and it is easy to see why. Delicious and refreshing, ice wines are a delicacy and a testament to the skills of the wineries. More expensive than a traditional wine, it is not something that the average person can afford to purchase on a regular basis, but are an essential addition to a special occasion or meal.

North America's top 10 wine destinations

2009-09-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

I love touring Ontario's Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region. My friend Lauren lives in St. Catharines and we regularly tour the wineries in the area, stopping to sample whites, reds and ice wines from our favourite vineyards, including Peller Estates, Konzelmann and Hillebrand.

Travellers are particularly interested in wineries this fall, with searches for the term "vineyards" up 10 per cent on TripAdvisor over the past six weeks, compared to the same period last year.

"European destinations often get the spotlight when it comes to fine wine," said Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, "but North America holds its own with varietals, between the wonderful west coast wine regions and other hidden gems across the continent."

News Source : North America's top 10 wine destinations

Making scents of it all - The Niagara wine industry

2009-09-23T04:51:00.000-07:00

Nestled in between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario is one of Canada's biggest and most well-known industries: Wine.

A myriad of wineries to choose from are spread around the region, offering almost anything a true wine aficionado could need. But, for us normal folk, this precious part of the area tends to fall by the wayside, that is, at least during the 50 weeks of the year that there is no specific event dedicated to drawing our attention to it; thats is, The Niagara Wine Festival. Wine can be an intimidating thing.

Those who have ever attempted to go to a winery for a tasting know exactly what I am talking about. Walking into the boutique, having to pretend like you know what you're doing. Following all the formalities of testing that tiny little glass of wine, and at the same time, watching the person beside you to make sure that you didn't miss an important step that would 'ruin' the tasting experience. All the while, being confused because you don't actually see any difference in the colour, smell the rich scent of dark chocolate, or know what the heck a full-bodied wine really entails.

News Source : Making scents of it all- The Niagara wine industry

Indulge your tastebuds at the Niagara Wine Festival

2009-09-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

The Niagara region, with its myriad of quality conscious wineries, benefits from the heat shield of Lake Ontario and several unique smaller microclimates which foster and nurture vineyards long into the fall.

This year, because the summer lacked sunny days and heat for ripening, the grape crop is a bit behind, just like Ontario fruit and vegetables were in July and August. But with a recent burst of sunny days and a protracted dry spell, the harvest should get under way in fine shape.

September unfolds as a magical time, when winemakers and producers throw open their winery doors to share in the fruits of their labours with wine travellers. Dozens of events have been organized at individual wineries to seduce and charm visitors.

News Source : Indulge your tastebuds at the Niagara Wine Festival

Niagara on the Lake Wineries

2009-09-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

Niagara wineries tours are an amazing journey that is designed around the best Niagara wineries canadian ice wine where you get to taste the top class icewines. Niagara-on-the-lake-events are the region where icewine grapes are grown for the production of icewine.

This region has the best climatic conditions that are perfectly suitable for growing icewine grapes. These grapes are handpicked frozen from the vines and then processed to produce canadian ice wine. People who go for wine tasting tours get to taste hundreds of different varieties of icewines from some of the best niagara wineries.

They get to know more about the details of making of different icewines canada - wineries in ontario and their exotic tastes. The wine tasting tours are planned around the wineries and include knowing every aspect of the icewines. You also get to meet wine producers and see some tasting rooms where wines from some of the best Niagara wineries are poured.

Wine for your Valentine

2009-08-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

The month of February is the month to show your loved ones how special they truly are. Of course we should show appreciation every day but in reality we don't. It is not because we don't care or we don't want to. The fact of the matter is that we are often so caught up in our everyday lives that we may forget to appreciate the ones that are near and dear to us. But it is never too late! We know you can't make up for lost time but you can start to show your appreciation on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is one of the most celebrated occasions of the year. People all over the world shower their loved ones with greeting cards, chocolates, flowers, special dinners, and gifts but why not surprise your special someone with an amazing wine as well? Aside from sending the usual gifts, send something a little sweeter such as wine for your Valentine. Why buy wine for your Valentine? If you choose the perfect wine, it will start the night perfectly and you won't want it to end. For more visit http://www.peller.com/

Niagara Wine Festival returns to its roots

2009-08-22T03:26:00.000-07:00

The Niagara Wine Festival is strengthening its community roots. After spending a few years pursuing a more cosmopolitan crowd from outside Niagara, festival organizers have turned their attention to making the marquee event a real homecoming in St. Catharines.

Expect more local musical acts on stage at Montebello Park in September, and look for more of your neighbours walking in the popular annual grande parade.

Kimberly Hundertmark, the festival's interim director of events, said organizers are taking stock of what the festival means to Niagara and listening to calls from the community to bring it back to its roots.

Two years ago, many St.Cat h a r i n e s residents balked at beefed-up entry rules for the grande parade designed to make it more polished and ended up cutting out some local groups.

"When you look at it, it is a homecoming," said Hundertmark, the city's tourism and attractions manager who was brought in last month to organize this year's festival.

"There's a lot of people from out of town coming to it. But essentially the people that are in the cars (on parade day), and that are lining the parade route are people that have grown up here, people that live here. It just made sense to make it more local."

News Source : Niagara Wine Festival returns to its roots

Niagara Restaurants and Wines

2009-08-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Niagara wines are renowned throughout the world in competitions as one of the most outstanding, particularly the ice wines, which are prepared from grapes yielded after the first winter rime. The rich and potential soils with moderate climate also support the tender fruit growers with their crops, which comprise of peaches and strawberries.

The Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario wineries have shaped an exclusive microclimate appropriate for the manufacture of World Class Wines. An individual would experience the stunning countryside of this region as we spend the day itinerant from one winery to another.

There is a wine trail occasion happening every month. To sign-up or pre-pay for our events is not required - just simply you need to show up on the same day and pay your admission fees. A list of wine trail associates is supplied for your convenience along with restaurants and other attractions that may be of interest during your stay.

And as you are required to eat on your trip to Niagara winery in order to keep yourself energized for sightseeing and other activities, have a dining experience that is both pleasing to the appetite and romantic for you. Like some of the hotels in the area, there are many restaurants that overlook the Falls, offering you with romantic views that will help keep the ardent tone of your trip steady throughout. Though sightseeing in Niagara Falls is romantic in itself, the romance can also present itself in, restaurants we select to dine in. There are a variety of restaurants with various wines that overlook Niagara Falls, providing you and your special someone with breathtaking views and romantic moments.

Rose is the top wine for summer

2009-08-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

Rose is the quintessential summer wine, and a sparkling rose, like the good value non-vintage Segura Viudas Brut Rose, is double the pleasure.

For my palate, Segura Viudas is the finest Spanish sparkling wine. I enjoy its top brut, Heradad, both for its elegant flavors and texture, and stylish silver-based bottle. But until a recent tasting of the brut rose, a year or more passed since my last taste of any Segura Viudas sparkling wines because, like many consumers, I order French and California sparkling wines instinctively. A twofold mistake.

In November 2003, I visited Segura Viudas, located in Spain's Penedes region. Its 11th-century farmhouse has been expanded into a modern winery with wine cellars descending five stories into the Mediterranean soil. Jose Ferrer and his family own Segura Viudas and the California sparkling wine company, Gloria Ferrer.

Segura Viudas is made according to the Champagne method: After the primary fermentation of changing the grape juice into alcohol, the wine is transferred to bottles, fresh yeast is added and the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation, which creates the bubbles and additional aromas and flavors. Lastly, the spent yeast cells are disgorged from each bottle, a small amount of fresh wine mixed with sugar (called dosage) is added to fill the bottle, and the cork inserted.

The non-vintage Segura Viudas Brut Rose is a blend of 80 percent Trepat and 10 percent each Monastrell and Garnacha, which are traditional Spanish grapes grown in the Penedes region. Two years of aging the wine on the yeast yields an eye-appealing strawberry shade with summer fruit scents of ripe cherries and strawberries.

A mouthful of cherry and raspberry flavor comes bundled with elegant bubbles and fresh, crisp acidity in the finish. Reflecting its Spanish Mediterranean origin, the brut rose is perfectly refreshing on a warm sunny day.

The wine's versatility makes it perfect as an aperitif, delightful with shrimp cocktail, grilled shrimp with yellow rice, mildly spicy ceviche, and fresh fruit salads with summer peaches, nectarines and plums. Its incredibly affordable price allows adding bottles to the ice bucket without freezing your budget. The non-vintage Segura Viudas Brut Rose is distributed by R&R Marketing in Fairfield. It retails for approximately $9.

News Source : Rose is the top wine for summer

Five Reasons To Drink Pink Wine

2009-08-06T23:24:00.000-07:00

Reputations can be tough to shed. Perhaps none are more stubborn than rosé's. Why? The wine industry--by cranking out millions of bottles and casks of bland, too-sweet white zinfandel in the 1980s--did its best to kill the notion that pink wine can be a tasty, refreshing, refined drink.

Today, though, rosé is no longer the pink-headed stepchild of the wine shop. According to data from the Wine Market Council, of those Americans who drink at least one glass of wine each week, 18% of the time they drink pink.

Chalk it up to a competitive global wine market, improved grape-growing and winemaking practices and a few important flag wavers such as highly regarded New Zealand winemaker Kim Crawford (in his case, with a rosé called Pansy!, mostly marketed to the gay community). Maybe it's a combination of all three that's made rosé one of the best value-for-dollar wine categories on the shelf.

News Source : Five Reasons To Drink Pink Wine

How to Pair Wine and Cheese

2009-07-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

When trying to put together a tasty wine and cheese pairing, the thing you have to know is: If it tastes yummy, does it! I’m sure you’ve heard all the fancy chefs sharing about what cheese works with which wine; however, when you make your selection, it’s all about personal taste. You may prefer your favorite cheese with your favorite wine. Cheese and wine are often matched, and they have been enjoyed together since days gone by. Both result from fermentation. Both may be consumed while fresh, simple, and young or in their more complex forms when they are mature.

There are no hard and fast rules as to which wines should typically be served with a particular cheese. There is a general guideline that cheeses of a certain geographic locale are best enjoyed with wines of the same locale. But, just as one bottle of pinot noir from the Niagara Valley is not like that of another vintage or another producer, neither is one Blue Benedictin exactly like another. Both are living and constantly changing. This is what makes pairing cheese and wine fascinating as well as delicious.

Even though it comes down to personal taste, certain general rules have been approved by most of the experts. Here are some of those general guidelines:
o White wines work well with soft cheeses and stronger flavors.
o Red wines work well with hard cheeses and milder flavors.
o Fruity and sweet white wines (not dry) and dessert wines work well with a wider selection of cheeses.
o The more snappy the cheese you choose, the sweeter the wine should be.
o Accord should always exist between the cheese and the wine. They should have similar strength. There should always be a balance - strong and powerful cheeses should be paired with similar wines and delicate cheeses should be paired with lighter wines.
o A complete list of well paired wine and cheese groupings can be found at temecula-wine.net.

When offering a group of cheese selections in a wine and cheese pairing spread, white wines fair better than reds. That’s because several cheeses, particularly soft and creamy ones, leave a after taste of fat on the palate that block the flavor in reds, creating a taste that is monotonous and bland.

Ultimately, the perfect wine and cheese pairing is not a match made in heaven. It is a match made on the taste buds of each of your guests. Start with the basic guidelines above and then try the new pairings. You will be surprised which couple will be your choice selections.

ViVAS tips on food and wine matching

2009-07-27T04:29:00.000-07:00

Most people already know that white wine goes well with white meat and red wine with red meat, but sometimes it can be a lot more complex. There are three basic principles in matching food and wine - matching weight, matching acidity and matching intensity,” says ViVAS marketing manager Henry John, “and if you stick to these, your matches should be a success.”

Weight - When matching by weight you need to pair big strong wines to big strong food and similarly light, simpler wine with lighter foods.

Acidity - Acidity is an important part of any wine. It’s the thing that makes your mouth water, makes the wine refreshing and stimulates you to take another sip. Foods with a lot of acidity, for example tomatoes or vinaigrette dressing, are better with a crisp refreshing wine. Wines which are crisp and mouth-watering will also be good with oily food. A great example of this is an Italian red wine with Italian food where the chief ingredients are olive oil and tomatoes.

News Source: ViVAS tips on food and wine matching

Interesting Facts about Wine Tasting Tour

2009-07-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

Wine country tour is planned to enlarge the taste of the tasters, and it could really be enjoyable, since many wine generating regions of the world are very gorgeous.

Characteristically, any wine tasting tour moves around wineries, letting the tasters to view the winery, and possibly meet the wine producer also. In other cases, the trip visits chosen tasting rooms that might pour wines from a unique winery, or several wineries like Niagara on the Lake Wineries. Organizing and managing a wine tasting tour could actually get complex, as the director desires the people on the tour to taste as many wines as probable, while harmonizing the wish to remain in some spots higher than others. The journey may take the shape of a day trip or a more comprehensive quest, and habitually comprise lunch, dinner, and other lodgings as well.

In many cases, a winery or tasting area is open for people during pre set hours. In few cases, a scheduled time needs to be fixed. Scheduled time only wineries are apt to be small, and apprehensive about overwhelming their services with the tasters. By asking visitors to make appointments, the wine producer makes sure that people get a bespoken and frequently cherished experience in the winery tour. In some other cases, the vineyard might in addition offer tours of the wine lab and making rooms that could actually be interesting for people who desire to be acquainted with more about the course behind making wine.

The Benefits of Wine

2009-07-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

One of the oldest alcoholic beverages is wine; its existence has been since thousands of years since 6000 B.C. It is made from the fermentation of grape juice. There is whole lot of varieties of wine available. One among these wines is the red wine which in recent days has been proven that it has a variety of benefits.

Increases the longevity of life:
Current data suggests that red icewine has an element in it which extends the longevity of life .An article research suggests that in 2000 there were more than 600 million people above the age of 60 years and this figure in 2025 will reach about 1.2 billion in 2025.

Smoking
Intense smoking damages the vessels and they tend to lose the natural ability to relax. However red wine has some beneficial impacts to remove the negative impact of smoking.

Effects on heart
One of the most proven and studied benefit of wine is that it is very much heart protective effect. Limited consumption of heart disease acts as a protection against the coronary heart disease. It reduces the production LDL (bad cholesterol) and it boosts the production of HDL (good cholesterol).

Blood clotting
Another very important feature of red wine is its ability towards anticlotting. Consumers who consume wine to light and moderate levels have lower levels of protein fibrinogen which promotes blood clot formation.

Hypertension
When the wine is consumed in excess it acts as a risk factor for hypertension .However there have been studies which have proved that if 250ml of wine is consumed along with the meal it can reduce the blood pressure in hypertensive persons.

Kidney stone formation
It also reduces the risk of kidney stone formation.

To conclude with I would not suggest everyone to drink wine wholeheartedly but I would
suggest that if you fall in the above situation that it would be a good idea to consume wines from Niagara on the Lake Wineries but in moderate quantity.

Wine and Food Pairing

2009-07-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

The process of matching food and wine is highly subjective and inexact process. The old rules like having red wine with red meat and white wine with fish and poultry do not hold well these days because in this fast moving world experimentation regarding the match of wine with the food recipes and no one follows these hard and fast rules. The pairing could be on your own will and wish. You can hear the suggestion about the new mix and match suggestions on an everyday basis.

Vineyard tours and wine tastings are a great way to try to try the different wines and learn more as to which wine you favor the most. Then you can begin with trying the foods and wines you favor the most. While pairing food and wine, the goal is synergy and power. The wine should not overpower the food, and even the food should not overpower the wine.

Try and match the food with the wine in such a way that it flavors the food in a better way. Wine in itself tastes better than the food icewine has a similar significance as that of spice in food. Wine when drunk along with your food produces different sensations. A good match can bring out the nuances that can enhance the flavors and bring very good characteristics of both the food and wine.

Good food and wine pairing is achieved when there are similarities and contrasts between the taste and intensity.

Tips to Select the Wines

2009-07-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

Wine selection is an important criterion essential in the wine festivals and all the other wine events. There are about three P’s which are essential in selecting the wines are as follows: Price, preference and pairing. These three P’s will definitely render you proper help in selecting some of the best wines from good niagara wineries.

Price: This is one of the key components useful in determining the amount you are willing to pay for the wine and it will also help you find the wine that is right in determining the right wine for you. Gone are the days where you could get some of the best wines at considerable price of about $30. These days you can even find a considerable good wine for $15 or even at a lesser amount so it is essential that you become really eye centric about the amount of the wines.

Preferences:This is what we all run behind sometimes even ignoring the price; these are ones which attracts our taste buds to the core. But as far as the wines are concerned then it is essential that you be concerned of the fact that who will drink the wine and what is the occasion for what you are sharing the wine are they new comers who are drinking the wine. Hence it is essential that you better find out all this then land up in a wine merchant’s shop or better wineries Niagara on the lake to buy the wine. Consider the fact for example that you are hosting a happy hour party then it is essential that you go in for safe drinks which are not much strong you can probably go in for the reds and white wine.

Pairing :In case you are looking out for wines specifically for the purpose of pairing with the dinners then it is essential that you take into account the key ingredients that you would be using for the dinner specifically.

Importance of Knowledge about Wine

2009-06-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is always important and useful, no matter what kind of application there will be for that knowledge in future. It is always good to seek out and absorb knowledge about anything you are interested in. Acquiring knowledge about ice wines is useful. The pleasure of having some knowledge about, as well as the pleasure of drinking, a good wine is something to enjoy. When you’re drinking, it’s nice to know what varieties of grape went into the wine, when and where it came from, what process went into the making of that particular wine and, indeed, who made it? If you have some knowledge about the wine while drinking it, it might well add to your understanding and appreciation of what is in your glass. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn the type of wine you are drinking, where it was made, and its vintage.

If you have some knowledge of most popular red wines aroma and flavours, and familiarity with a range of wines, look out for opportunities to taste similar or better wines from the same region. Don’t forget that there are three important things to look for in all wine, these are aroma (bouquet), taste (palate) and colour. With a little effort and a keenness to differentiate using these three attributes, you can become a wine tasting expert. When tasting a particular wine, you should ask yourself, how does this wine compare with others from the same varietal, from different vineyards in the same region, from the same producer in different years? There is no doubt that comparative knowledge, based on tasting experience, can enhance your tasting pleasure.

Hard Times for Australia's Once Dominant Wine Industry

2009-06-26T00:33:00.000-07:00

Australia's once dominant wine industry is facing its biggest challenge, as competition increases from lower-cost rivals and consumer tastes change. Producers are being encouraged to target exports to Asia to revive the industry.

Last year, Australian wine exports fell by almost 10 percent, the first decrease in a decade. It was a sign that after a long boom, the country's vineyards are struggling under the weight of increased competition from lower-cost rivals in Chile, Argentina and South Africa and the changing tastes of international consumers.

A long drought also has brought higher irrigation costs, especially in the parched wine belt in southeast Australia. Relatively high wages also undermine Australia's international competitiveness at a time when prices for exported wine have fallen.The average price per liter of Australian wine sold overseas is about 25 percent lower than it was a decade ago.

News Source : Hard Times for Australia's Once Dominant Wine Industry

Wine tasting tours

2009-06-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

The best for wine tasting beginners is to take a guided tour to places where wineries are located. These tours usually include well-known wineries and guided wine tastings session hosted by wine experts. These guided sessions can be an exceptional eye opener for newcomers, but also for the experienced wine enthusiast. You can taste a wide variety of wines at the places where they are manufactured. And you can also learn much about wine making, storage, food matching and also about history of the wine and the local history.

But wine tours are not only about wine tasting. Of course at the end of every tour you can buy wine that you liked, and for many people this is the start of their own private wine collection. Attending such wine tasting tours you also get to know a lot about the way the grapes are cultivated and collected, about local folklore, cuisine and finally how grapes get processed for the wine. The bottom line: making these tours you will have the best time ever. We venture to say that after you have returned from your first wine tasting tour, you will make a list of all places and countries you want to visit to continue your quest for good taste.

Art of Wine Tasting And Wine Hosting

2009-06-19T00:38:00.000-07:00

The first step to an enjoyable wine tasting party is to decide on the mood and theme of the party. Will this be a casual get-together where friends can sample different wines any time during the evening, or will it be a more structured affair, where guests all sample each icewine at the same time, comparing notes and discussing their preferences?

The theme of a wine tastings revolves around the wine you choose. Do you want a broad or a narrow focus? For newbie wine lovers, you might choose a broad focus that covers both white and red wines, for example. For more knowledgeable wine lovers, you might choose wines from a smaller wineries or smaller winery countries, such as Greece or Spain. For cost-conscious wine lovers, you might choose wines in a certain price range. The possibilities are endless! A good wine store can also help you develop a theme or suggest wines for the party.

Niagara Wine Tours

2009-06-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

Niagara wines are renowned throughout the world in competitions as one of the most outstanding, particularly the icewine, which are prepared from grapes yielded after the first winter rime. The rich and potential soils with moderate climate also support the tender fruit growers with their crops, which comprise of peaches and strawberries.
The Niagara Escarpment wineries and Lake Ontario have shaped an exclusive microclimate appropriate for the manufacture of World Class Wines. An individual would experience the stunning countryside of this region as we spend the day itinerant from one winery to another.
There is a wine trail occasion happening every month. To sign-up or pre-pay for our events is not required - just simply you need to show up on the same day and pay your admission fees. A list of wine trail associates is supplied for your convenience along with niagara falls ontario restaurants and other attractions that may be of interest during your stay.
And as you are required to eat on your trip to Niagara in order to keep yourself energized for sightseeing and other activities, have a dining experience that is both pleasing to the appetite and romantic for you. Like some of the hotels in the area, there are many restaurants that overlook the Falls, offering you with romantic views that will help keep the ardent tone of your trip steady throughout. Though sightseeing in Niagara Falls is romantic in itself, the romance can also present itself in, restaurants we select to dine in. There are a variety of restaurants with various wines that overlook Niagara Falls, providing you and your special someone with breathtaking views and romantic moments

Red wine ingredient is a 'wonderdrug'

2009-06-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

An ingredient of red wine really is a 'wonderdrug', claim scientists, after research suggested it kills cancer cells and protects the heart and brain from damage.
Researchers claim moderate drinking of red wine appears to reduce "all causes of mortality" and protects people from age-related disorders such as dementia, diabetes and high blood pressure.They said that the key ingredient appears to be resveratrol which in small doses acts as an antioxidant protecting organs but in larger quantities kills dangerous cancer cells

"The breadth of benefits is remarkable – cancer prevention, protection of the heart and brain from damage, reducing age-related diseases such as inflammation, reversing diabetes and obesity, and many more," said Professor Lindsay Brown of the University of Queensland.

The conclusions were drawn by Professor Brown and her team after a "mini review" of a number of recent studies about the health benefits of red wine published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

The biochemists said that red wine appears to contain a number of antioxidants - naturally-occurring protective compounds - which are good for your health but that resveratrol was the most powerful.They concluded that it "shows therapeutic potential" for cancer and heart disease and may aid in the prevention of age-related disorders that affect the brain and the body.

News Source : Red wine ingredient is a 'wonderdrug'

Specialty of Premium Wines

2009-06-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

Preparation of fine wines is considered to be the important process in wine making. Making of fine wines are considered to be super premium beverage which obviously most expensive. More number of wineries is available in the world; especially the place called wine country is enriched with excellent tastier liquor to meet the demands of the customers prevailing. Each individual have different sorts of taste, preference and opinions which decides what is said to be the best.

The canadian ice wine is produced by more number of manufacturers in the vintages around the world to make the people enjoy the celebrity of alcohol. It has been produced specially to celebrate the significant events, religious occasions and other normal days. Superior quality icewine are produced in the Peller Estates niagara winery, so that customers of all kinds can make use of the service provided. According to people, each one consist of different sorts of taste and as per they prefer wine. The term fine denotes superior quality, appearance, color, ingredients, kind, prices and the power.

We come across different types of producers who offer special kind of wines to the public. Generally, the specific beverage namely alcohol will be used either daily or for special occasions, religious functions and so on. For special occasions like wedding, Halloween day, new year, Easter, independence day and for any other exceptional day people use to drink the beverage or we can say it wine tastings. Wide collections of wines are available and it can be tasted along with cheese, chocolate, dinner. New types of products are introduced in the market daily, so that customers can drink new varieties with regards to using of different ingredients. Some of the liquors like white, red and other colored wine will be tremendously used by the customers as per their pricing requirements.

Tips On How To Buy The Best Wines

2009-06-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

For most people wine is an essential part or their dining experience. Wine is also mostly present in any social function. The problem with wine is that there are so many types of wines to choose from. As a result the wine selection process becomes very difficult.

What is wine?

Basically, it is a liquor that is made by fermenting various types of fruits. But no doubt, that the most popular icewine type is made of grapes.

Why grape wine is good for you body?

There have been some medical studies that show that drinking one or two glasses of grape wine a day may be beneficial to one's health. This is due to the findings that some properties that are found in grapes have a medicinal effect on the body. This includes decreasing a person's chances of developing heart disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, etc.

Here are some tips on how to choose just the right wine for you

1. Experiment. Individuals should discover which types of wine suit their taste. The best way to do this is to order a different type of wine every time you dine out.

2. Ask friends for a recommendation. For those who are not wine connoisseurs, the best way to start gaining some knowledge about wine is to ask friends to give you the names of their favorite wines.

3. For those who have found their favorite wines, and want to keep stocks. The best way to go about this is to buy their preferred brands of wine by cases.

4. Know which types of wine go with different types of dishes. For instance, white wine goes well with white sauces, salmon, etc.

5. Be wise when it comes to serving wine. The more costly wines should be reserved for more important occasions. Remember that wines can get very expensive.

6. Canadian ice wine are famous! Some of the more famous Canadian wine includes: ontario wine clubs, ice wine canada etc

Choosing wines may be daunting at first, especially for a person who is not a wine connoisseur. But once a person gets the hang of it, and start to discover the wines that matches their preference, it won't be long until they start to fill up their wine cellar.

Washington wines comparable at better-than-California prices

2009-06-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

A MARKETING-SURVEY company has released some telling statistics about wine drinkers. According to the Pointer Media Network, 7.5 million wine drinkers purchase 80 percent of the wine sold in this country. That includes wines at all price points, but the cheapest wines are showing the growth, while expensive wines are losing customers.

Another industry bellwether — Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates — notes that sales of California wines priced at $14 and below are still increasing at a healthy clip, while wines priced above $14 are dropping. So $14 has somehow become the magic number for consumers.

I was chewing on these stats while snarfling through a lineup of pricey California merlots and cabernets the other day, and wondering who actually buys these wines. Why they don't opt for something twice as good at half the price from Washington?

I have frequently opined that California merlots, for example, are almost always watery plonk unless you pony up at least $40 a bottle. The Three Palms vineyard merlot from Sterling Vineyards, perhaps the most iconic California merlot of the past three decades, is a pretty nice bottle of vino. It retails for right around 50 bones. It's also worth noting that, unlike most Washington merlots, it is blended with considerable amounts of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, presumably to beef it up.

In Washington it is usually the merlot that is blended in to beef up the cab, rather than the other way around. Most quality California cabernets start their pricing where the merlots leave off. The number of so-so $60, $80 and even $100 bottles being produced is staggering. One fine exception is the Hess Allomi Vineyard cabernet sauvignon, an estate-grown Napa Valley wine, aged in one-third new American oak barrels, meaty and substantial, and widely available (Noble distributes). It retails for about $24.

Being perfectly honest here, those looking for comparable quality in wines priced under $15 are not going to find it. But the Hess wines — their Su'skol Vineyard chardonnay is another gem — offer the sort of quality in the mid-$20 price range that I find in a growing number of Washington boutiques.

News Source : Washington wines comparable at better-than-California prices

Canadian wineries earn honours in Italy

2009-04-10T03:31:00.000-07:00

Canadian winery Inniskillin has won the top prize at Vinitaly.

The winery, from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., won the Premio Speciale Gran Vinitaly 2009 at the 17th annual Concorso Enologico Internazionale.

Canadian wineries received a total of seven medals and 14 special mentions at the prestigious awards, which were officially announced in Verona at the world's largest wine fair.

More than 130,000 people will attend the fair, which runs through Monday. Some 3,500 wines from 34 countries were entered in this year's competition, with results judged by 100 wine critics, wine writers and winemakers from around the world.

This is not Inniskillin's first major Vinitaly award; the winery is renowned among international media and festival judges, primarily for its icewines.

A number of other Canadian wineries also did well at this year's event.

In the still white wine category designated by geographical zone, Magnotta Winery from Vaughn, Ont., received a special mention for its Gewurztraminer Dry Niagara VQA Special Reserve 2007 and its 2007 Chardonnay.

Jackson-Triggs also received a special mention for its Gewurztraminer Niagara Peninsula VQA Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007, as well as its Meritage White Grand Reserve Okanagan Valley 2007.

And in the still wine category designated by geographic zone, for white wines aged in oak, the Gold Medal was won by Jackson-Triggs' Niagara Estate, for its Chardonnay Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007. It shares the award with Italy's own Veronese IGT Bianco "Villa Cordevigo" 2006.

Canadian wineries won three of the top four categories in the Vini Dolci Naturali Category for still wines.

Konzelmann Estate Winery in Niagara won the Grand Gold Medal for its 2007 Vidal Icewine, Inniskillin won the Gold Medal for its 2006 Vidal Oak-Aged Icewine from Niagara and Jackson-Triggs won the silver medal for its 2007 Proprietors Reserve Grand Icewine.

Magnotta Winery also won the Grand Gold Medal in the Vini Spumanti Dolci category (sparkling sweet wine) for its Limited Edition 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine from the Niagara Region.

Inniskillin won the gold medal in the same category for its 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine.

news source :- Canadian wineries earn honours in Italy

Tough times ahead for small Niagara wineries

2009-04-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

Ontario winery representatives and at least one Niagara politician continue to rally for the renewal of an LCBO rebate program that some insiders say is crucial to the survival of many small wineries this year.

Without the LCBO incentive program-- which offers wineries 30 per cent return on every Vintners Quality Alliance bottle sold through the provincial liquor stores -- several wineries will have to rely once again on selling their products solely through their own retail stores.

With a recession gripping the globe and tourism expected to slump this summer, things could get rough for many Niagara wineries, particularly small ones, say industry insiders.

Some may be forced out of business unless the LCBO rebate program returns, said Norm Beal, chairman of the Wine Council of Ontario.

"I think that this program is absolutely critical and that it has to

come back," said Beal, president of Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery in Beamsville.

"If it doesn't come back then I paint a very grim picture for the industry, going forward."

Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak agrees, and is calling on the province to renew the three-year VQA Wine Support Program. The $10-million program, introduced by the Liberal government, expired March 31.

There was no mention in Thursday's provincial budget of renewing the program.

The program is helping wineries, Hudak said.

Previously, craft wineries found it was not profitable to sell their wines through the LCBO. Through the LCBO rebate program, wineries take home about half the profits of wines made with 100 per cent Ontario grapes. The program has resulted in more than 50 wineries placing top craft wines at the LCBO, up from 15 when the program launched in 2005.

Hudak said fewer wineries -- faced with steeper fees and taxes -- will likely sell their wines through the LCBO once the program is pulled.

"This budget should have been focused on job creation," said Hudak, a Progressive Conservative finance critic who is expected to run for the Tory leadership.

"This program helps create jobs in the grape and wine sector and supported agriculture. Frankly, it was a very short-sighted move of the government to cancel that program, particularly in these difficult economic times."

St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley told The Standard on Friday the government is aware of how important the LCBO program is to the industry, and is open to requests for it to continue.

Bradley said he was waiting for the outcome of ongoing talks between the province's grape growers and wineries designed to chart a course for the wine industry.

Last December, the province ordered the two sides to get together and create a plan after a huge grape surplus last fall that resulted in a $4-million bailout program for grape growers. More than 2,000 tonnes of grapes from 79 growers were dropped to the ground last fall.

But many more grapes may go unsold again this year if the wine industy struggles, Beal said.

The government has to step up and help the industry, and bringing back the LCBO rebate program is a crucial part of that, Beal said.

"I got to tell you we're in the same kind of pressure as ever ybody else is. I don't know why everybody thinks the wine industry is any better. Our banks our breathing down our necks."

news source :- Tough times ahead for small Niagara wineries

Canadian winery Iniskillin wins top prize at world's largest wine fair

2009-04-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

Canadian winery Inniskillin, from Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, has won the top prize at Vinitaly this year.

The winery has won the Premio Speciale Gran Vinitaly 2009 at the 17th annual Concorso Enologico Internazionale. Canadian wineries received a total of seven medals and 14 special mentions at the prestigious awards, which were officially announced today in Verona, Italy, at the world's largest wine fair.

More than 130,000 people will attend the fair, which starts today and runs through April 6. Thirty-four countries entered more than 3,500 wines in this year's competition, for some 110 medals. Results were judged by more than 100 wine critics, wine writers and winemakers from around the world gathered last week at Veronafiere in Verona.

This is not Inniskillin's first major Vinitaly award; the winery is renowned amongst international media and festival judges, primarily for its icewines. Other Canadian wineries also did well:

In the still white wine category designated by geographical zone, Magnotta Winery (from Vaughn, Ontario) received a special mention (Gran Menzione) for its Gewurztraminer Dry Niagara VQA Special Reserve 2007 and its 2007 Chardonnay.

Jackson-Triggs also received a special mention (Gran Menzione) for its Gewurztraminer Niagara Peninsula VQA Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007, as well as its Meritage White Gran Reserve Okanagan Valley 2007, from the Oliver Estate in the Okanagan.

And in the still wine category designated by geographic zone, for white wines aged in oak (Vini Bianchi Elaborati in Barrique o Communque Affinati in Legno), the Gold Medal was won by Jackson Triggs, Niagara Estate, for its Chardonnay Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007. It shares the award with Italy's own Veronese IGT Bianco "Villa Cordevigo" 2006.

In that same category, Inniskillin Wines won special mention for its Chardonnay Four Mile Creek "Montague Vineyard" 2007.

And Jackson-Triggs won special mention for its 2007 Sunrock Vineyard Chardonnay.

Jackson-Triggs also won a special mention in the Red Wine Category for wines from the past three vintages (2008, 2007 and 2006), for its 2007 Sunrock Vineyard Meritage Red and its 2006 Shiraz Grand Reserve, both from the Okanagan Valley. The same winery also won for its 2006 Delaine Vineyard Syrah from Niagara.

Canadian wineries won three of the top four categories in the Vini Dolci Naturali Category for still wines. Konzelmann Estate Winery in Niagara won the Grand Gold Medal for its 2007 Vidal Icewine. Inniskillin won the Gold Medal for its 2006 Vidal Oak-Aged Ice wine from Niagara. And Jackson-Triggs won the silver medal for its 2007 Proprietors Reserve Grand Ice wine.

In the same category, Strewn from Niagara won a special mention for its 2006 Cabernet Franc Icewine. Inniskillin won special mention for its 2007 Riesling Ice wine. Jackson Triggs won two special mentions for its 2007 Proprietors Reserve Riesling Ice wines from both Niagara and Oliver.

Inniskillin also won special mention for its 2007 Vidal Icewine from Niagara.

Magnotta Winery in Vaughn, Ontario, has also won the Grand Gold Medal in the Vini Spumanti Dolci category (sparkling sweet wine) for its Limited Edition 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine from the Niagara Region.

And Inniskillin won the gold medal in the same category for its 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine.

news source :- Canadian winery Iniskillin wins top prize at world's largest wine fair

World Wine Tour tonight

2009-03-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

Five places on five different continents putting out amazing wine. Each with its own idiosyncrasies. That's the point behind the third World Wine Tour in Kansas City, which features nearly every wine-producing area on the globe.

The event allows non-wine-experts one night of access to a library of wines -- chardonnay from all of the above-mentioned regions and others, for example. Or sangiovese -- it's known as the grape of Italian wine, but Argentina and Australia have formidable sangiovese crops that don't get much publicity. By comparing the Italian original to its imitators, you may find you like the non-Italian (and much cheaper) sangiovese more.

The World Wine Tour features more than 300 wines along with 801 Chophouse light appetizers that hopefully won't overwhelm the drinking experience. The last wine-tasting I attended that showcased this many wines was The Jefferson Cup and that event is closed to the public. So if you care about wine at all, take advantage of this unique opportunity.
News source :-World Wine Tour tonight

Outback Steakhouse quits Ontario

2009-03-24T22:50:00.000-07:00

The Outback Steakhouse has closed its nine Ontario restaurants, including outlets in Ancaster, Oakville and Niagara Falls.

The closure, effective yesterday, leaves the company with three Canadian restaurants -- in Edmonton.

"The decision to exit Ontario was a difficult one, and it was made only after considerable reflection and analysis," said a statement posted on the company's Canadian website.

The statement provides no explanation as to why the Australian-style steak house is leaving the province.

On its website, Outback Steakhouse said it is "looking for ways to honour active gift cards as conveniently as possible," and is asking customers to check its Canadian website again in about seven days for more details.

The other Ontario restaurants were in Windsor, Etobicoke, Kitchener, London, Richmond Hill and Whitby.

news source :- Outback Steakhouse quits Ontario

A Couple's Guide to Touring Wineries

2009-03-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

if I had to compile a list of times that I’ve been truly, unreservedly happy, many of them would involve wine tasting. I love feeling the slight chill of the air while walking through the barrel rooms and smelling the fermentation. And few things are better than exiting a tasting room into the sun and taking in the green hills.

I particularly savor wine tasting in late fall when the leaves on the vines are red and gold and the tasting rooms are far from crowded. A couple of weeks ago, however, I was hankering for a vacation and headed to Napa and Sonoma, CA for a long weekend. Despite the bare, pre-spring vines, the symmetry of the rows and the yellow mustard weeds that colored the vineyards were remarkable.

For any wine lover, it’s hard not to enjoy a wine excursion. But there are ways to make one even better. Knowing that I would be writing my first wine column for Hitched, I compiled a list of eight "before, during and after" tips to help you make the most of your next wine trip.
news source :- A Couple's Guide to Touring Wineries

COOL CLIMATE WINE TAKEN TO THE EXTREME

2009-03-18T01:26:00.000-07:00

There are not many things that can’t grow in our own California backyards. Almost anytime of the year, the valley is blessed with bounty that others envy, from fruits and vegetables to olives and wine grapes.

But, despite the breadth of vineyards and wineries that have sprouted up in the Santa Ynez Valley over the past 30 years, there is one type of wine we just can’t lay claim to: the bracingly rich and silky smooth style of ice wine.

The creation of ice wine requires a cold that most of us living in the warmth of the valley seek to avoid — bone-chilling, frost-biting, below-zero cold.

And that’s when the harvest for ice wine is just getting started.

So, even when on vacation and still seeking out the best in home-grown products, a recent visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada, provided the perfect opportunity to learn all about what Canadians call “extreme winemaking” and taste this amazing elixir they call ice wine.

“Ice wine is a concentrated wine made from grapes frozen naturally on the vine at minus 10 degrees Celsius,” explained Debi Pratt of Inniskillin Winery.

Pratt speaks in metric measurements because Inniskillin is one of the premiere wineries in the Niagara wine region of Canada. Using the Imperial system of measurement employed in the U.S., minus 10 degrees Celsius translates to a balmy 14 degrees Fahrenheit, but by any sane person’s reasoning, that is still pretty chilly for hand-harvesting grapes.

During the summer months, a drive through the wine region of Niagara looks very much like familiar territory.

At 43 degrees north latitude, the geography is roughly the same as the Napa Valley and slightly more southerly than vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

With soil rich in clay and loam, lakefront weather systems from Lake Ontario create perfect growing conditions in the Niagara escarpment.

So it should not be too surprising that more than 60 vineyards dot this tiny landscape.

For the most part, Niagara’s harvest season matches our own, except for vineyards that wait until sometime between mid-November and late March to harvest frozen grapes and press them before they can be allowed to thaw.

“Keep in mind the visual: the CSI moment,” said Pratt. “If you take a frozen grape and examine it under a microscope, there will be an amazing amount of ice crystals.

In a barrel press, shards of ice will puncture the inside of the skin and allow only the juices to flow that have not yet frozen,” she went on to say.

That small amount of juice — only one drop per grape — becomes ice wine. The fruit is gathered by hand in the middle of the night because any sunlight can warm the grapes too much and destroy the harvest.

If it doesn’t get cold enough, the harvest never happens.

If it gets too cold, the press yields nothing.

It is probably the riskiest type of winemaking. But Bruce Nicholson, senior winemaker at Inniskillin Niagara thinks it is worth it.

“It’s extreme wine making,” Nicholson conceded. “What does ‘extreme’ mean? With ice wine, we have no idea when or if we’ll get a harvest. Legally, it has to be after mid-November and no warmer than minus 8 degrees Celsius. My preference is for the temperature to get to minus 10 degrees or minus 11 degrees, despite a lower yield. When you get to minus 14 degrees, you’ve gone too far; it’s too cold and you’ll get no yield at all.”

When asked why he’s willing to brave the cold and uncertain conditions to create ice wine, his answer was simple.

“Taste it and you’ll see why,” he said.

He explains that his focus as a winemaker is to put a smile on the faces of everyone who tastes his wine, and he wants them to feel the experience is valuable

“Value becomes an important part of the equation because ice wine is a pretty expensive bottle of wine,” said Nicholson.

At upwards of $80 for a half-bottle, that’s no small understatement.

Price is one of the reasons why ice wine is considered a fairly exclusive dessert wine and reserved for after-dinner sipping.

“The magic of this type of wine comes from the balance between a high degree of sugar and a high degree of acidity,” he said. “It can truly go with many things.”

Sitting down to a six-course lunch with Executive Chef Jason Parsons of Peller Estates proved this philosophy to be true in a most impressive way.

Peller Estates, another winery powerhouse in the Niagara area, houses one of the most highly regarded restaurants in Canada that offers ice wine in abundance.

Another trend-setting feature of the restaurant is that well before it was fashionable to buy locally and eat seasonally, Parsons operated the kitchen solely on those principles.

The restaurant has two rules: bring into play as much estate wine in the cooking as possible and draw on only local ingredients.

“It is a real challenge, but it works. We will not cross borders,” Parsons stated. “We use products of the Niagara region and Ontario during the season, but never go beyond Canadian boundaries to find our ingredients, ever.”

“When people think of ice wine, they traditionally think of German Eiswein, which is really sweet,” Parsons said.

“But ice wines have a great balance to them. They have acidity, as well. For me, that’s what makes it a great wine to work with. It can start a meal. It can cool down spice. You can do so many things.”

Visiting Niagara was a surprising experience.

At a time when seeking the most authentic ingredients to create locally grown meals is so popular, it was inspiring to have the chance to visit another backyard and discover how they approach the goal.

So seek out a bottle of ice wine some night when our temperature get down to the low 40s and take a sip to remind yourself that somewhere out there, someone is harvesting grapes in the dead of night and sub-zero temperatures.
news source :- COOL CLIMATE WINE TAKEN TO THE EXTREME

Chilly times for pricey icewine

2009-03-16T02:51:00.000-07:00

Niagara wineries producing premium icewine should hold the line on pricing, even as the economy spirals downward, says a wine exporting expert.

The flagging economy has lessened demand for luxury goods such as Champagne and Canadian icewine, Randy Dufour told a crowd of winemakers at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention at Brock University on Wednesday morning.

But the Vincor Canada director of exports advised producers to stay the course when it comes to Canada's signature dessert wine product and try to keep prices steady on the country's best icewine.

Icewine typically costs upwards of $50 for a half bottle or 375 mL.

"What we do well compared to every other country around the world is icewine," said Dufour, whose portfolio includes icewine-making powerhouse Inniskillin Wines in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Not only does the Canadian wine industry need to remain focused on icewine, it needs to keep promoting its premium table wines, Dufour told the crowd.

It's too hard for Canada to compete on the world stage with mass market wines in the $10 range, he said.

Making wine in cool-climate Canada is just too expensive, he said.

"We have to focus on top end varietals," Dufour said.

"In the long-term, that's the only way we're going to succeed."

news source :- Chilly times for pricey icewine

Try a first-class wine and dine tour with slow season prices

2009-03-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

NIAGARA FALLS–Wine can't melt snow, but it sure can warm your heart.

With more than 80 wineries in the peninsula, Niagara is an oenophile's playground. If you had the constitution – and a designated driver – you could easily spend two weeks working your way from tasting to tasting, sipping, sampling and savoring.

Given that most of us just don't have the fortitude for a fortnight of frolicking, we have to choose our moments.

And the moment is now.

Winterglow, a Niagara-on-the-Lake celebration designed to light the darkest days of the year with entertainment, music, food and wine is about to begin its most delectable phase – Winterlicious.

From Feb. 26 through March 2, frugal gourmands will be treated to star performances by chefs at many of the area's best restaurants, such as the Grill at the Epicurean, the Hillebrand Winery Restaurant, LIV at White Oaks, the Riverbend Inn, and more. Lunch can be had for $20 to $25 and dinner for $30 to $35.

Slow-season deals at hotels and restaurants may not be anything new, but these are bargain basement prices at top-flight Niagara restaurants. It's enough to take your mind right off your stock portfolio.

Passionate about wine? Book your trip to Niagara for Cuvée, the wine lover's Oscar weekend. Running from Feb. 27 to March 1, Cuvée begins with an over-the-top, black tie Awards Gala celebrating the finest area wines and winemakers at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

On both Feb. 28 and March 1, the celebrations will continue along Niagara's famous wine trail as enthusiasts enjoy Cuvée en Route, a sipping, sampling, savoring and shopping opportunity at many of the area's most renowned wineries. Tickets for the Cuvée weekend are $200 and include all events.

If a glass of wine can blunt your winter blahs, just imagine what the addition of a bit of chocolate could do. Visit the 20 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake any time in February and experience special chocolate and wine pairings – the ultimate indulgence. A passport good for three weekends is $34.50 and is available by phone at 905-468-1950

There's more to Niagara than wine, of course, so you might want to visit White Meadow Farms near Vineland. The sap is beginning to run and, beginning Feb. 21 the maple sugar bush will be in full swing every weekend until March 29. A great opportunity for the kids to blow off some steam on a bright wintry weekend, a visit to the sugar bush starts with a hay ride, includes a chance to try tapping a tree, a self-guided tour with period-costumed hosts to provide explanations, demonstrations and an introduction to maple taffy pulling.

Be sure to arrive early enough for a pancake breakfast served with maple baked beans, maple muffins and tarts, maple cream cheese, maple apple crisp, maple cheese cake and more.

In case you're thinking that winter in Niagara offers nothing other than fine wine and great food, think again. Winter is perhaps the most spectacular time of year to ride the Niagara Skywheel, a four-season Ferris wheel in the heart of the Clifton Hill tourist area of Niagara Falls.With the trees bare, the view of the Falls from the Skywheel is unobstructed and mind-bendingly powerful। Beautiful at any time of year, the Falls are most dramatic when surrounded by bushes, rocks and railings coated in icy crystalsnn।

news source :-Try a first-class wine and dine tour with slow season prices

Intimate wine tours are the best

2009-03-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Most of us have certain wine merchants whose personalities we like and whose recommendations we trust. A decade after a pleasant visit to a winery, we still buy its wines. And we love to ask questions of touring winemakers at tastings.

So keep this in mind if you're planning a trip to wine country here or abroad. Wine tours should be small enough that you leave feeling you know the winemakers and chefs you met along the way.

I was reminded of this at a wine tasting and dinner at the Inn Keeper's Kitchen at the Dilworthtown Inn a few nights ago. Most of the people in the room were local folks who had gone on small-group wine tours of Italy with Amy Wadman and Summer Wolff, of the tour company diVino, who were pouring the wines of a Piedmont producer not yet distributed in the U.S. Both are trained sommeliers. Wadman's family moved to Tuscany when she was a young teen, and she decided to stay. Wolff grew up on Long Island, and she still works in the wine retail trade with D. Sokolin -- "but my cubicle now is in Tuscany."

The two specialize in custom tours throughout Italy and are just getting started across the border in Slovenia. "If our customers want to go to the big places like Banfi, of course, we'll take them there," Wadman says, "but most of the wineries we visit don't do tours, but they'll do lunches for us. Most of these people become our friends, and we socialize with them. So, in a way, our customers become their friends, too." Even though it's time-consuming, Wadman, who started diVino seven years ago, says, "I never take anyone to some place I have not visited recently."

Generally, they don't recommend customers buy wine at the places they visit if it's available in the U.S. because of shipping costs and airport hassles. But Wolff can arrange shipment of anything not easily available through her retail connections. And she also specializes in helping wine lovers put together their cellar collections -- and not just with Italian wines.

Some other diVino hints: Travel with people who enjoy similar pursuits. Decide what you want to do when not eating great food and drinking wine -- castles, cathedrals, shopping, hanging out with a good book. Decide how busy you want your itinerary.

news source :-Intimate wine tours are the best

Wollersheim Winery Open House Celebrates Prairie Fume

2009-02-24T04:42:00.000-08:00

Wollersheim Winery's annual open house is set for March 7 and 8 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visitors can learn at their leisure about winemaking and the winery's historical setting. A unique blend of activities both days includes grapevine pruning and cooking with wine demonstrations, winemaker talks, self-guided tours, and of course wine tasting. A new wine release with a new name and new style, Prairie Sunburst Red, can be tasted along with other Wollersheim wines. Prairie Sunburst Red is an unoaked fruity red wine, which embraces a new trend of softer reds. This “new red” is bursting with berry fruit flavors reminiscent of raspberries and is a red companion to Prairie Fume.

This year marks "20 Years of Good Taste" for Wollersheim Prairie Fume wine. Winemaker Philippe will celebrate this milestone sharing history on the creation of Prairie Fume, a light and refreshing semi-dry wine known and loved throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Each day commences with a Growing Grapes in Wisconsin talk accompanied by a Grapevine Pruning Demonstration set in the vineyard. Take an excursion through some of the winery's oldest vines learning pruning techniques for home grapevines as Winemaker Philippe and Vineyard Manager Bruce share what they have learned on pruning grapes in Wisconsin. This demonstration is offered on Saturday at 10:15 am and 2:30 pm and again on Sunday at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Gain some cooking with wine tips and enjoy a taste as guest chef, Paul Short, MATC Culinary Arts Chef Instructor, features Wollersheim Prairie Fume wine during cooking demonstrations held at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on Saturday and 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on Sunday.

In place of regular guided tours, visitors are invited to explore behind the scenes on a self-guided tour of the winery's fermentation room and underground aging cellars, plus other wine production areas not generally open to the public. Winery staff will be on hand to answer questions, as well as provide bottling line demonstrations between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm both days. In addition, a series of interactive displays along the self-guided tour give families of all ages a chance to learn together about growing grapes.
news source :-Wollersheim Winery Open House Celebrates Prairie Fume

Millionaire wants his own winery for rosy future

2009-02-21T04:18:00.000-08:00

The creator of an award-winning sparkling rose wants to build his own state-of-the-art winery near his home in Staplehurst, Yourmaidstone reports.

Richard Balfour-Lynn, the producer of Balfour Brut Rose, has submitted a planning application to Maidstone council for a multi-million pound winery to be built near his Hush Heath Estate.

Architects RBA have created a design for the purpose-built structure, which will now go before the council's planning committee for approval.

The sparkling wine, which has been referred to as“England's most exclusive Pink Fizz”is currently grown on the estate, near Maidstone, before the grapes are taken to Chapel Down winery in Tenterden.

The new winery is being built for operational and branding reasons to ensure the popular fizz to compete against other rose champagnes.

RBA describe the new build as:“A contemporary interpretation of traditional oak barns and Kentish oak houses.

"The layout of the building is split into three sections with two barn structures which house the winery operations.

"The building also includes a wine tasting facility which is located within the barrel vaulted section of the building, from which this affords views toward Hush Heath Manor and to the private courtyard within the centre of the buildings.”

The Hush Heath Estate is also where the millionaire makes his own Hush Heath Apple Juice.

Mr Balfour-Lynn, who owns the Hotel du Vin chain and retail store Liberty, boasts his Balfour-Lynn Rose, which is priced at £33, is good enough to challenge the French.

On his website the entrepreneur says:“My aim is to make the finest Rosé Sparkling Wine, comparable with the great Rosé Champagnes.

"The passion and enthusiasm by everyone involved with Balfour Brut Rosé has led to us winning a number of prestigious international awards.

"I set out with the vision of creating a uniquely memorable experience. Balfour is light, entertaining and fun, and more importantly, it knocks the socks off many French Champagnes."
news source :-Millionaire wants his own winery for rosy future

Lots locally at annual Ice Wine Festival

2009-02-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

The second annual Nova Scotia Ice Wine Festival is planned for Feb. 12-22 and many local events are scheduled.
Blomidon Winery in Habitant will be open both weekends for tastings. So will Domain de Grand Pre, which is hosting an ice wine and chocolate event Saturday, Feb. 14 from 1–4 p.m.
A tasting of 2004 Borealis ice wine made by the Benjamin Bridge Winery will take place on the terrace of the Tempest Restaurant Feb. 14 from noon to 3 p.m.
Other wineries in the area, such as L’Acadie Vineyards in Gaspereau, will be open both weekends.
The Kingstec Fire and Ice gala is set for Feb. 19. It gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40.
Winemaker Gina Haverstock of Gaspereau Winery will conduct an ice winemaking demonstration Feb. 21-22 at 2 p.m.
The Festival Closing Gala, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Wolfville, takes place Feb. 21 at the Fountain Commons at Acadia University.

news source :-Lots locally at annual Ice Wine Festival

Niagara: Romance sizzles amid quaint inns, cozay wineries and a glittering falls

2009-02-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario -- Near the park, the Shaw Festival Theatre is locked tighter than a Victorian corset. At the harbor, the petulant Niagara River is partly frozen, a white and blue montage of floating squares.

Winter here is starkly beautiful: a picture in sharp focus, a summer town gone quiet.

Good news for lovers: No one will ever look for you here.

Spend a weekend tucked away in some canopied four-poster bed in this little hamlet just four hours from Detroit, and you will return to regular life a happier couple.

A day trip to nearby Niagara Falls is hopelessly romantic, with the still-unfrozen falls wreathed in a coating of sparkling winter ice. You can even take a winter helicopter ride -- and did you know from the air, the Niagara whirlpool is in the shape of a heart?

Oh, and dozens of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries are open year-round, which means their tasting rooms are ready to help you burn off the winter chill. And -- well, we'll get to all that. Just start packing.

news source:- Niagara: Romance sizzles amid quaint inns, cozay wineries and a glittering falls

LCBO store plans toast to Canadian icewines

2009-02-09T03:21:00.000-08:00

One of Canada's most famous world exports will be celebrated here at home, with an icewine tasting event Saturday at the LCBO Roundhouse Centre store at 3165 Howard Ave.

The store will offer tasting-sized samples from noon to 4 p.m., along with an area chefs' competition for the best dessert match with the sweet wine and an artists' challenge, too.

Area artists will decorate icewine bottles that will be raffled off and proceeds will benefit the John Atkinson Memorial Fund in support of the Special Olympics.

Store customers can sample and vote on their favourite dessert as well as the artwork. Visitors can receive a grab bag with tasting tickets, ballots for voting, information on the artists and chefs and icewine information brochures. For information, contact the store at 519-972-1772.

Canada is the world's largest producer of icewine. Grapes are picked when temperatures drop below -8 C. Because the wine-making process must take place while grapes remain frozen, the actual icewine harvest often occurs in the middle of the night.

news source :-LCBO store plans toast to Canadian icewines

Sweet vino takes spotlight at ice wine festival

2009-02-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

The state’s top ice wine producers will converge in February in Perinton for the first New York Ice Wine Festival, at Casa Larga Vineyards.

The festival is the first of its kind in the country, according to Casa Larga. New York is one of the few places in the world able to produce ice wine, a sweet dessert wine made from frozen grapes.
In recent years, New York ice wines have received international acclaim, boosting them to the heights of such regions as Germany and Canada, known around the world for their outstanding ice wine production, a news release from Casa Larga said.

Recently, Casa Larga’s Fiori Vidal ice wine received a trophy for Best Dessert Wine from the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

In an effort to shine more light on these New York-made wines, Casa Larga has teamed up with other top wineries, including Heron Hill, Hunt Country and Sheldrake Point, to create the Ice Wine Festival, which is planned as an annual event.
source :- Sweet vino takes spotlight at ice wine festival

Canadians uncork their love for reds and whites

2009-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

Canadians may have a new passion to add after hockey: being wine connoisseurs or, at the very least, avid drinkers of the alcoholic beverage.

British firm IWSR found that wine consumption in Canada increased 26.6 per cent from 2003-07, and expects Canadians to continue to soak up wine bottles in 2012, when retail sales will increase by 29.3 per cent from 2008.

Whether Canadians will drink to forget their troubles during economically tough times is another matter.

"We're not pretending to give you a crystal ball view of the wine market, but this is our best guess," said Xavier de Eizaguirre, chairman of Vinexpo, who commissioned the study.

Canada isn't alone on the world stage when it comes to emptying wine bottles quickly. The study found that of the 114 wine-consuming countries it looked at, all but six are expected to drink more vino.

"The six countries that will experience a decrease are France, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Argentina and Spain; all six are wine producers," said de Eizaguirre.

New markets are also helping fuel the global demand for wine. Russia and China will account for 58 per cent of the growth in wine consumption in 2008 and 2009. While vineyards are seeing their vintages heading off to bold new markets, production continues to be dominated by three countries: France, Italy and Spain. The trio make up well over half of all wine produced.

The title of the biggest wine-drinking country is also expected to change hands in the coming years. In 2007, Italy usurped long-time wine drinking heavyweight France; by 2012, the United States will be the largest wine-drinking market in the world.

Overall, global wine consumption is expected to grow about six per cent by 2012. The study says the effects of a sluggish global economy "will be limited in overall terms," especially when smoothed out over the five-year period from 2007-12.

The study is the seventh consecutive look at the global wine market published by the IWSR. De Elzaguirre said that past studies haven't been far off the mark when making global predictions.

If current research holds true, Canadians will be toasting the future as sales of wine in Canada will grow at three times the global rate.

Source:- Canadians uncork their love for reds and whites

WINE TRAIL: Area wineries harvest grapes for second ice wine vintage

2009-01-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

The bitter cold temperatures last week helped winemakers at Niagara Landing and Schulze Winery in Burt harvest and process frozen wine grapes. The grapes will be used to make “ice wine,” a type of dessert wine that before last year local wineries were not successful at making. The reason was the weather wasn’t consistently cold enough.

“For three straight days the high temperature has to be less than 18 degrees,” Niagara Landing co-owner Jackie Connelly said.

Last week was certainly cold enough, with most high temperatures staying in single digits. Last year was also cold enough for the wineries to pick the frozen grapes, making 2008 the first time Niagara County wine makers could produce ice wine.

Grapes are left on the vine after harvest in the fall. The fermentation process occurs slowly after the grapes have been frozen and picked.

Niagara Landing began the harvesting of the frozen grapes on Saturday morning. A group of volunteers showed up in the bitter cold at 7:30 a.m. to pick the grapes. Treated to bagels and a cup of coffee, the volunteers started picking the frozen grapes at about 8 a.m. The group finished after two hours of picking Vidal blanc and Catawba grapes, and pressing continued into Sunday night.

Schulze Winery had its ice wine grape-picking Friday. Ann Schulze said a small group of regular workers and family picked Vidal blanc grapes, the traditional ice wine grape, as well as Catawba grapes.

“We decided to try them,” Schulze said of the Catawba grapes. “They have thick skin and it hangs well (on the vine). It’s going along nicely.”

Connelly said the wine could be ready sometime in late summer, or possibly fall. It all depends on how the juice from the grapes ferments.

“Every year is different,” she said.

Hopefully, the ice wine will not be all that different. Niagara Landing just learned Friday that Wine Enthusiast, a wine publication, rated its ice wine harvested last winter at 86 out of 100, and the wine will be featured in its April issue.

The fermentation process takes about four to six weeks, slower than most wines, Schulze said. That’s because the juice drips instead of flows, Connelly said. Last year’s wine has a sweeter taste, with hints of apricot, mango, papaya and some honey.

Source :- WINE TRAIL: Area wineries harvest grapes for second ice wine vintage

Heading into the year of affordable wines

2009-01-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

The year 2008 will be remembered by wine lovers as the year prices came back down to earth but now that they have, can we afford them?

Unfortunately, it took a pesky recession to start the downward trend in prices in all categories, across the spectrum, and shows no signs of recovery. The future for high-end, high-priced wines looks bleak as consumers trade down to more affordable wines.

Here are some predictions for 2009:

- The era of the big wine conglomerate is over. The mega wine-booze companies will have to parcel off individual wineries as profits plummet and consumers demand more for less. This is a good thing. The more independence there is, the better for all of us.

- I am not hopeful for the Canadian wine industry this year, especially in Niagara where a dreadful growing season left many growers with grapes that withered on the vine. The red wines from 2008 will be a struggle for most wineries with riesling, sparkling wines and icewine about the only bright spots. My one wish is that the LCBO takes its monopolistic head out of the sand and allows Ontario wineries better access to the consumer.

- It is my hope, as it is every year, that consumers keep discovering the ultimate pleasure of riesling wines. Whether it's dry, sweet, semi-sweet or from Canada, Germany or Australia, no other grape offers the pleasure that a well-made riesling can provide.

- Grape varietals that will be in high demand are malbec for red wine lovers, Canadian pinot blanc for white wine lovers and red-grape icewines for dessert wine lovers.

- Wine tourism in both the Okanagan and Niagara will explode this year. With gas prices dropping and the U.S. dollar getting stronger visitors from south of the border as well as Canadians looking to stay close to home this summer will find what many of us already know -- our own wine country is the perfect place to unwind with good food, good wine and spectacular scenary.

- I enjoyed many a good wine in 2008 -- Opus One 1994 on an outdoor patio in Calgary, E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2004 during my first virtual tasting, Wolf Blass Platinum Label 2005 while golfing with PGA tour player Stephen Ames. But, I must narrow it down to just one for my wine pick of the year. So here it is:

- Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling Barossa 2006 -- When picking wines of the year, it helps to have some fond memories to go with the wine. It doesn't get any better than a secluded white sand beach on the shores of Kangaroo Island, Australia, fresh-caught and grilled King George Whiting fish, and frosty glasses of this mostly single-vineyard riesling from Jacob's Creek. Steingarten is one fine drop of wine with distinctive aromas and flavours of fresh citrus mingling with minerals, smoke, hazelnuts, and a hint that it will develop petrol if cellared properly.

Source :- Heading into the year of affordable wines

Let the wine flow: Icewine festival commences

2009-01-18T21:07:00.000-08:00

Delicious scents and wines were in abundance at the Taste of Sun Peaks event at the Delta Ballroom last night for the opening of the Sun Peaks Icewine festival. Businesses and vineyards of the Thompson Okanagan region came together to create a mouth watering event, sure to appeal to food and wine enthusiasts.

In its 11th year, the Sun Peaks Icewine festival got off to a great start. Adding new flavour to the event this year was Subculture Bistro's temari sushi. Temari sushi are made of rice topped with a thin layer of salmon, or other ingredients, and then shaped into small balls. A type of Kyoto sushi, temari sushi is made of cured or simmered ingredients.

Cheese from British Columbia was also a big hit of the evening, with three new cheeses featured this year. Farmhouse, a firm cheese with a hint of fruit and sweet milk, was delicious when paired with white wine. Two organic cheeses from Gort's Gouda Cheese Farm located in Salmon Arm were simply delectable. One was the Beaufort, a type of cheese made of cow's milk that goes well with white wine, and an aged Gouda, a famous dessert cheese and aged for at least two years.

It wasn't only the food at the event that tempted the taste buds. Wine connoisseurs were able to sample wines from five different wineries. Sumac Ridge, Stoneboat Vineyards, Twisted Tree, Tinhorn Creek Vineyard and Antelope Ridge had a great selection of wines to suit everyone's tastes with several red varieties as well as the popular icewine .

To go along with all this, an icewine event would not be complete without a little sweetener. Chocolate lovers savoured their wine with fresh fruit dipped into the chocolate fountain from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

The events continued today with All You Need Is Cheese… for Dessert , the Magic of Dessert and Wine, and one of the pinnacles of the festival, the Winemasters' Dinner commencing at 6:30 p.m.

Several events will be held tomorrow and Friday, ending with the Sun Peaks Progressive Tasting.

source :- Let the wine flow: Icewine festival commences

Niagara winery owner making icewine inroads in China

2009-01-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

Charlie Pillitteri looks at the consumer appetite for icewine in China and sees it growing.

That means opportunity for his family's Niagara-on-the-Lake winery, Pillitteri Estates Winery, one of the largest producers of icewine in Canada.

"It's the biggest market in the world," Pillitteri said.

"There's (billions) of people there."

For several years, Pillitteri has been looking for avenues and business partners to sell the winery's Canadian-made icewine in China.

He's found them, most recently with a bit of help from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which gave him a two-year $108,000 grant in 2006 to study icewine prospects in the emerging economic superpower.

This week, the Niagara winery's grant was singled out in a Canadian Press story examining whether CIDA should still send aid to China.

The agency's industrial co-operation program, which matches Canadian companies with job-creating partners overseas, has been an especially broad target for skeptics and auditors.

The Stephen Harper government is reviewing the use of funds that are desperately needed in the world's poorest countries.

But Pillitteri has said he's met the goals of the program, created more than 30 jobs in China and guided them on human rights issues, such as hiring women. Pillitteri said he has spent about three times the amount that was given by CIDA.

Through the program, he has partnered with Chinese winemakers Xingiang Winery in Xinjiang and The Great Wall Winery in Beijing.

Pillitteri will soon sell Canadian-made icewine under a Chinese label through Xingiang Winery in northeast China. He's also been teaching his Asian partners how to make authentic icewine by crushing frozen grapes.

Fake Canadian icewine has been a huge problem in China and other Asian countries. Pillitteri said teaching the Chinese how to make icewine will help keep the integrity of Canada's most prized luxury wine product.

"We're selling them real icewine but also teaching them how to make real icewine.

"If they're going to make real icewine, they're going to have to make it the way we make it," said Pillitteri, who sells about $1 million of icewine a year in China through six agents.

More importantly, Pillitteri said he's trying to establish Canada as a global business player and find more buyers for a luxury product that has a limited market in Canada.

"If it really says to Canadians we better start waking up and be global players, we better start being competitive. Right now, we're not. We live in our own little world, and China's moving. China is doing what it's going to do. If we don't protect icewine it's going to be lost. That's the way I see it."

But Kevin Ker, a vineyard consultant based in Fenwick who has done fieldwork in China, sees a danger in helping the Chinese make icewine.

The Canadian wine industry has always positioned icewine as its premier product on the international stage, Ker said. China could make huge volumes of lesser quality icewine at cheaper prices as it has with countless other goods, he said.

"Theoretically, are you creating another competitor for your own product?" Ker said.

The flipside, Ker said, is that by introducing the Chinese to pricey icewine, more people might buy it.

Norm Beal, chairman of the Wine Council of Ontario, said other countries such as Austria and Germany are already making icewine and welcomes the competition.

If the Chinese get a taste for icewine, it could open up opportunities for other Canadian wineries.

Pillitteri isn't the only Niagara winery with ties to China.

In September 2007, icewine producer King's Court Estate Winery in St. Catharines announced it had sold 75 per cent of its business to Chinese winemaker Tongua Grape Wine Co. for $7 million.

Under the partnership, King's Court produces icewine in Niagara and ships it overseas while also offering viticultural advice to the Chinese grape producers.

article source :- Niagara winery owner making icewine inroads in China

Marynissen left mark on wine industry

2009-01-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

To those who knew him, John Marynissen was a strong, passionate person who was a pioneer in the Niagara wine industry -- someone who cared not only about the quality of wine he produced but also the conditions of the grapes he grew that produced the award winning vino.

Marynissen, the founder of Marynissen Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, died Jan. 2. He was 84.

While friends, family and peers in the wine industry knew Marynissen as one of the leaders in the wine industry, to his daughter, Sandra, Marynissen will always be her dad.

"He was so passionate about what he did," Sandra said. "He enjoyed growing grapes and later making wine. Even when he retired at 65, he would never stop caring. I always sought input from him on winery operations. He was my father, mentor and best friend. He was the smartest man I knew."

As a father, Sandra said Marynissen was always a busy man, working two to three jobs to support his family.

When he wasn't working at the winery or farming, Sandra said her father would often take the family up to Northern Ontario where they would go fishing.

"He loved to go up north. The more remote the area, the better," Sandra said. "One of the fondest memories I have as a kid is going fishing and catching pickerel and rainbow trout. That was one of my father's passions."

Born in the Netherlands, Marynissen immigrated to Canada in 1952. One of his first jobs in Niagara was working on a farm picking fruit in Niagara Falls.

In the 1970s, Marynissen purchased a farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake where he became one of the first to plant vinifera grape varieties. Marynissen was one of the first to plant the Cabernet Sauvignon variety in Niagara.

A former Grape King, Marynissen founded Marynissen Estates Winery in 1990. Among his many accomplishments included winning the Cuvee award for best red wine in 1996 and 1997, winning the first Grapes for Humanity Award by Tony Aspler and a lifetime achievement award from the Ontario Wine Society.

Karl Kaiser, co-founder of neighbouring Inniskillin Wines, said he first met Marynissen when Inniskillin used some of his grapes for wine production. Kaiser described Marynissen as a down-to-earth individual who had a very realistic outlook on the Niagara wine industry.

"He had a good judgement on where the wine industry was heading," Kaiser said. "He was honest about his opinions and saw everything in a positive light. I appreciated that."

Kaiser described his friendship with Marynissen as a great one and the two had become close, especially during the many fishing trips up north.

"We talked about smelt fishing and grapes," Kaiser joked.

Kaiser's Inniskillin partner, Donald Ziraldo, said Marynissen was a true winegrower who had a great following with wine afficionados. Ziraldo said his friend was an honest and humble person who was there to lend a helping hand.

"Karl and I were always flattered when he complimented us for helping him when he needed some assistance," Ziraldo said.

Family friend Peter Buis said Marynissen was his mentor and helped him get into amateur winemaking.

"Some of my first wines were made using his grapes," Buis said. "He was always researching the different ways of growing grapes and mastered how to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. He was one of the best."

Buis said Marynissen was also a man of a thousand traits, and was an accomplished accordion player, played in a band and an experienced taxi driver in his native Holland.

"He also knew how to have a heated conversation," Buis said. "We would debate for hours."

Marynissen is survived by his wife of 57 years, Adriana. Sandra said above everything else in his life, Marynissen's first love was his wife.

"My mom and dad were 57 years strong. He loved her," Sandra said. "Dad would always tease her into an argument or two, but it was always done out of love."

Marynissen is also survived by his children, Anne, Sandra, John Jr., Thomas, eight grandchildren, brother Adrian and sisters Anny and Jo. He is predeceased by son Tony.

A funeral took place Tuesday at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In lieu of flowers, the Marynissen family asked well-wishers to make a donation to the new St. Catharines General Hospital Fund in John Marynissen's name.

news source :- Marynissen left mark on wine industry

Touring ice wine county in Ontario

2009-01-05T02:31:00.000-08:00

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario — They're out there now, chilling on the vines, long after the other grapes' fall harvest. The Rieslings and Vidals of Ontario's vineyards are destined for bottles of the region's "liquid gold": ice wine.

I had heard of the dessert wine before, even tried it once or twice, but I learned more about it — and came to appreciate it — in September, when a money-saving idea turned into an unexpected road trip. My destination was Toronto, but I discovered it was cheaper to fly to Buffalo and then drive or take a bus to my goal city. Rounding up three friends to split a rental car made economic sense, and setting aside a whole day to make the two-hour drive turned out to be brilliant. We stopped by Niagara Falls, of course, and then hit the road for wine country.

Driving to Niagara Falls from Buffalo, we could see from a distance a white plume of mist rising like industrial smoke from the falls. On both the American and Canadian sides, we gawked at the thunderous cascades.

I liked the Canadian side better, with its head-on views of both major falls and its carnivalesque collection of casinos, hotels and such attractions as the Guinness World Records Museum, an old-fashioned fun house and junk food galore. Though it was well before noon, we got hot dogs from a friendly teenage vendor who darted after us with a forgotten soda. What service!

Suitably fortified, we drove north to Niagara-on-the-Lake's Inniskillin, the winery that put Canadian ice wine on the map.

Since the 1970s, when a few aspiring winemakers recognized the grape-friendliness of the land and opened the first Ontario vineyards, the region's wine production has taken off, with wineries now numbering more than 100. In the mid-1980s, winemakers started to realize that the region's hot summers and cold winters might be suited to something far more valuable than table wine, and in 1991, Inniskillin's founders, Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo, entered their Vidal Icewine in a prestigious French wine competition and won.

A bottle of ice wine routinely sells for three or four times the price of regular table wine. No wonder other Ontario wineries soon got into the act.

The road to Inniskillin runs parallel to the Niagara River, which separates the United States from Canada and links Lake Erie to the south with Lake Ontario to the north. The fields look nothing like the ones in, say, Northern California or Tuscany: They stretch flat all the way to the horizon, the rows perpendicular to the river to let the breezes off the water circulate.

After visiting the vines, touring the cellar and learning about the complex chemical processes of winemaking, we gathered for the tasting. ("That's what you all came here for, right?" the guide asked jovially.) A few sips of the red and white table wines preceded the big reveal: Inniskillin's famed Vidal Icewine, which was fruity, thick and joltingly sweet.

Before we left, I asked our guide how I could volunteer for the harvest, which seemed as if it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She gave me an "are you crazy?" look, as if I'd just asked where I could buy tapeworms.

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FARE OF THE COUNTRY; Wine From Young Vines in Southern Ontario

2009-01-02T03:29:00.000-08:00

NOT far from Niagara Falls in southern Ontario, venturesome wine-minded travelers will discover a region rich with young wineries. Like the Napa Valley of the early 1970's, the peninsula between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is fertile territory for new, ambitious estates with big ideas. They are coaxing good wine from young grapevines and impatiently awaiting the nuances that come with older vines and more cellar experience.

Some 25 wineries -- 21 of them established since 1979 -- are cultivating grapes on 15,000 acres luxuriant with European vinifera vines. Entrepreneurs are so optimistic that applications for licenses to start 12 more wineries are pending before the provincial Liquor Control Board. Land values and planted acreage have risen. New buildings, German wine presses and sleek Italian bottling machines are appearing. And rising reputations are nudging revenues upward: Since 1990, sales of the peninsula's premium wines have increased 100 percent.

The region's top wineries are spread across a fruit belt that one enters minutes after crossing the bridge into Niagara Falls, Canada. All welcome visitors, and have inviting tasting rooms. It takes little time to go between wineries on the uncrowded roads.

Fields of apricots, apples, peaches and pears, punctuated by farmstands, come into view across a broad plain bounded on the north by Lake Ontario, on the east by the Niagara River and on the south by a ridge called the Escarpment. Most of the vines are scattered across the plain, with choice grapes also cultivated on the ridge's low slopes, which winegrowers call "the bench." The huge lake is the winegrowers' ally. Its air currents butt against the ridge, plunge downward over the benchland and circulate back across the plain. During the warm growing season, this rotation cools and dries the vines, preventing rot; in the spring, the cool air delays budding and prevents late frosts; in the fall and winter, the never-freezing lake moderates the peninsula's temperatures, preventing severe damage to vines.

Canadians joke that Americans, expecting tundra, are stupefied by the peninsula's vast vineyards. Such whites as chardonnay and riesling, the region's strongest suit, and reds like cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and pinot noir now feed a modern industry born in 1975. That's when the provincial government gave Inniskillin, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the first winery license since 1929, opening the way for more boutique wineries and ending the era of low-grade wines that date from the late 1800's.

Concentrating on the European grapes, these estates have radically altered Canadians' taste formed by simple mass-market wines made from native grapes like Concord and Niagara. Competition forced giants like Brights and Andres to follow suit. In 1988, the boutiques' victory was sealed when the provincial government banned the use of Concord and Niagara for still wines.

The best time to visit Ontario's wine region is mid-May through October. A non-meandering drive across the grapevine zone takes less than an hour, but it's more enjoyable to extend the trip by stopping at several wineries. Wine-route signs direct visitors to estates for a tour and tasting. Most wineries will give visitors an ounce of each varietal to try free of charge. Americans can bring home a liter of wine duty-free; most come back with two bottles, more than a liter, and are not usually charged extra duty and tax for the two. Wines range from $7 to $15 a bottle. (Prices are based on an exchange rate of $1.25 in Canadian currency to the dollar.)

At the nine leading wineries I visited in March -- Chateau des Charmes, Cave Spring, Henry of Pelham, Hillebrand, Konzelmann, Inniskillin, Marynissen, Reif and Vineland -- first-year oak barrels perfumed the air and stainless-steel equipment looked newly minted. (However, apart from the comfortable, woody tasting rooms, the esthetics were generally low-budget.)

"Ontario is in a very big experimental stage," said Karl J. Kaiser, the wine maker at Inniskillin. "I'm betting on pinot noir." He uncorked a zippy '92 auxerrois and a meaty '92 petite syrah, which visitors can try in the tasting room in a converted barn near the cool, spacious winery.

Why Should You Join a Wine Club?

2008-12-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

Not sure what wines to buy? Always buy the same thing? Looking for a regular supply of wines direct to your door? If the answer is yes to any of the above, then you should consider joining a wine club. Wine clubs have become increasingly popular in recent years and offer a number of benefits when it comes to buying wine.

The main advantage of joining a wine club is that you get to enjoy a regular supply (monthly or quarterly depending on the wine club) of expertly selected wines. Unlike a supermarket or wine shop when you are faced with rows and rows of wines and unsure what to buy, with a wine club all the research is done for you. You get to taste a whole host of award winning wines, customer favourites, pre-releases and undiscovered gems that you otherwise may not have chosen. What’s more, you’ll be sure to have a bottle of wine to hand, perfect for every occasion.

Another advantage of joining a wine club is that you will receive detailed information about each of the wines. This can help when it comes to picking out wines in the future (particularly if you are new to wine), as you get to learn more about what you are drinking and the winemakers who produce the wines. Some wine clubs encourage you to rate or comment on the wine. This can be useful as you get to remember your favourites and you also get to see what other customers think of the wines before you taste them.

Joining a wine club is one of the easiest ways of buying wine. As you sit back and enjoy your wines, you can rest assured that the hard work is being done to prepare your next wine club case for you. And with delivery direct to door, you don’t have to lift a finger.

Some wine clubs offer an incentive to encourage you to join, such as a price reduction or free gift. Once you’ve joined, you’ll also probably benefit from other savings such as discounted cases or exclusive promotions. Virgin Wines’ online wine club goes the extra mile and offers a money back guarantee, so if you find that you don’t like a wine that has been selected for you, you can get your money back.

In addition, as a member of a wine club, you may receive invitations to tasting sessions or events. These can be a great way of meeting other people interested in wine, chatting to the experts who select your wines and trying new ranges.

Finally, with many wine clubs to choose from, it’s worth picking one that offers you freedom and flexibility. So if you decide that you want to skip a case or modify the selection where you don’t like a wine, this shouldn’t be a problem.

A wine club is a great option if you are looking to learn more about wine and they are a really convenient way of keeping stocked up with wine. Wine clubs do vary from one to another, so it’s best to check the details and terms first to ensure that you choose the best one for you. To find out about Virgin Wines’ Discovery Wine Club, which specialises in bringing you boutique wines from up and coming winemakers, and which offers all of the benefits mentioned above plus more, visit virginwines (dot) com.

Louise Truswell has been working in and writing about the wine industry for a number of years. More Information about Virgin Wines, please visit us - http://www.virginwines.com/wine-club

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2008-12-26T04:21:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-25T03:22:00.000-08:00

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Where Are The Most Romantic Destinations?

2008-12-24T23:55:00.000-08:00

Is it time for a romantic getaway? If you had to think a moment, chances are it is. The truth is, anytime's the right time for a romantic getaway. The hard part is coming up with the best destination to let the sparks fly. Here, then, are some of the best romantic destinations in the world.

Paris

Paris is known as the "Romance Capital of the World," and for good reason. For lovers there are so many romantic places to visit: The quays of the Seine, its leafy squares and elegant parks, the many small and romantic restaurants. Or better still, you could book a cruise on the River Seine.

Barbados

Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island sometimes referred to as the â€œloverâ€™s paradise.â€ If walking with your loved one along miles of unbroken sandy beaches appeals to you, then Barbados is your romantic destination. While there try one of the local sunset cruises on a yacht or tall ship.

Gretna Green

Never heard of Gretna Green? You should. It's often referred to as the "Wedding Capital of the World." Gretna Green is a small, historic village on the west coast in the south of Scotland, on the Scottish/English border, where everything, it seems, is geared to romance. While there you might want to stay at Comlongon Castle, which is located 15 minutes from Gretna, and also serves as a very popular castle wedding venue. A restored 14th Century Medieval Scottish castle, Comlongon offers 14 individually themed 4-poster bedrooms perfect for romance.

Poconos

The Poconos in Pennsylvania is another destination which has been called the "Romance Capital of the World," popular as a destination for couples getting married or on their honeymoon. If you want the ultimate in romance, check out the Roman Tower Suite at Pocono Palace, which is designed with a Grand Roman theme. Of course, what's grand to some is gaudy to others, but the Roman Tower Suite comes with floor-to-ceiling columns, vaulted ceilings, and a 7-foot tall Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath built for two.

Niagara Falls

What the world needs is another "Romance Capital of the World." That's why there's Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River on the border between New York and Ontario. It's not the tallest waterfall in the world, but it's certainly the most famous - for its beauty, its power, and its weddings. Niagara Falls is actually a collection of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls (called by some the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.

Virginia

Yes, Virginia, Virginia is for Lovers, as the tourism and travel slogan goes. And, romantic it is. With over 5,000 miles of shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, how can you possibly not find romance in Virginia? And, for those wine lovers among you, Virginia is also home to over 60 wineries. While there you might want to stay at one of Virginia's most romantic B&B's, Cedars of Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast, located just a 7-minute-walk to Colonial Williamsburg.

Catalina Island

Catalina Island is so romantic, they had to write a song about it. The "Island of Romance," located approximately 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, has been host to romantics and newly-wedded couples for decades. Try timing your visit with a special event held at the Casino Ballroom, one of the most wonderful art deco treasures in Southern California. If you have an opportunity to dance at the Casino, you have to take it.

Tips to Consider When Planning Your Romantic Getaway

Consider booking the honeymoon suite, if your hotel has one. Honeymoon suites are not just for just-married couples. For a bit more money, you may be able to get a Jacuzzi in the suite, rose petals scattered around or even a heart-shaped bed.

Consider room service. Your romantic getaway can be even more romantic when you include a candlelight dinner in the hotel room itself.

Consider whatâ€™s around your hotel or lodging. Think about a romantic walk to a nearby park, or an excursion to a beautiful museum, or a romantic dinner out. There are many things that you can do to increase the romance. Find out what there is to do around the hotel that will be romantic. Remember, planning a romantic getaway is more than just picking a romantic location.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Lost Valley Winery

2008-12-24T04:21:00.000-08:00

If you're an Australian wine lover with a taste for Italian wines, there's no need for an expensive plane ticket to get your fix. You can enjoy an exceptional Italian wine in the form of Lost Valley Winery's Cortese wine, famous not only for its unique, refreshing flavours, but also because it's the only wine of its kind produced in Australia. Respected wine critics like Robert Parker, Huon Hooke and Ralph Kyte-Powell have only good things to say about the Lost Valley Cortese wine, impressed at the winery's commitment to keep producing excellent vintages of their interesting wine.

Lost Valley Winery is widely recognised as one of the top boutique wineries in Australia, and possibly the world. Their wines are exported to Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and Indonesia. You know you're on to something special when the top American wine distributors single out your wine as "incredible" when compared to other producers in the same category. This doesn't just apply to the Cortese wine either; an Italian wine variety. Their Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Shiraz have all won multiple accolades and praise in the local wine community. Lost Valley Winery has gone beyond merely churning out bottles of wine year after year; they've set a standard in the industry for everyone keen on making lasting impressions in the national and international arenas.

Situated on the sloping hills of Great Dividing Range in Victoria, the two vineyard sites in the Upper Goulburn region yield Lost Valley Winery's four main varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Shiraz and the interesting Italian wine Piedmont native, Cortese. Despite the warm temperatures during summer, the cool air of the mountain is soothing and allows for a slightly slower ripening period. The grapes to reach full maturity at more relaxed pace. The high slopes keep the frost off the vineyards during the colder months, and the precious rainwater nourishes the clayey soil before it filters into the King Parrot Creek, a tributary of the Goulburn River. The conditions of this region can be extreme, but all four wines emerging from the Lost Valley Winery plantings are consistently rich, complex and of excellent quality. Alex White, widely regarded as one of Australia's best-known and skilled winemakers, is the man behind the award-winning Lost Valley wines. Alex is directly involved in the wine-making process, from tending the growing vines to overseeing the wine-making process itself.

Lost Valley wines are widely available in stores throughout Australia, but to sample some of the special stuff they hold back, take the day and venture out to the winery in the Goulburn Valley region. Be sure your directions are accurate though: the owners only found the place because they got lost, hence the name. The wines at the cellar door aren't typically the wines in the stores and restaurants, so more than just experiencing the beauty of the winery's setting, you're also enjoying the exclusivity of some very fine wines, including Italian wine varieties. You can order the wines direct from Lost Valley Winery’s cellar door at www.BoutiqueWineries.com.au/winery/LostValleyWinery

Tried Ice Wine

2008-12-17T04:02:00.000-08:00

Wine is really becoming very popular and is often drunk by people everyday. Although it's important that you don't drink too much, a glass per night is perfectly OK. Some people drink wine just for the alcoholic effects whilst other people drink it because they understand the complex flavours and how they interact with the food that they are eating. There are so many different types of wine and it's important that you learn about what wines should be taken with which foods. Although you will know of popular wines such as Chardonnay and Chianti, you might not know what an ice wine is.

Basically ice wine is made from grapes that have been harvested much later than most other types and are then turned into wine during the winter. The reason they harvest the grapes later in the year is so that they can absorb plenty of sunlight and produce as much sugar as possible.

The grapes are protected form the cold with covers and then harvested in the middle of winter so that they can then be turned into what we know as ice wine. Because there is a lot of sugar in ice wine, the levels of alcohol need to be increased so that the yeast is killed off. This is why you will find that ice wine has a very high alcohol content in comparison to most other types of wine. 20 to 40% alcohol is typical.

Because of the sweetness and alcohol content, this is not the sort of wine that you drink in large quantities. Instead you sip it in small amounts and you can have it well chilled. If you want to have it with a dessert then you will find that fruit tarts are very complimentary.

Canada is very well known for ice wine however you are now seeing it in other countries too.

In addition to ice wine, other types of dessert wine include port and sherry. Port originates from Portugal, hence the name and can be eaten with strong cheese such as stilton. A variety of red grapes can be used but white grapes aren't.

Sherry is another popular drink, although you would never call it "trendy" as the older generation tend to drink this. You can drink sherry before the meal begins and is something that you should try even if you do think it's just a drink for old people.

If you think of wine as something that you want to learn about and not just drink for the purposes of getting drunk then learning about all the different types of wine can actually be very enjoyable as well as educational.for information please visit http://www.pointarticles.com/

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2008-12-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

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peller wine club

2008-12-16T03:58:00.000-08:00

The Peller Estates Wine Club gives us the chance to share our wines with you. Personal service, exclusive offers and a taste of wine country delivered to your door are just some of the benefits members enjoy. A Wine Club Membership also makes a great gift for family, friends and business associates.

Join our wine club and every month you will receive two bottles of our premium VQA wine, accompanied by insightful tasting notes written by Winemaker Lawrence Buhler. Each wine is also paired with a recipe created by Chef Jason Parsons from the Peller Estates Winery Restaurant. At the winery, you and your guests will receive complimentary tastings, seminars and invitations to exclusive members-only events. These are just some of the membership benefits you can look forward to. if you want more information please visit www.peller.com

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2008-12-15T22:41:00.000-08:00

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Information on Ontario’s Wine Region

2008-12-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ontario’s Wine region is blessed with a ‘cool climate’ that means that at the time of harvest grapes have more concentrated flavors and balanced acidity levels. Further, the “lake effect” caused by lakes Erie and Ontario protects the precious vines from frosts in the spring and grants the benefits of an extended growing season in the fall. Add to this the influence of Ontario’s soils on the quality of grapes; there are many different varieties of grapes that can be produced in the four viticultural areas of Ontario.

Sandy loam soil is found near the Lake Ontario shore, while silty clay is found on the escarpment bench areas. Because of the unique quality of these soils the Niagara Escarpment wineries and Lake Ontario have been able to create a microclimate suitable for the production of World Class Wines.

Wine Tours

To experience some of the most incredible wines you can opt for Niagara on the lake wine country tours. These wine tours offer you the thrill of enjoying a multi-course lunch or dinner at a scenic winery location. You can choose from beautiful courtyard settings, bistros with expansive vineyard views, exceptional award winning Niagara on the lake restaurants.

peller Winery

peller is one of the best Niagara on the Lake wineries that captures the essence of Niagara’s wine lifestyle in a stunning and relaxed environment. Hillebrand ice wine was the first icewine to come out of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Icewine is produced by allowing the grapes to freeze naturally on the vine. Grapes in this condition acquire the optimum level of sugar and flavor. Ontario’s Niagara region is currently the largest producer of icewines. Hillebrand also pioneered the production of Trius in the Niagara region. Trius is a blend of selected best Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.

Grape And Wine Festival Wine enthusiasts can also look forward to the Niagara grape and wine festival that takes place in the middle of September when the area celebrates the annual harvest of the grapes. Over a hundred exciting events take place during this ten day celebration. The attendees get the opportunity of wine tasting, sampling the best of the regional cuisine, being entertained by live concerts and enjoying the pageantry of two outstanding parades. If you’re visiting in late January, the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has an Ice Wine Celebration based around the harvesting of the ice wine grapes.

The VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) consists of a set of standards for winemaking excellence from the vineyard right through to the bottling line. Every Ontario VQA wine earns its position by meeting demanding standards and then undergoes complete laboratory and taste testing. If a wine has VQA on its label, you can be sure that it represents authenticity and quality. Perfect grapes, a Passion for winemaking and an Obsession for quality is the essence of VQA certified Ontario wines. more information please visit www,peller.com

2008-12-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

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A gift from canada: Ice wine

2008-12-08T04:07:00.000-08:00

As the cold winter months arrive, so does one of the wine world's best-kept secrets: ice wine. Truly Jack Frost's gift to the wine lover, ice wines are dessert wines made from frozen grapes. The water inside these frosty berries has crystallized, leaving a juice highly concentrated with sugars, acid and extracts. The result is wine with intensified flavors and complexity.

The making of ice wine is part of its allure. True ice wines require the grapes to freeze naturally on the vine (as opposed to the mechanical freezing of them after harvest). This requires a hard frost (below 15 degrees F) to occur after ripening.

Most icewines grapes must hang on the vine for months and aren't harvested until December or January. The berries must still be frozen when pressed, so harvesting often occurs by hand and in the dead of night.

Once picked, the grapes are pressed within hours in an unheated facility. The frozen water crystals are left behind and only the concentrated juice runs from the press.

Keep in mind that each frozen grape only yields a few precious drops of juice. Combine that with the extreme working temperatures, and it's easy to see why ice wines can be expensive. Expect to pay upwards to $40 a half-bottle -- but these wines are well worth it.

While the distinction of making the first ice wines belongs to the Germans, Canada has become the world's largest producer of this winter nectar. This is because the cold winters and unusually consistent freezes provide ideal growing and harvesting conditions. In Canada, ice-wine production is regulated; grapes must freeze naturally to be called ice wine.

Founded in 1975, Inniskillin Wines grows its grapes in the appellation of Niagara's Peninsula in Ontario. It's become one of Canada's premier estate wineries and producers of exceptional ice wines.

The Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine, 2002, is racy and intense with orange blossom, dried apricot and honey. The initial sweetness of this wine bursts on your palate with a beautifully delayed, mouth-cleansing acidity.

Also excellent is the Inniskillin Vidal Oak Aged Ice Wine, 2002. Rich and thick with a sweet-tart character, this wine possesses aromas of mango, guava and apricot.

If you prefer non-oaked whites, try the Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine, 2003. This ice wine has a beautifully fruity, floral nose and a lingering finish with litchi, apricot and caramel notes.

Also from Ontario, Magnotta Winery has earned a reputation for its fine ice wines. The Magnotta Vidal Ice Wine, Lake Erie North Shore, 2003, is the winery's flagship ice wine and has become one of the world's best-selling.

Vidal Blanc grapes are often used in ice wines because their thick skin enables the clusters to withstand the inclement weather. Magnotta's Vidal is smooth, with luscious tastes of apricot, peach, papaya and a hint of spice and honey.

Red grapes are also used for ice wines, primarily the Cabernet Franc. While the thinner skin of this grape makes for riskier harvesting, the resulting wine is both elegant on the nose and aggressive on the palate.

The Magnotta Cabernet Franc Niagara Peninsula, 2003, contains flavors of strawberry jam, ripe watermelon, cranberry and dried figs.

Another red option comes from Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery in the western part of Canada. The climate in this region is dryer and warmer during the summer, which produces ripe grapes and intense, pure fruit flavors in the ice wine.

The Gehringer Cabernet-Merlot Ice Wine Okanogan Valley, 1998, is somewhat reminiscent of a port with more upfront fruit flavors.

Ice wines generally go well with aged cheeses, such as cheddar, or blue cheeses, such as Stilton. Although these wines are intensely sweet, be careful when pairing with a dessert. A dessert that's too sweet will make even these wines taste sour and flat.

The general rule to follow is to reduce the sugar in the recipe and have the wine be sweeter than the dessert. Fruit pies and tarts are excellent choices, as well as Bavarian creams and rice puddings.

Whatever you pair them with, ice wines are the perfect winter treat and are a true symbol of the season.

article source :- A gift from canada: Ice wine

Ice Wine-Resources

2008-12-08T02:28:00.000-08:00

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niagara falls winery

2008-12-05T02:59:00.000-08:00

A natural wonder formed 12,000 years ago continues to attract the attention of Pittsburghers. Millions of people from around the world travel to Ontario, Canada, each year to view the magnificence of Niagara Falls. The American side of the falls in Niagara, N.Y., is just as popular and has become a favorite driving destination for residents of the tri-state region.

"Niagara Falls, whether it's the American or Canadian side, has always been one of the top 10 driving destinations from Pittsburgh,'' said Ruth Nagy, director of travel operations for AAA Travel in East Liberty.

"A lot of people like to go to Niagara Falls, N.Y., for the weekend, so we book a lot of hotels there. For those who haven't been there for awhile, it's worth the visit to see how the area has grown, and it's close enough to Canada if you want to go to the theatre in Toronto.''

Ms. Nagy, who has 22 years of experience in the travel industry, visited Niagara, N.Y., more than two decades ago and has since returned about five times. Her most recent trip this summer featured a journey to Goat Island, which separates the Canadian side of the falls from the United States.

She said visitors of all ages are attracted to New York not only to see the falls, but also to participate in a variety of other available activities, such as fine dining, shopping, outdoor activities, fishing and gambling.

The Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp., based in Niagara, N.Y., knows Pittsburgh is a major market for falls visitors and has commissioned a study to determine how it can increase the number even further. The NTCC targeted Pittsburgh, along with Cleveland and several cities in New York, in a major advertising campaign that kicked off in July.

"As soon as we rolled with our campaign in Pittsburgh, the numbers spiked out of proportion to other cities,'' said David Rosenwasser, president of the NTCC. "The drive for Pittsburghers is about 240 miles, or about four hours, and it's very affordable. Niagara USA has a lot of attractions and many of them are free of charge.''

Mr. Rosenwasser said the Pittsburgh-Niagara connection demonstrates a travel industry trend that has been noticeable since the terrorist attacks of September 2001. People want to stay close to home and enjoy vacations where they can travel by car and take the entire family.

He first noticed the strong connection between Pittsburgh and Niagara when he moved to New York from Wisconsin to accept his current position in May 2003. He initially stayed in hotels when he moved to Niagara Falls and found himself talking to a lot of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

"I wasn't extremely familiar with Pittsburgh, although I had been in the city every few years for business reasons or to attend a Pirates game,'' he noted. "When I took this job, I quickly realized that Pittsburgh was a major feeder market for tourism here. That was the first time we decided to concentrate on that market and do an analysis to determine how we could get even more people here.''

The NTCC commissioned Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y., to conduct a two-year study to determine what regions visitors are coming from and what portion are from the Pittsburgh area. The study includes interviews with people at strategic points, including rest areas and state parks, between Pittsburgh and Niagara. One of the questions survey participants are being asked is whether they are repeat visitors to the falls.

The results from the first quarter of this year show that most people who were on their way to Niagara were from the Pittsburgh or Cleveland areas. The second-quarter results will be available in about a month.

Another indicator that reveals how much interest Pittsburghers have in Niagara, N.Y., stems from the number of inquiries the NTCC receives via e-mail and phone requests for more information, as well as the number of visitors to the Web site at www.niagara-usa.com. Mr. Rosenwasser said the inquiries indicate that this section of New York is a popular attraction for Pittsburghers throughout the year, although the prime tourism season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Tourists aren't just coming to see the falls anymore, though. They want to explore all of Niagara County, N.Y., Mr. Rosenwasser said.

"The falls are, of course, a real magnet, but we're letting people know how much product we have throughout the county,'' he said. "If people in Pittsburgh come for the falls, they come for the region, as well.''

A sampling of the other attractions include the Seneca Niagara Casino, the Herschell Carousel Factory Museum, the Aquarium of Niagara, the Niagara Aerospace Museum and a wide range of fishing, golfing, wine-tasting and hiking activities. And Buffalo, N.Y., is only 30 minutes away by car.

Mr. Rosenwasser said there are plenty of other attractions, including the Pocono Mountains in northeast Pennsylvania, that compete for tourism dollars. However, he believes Niagara, N.Y., can hold its own and continue to draw people from across the country and around the world. Travel Magazine named the New York attraction as a Top 10 destination for honeymooners again this year.

The NTCC will continue to concentrate on the Pittsburgh metropolitan region by conducting focus groups. Mr. Rosenwasser said a professional firm will be hired to talk to Pittsburgh residents about their favorite aspects of Niagara, N.Y., and what else they would like to see.

"At the end of the next season, we should be able to see how much money is coming into our area from Pittsburgh,'' he said. "This will play an important role in determining how much money we should invest in advertising there.'

MS. CARBASHO is a freelance writer.

Niagara Wines and Restaurants

2008-11-28T02:49:00.000-08:00

The Niagara River connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie consist in its arms the Niagara Region which is in Ontario and the Niagara Frontier which is in New York. From Lake Ontario the region appears in steps or benches of rich prolific farmland clay soils which one needs to climb. These steps or bench stretches from the Grimsby to the Vineland.

Niagara Escarpment asylum orchards and vineyards close the Lake Ontario from cold winter winds. Which in turns creates a high temperature that expand along the base of the bench making it warmer than most of the Niagara peninsula. This enhance the ripening, and facilitates grapes to be harvested a week or two in advance than otherwise

The Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario have shaped an exclusive microclimate appropriate for the manufacture of World Class Wines. An individual would experience the stunning countryside of this region as we spend the day itinerant from one winery to another.

There is a wine trail occasion happening every month. To sign-up or pre-pay for our events is not required - just simply you need to show up on the same day and pay your admission fees. A list of wine trail associates is supplied for your convenience along with restaurants and other attractions that may be of interest during your stay.

And as you are required to eat on your trip to Niagara in order to keep yourself energized for sightseeing and other activities, have a dining experience that is both pleasing to the appetite and romantic for you. Like some of the hotels in the area, there are many restaurants that overlook the Falls, offering you with romantic views that will help keep the ardent tone of your trip steady throughout. Though sightseeing in Niagara Falls is romantic in itself, the romance can also present itself in, restaurants we select to dine in. There are a variety of restaurants with various wines that overlook Niagara Falls, providing you and your special someone with breathtaking views and romantic moments. more information please visit

http://www.peller.com/

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