Together with the award winning Aussie Travel, Savvy Sommelier Debbie Trenholm is getting ready to accompany this once in a lifetime tour to ‘Taste Your Way Around Australia’.  This 23 day trip is specially created for a small group of 20 people to discover Australia with a guide & a Sommelier!  Get ready to set your ‘Out of Office’ automatic reply on your email because you will be down under from March 9 to 31st next year!

Have a look at what is in store . . . then get your passport ready!

‘Taste Your Way Around Australia’
March 09-31, 2013

Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley
Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Sydney

DAY 1. DEPART CANADA
DAY 2. CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
DAY 3. ARRIVE IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (Breakfast=B + Dinner=D included)
Upon arrival in Melbourne, you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at your own leisure. This evening’s welcome dinner will see you cruise the city streets in the world’s first travelling Tramcar Restaurant.
Stay: The Causeway 353 Hotel, Melbourne

DAY 4. MELBOURNE (Breakfast=B + Lunch=L included)
Today you will travel to the door of a vineyard and go behind the scenes to meet the wine-maker. Here you will learn of wine making techniques before trying your hand at this art yourself. Listen, taste and learn. Then put on your wine-makers hat as you take the test tube and decide what the next stage will be. Assume the role as the cellar master, discuss and decide on the style and get to work. Of course, you’ll be guided by the wine-maker who’ll do his best to keep you right on track. A fun filled day indeed.
Stay: The Causeway 353 Hotel, Melbourne

DAY 5. MELBOURNE (Breakfast=B + Lunch=L + Dinner=D)
Today your journey takes you to the Mornington Peninsula where you will meet cheese makers, press olives and learn about olive production, pink berries, collect fresh seafood, go behind the scenes at a bakery and learn about chocolate making. You will enjoy a private barrel tasting of local cool climate wines.
Arrive at a private kitchen with the produce you’ve collected and prepare for an afternoon of fun with an intimate, hands-on-cooking class and then feast on your creative work.
Late this afternoon you will arrive at Phillip Island, home to thousands of little fairy penguins. This evening you will enjoy an exclusive viewing of the Penguin Parade before making your way back to Melbourne.
Stay: The Causeway 353 Hotel, Melbourne

DAY 6. MELBOURNE (B included)
Today is yours to discover Melbourne on your own or with some of your new friends. Suggested activities include the Old Melbourne Gaol, the Queen Victoria Markets, meander through the many laneways & arcades, visit the Melbourne Museum, the seaside suburb of St Kilda, visit the world renowned MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) or check out the Melbourne Grand Prix which begins today.
Stay: The Causeway 353 Hotel, Melbourne

DAY 7. GREAT OCEAN ROAD (B + L included)
Known as the world’s most inspiring coastal drive, today you will follow its winding trail through the lush Otway rainforests, to the breathtaking, windswept drama of the Shipwreck Coast. Travel through Torquay, Lorne and Apollo Bay before arriving at the Twelve Apostles; giant rock stacks that soar from the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean. Visit Loch Ard Gorge before making your way back to Melbourne.
Stay: The Causeway 353 Hotel, Melbourne

DAY 8. ADELAIDE (B included)
This morning you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Adelaide, the city of churches. This afternoon is free to explore this ‘20 minute’ city.
Stay: The Crowne Plaza, Adelaide

DAY 9. ADELAIDE (B + L included)
Today you will travel through the scenic Torrens Gorge on your way to the Barossa Valley. The Torrens Gorge is a natural chasm carved out of the Adelaide Hills by the River Torrens. Visit Peter Lehmann Winery and Torbreck wine cellars. Lunch will be alfresco under the vines or at Vintners restaurant just out of Angaston. This afternoon you will visit Penfold’s for a special ‘Make Your Own Blend’ experience.
Stay: The Crowne Plaza, Adelaide

DAY 10. KANGAROO ISLAND (B + L included)
This morning you will be transferred to Penneshaw for your ferry transfer to Kangaroo Island where you will begin your Kangaroo Island experience. Your tour will blend a range of wildlife experiences with an elegant barbeque at a private lunch site out in the bush. You will get an introduction to island life.
Stay: Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn, Kangaroo Island

DAY 11. KANGAROO ISLAND/ADELAIDE (B + L included)
Your touring today will see you experiencing Kangaroo Island’s extraordinary food. Discover the diversity of the produce, the passion of the producers, and experience the ‘paddock to plate’ phenomenon. This full day may incorporate oysters, abalone, artisan cheeses, honey, free-range eggs, native spices, yoghurt and excellent wines. At the end of the day you will return to Penneshaw for your return transfer back to Adelaide.
Stay: The Crowne Plaza, Adelaide

DAY 12. CAIRNS (B + D included)
Mid-morning you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Cairns; the gateway to the world famous Great Barrier Reef. This evening the group will dine at Cairns’ most highly awarded restaurant where they specialise in fresh local seafood, game, bush foods, premium Australian produce and regional Australian cuisine.
Stay: The Mantra on the Esplanade, Cairns

DAY 13. CAIRNS (B included)
Today you will be transferred from your hotel to Freshwater Station where you will board the Kuranda Scenic Rail for a breathtaking journey on one of the world’s most scenic operational rail journeys. On arrival in Kuranda you will have time to explore the Village in the Rainforest and its many attractions including the Heritage Markets which operate daily. After enjoying the world’s most beautiful rainforest experiences, take a ride on the 7km Skyrail with spectacular views over the rainforest’s canopy before visiting the fascinating Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Your indigenous guide will escort you through the park to discover Australia’s ancient culture through theatre, stage shows and demonstrations. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Stay: The Mantra on the Esplanade, Cairns

DAY 14. CAIRNS (B + L included)
This morning you will depart for Michaelmas Cay; a picturesque reef sand island surrounded by magical coral gardens teeming with incredible diversity of marine life. The Cay is a protected seabird sanctuary playing host to over 20,000 migratory seabirds. It is one of the most important nesting sights in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy a day of snorkelling, diving or sailing on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef—sure to be a day to remember.
Stay: The Mantra on the Esplanade, Cairns

DAY 15. HAMILTON ISLAND (B + L included)
This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time to check in for your short flight to Hamilton Island; one of 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. At midday you will board a watercraft that will take you to Whitehaven Beach; considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world and one of the must see icons of the Whitsundays. With 7 kilometres of glistening pure white natural silica sand, enjoy beach activities, take a leisurely stroll, swim in the crystal clear waters or simply lay back under the sun shelters and enjoy a good book.
Stay: Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island

DAY 16. HAMILTON ISLAND (B included)
Today is a free day to explore Hamilton Island, visit the Yacht Club, play a round of golf, take a hike up to One Tree Hill, take a complimentary scooter and drive around the island, take a stroll along Catseye Beach or take a spectacular helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach (all at own expense).
Stay: Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island

DAY 17. HAMILTON ISLAND (B + L included)
To properly experience the wonders of the world’s most celebrated underwater playground and one of the natural wonders of the world, you will spend the day aboard the Reef Spirit, a purpose built snorkel and dive boat. Sail to Bait Reef with its shallow lagoons and coral gardens suitable for beginner snorkelers and divers. For the most adventurous, underwater canyons, vertical ‘Stepping Stones’, and plentiful sea life provide a snorkel and scuba experience to remember.
Stay: Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island

DAY 18. SYDNEY (B included)
This afternoon you will be transferred to the Hamilton Island airport where you will board your flight to the beautiful harbour city of Sydney. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn, The Rocks—Sydney

DAY 19. HUNTER VALLEY (B + L included)
Today we travel to the world class wineries of the Hunter Valley. We will wind our way through the Northern Suburbs then escape through the brilliant sandstone outcrops of Ku-ring-gai National Park. We will travel through Wollombi and Mt View before we descent into the Hunter Valley to begin our wine tasting at a few of the very special boutique wineries in the area.
Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn, The Rocks—Sydney

DAY 20. SYDNEY (B + L + D included)
This morning you have the choice of climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge; a truly breathtaking experience OR you can enjoy a walking tour of The Rocks. Afterwards, you will be transferred to Woolloomooloo to sample the best Aussie meat pies Sydney has to offer. After lunch you have the choice of being transferred back to your hotel or you can choose to walk back to the hotel via the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair where you will witness fabulous views of Sydney Harbour. Later this afternoon you will board your own Tall Ship for a beautiful harbour cruise, wine tasting and canapé dinner.
Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn, The Rocks—Sydney

DAY 21. SYDNEY (B + L included)
Today is yours to discover this magnificent harbour city.
Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn, The Rocks—Sydney

DAY 22. SYDNEY (B + D included)
This morning you will have an exclusive tour of Altmann & Cherney; an Australian family owned business established in 1948 by John Altmann and Rudi Cherny who shared a passion for opals and wanted to show this uniquely Australian gemstone to the world. Afterwards you will make your way to the famed Sydney Opera House for an Essential Tour. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to further discover this beautiful city. This evening the group will meet in the lobby and make your way to your farewell dinner at a stunning restaurant at Circular Quay; a great opportunity to share memories and say farewell to this beautiful country.
Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn, The Rocks—Sydney

DAY 23. DEPART SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (B included)
Your tour concludes this morning when you are transferred from the hotel to the airport.

RETURN TO CANADA—SAME DAY

Tour Highlights:

• Unique Tramcar restaurant
• Chef-Led cooking tour
• Fairy Penguin Parade
• The Twelve Apostles & Great Ocean Road
• Kangaroo Island—Australia’s Galapagos
• Historic rail journey through a rainforest
• Iconic Whitehaven Beach
• Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef
• Blend Your Own Wine experiences
• Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley & Barossa Valley wine tastings
• Idyllic Hamilton Island
• The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains
• Sydney Bridgeclimb
• Harbour Cruise onboard a Tall Ship
• Exclusive Opal Tour
• Indigenous Cultural Centre
• Essential Sydney Opera House
• Harry’s Café de Wheels
• Australian Grand Prix (optional extra)

AUSSIE TRAVEL LTD. GROUP BOOKING CONDITIONS:

TO BOOK: A non-refundable deposit of $1000CAD per person is required at time of booking. Each passenger must complete a ‘Booking Registration Form’ and submit with deposit. Final payment is due no later than November 1st, 2012.

INSURANCE: Insurance is highly recommended and must be purchased at time of booking.

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations prior to November 1st, 2012 will incur a $1000CAD per person cancellation penalty.

Cancellations from November 2nd, 2012 onward will incur a 100% per person cancellation penalty.

PASSPORTS AND VISA: Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your return date. If you are travelling on a non-Canadian passport, please check online or directly with the Australian High Commission for the most current visa requirements. Canadian citizens require an Electronic Travel Authority to enter Australia as a visitor.

WAIVER: Prices are based on exchange rates, taxes and land prices for a minimum of 10 persons taking the main itinerary. Significant changes in any of these components will have an effect on the final price. In the event that this occurs, you will be advised at least 130 days prior to departure. Hotels listed within the itinerary may be substituted for those of similar value. Any such changes is at the sole discretion of Aussie Travel Ltd.

TRAVEL AGENT’S RESPONSIBILITY: Aussie Travel Limited and/or its agents, act only as agents for the client in all matters pertaining to travel. They assume no responsibility nor liability in connection with the service of any vessel, carriage, aircraft, motor or other conveyances which may be used, whether wholly or in part, in the performance or its duty to the passenger; neither will it be responsible for any act, error, or omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any vehicle or through the neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying ou the purpose for which tickets or coupons are issued. In the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort or wellbeing of the passengers, or for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, which alterations may be made without penalty to the operators. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passengers; conversely refund will be made to the passenger if any saving is effected thereby. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tours and or/passenger. The right is reserved to withdraw any or all tours should conditions warrant, also to decline to accept or retain any passengers as members of the tours. Aussie Travel Limited can assume no responsibility for lost tickets or coupons.

FARES, SPACE AVAILABILITY, FUEL SURCHARGES, TARIFF REGULATIONS, CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS, FINAL ITINERARY AND DEPARTURE TAXES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT FULL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

TOUR INCLUDES:

• Fully Escorted by Michelle Streicher, Premier Aussie Specialist
• and Debbie Trenholm, Sommelier from the Savvy Company
• Deluxe hotel accommodation as per itinerary based on twin share
• Admissions as per the itinerary
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (21 B-breakfast, 12 L-lunch, 5 D-dinner)
• Baggage handling at hotels
• Group International flights from Ottawa with Qantas Airways
• Group Domestic flights as per the itinerary with Qantas Airways
• Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

TOUR EXCLUDES:

• Personal items and Gratuities
• Meals unless listed in itinerary
• Cancellation/Medical insurance
• Airline taxes & fuel surcharge extra—approximately $976CAD per person (subject to change until ticketed)

TOTAL LAND & FLIGHT COST PER PERSON:

• $ 14,526 CAD per person based on Twin Share $3,199 CAD Single Supplement
• (discount applies if paid by cheque; contact Aussie Travel for details)
• (Airline Taxes & Fuel Surcharge extra—approximately $850 CAD per person)

Michelle Streicher, CTC
Suite 105, 556 O’Connor Drive, Kingston ON K7P 1N3
Tel: 613.507.2869 Email: michelle@aussietravel.ca
www.naturallydownunder.com
TICO# 50018843

Today marks Malbec World Day - how to celebrate you ask. . .

Shall we start the day with a glass or Malbec with a bowl of breakfast cereal or a hearty plate of eggs & bacon?  And another glass (or maybe upgrade to a bottle) served with lunch, then finish off by uncorking a bottle of Malbec to accompany a BBQ steak dinner?  This idea of around the clock Malbec drinking, made many giggle & come up with wild & crazy ideas to celebrate.  To kick the festivities off & to learn first hand more about Malbec in Argentine, I attended in a tutored tasting last week with Ottawa Citizen’s wine writer& author Rod Phillips.

My place setting awaited 18 glasses of various wines from Argentina – Torrontes & Chardonnay (white wines) along with 5 Malbecs with prices ranging from $12 to $27 a bottle.  Then we had a taste of Shiraz/Syrah, Bonarda, Pinot Noir & red wine blends to give the tasting a POW at the end.  The 2 hours flew by & my mind was buzzing with Malbec facts that I looked forward to share.

For the past two years, Malbec World Day has marked the calendars on April 17th.  To celebrate in Argentine style, there are festivities all around the world hosted by Wines of Argentina.

I know no other grape that has a dedicated day that shines the spotlight on it.  Malbec  began its history as a grape variety grown in Cahors, France, then was uprooted because of the phloxerra insect that decimated many vineyards in Europe in the late 1800s.  Luckily, the Malbec  rootstock that the European immigrants brought with them on their journey to Argentina, were not infected by the bug that attacked the roots of grape vines.

Today, Malbec is Argentina’s iconic grape variety, although, it is now grown in many vineyards throughout the world – even as close to home as Niagara-on-the-Lake!  There are over 564, 000 acres of vineyards dedicated to Malbec stretching along the Andes Mountain Range from 22 to 42 degrees latitude. This region has great ripening conditions with its continuous stream of sunshine during the day (ideal for ripening) , then cooler nights (perfect to produce acidity in the grape clusters).  This combination of ripe red & black fruit in the aromas & taste coupled with soft tannins with underlying acidity, makes for a crowd pleasing wine.

The wines we sampled during this tutored tasting certainly pleased me!  Here are my tasting notes about the various Malbec we discovered:

Manos Negras Malbec 2008, $14.95
(LCBO part number #271295)
A basic Malbec with juicy aromas on the nose (cherry, raspberry jam). There is good structure in this Malbec with a taste of cinnamon hearts candy.

Catena Malbec 2009, $19.95
(LCBO part number 478727)
Big juicy with loads of aromas of damsom plum boysenberry + pomegranate that continue into the taste.

Dominio del Plata Ben Marco Malbec 2009
(only available on request from winery representative, $27.00)
My hands down favorite.  A BIG wine.  Dry with loads of tannins, aromas that remind me of a big bouquet of red roses.  Layered onto the wine is licorice + plums that continue into their taste.  Too bad this wine is not readily available at the LCBO.

Zuccardi Q Malbec 2009
(LCBO part number #723478, $19.95)
From the infamous Fuzion fame, Zuccardi family has made a slightly lighter styled Malbec  compared to the others I savoured. On your first sip, there is evidence that the wine has light tannins, black pepper aromas with a refreshing acidity that ends with black pepper finish.

Rutini Malbec 2009
See for yourself if you like this style of Malbec wines. Lighter again in weight compared to the other Malbecs that we sampled in this tasting.  The glass wafts of cherry & red berry aromas with light tannins & shorter finish.

After all of these Malbec wines, plus the other wines that were included in the 18 wines we sampled, no doubt our lips & teeth were ‘naturally coloured’ a shade of deep purple.  Want more info Malbec tips?  Contact me + I will offer you more Argentine recommendations from this delicious wine tasting.

However you celebrate it, Happy Malbec World Day.

Salud! – Debbie

My interest in soil has come from writing about the Savvy wineries for the by-the-month delivery and visiting wineries such as Coyote’s Run located in St. David’s Bench in the Niagara Escarpment, Ravine’s Vineyard (for Savvy subscribers, December’s wine delivery) and frequently visiting Prince Edward County, also known as “the County” 3 hours west of Ottawa.

First, let me start by saying I am not a soil specialist or geologist or agronomist. I remember just scrapping through Grade 10 chemistry, which is why I find it amusing that I am now writing a blog on soil.

We all know that great wine starts in the vineyard, but the more I study wine, the more I realize that it is in mother earth where it really begins and who often points to which grape to plant where, for optimum results.

The soils that engulf the Niagara Escarpment, have been compared to those in Burgundy, France, where we also share a similar latitude at approximately 44 degrees. Thousands of years ago, huge glaciers carved out the Twenty Mile Bench leaving a literal bench for growing grapes. This bench protects the soil from harsh winds yet helps the warm breezes from Lake Ontario to circulate. It is the balance of heat and coolness combined with the minerality in the soil that lends acidity to the Niagara wines. This is the same micro-climate found in the County, where the breezes from Lake Ontario temper the climate and the soil.

Most winemakers that I have interviewed, have had their soil analyzed at universities such as Brock or Guelph where there are soil experts on site. In the case of Coyote’s Run, when the owners sent their samples to Brock, the results showed that the toledo clay loam soil in one vineyard is estimated at 15,000 years old and in another vineyard the Trafalgar clay loam soil is estimated at 450 millions years old. At Ravine vineyards, the soil samples were sent back twice because there was such complexity and diverseness of soil contained in such a small acreage. Gosh, for a winemaker, where would you start?

I think that’s one reason that would make growing grapes so much fun, the “wait and see” what they will do in different types of soil. I remember one winemaker saying that, “we threw some Riesling down there to see what would happen” and another winemaker planting a variety of grapes in a small plot of gravelly limestone to see how they grow. Another winemaker said to me that “Chardonnay will go to bed anywhere”, which amused me to no end.

Both the Twenty Mile Bench and the County are blessed with a bounty of limestone, shale and clay which allows for good drainage for the grapevines.

I recently did two seminars at the TASTE festival in Picton, Prince Edward County, on “Wines to Serve with Thanksgiving dinner” and in my preparation for this, I discovered there were over 10 different kinds of soil in the County ranging from various colours of clay loam that overlay limestone bedrock and shale fragments to various specimens of gravelly and fine sand. I also learned that grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive in this soil, although having tasted many other County wines, they clearly have a repertoire of success with other grapes.

The stony soils allow for good drainage and force the vines to grow deeper to look for moisture during the warm summer months. Believe it or not, the limestone also acts like a sponge and retains moisture that is in part why the grapevines are so successful growing in limestone fissures. On Doug’s (my husband and also a Savvy Sommelier) and my last trip to the County we visited several vineyards and could not believe when we looked at the earth that anything grows in this rocky looking clay.

Soil science is about classification and chemical properties. I also learned that one of the most important scientific discoveries was how soil forms spontaneously from rock. Under the influence of physical factors like deformation by heat and cold, assault by wind, rain, hail and ice, and the enormous levering forces of water expanding into ice, solid rock is shattered into smaller pieces and hence over time, becomes soil.

I’ve come to have a definite appreciation for what lies beneath and like faith, what is unforeseen in our eyes. Watching grapes through veraison (winespeak: grapes’ change in colour) is exciting. Perhaps being raised on a farm left me with images of my grandfather at harvest. To say I have a great respect for grape growers and winemakers is an understatement. Winemaking sounds sexy and fun but for the grape farmers, always anxious about what mothernature is going to deliver, it is very hard work.

Thanks to the earth that connects us. Every fall we celebrate harvest and the grapes that have come to fruition.

Earth to earth, from my glass to yours.

Julie

One of my overall goals was to visit a smaller production winery where wines are few in number, but high in quality. Hence my highly anticipated pilgrimage to The Witness Tree Vineyard, a 52 acre sight kneeling at the foot of the hillside pedestal where the real Witness tree has stood for over 200 years. It is owned by Dennis and Carolyn Devine.

It produces 6,000 cases of wine a year, primarily Pinot Noir; however, it does produce a very good Pinot Gris and a respectable Chardonnay. I tasted 7 wines including a very interesting dessert wine called Sweet Signe that is actually made by freezing the grapes then pressing them. The resultant concentrated slush is melted and becomes the must that is then fermented and aged into wine that tastes a lot like Late Harvest White Blends from Ontario.

My Pinot Noir experiences were:

“Chainsaw Pinot Noir” 2009 crafted from a field of Chardonnay that had been chainsawed to the stems and then had Pinot Noir grafted onto the trunks of the old vines (a la phylloxera grafting techniques that saved the wine industry in the 19th century from being wiped out in Europe). As well a 2008 Estate Pinot Noir that benefited from a very good harvest year. A 2007 Vintage Select that is the true expression of Witness Tree terroir and the 2008 Benchmark PN that needs a little more aging to give it the required PN finesse.

And for me the winner is…the 2007 Vintage Select whose grapes were selected from all around the Witness Tree, both upper and lower blocks and whose dark, ripe depth of flavor rode high on a balanced, intense, silky structure. Besides, it is fabulous with Wild Pacific Cedar Plank Salmon smothered in Maple Syrup!

CONFESSING TO ST. INNOCENT:
After my benchmark visit to the Eola Grail, I drove about 1/2 mile around the corner on Zena Road to the very baptismal-looking St Innocent and its impressive water fountain in the courtyard.

A very impressive, well-groomed, 72 acre vineyard that produces 8 to 10 thousand cases a year. Here, as almost everywhere in The Aeola Hills designation, Winemaker and President, Mark Vlossack is philosophically dedicated to having the terroir of the region reflected in the wines made here, particularly as they contribute to the pleasure of food.

Again, the focus is Pinot Noir with, again, a good Chardonnay and a very impressive Pinot Blanc. Temperance Hill, Vitae Springs, Zenith, Justice, Shea and Freedom Hill were all different Pinot Noirs I tasted from different sites and different vintages. My favorite? I have about 4, all for different reasons. But if you’re going to corner me into a choice, I would say it was Shea over Justice by a nose. I’m a sucker for big, ripe fruits, floral hints and sweet spice all delivered on a caramel, creamy, layered finish. And to pursue Mark’s raison d’être, this is a no-brainer match for one of my favorite full-on red meat dishes…lamb shanks with mint sauce served with green beans, caramelized onions and boiled potatoes smothered in creamery butter with fresh ground pepper!

DWARFED BY THE KING ESTATE:
One hour and 45 minutes South on the winding Territorial Road outside of Eugene, a sharp turn out of the foothills off a blind curve and King’s Castle appears on a mountain above you. With 470 acres of vineyards, notwithstanding orchards, berry patches, vegetable gardens, flower and herb gardens, wetlands and oak savannah, driving up the mountain to the Winery is like leaving Lilliput and entering Brobdingnag! Big is everywhere.

With 1,033 Certified Organic acres, King Estate can produce anywhere from 120,000 to 200,000 cases of wine a year and all of it is naturally irrigated. This has all been achieved in 20 years (Founded in 1991) by the King Family who still own and run the property. Three winemakers with very different backgrounds collaborate to produce some very good wines despite the quantity of production. A busy restaurant that features foods using on site produce and a tasting room that puts you in mind of pilgrims at The Holy Grail, is also a part of a royal welcome at King Estate. Tours through and around the facility reveal that the production process is so large and successful that tastings, dinners and even weddings take place in the production and aging areas, much to the delight of the participants.

Despite its size, it produces some very fine wine. Sourcing grapes from lesser known areas in Southern Oregon where sun hours and heat is noticeably longer and warmer and also tapping the warmth of Walla Walla in Eastern Washington, King Estate produces some very good Cabernet blends and a very nice Syrah under the NxNW (North by Northwest) label. Of course their real winner is their Domaine Pinot Gris. Their Signature Pinot Gris is even better. Similar profile: more intensity.

I was fortunate enough to taste all of these as well as some Signature Pinot Noir and the more economical Acrobat wine series that are a great value for Oregon Pinot Noir. By this time in the Odyssey I was incapable of discriminating any one wine as better than another, but as I was leaving I saw a couple drinking a bottle of 2009 Signature Pinot Noir with a menu item called Grilled Chinook Salmon with Champagne Marinated Apricots. They looked satiated and the aromas coming from their table were amazing! You can find the recipe on King Estate website.

A phenomenal day today… so much so that I must create two entries because things developed in two directions…the wonders of wine and the magnificence of the Oregon Coastline.

A one hour and fifty seven minute ride led by my British tour guide, GPS, began to take on a disastrous character when her shortest distance programming (rather than shortest time) told me to leave I-5N and take secondary roads to get to my first destination, Domaine Serene, the winery Robert Parker refers to as the Chateau LaFite of Oregon Wineries.

What a great faux-pas, if that’s what it was, because we took a trip through countryside I may never have seen and it let me discover things like the huge acreages of hops that are grown here in Oregon, as well as the row upon row of orchards dedicated to the growing of hazelnuts. The Babe and I also got to scale the Willamette River in a cable-powered ferry on Wheatland Ferry Road. Pretty awesome for $2.

To be quite honest, apart from the hazelnuts and the hops, the agricultural landscape in most of the area looks a lot like Southern Ontario except for the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains. Corn is in full swing as well as all the apple orchards, blueberry farms, market gardens and various mixed farm produce. There is one other big difference today, the Willamette was 86 to 92F depending on where you were. The harvesters were not happy.

Domaine Serene is what everyone dreams of when they fancy their winery dream: Hispanic architecture on the top of a mountain surrounded by rows of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

I tasted a very good Chard, two Pinots I was already familiar with (Yamil and Eventstad Blocks) and then a cross tasting of Rockblock Syrah, the 2007 and the 2008. This proved quite interesting as they showed the differences 2 different years of weather can make as well as 2 different blending styles. The 2007 was much creamier and more fruit forward with overtones of caramel while the 2008 shone in minerality and elegance and showed good acidity. Both were more than 14 per cent alcohol that provided a warm toasty impression and made both appropriate for some nice Lamb Shanks.

I was supposed to meet Grace Evenstad at the winery today, but she was suffering on a Mediterranean Tour so I left her message at the office to say I would see her this Winter.

Then a 45 minute ride to The Ponzi Vineyards with a brief lunch stop at Subway in Dundee.
As much as Domaine Serene is chiseled out of the landscape, Ponzi Vineyards is a pastoral function of the landscape, right down to the structural reality of being built on the side of an incline that feeds the harvested grapes in the high end of the facility and distributes the wine from the lower end of the facility so that gravity eliminates the need for pumping and cycling the must and the effluent.

Anything Pinot is what this tasting was all about… Blanc, Gris and Noir. All were creamy and delicious with good acidity and thirst quench and they screamed to be mated with some pan-fried Halibut steaks cooked in butter and seasoned with orange juice.

I was supposed to meet Maria Ponzi as well, but she was off site and the Tasting Ambassador assured me she had not vacated to the Med, at least not today.

I’m very disappointed in my ability to happen upon good food recipes to go with these great wines I’m experiencing although my next adventure for the day showed promise in that regard.

Since it was only 3:30 and my touring was complete, I decided I could trust my guide to take me on the legendary tour of Highway 101 down the coast of Oregon from Lincoln City to Florence…it was breathtaking…a drive everyone should put on their “Bucket List”.

Cherry and peach trees, grapevines – miles of them, wineries galore dotted with the odd golf course, farmhouses, B and B’s are the memories of the past week in the Niagara Escarpment. When Holly suggested I write a guest blog on Doug’s and my recent travel, I immediately responded positively although it’s hard not to write a journal, so much to see and taste!

For wine lovers, the Niagara Escarpment, Twenty Valley, Niagara-On-the-Lake locales are an oenophile paradise. While the wineries offer the usual vitis vinifera varietals: Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir etc., many have ice-wine and their own rose.  Between sipping and sampling en route, as dedicated sommeliers and wine nuts, we visited over 20 wineries, as well as attending the Cool Climate Chardonnay event held at the Tawse Winery (July 23) where 56 wineries featured their “Chards.”  For the ABC folks (anything but Chardonnay), Chardonnay still remains the most widely produced VQA in Ontario.

Every winery we visited left something memorable; whether it was the enormous stainless steel tank named Budda, at Creekside Estate Winery, or the labels on the Organized Crime Wines, telling a pictoral story of Mennonites feuding over an organ (catch the play on the word?)  Or the new Colaneri winery, 37,000 square feet, the largest winery in the region still under construction, shaped like a Roman coliseum in a hugely impressive “C” representing the Italian family and their winemaking heritage.

The viticulture was amazing at Featherstone Winery where we witnessed sheep chomping away at the grape leaves so the grapes will be exposed to sunshine which in turn, speeds up their ripening. These little sheep meander up and down the rows of vines, and it was quite humorous watching them chew the leaves. Needless to say I took pictures.

Many of the wines at these boutique wineries are unavailable at the LCBO so we brought a few home. One purchase was a Featherstone rose and have since found it to be a great patio to table “spirit”.  An enchanting cranberry colour, all the ripe berry flavours, bone dry with tart acidity that practically jumps out of the glass. We have since enjoyed this with grilled shrimps, zucchini and our always tomato basil salad which makes a divine summer supper.

We have previously traveled the Twenty Valley and the sense of anticipation with old and new wineries never ceases to amaze and never disappoints. The people are friendly, knowledgeable and their eagerness to share the harvest makes for a magnetic welcome. We’re already talking about the wineries that we plan to visit next year. I’ve always said, you never have to look further than your own backyard in Ontario to find great wine.

Cheers, Julie

In less than a three hour drive from Ottawa, you can be in the heart of Canada’s fastest growing wine region – Prince Edward County. ‘The County’ as it is known, has over 20 wineries awaiting your visit. Take a drive for a day or make a weekend getaway to meet winemakers, sample their wines and roam through their vineyards. There are even wineries with restaurants to complete your wine getaway. And further along the 401, there are over 70 wineries awaiting you in the Niagara.

As a Sommelier, I enjoy travelling to wineries – whether driving around on my own, with other Savvy Sommeliers or even hosting a tour. Here are my ‘insider tips’ to make your roadtrip to wineries – anywhere in the world – more memorable:

Be selective – You don’t have to try every wine made by every winery. Decide ahead of time to taste a certain grape variety (Riesling, Merlot, etc) at each winery so that you can experience the changes from vineyard to vineyard as well as winemaker to winemaker.

Spitting is OK – We Sommeliers do it all the time! By spitting, you’ll be able to taste more wines on your roadtrip. Wineries will always provide a spittoon or bucket on the tasting counter. If it is not there – don’t be shy & ask for it!

Dumping is perfectly fine – No need to finish all of the wine in your glass. When you’ve tasted enough, it’s perfectly ok to pour the remaining wine into a spittoon. Rest assured that the winemaker doesn’t take it as a signal that you didn’t enjoy the wine, rather it’s a sign you’re ready to move on to taste the next wine.

Refresh – It is important to nibble on crackers or plain white bread between tastings. And always make sure to have water nearby.  When ‘on tour‘, I always have bottles of water in my car to sip enroute.

Bring a cooler! – Especially on a hot summer day, have a cooler in your trunk.  You don’t want the wines to ‘cook’ in the heat of your car – the wine (and your fond memories) can be spoiled by the heat.

There is an app for that – in fact, there are several to download on your IPod or Blackberry with maps, tips and wine reviews. The Ontario wine industry just released ‘Traveling in Wine Country Ontario’ available at www.winecountryontario.ca Savvy Company fan Shawn McCormick has created the app Uncork Ontario

Most of all….have fun – winemakers enjoy sharing their knowledge of wine & stories about winemaking, so don’t be shy – ask any questions!

For my ‘must visit’ list of Ontario wineries, email me

Cheers & safe travels!

My spring visit last month to Tuscany was entrancing. The trees and vines were just leafing out, the olive trees were being pruned, and the soil was being turned as the land is prepared for another season of bountiful production. The dramatic scenery is complemented with great depth of history, warm, welcoming people and the tasty vegetables, home-made pasta and flavourful sauces of the local trattoria and osteria. Then, there’s the wine, whether tasted at the Enoteca Italiana Permanente—respository of the 1700 representative wines produced in Italy, housed in the Medici fortress in Siena—in the local enoteca, or at the winery itself. We were welcomed to a number of wineries in the region, including the Ruffino property in the DOCG of Vino Nobile di Montipulciano, as well as the wineries of Castello di Fontirutoli, Castello di Volpaia, and Fèlsina in Chianti Classico. I hope you have the opportunity to visit these wineries or taste some of the wines which are available through the LCBO. 

Ruffino
Ruffino was established by cousins Ilario and Leopoldo in 1877 near Florence and was winning medals at prestigious European wine fairs as early as 1895. The company passed to the Folonari brothers in 1913, and by 1916, Ruffino was appointed the official wine supplier to the royal Italian court. Over the years, the family has added a number of properties, including Santedame in Chianti Classico and the Montalcino estate in the 1980s. In 1994 they purchased LodolaNuova to produce Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and la Solatia for the production of Tuscan white wines.  In Tuscany, the company now has 8 estates, 6 of which produce Chianti Classico, one of which produces Brunello, and the last, located near Montepulciano, which produces Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We visited the TenutaLodola Nuova (named for the large number of larks which appear in the area in the spring) at Valiano, about 10 kilometres from Montepulciano.Yet another fortified town, Montepulciano was built by the residents of Firenze to control Montalcino, a Sienese outpost, and to monitor the border with the papal state to the south. The legend of the Vino Nobile is that in the 1700s this wine was shipped only to the noble families of Florence, hence it was so named. 

There are only 61 producers in the Montepulciano DOCG who are responsible for about 7M bottles per year. Perhaps due to smaller volume, or to some confusion with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (a wine produced from Montepulciano grapes in the region of Abruzzo), this Sangiovese-based wine (Prunello Gentile is the clone) is less well-known than Brunello and Chianti Classico. The DOCG regulations require a minimum of 75% Sangiovese grapes, which may then be blended with 25% of any other red grape varietal.

Lodola Nuova’s Vino Nobile started with dramatic success—awarded Gambero Rosso’s 3 glasses in its first vintage. The estate has grown dramatically over the years to now include 250 hectares. As a result, a new winery was built about five years ago. Local regulations required that most of the structure be underground, hence the extensive barrel cellar requires minimal cooling. The wine is fermented in open temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, then aged in 500 litre tonneau made of French and Slavonian oak. An ingenious device invented by Leonardo da Vinci, the tappocolmatorre, seals the barrel from the air, yet allows the regular topping up required.

We sampled three Ruffino wines. The TenutaLodola Nuova Vino Nobile di Montipulciano 2007, dry, medium-full bodied offering fresh berry fruit and perceptible tannins; the 2005 Riserva (90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot), aged 3 years, a velvety, balanced wine with a long smooth spiced fruit-filled finish; and the LodolaNuova Syrah 2007 from Cortona (the only DOC in Italy which can produce Syrah), an opaque inky full-bodied wine with loads of ripe dark fruit, some peppery notes and a lasting toasty finish, available only in Italy.

There are a number of Ruffino wines regularly available through the LCBO including their Chianti (#42606), the Chianti Classico ‘Aziano’ (#307025), the Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale (#45195) and Il Ducale (#332411). In addition a number of wines have been released through Vintages, including the Santedame Chianti Classico 2007 (#523076), the Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 (#353201) and the Brunello ‘Greppone Mazzi’ (#926402).

Fèlsina
Located on the ancient pilgrimage route from Rome to Jerusalem, the first references to the Fèlsina farm estate date back to the 12^th century. The property was purchased by the Poggiale family in 1966 and includes a number of farm buildings and 2 deconsecrated chapels that date from the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The site is on the border of the Chianti Classico and the ColliSenesi, offering 2 very different soil types. The family has also purchased an estate at Castello di Farnetella near Sinalunga, from which was produced the wine ‘Lucilla’ (#19033) which was released in the LCBO Vintages in November of last year and is still available in Ottawa. The family is currently working with the LCBO to introduce both Fèlsina and Castello di Farnetella wines to Ontario.

The Fèlsina Chianti Classico is aged 10 months in large Slavonion botti which were custom made to fit between the arches of one of the decommissioned chapels. They are sealed with the glass ‘tapo colamatore’ (meaning refilling cork) ordered from Conegliana Veneto, the best-known producer of this device. The Riserva  is aged 14-16 months in French oak barrique, then 10 months in bottle. Also produced are two Supertuscans; Fontallora, 100% Sangiovese from fruit harvested from two vineyards, one in Chianti Classico, the other in the Colli Senesi, and the Maestro Raro, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of unoaked Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and an oaked Chardonnay are also available. Fèlsina also produces Vin Santo, aged  7 years in small oaks barrels sealed with wax, similar to the barrels used for producing  balsamic vinegar. The 45-acre estate includes approximately 5000 olive trees, resulting in production of a traditional blend olive oil, as well as single-varietal oils.

We had the opportunity to try 2 wines from Castello di Farnetella, a crisp, fruity perfumed Sauvignon Blanc that brightens the palate with a fresh tart finish, and the 2006 Granoni (a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah), an approachable medium-bodied wine with bold fruit, firm tannins  and smooth finish of spice and toast.

Of the Fèlsina wines, we tasted the 2008 Chianti Classico (100% Sangiovese) , a lively well-balanced wine with ripe tannins and fresh berry fruit; the 2007 single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Rància’ (100% Sangiovese), richly aromatic, medium-full bodied, elegant and balanced with great depth of berry flavour and a lasting finish; and the 2004 and the 2007 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese). The Fontalloro takes advantage of the differing soil profiles of the Chianti Classico—stony and limestone based—and the Colli Senesi—clay loam with a high mineral content—to create a unique wine. In the case of the 2004, well-integrated, velvety in texture, fine acidity, ripe plum and cherry, while the 2007 displayed more earthiness, red berry fruit, fresh acidity and youthful tannins on the long finish. This is a wine is structured to aged 10-15 years.

Castello di Fonterutoli
A drive up the Chiantigiana to Fonterutoli provides a true example of how tradition and technology are seamlessly integrated to produce outstanding wines.

The property has been in the possession of the Marchese Mazzei’s family since 1435. It comprises 600 hectares, of which 114 are under vine, and includes the small hamlet of Fonterutoli itself, where most of the vineyard employees live.  The town is known for its spring, whose water was historically transported via aquaduct to Sienna, where it provided drinking water for the city dwellers.

Most of the vineyards are oriented south/southwest, but vary in elevation from just over 200m to just under 500m, and have different inclination, exposure and soil types. Hence, each hectare is treated as a separate parcel and is individually hand harvested, fermented separately in stainless and aged separately in barrels of Hungarian, French or American oak to preserve the unique character of the grapes. The wines from these parcels are then blended to create Fonterutoli’s Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva.  Their Supertuscan, Siepi, is a single-vineyard blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, also grown on the estate. In addition, the family has purchased a property in the Maremma, Tenuta Belguardo, which offers a flatter site with soils with greater minerality, as well as one in Siciliy,  Zisola.

The family practices sustainable agriculture, and is in process of converting one of its vineyards to organic culture. The new winery, which moved into full production in 2006, is an ingenious horseshoe design created by famed Italian architect Agnese Mazzei. The large central courtyard has about one dozen covered disks which, at harvest, are opened to reveal steel pipes which guide the grapes directly through destemmers to the steel fermenters below. After fermentation, the wine flows through a gravity-fed system to the barrel cellar and into barrique. The barrel cellar, holding about 3000 barrels, is 2 levels below ground and has a dramatic ‘open’ wall which is essentially the limestone bedrock itself, with the Fonterutoli spring gently cascading down its face. In this way, no temperature control is required in the cellar, which maintains itself at an average temperature of 14C and average humidity of 80%. The estate produces approximately 1.3 million bottles per year, of which about 380,000 are Chianti Classico.

The complex, elegant, beautifully balanced 2005Siepi (#740019) is the only wine of Fonterutoli which has found its way to LCBO Vintages. A small number of bottles are still available. However, we would recommend that you keep your eyes open for the winery’s other products, such as the Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2005 (90% Sangiovese, with small amounts of Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Merlot)—well balanced with a smooth texture, lovely ripe fruit and a lengthy finish with some attractive cocoa notes; the Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 (90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvginon)—opaque, intensely aromatic and complex, weighty on the palate and long on the finish. From the Tenuta Belguarda, we tasted the Bronzone Morellino di Scansano 2007 (100% Sangiovese)—medium bodied and fruity with a fresh texture and bright acidity; and the Belguardo Supertuscan 2006 (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc)—a dry, medium-full bodied meaty wine with depth of fruit and a firm tannic presence, finishing with a refreshing aromatic Rosé produced from a combination of Sangiovese and Syrah.

Castello di Volpaia
Strategtically situated up a tortuous road high in Chianti Classico, Volpaia was built in the 11^th and 12^th centuries as a fortification on the oft-contested border between Siena and Florence.  Giovanna Stianti’s father purchased 900 acres around the small hamlet, transferring the property to her in the early 1970s. Giovanna developed 100 acres into vineyard, where Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and the local varietal Marmolo are grown to produce both Chianti Classico and 2 Supertuscans, as well as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for a tasty white blend and Trebbiano and Malvasia for Vin Santo. The property also includes 30 acres of olive orchards, with extra-virgin olive oil produced using a traditional granite mill.

Volpaia is a national historic site and as such is subject to stringent building regulations. The Stianti family has created ingenious methods to ensure a modern winemaking process while maintaining the unique historical character of the hamlet. There are 3 historic churches in the village, only one of which is still functional. Under this church is a barrel cellar where the Supertuscans, Coltasala and Balifico are aged in l’Allier oak barrique. The space under the two remaining churches also houses fermentation tanks and a barrel cellar. The stainless steel fermentation tanks under one cellar were placed there by crane, as no modifications are allowed to the buildings; hence the only way to renovate was to remove and replace fermenters through the roof. Similarly, the 3000-litre botti of Slavonian oak used for aging the Chianti Classico and Riserva wines had to be disassembled to be moved to the renovated barrel cellar and reassembled onsite. The wine moves from the fermentation tanks to the barrel cellar through an underground stainless steel ‘wine duct’ (like an aquaduct) so that no piping is visible. About 35 people live in Volpaia, most working for the Castello di Volpaia winery.

We tasted 4 wines, a white blend, two Chianti Classico wines and the Supertuscan Balifico. The 2009 Bianco di Volpaia is an equal blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, stainless-steel fermented, a dry fresh fruity wine with a silky texture and lovely flavours of lemon pie and orchard fruit. The Volpaia Chianti Classico2008 is primarily Sangiovese, with a small amount of Merlot and Syrah, dry, medium-bodied and approachable, with ripe tannins and a fresh finish. The Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva from the heralded 2006 vintage is 100% Sangiovese, aged 2 years in botti, complex, medium-full bodied, lengthy and dry on the finish. Volpaia’s 2006 Balifico is a single-vineyard blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon aged 18 months in French oak. Dry, robust and full bodied, this wine has loads of fruit and muscle and is a candidate for lengthy aging. Currently the only wine available through the LCBO is what was described to us as a basic wine, the Compagnia di Volpaia ‘Citto’ 2008 (#134817).

I hope you enjoy this glimpse of the wines of Tuscany, and that we may have the opportunity to savour more of these wines in Ontario.

I couldn’t resist yet another week in the Okanagan this year, with a day trip to the Similkameen. 

October is a lovely time of year to visit the area, with the brilliant autumn colors of the vines and fruit trees balanced by the subtle tones of the desert sage and antelope brush.  We stayed at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, which is co-located with the Nk’Mip Winery, the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and the Sonora Dunes Golf Course on a bench of Anarchist Mountain, just above Lake Osoyoos.  The resort provides a beautiful view of the vineyards of the southern Okanagan, stretching north toward the Golden Mile and the Black Sage Bench, and south to the Washington state border.  This area provides an ideal climate for red vinifera grapes, but is also home to the northern tip of the Sonoran desert as well as many endangered species.  We attended a very interesting presentation at the Desert Cultural Centre, where an interpreter discussed the research they are conducting to help preserve the endangered local snake species.  And, discussions with winery owners demonstrate their awareness of and sensitivity to the unique environment.

Once settled in, it was time to visit a few of the smaller, independently owned wineries in the Okanagan.  And a day trip to the Similkameen introduced us to some new and promising winemakers. 

After hearing Jack Fraser speak with great passion at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival about his winery in Summerland, Thornhaven Estates, a visit was in order.  I’d only had a chance to sample his Gewurtz, after all!  When we arrived, we were greeted by Jan, Jack and their daughter Courtney.  Jason, their son the winemaker, was in town on an errand.  The road to Thornhaven is a long and winding one, up the mountain overlooking Lake Okanagan, but it’s well worth it, for the view and for the great wines.  Jack’s cousin brought the property as a fruit farm in the early 1990s, began planting vines in 1996, and opened the winery in 1999.  The winery is a lovely southwestern-style adobe structure with an inviting walled terrace – given slightly warmer weather, we would have been sipping our wine there.   

After returning to Canada in 2000 from a series of expatriate assignments, Jack became involved in the vineyard and eventually took over Thornhaven from his cousin in 2005.  From there, the entire family became involved.  Jason, who has a great natural palate, was trained by Jack’s cousin and works with a consulting winemaker.  Jack is the resident viticulturalist, Jan handles all general management issues, and Courtney manages the wine shop.  A true family affair!

The Frasers produce a range of wines, including a fresh Pinot Gris, a wonderfully aromatic Gewurtztraminer, a fruity Pinot Meunier, a burgundian-style Pinot Noir, a Syrah (their first vintage) and a Merlot.  They also have two blends, Trinity, which includes a unique combination of Merlot, Gamay and Pinot Noir and Evolution, a typical Meritage blend.  We finished the tasting with two unique lip smacking late harvest wines, Nectar del Sol whic is made from Riesling, Viognier and Muscat, and Diosa, produced from Chardonnay fermented in barriques for 3 months.

With vineyards high on the slopes above the Okanagan, all grapes are hand harvested.  Jack credits two factors for the unique characteristics of his wines:  the soils, which are volcanic in origin hence packed with minerals, and the ‘lake effect’ of warm air moving up the slopes from the lake in the morning, then cooler air rolling back down in the evening.

The family was in great spirits as we left, as they had just learned they are among the 10 wineries selected as finalists for B.C. winery of the year award.

We also stopped to visit with Stefanie and Bernd Schales at 8^th Generation Vineyard.  With a long winemaking pedigree in Germany, both Stefanie and Bernd wanted to establish their own winery.  After stints in South Africa and New Zealand, they found their dream on this property between Penticton and Summerland.  Not without resistance from the family!!  Stefanie’s father was convinced that the location would be too cold and that they would lose their vines.  When he finally visited a couple of years ago, the summer heat and fine soils convinced him they had potentially better growing conditions than in Germany. 

8^th Generation has vineyards in Summerland, where they grow all their Pinot Noir, and near Okanagan Falls, where the whites are grown.  They feel that the local terroir produces rounder smoother more earthy Pinot Noir, while the sandy soils in Okanagan Falls retain the fresh flavors of the whites.  Their goal is to produce their grapes using organic techniques, although they use a minor amount of chemicals for weed control.

Their small production of 2800 cases includes a fresh fruity Pinot Gris, a classic German-style Riesling with great minerality, a citrusy dry Riesling as well as a rich sweet off-dry Riesling.  The reds include Pinot Noir, a Merlot aged 12 months in barrel, and a Syrah which had a palate redolent of spicy fruit, pepper and herbal notes.  What a wonderful selection!

If you are visiting the Summerland area, don’t miss tasting Thornhaven and 8^th Generation wines.

Other exciting initiatives in the southern Okanagan include the complete renovation of Hester Creek Winery and the establishment of Cassini Cellars by Adrian Capeneata.

With substantial investment by the owner and the design skills of Rob Summers, the winemaker at Hester Creek, the winery now has a state-of-the-art cellar and winemaking facility to handle the grapes from its 85 acres on the Golden Mile.  Rob placed particular emphasis on the improved safety in the facility, the quality of the steel tanks newly installed, and the extensive barrel vault.  The new tasting facility, built with a dramatic cathedral ceiling and a fabulous view over the vineyards, includes a tasting bar, a tasteful shop stocked with unique items, a private dining room and a fully equipped kitchen.  This facility was built largely into the mountain to take advantage of the thermal mass and uses geothermal systems for heating and cooling.  It joins the lovely guest villas located just above the winery.  And the wines, of course, are wonderful.

Cassini Cellars is located just off Highway 97 between Oliver and Osoyoos in a ochre-colored adobe-style builing that blends beautifully with the desert landscape. From a winemaking family in Roumania,  Adrian was involved with the construction industry for many years.  However,  he and his wife fell in love with the Okanagan on a visit there, so he decided to return to his roots.  He purchased a local lavender farm in 2006 (all the plants were sold to eager buyers), planted mainly red varietals, with a few whites, and began construction, largely on his own, of the new winery.  When I visited this fall, the winery had just recently opened and Adrian was still hard at work in the winemaking facilities.   Working with consulting winemaker Phil Soo, he produced a Pinot Noir Reserve 2007 which won a silver medal at Intervin.  His Viognier had lush tropical fruit aromas, while the Gewurtz was dry and elegant.  I’m sure we’ll hear more about his wines.

Bill Eggert of Fairview Cellars was also a welcoming host at his rustic winery tucked away behind the Fairview golf course west of Oliver.  I had tasted his Cabernet Franc at the Vancouver Playhouse Winefest, only to discover upon arrival that it is sold out!  However, Bill was more than willing to share his other big reds, including Mad Cap Red–a lush blend of predominantly Merlot with the Cabernets–the BOS, made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Sam Baptiste, a legend in Okanagan viticulture, as well as his premium blend, the Bear, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.  Go to his website and, I’m sorry to say, all the wines are sold out.  While his reds are legendary, Bill offered a unique treat – a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with intense characteristic aromas, a silky citrusy palate and a lingering finish.  Wow – one bottle wasn’t enough!

After being dazzled by the great wines of the Okanagan, we took a day trip to the Similkameen Valley to visit with some of the new winemakers helping to build that unique region’s reputation.  The newly established Similkameen Wineries Association has brought a small number of producers together to promote their terroir and unique wines.  Available on their website is a terrific little map that explains how to get to the valley, and then clearly illustrates where each winery is located – a recommended item should your travels take you there – and they should!

We visited three relatively new wineries, including Robin Ridge Winery, EauVivre Winery & Vineyards, and Cerelia Vineyards and Estate Winery.

At Robin Ridge, Tim Cottrill and his wife purchased their property in 1996 and have been growing grapes since then, selling to local wineries.  In 2006, after training with winemaker and owner of Herder Estates, Lawrence Herder, Tim produced his first vintage and opened his own winery.  His 10 acres were planted in 1997 and include Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  Thirty percent of the fruit for his 07 Chardonnay was aged in barrel, creating an aromatic rounded wine with a great fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.  The Pinot Noir, aged in French oak offers rich ripe berries, soft tannins and a spicy finish.  The 06 Merlot, which includes a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, was barrel-aged in French and American oak.  It has a lush nose of plums, ripe berries, vanilla and sweet spices.  Well-structured, it has a long finish with hints of cocoa and espresso.

Dale Wright and his wife Jeri are originally from Saskatechewan, but a visit to their daughter and their enjoyment of south Okanagan wines soon had them dreaming of a move.  When the property in the Similkameen became available, they didn’t hesitate.  They opened EauVivre just this August, and Dale introduced us to the wines from his first vintage.  This included a toasty Chardonnay, aged in 1 and 2 year old barrels for 14 months, his intensely floral Gewurztraminer, a berry-rich Pinot Noir with fine tannins, and a wonderfully expressive Cabernet Franc, redolent of dark summer fruits, cocoa, vanilla and spices – get it if you can!

Our last stop in the Similkameen was at Cerelia Vineyards & Estate Winery, where we met Megan Mutch, her husband Corey, and their children.  This venture is another family affair.  While Megan and Corey were living in Grand Prairie, his parents decided to convert their fruit farm to vines.  Would the kids come home to help out?  Of course, since Corey is an orchardist at heart, and Megan had a dream of becoming a winemaker.  They moved back and Megan began taking winemaking courses in Penticton and working with John Weber at Orofino while Corey worked with his family planting the vines.  The couple has just opened a small tasting room within the large farmhouse family farmhouse, where they offered us samples of their first vintage steel-fermented Pinot Gris and Chardonnay – only about 200 cases of these wines were produced.  But they have great plans – as evidenced by the winery and barrel cellars still under construction in the farmyard.  And Megan, working with John Weber of Orofino as her mentor, has produced some lovely white wines.   The Pinot Gris is fresh and crisp with ripe tree fruit flavors and a great balance of fruit and acidity on the finish.   The Chardonnay, unoaked but left on the lies, has an aromatic nose of pear with a hint of citrus, a smooth mid palate and a lovely fresh finish.  We also barrel sampled her 08 and 09 Merlot – very promising.  Watch for more from this aspiring young winemaker and her family.  There are great plans, including producing scrumptious wine jellies (our sample was delicious), and possibly establishing a B&B.

 We headed back to our suite at the Spirit Ridge reminding ourselves that we never manage to visit all the wineries we’d like to, as every year the scene changes.  Wineries expand, new ones open, winemakers move on and new varietals or blends are vinified.  It’s what makes this Canadian wine region so exciting, and keeps us coming back for more.

 If you’re thinking of taking a trip to the area, don’t hesitate to contact me.  I’d enjoy helping you plan your winery visits.  If not, consider visiting the LCBO Vintages Online Shop (search on Region), where there is currently a small but worthwhile selection of Okanagan wines from Road 13, Sandhill, and Sumac Ridge.

 Cheers!
Susan

I couldn’t resist yet another week in the Okanagan this year, with a day trip to the Similkameen. 

October is a lovely time of year to visit the area, with the brilliant autumn colors of the vines and fruit trees balanced by the subtle tones of the desert sage and antelope brush.  We stayed at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, which is co-located with the Nk’Mip Winery, the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and the Sonora Dunes Golf Course on a bench of Anarchist Mountain, just above Lake Osoyoos.  The resort provides a beautiful view of the vineyards of the southern Okanagan, stretching north toward the Golden Mile and the Black Sage Bench, and south to the Washington state border.  This area provides an ideal climate for red vinifera grapes, but is also home to the northern tip of the Sonoran desert as well as many endangered species.  We attended a very interesting presentation at the Desert Cultural Centre, where an interpreter discussed the research they are conducting to help preserve the endangered local snake species.  And, discussions with winery owners demonstrate their awareness of and sensitivity to the unique environment.

Once settled in, it was time to visit a few of the smaller, independently owned wineries in the Okanagan.  And a day trip to the Similkameen introduced us to some new and promising winemakers. 

After hearing Jack Fraser speak with great passion at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival about his winery in Summerland, Thornhaven Estates, a visit was in order.  I’d only had a chance to sample his Gewurtz, after all!  When we arrived, we were greeted by Jan, Jack and their daughter Courtney.  Jason, their son the winemaker, was in town on an errand.  The road to Thornhaven is a long and winding one, up the mountain overlooking Lake Okanagan, but it’s well worth it, for the view and for the great wines.  Jack’s cousin brought the property as a fruit farm in the early 1990s, began planting vines in 1996, and opened the winery in 1999.  The winery is a lovely southwestern-style adobe structure with an inviting walled terrace – given slightly warmer weather, we would have been sipping our wine there.   

After returning to Canada in 2000 from a series of expatriate assignments, Jack became involved in the vineyard and eventually took over Thornhaven from his cousin in 2005.  From there, the entire family became involved.  Jason, who has a great natural palate, was trained by Jack’s cousin and works with a consulting winemaker.  Jack is the resident viticulturalist, Jan handles all general management issues, and Courtney manages the wine shop.  A true family affair!

The Frasers produce a range of wines, including a fresh Pinot Gris, a wonderfully aromatic Gewurtztraminer, a fruity Pinot Meunier, a burgundian-style Pinot Noir, a Syrah (their first vintage) and a Merlot.  They also have two blends, Trinity, which includes a unique combination of Merlot, Gamay and Pinot Noir and Evolution, a typical Meritage blend.  We finished the tasting with two unique lip smacking late harvest wines, Nectar del Sol whic is made from Riesling, Viognier and Muscat, and Diosa, produced from Chardonnay fermented in barriques for 3 months.

With vineyards high on the slopes above the Okanagan, all grapes are hand harvested.  Jack credits two factors for the unique characteristics of his wines:  the soils, which are volcanic in origin hence packed with minerals, and the ‘lake effect’ of warm air moving up the slopes from the lake in the morning, then cooler air rolling back down in the evening.

The family was in great spirits as we left, as they had just learned they are among the 10 wineries selected as finalists for B.C. winery of the year award.

We also stopped to visit with Stefanie and Bernd Schales at 8^th Generation Vineyard.  With a long winemaking pedigree in Germany, both Stefanie and Bernd wanted to establish their own winery.  After stints in South Africa and New Zealand, they found their dream on this property between Penticton and Summerland.  Not without resistance from the family!!  Stefanie’s father was convinced that the location would be too cold and that they would lose their vines.  When he finally visited a couple of years ago, the summer heat and fine soils convinced him they had potentially better growing conditions than in Germany. 

8^th Generation has vineyards in Summerland, where they grow all their Pinot Noir, and near Okanagan Falls, where the whites are grown.  They feel that the local terroir produces rounder smoother more earthy Pinot Noir, while the sandy soils in Okanagan Falls retain the fresh flavors of the whites.  Their goal is to produce their grapes using organic techniques, although they use a minor amount of chemicals for weed control.

Their small production of 2800 cases includes a fresh fruity Pinot Gris, a classic German-style Riesling with great minerality, a citrusy dry Riesling as well as a rich sweet off-dry Riesling.  The reds include Pinot Noir, a Merlot aged 12 months in barrel, and a Syrah which had a palate redolent of spicy fruit, pepper and herbal notes.  What a wonderful selection!

If you are visiting the Summerland area, don’t miss tasting Thornhaven and 8^th Generation wines.

Other exciting initiatives in the southern Okanagan include the complete renovation of Hester Creek Winery and the establishment of Cassini Cellars by Adrian Capeneata.

With substantial investment by the owner and the design skills of Rob Summers, the winemaker at Hester Creek, the winery now has a state-of-the-art cellar and winemaking facility to handle the grapes from its 85 acres on the Golden Mile.  Rob placed particular emphasis on the improved safety in the facility, the quality of the steel tanks newly installed, and the extensive barrel vault.  The new tasting facility, built with a dramatic cathedral ceiling and a fabulous view over the vineyards, includes a tasting bar, a tasteful shop stocked with unique items, a private dining room and a fully equipped kitchen.  This facility was built largely into the mountain to take advantage of the thermal mass and uses geothermal systems for heating and cooling.  It joins the lovely guest villas located just above the winery.  And the wines, of course, are wonderful.

Cassini Cellars is located just off Highway 97 between Oliver and Osoyoos in a ochre-colored adobe-style builing that blends beautifully with the desert landscape. From a winemaking family in Roumania,  Adrian was involved with the construction industry for many years.  However,  he and his wife fell in love with the Okanagan on a visit there, so he decided to return to his roots.  He purchased a local lavender farm in 2006 (all the plants were sold to eager buyers), planted mainly red varietals, with a few whites, and began construction, largely on his own, of the new winery.  When I visited this fall, the winery had just recently opened and Adrian was still hard at work in the winemaking facilities.   Working with consulting winemaker Phil Soo, he produced a Pinot Noir Reserve 2007 which won a silver medal at Intervin.  His Viognier had lush tropical fruit aromas, while the Gewurtz was dry and elegant.  I’m sure we’ll hear more about his wines.

Bill Eggert of Fairview Cellars was also a welcoming host at his rustic winery tucked away behind the Fairview golf course west of Oliver.  I had tasted his Cabernet Franc at the Vancouver Playhouse Winefest, only to discover upon arrival that it is sold out!  However, Bill was more than willing to share his other big reds, including Mad Cap Red–a lush blend of predominantly Merlot with the Cabernets–the BOS, made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Sam Baptiste, a legend in Okanagan viticulture, as well as his premium blend, the Bear, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.  Go to his website and, I’m sorry to say, all the wines are sold out.  While his reds are legendary, Bill offered a unique treat – a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with intense characteristic aromas, a silky citrusy palate and a lingering finish.  Wow – one bottle wasn’t enough!

After being dazzled by the great wines of the Okanagan, we took a day trip to the Similkameen Valley to visit with some of the new winemakers helping to build that unique region’s reputation.  The newly established Similkameen Wineries Association has brought a small number of producers together to promote their terroir and unique wines.  Available on their website is a terrific little map that explains how to get to the valley, and then clearly illustrates where each winery is located – a recommended item should your travels take you there – and they should!

We visited three relatively new wineries, including Robin Ridge Winery, EauVivre Winery & Vineyards, and Cerelia Vineyards and Estate Winery.

At Robin Ridge, Tim Cottrill and his wife purchased their property in 1996 and have been growing grapes since then, selling to local wineries.  In 2006, after training with winemaker and owner of Herder Estates, Lawrence Herder, Tim produced his first vintage and opened his own winery.  His 10 acres were planted in 1997 and include Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  Thirty percent of the fruit for his 07 Chardonnay was aged in barrel, creating an aromatic rounded wine with a great fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.  The Pinot Noir, aged in French oak offers rich ripe berries, soft tannins and a spicy finish.  The 06 Merlot, which includes a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, was barrel-aged in French and American oak.  It has a lush nose of plums, ripe berries, vanilla and sweet spices.  Well-structured, it has a long finish with hints of cocoa and espresso.

Dale Wright and his wife Jeri are originally from Saskatechewan, but a visit to their daughter and their enjoyment of south Okanagan wines soon had them dreaming of a move.  When the property in the Similkameen became available, they didn’t hesitate.  They opened EauVivre just this August, and Dale introduced us to the wines from his first vintage.  This included a toasty Chardonnay, aged in 1 and 2 year old barrels for 14 months, his intensely floral Gewurztraminer, a berry-rich Pinot Noir with fine tannins, and a wonderfully expressive Cabernet Franc, redolent of dark summer fruits, cocoa, vanilla and spices – get it if you can!

Our last stop in the Similkameen was at Cerelia Vineyards & Estate Winery, where we met Megan Mutch, her husband Corey, and their children.  This venture is another family affair.  While Megan and Corey were living in Grand Prairie, his parents decided to convert their fruit farm to vines.  Would the kids come home to help out?  Of course, since Corey is an orchardist at heart, and Megan had a dream of becoming a winemaker.  They moved back and Megan began taking winemaking courses in Penticton and working with John Weber at Orofino while Corey worked with his family planting the vines.  The couple has just opened a small tasting room within the large farmhouse family farmhouse, where they offered us samples of their first vintage steel-fermented Pinot Gris and Chardonnay – only about 200 cases of these wines were produced.  But they have great plans – as evidenced by the winery and barrel cellars still under construction in the farmyard.  And Megan, working with John Weber of Orofino as her mentor, has produced some lovely white wines.   The Pinot Gris is fresh and crisp with ripe tree fruit flavors and a great balance of fruit and acidity on the finish.   The Chardonnay, unoaked but left on the lies, has an aromatic nose of pear with a hint of citrus, a smooth mid palate and a lovely fresh finish.  We also barrel sampled her 08 and 09 Merlot – very promising.  Watch for more from this aspiring young winemaker and her family.  There are great plans, including producing scrumptious wine jellies (our sample was delicious), and possibly establishing a B&B.

 We headed back to our suite at the Spirit Ridge reminding ourselves that we never manage to visit all the wineries we’d like to, as every year the scene changes.  Wineries expand, new ones open, winemakers move on and new varietals or blends are vinified.  It’s what makes this Canadian wine region so exciting, and keeps us coming back for more.

 If you’re thinking of taking a trip to the area, don’t hesitate to contact me.  I’d enjoy helping you plan your winery visits.  If not, consider visiting the LCBO Vintages Online Shop (search on Region), where there is currently a small but worthwhile selection of Okanagan wines from Road 13, Sandhill, and Sumac Ridge.

 Cheers!
Susan