The iYellow Wine Club goes local
Photo by iYellow Wine Club
Fall has officially arrived. The weather seems to have changed appropriately on schedule. This is an exciting time - back to school, back to work...back to routine. More importantly, it's harvest!
Looking back to the lazy days of summer, my thoughts take me to Sunday August 12th as 44 eager iYellow Wine Club members borded a bus in downtown Toronto to escape to beautiful Niagara wine country. Having recently returned from a whirlwind trip throughout Burgundy and the south of France, I was due to head to another wine destination, even just for a day.
Barrel cellar at
Chateau des Charmes
Tasting room at
Southbrook
Some are still surprised when they learn that wine is even produced in Ontario. Not only is wine produced here, it's pretty darn delicious. This is a flourishing industry that is continuously growing every year and the wines are gaining more acclaim locally and abroad. Cool climate grape varieties such as riesling, chardonnay, and pinot noir being the most celebrated. You can't expect to be tasting a wine that's identical to a wine from another place in the world. Similar? Reminiscent? Sure. You are tasting Ontario and the "typicity" of its terroir. I recently read an article by John Szabo and he made great points about how we should be looking for wines that are typical to a region. He used the word "typicity" throughout and I put a lot of thought into that one word. Ontario is not California. Nor is it New Zealand or Germany. Ontario is...well, Ontario. What's that song that we always hear on tv: "Good things grow, in On-ta-rio".
The iYellow tour was co-hosted by Taylor Thompson, wine director for the Toronto Ritz Carlton. He offered a great dose of entertainment mixed with information. Learning can be fun! The day's activities, other than the funny commentary between Angela Aiello and Taylor, included a tour and tasting at 3 wineries, lunch, and some good ol' fashioned field trip shenanigans.
Sheltered from the rain
Vines at Vineland
These tours are a terrific way to be introduced (or re-acquainted) to the region. Not only are you driven around all day, lunch is provided and you are essentially treated to VIP tastings at each winery. It takes the pressure off trying to plan your own excursion, especially if you've never been to the area. I love hopping on a bus and letting the day unfold. It kind of reminds me of school field trips, just more fun and with alcohol (oops, I didn't say that).
The "iYellow Loves Local" fall tour schedule:
Sheep at Southbrook
Hey Stu - yeah I'm talkin' to you!
Saturday September 29th Saturday October 13th Saturday October 20th
Our first stop was at Vineland Estates. The tasting, led by Taylor himself, was held inside the production area. A delicious boxed lunch was provided afterwards after our salivary glads were sufficiently lubricated. This was no ordinary boxed lunch - it was deliciously on the gourmet side and we were allowed to eat it anywhere on the grounds. We grabbed some leftover bottles from the tasting and headed outside to enjoy our meal next to the vines. If you're ever at Vineland, do plan to eat at the restaurant. If the boxed lunches were any indication of the quality of the restaurant, you won't be disappointed. It has a great reputation among both visitors and locals. The most talked about wine of the tasting was the 2009 St. Urban Riesling. The 2011 Elevation St. Urban Riesling is now available in stores. www.vineland.com
Michelle Bosc and the
iYellow group in the
barrel cellar
Chateau des Charmes
Pinot Noir 2010
Our next destination was Chateau des Charmes where Michelle Bosc herself was the guide. After a sparkling wine reception, we were taken out into the vineyards and into the production facility. Even though the rain had decided to make an appearance, it didn't last long and by late afternoon, the sun was back out shining. My favourites of the tasting were the 2010 Pinot Noir and the 2010 Equuleus. The Equuleus is a wine of structure. Only created in the best of years, it is a Bordelaise blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. The Pinot Noir highlighted the wonderful qualities that can arise from cooler-climate vineyards. www.chateaudescharmes.com
A short clip with Michelle Bosc, whose family owns and operates Chateau des Charmes.
In this video she explains why Ontario can successfully grow grape for wine production.
Angela Aiello discussing
with owner of Southbrook,
Bill Redelmeir
The final stop was Southbrook Vineyards.
2011 Triomphe
Cabernet Franc
Rose
Small in size, it's Canada's largest organic and biodynamic winery. It doesn't use synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizer, or genetic modification. Think of biodynamics as extreme organic practices that are on the mystical side. The winery itself is an interesting piece of architecture. You can't miss it as you drive along the main road into the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Bill Redelmeir, owner of Southbrook, took us out into the vineyards to talk about biodynamics and how this viticulture practice translates into the wines. One such example is the use of sheep on the property. Their waste, as they munch away on the vine foliage, is used as fertilizer. There must be something to this alternative form of agriculture because the wines were really enjoyable. www.southbrook.com
The LCBO has recently launched a campaign to promote local wines with the slogan "People are Talking". A highly visual website, with a large focus on social media, was launched a few weeks ago. www.lcbogolocal.com
Chateau des Charmes
Equuleus 2009
Join the conversation and share some of your favourite Ontario wines on Twitter with the hashtags #lcbogolocal and #vqa.
This release of Vintages magazine features the wines of Ontario. If you haven't picked up a copy of the free bi-weekly publication, you can pick one up at your local LCBO or view it online: www.vintages.com
Tomorrow morning I'm putting my stamp on harvest 2012. I'm headed back out to FlatRock Cellars to help out with the sorting of riesling that are to be harvested.
On the evening of May 15th, I was very honoured to be invited to another delicious iYellow Wine Club event: A Zeni Winemaker Dinner featuring winemaker Fausto Zeni. The evening of delightful sensory pleasures was held at Nota Bene, one of my favourites in the city.
Fausto Zeni (left)
I took this opportunity to finally begin my exploration of Italy. I somehow manage to avoid Italy (if you've noticed) on this blog. Not that I don't like it. Quite the opposite. I love everything Italian - the fashion, the food, the language, the people and yes, the wine. However, I do find Italy overwhelming when it comes to the study of its wines. It seems that every inch of the country produces wine with indigenous grape varieties. Coupled with a rich history - there's just a lot to know. My education starts now. Luckily for me, as I started this post, I had the April 28th LCBO Vintages publication nearby and it so happened to feature the wines of the Veneto region. My research into the region and its wines began there.
Costalago IGT
Rosso Veronese 2010
www.lake-garda-revealed.com
Zeni winery is located in northestern Italy. Sitting on hills, it overlooks the village of Bardolino and Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda. The winery is run by the Zeni family who have been making Veronese Wines for five generations.
Zeni is a wine producer that has been in business since Bartolomeo Zeni began trading wine in the early 1800s in the Bardolino region of Lake Garda in Italy. Today, the Zeni family is still in charge of wine production, with artful attention to details and a sense of tradition using modern equipment and techniques. The company produces a broad range of styles from classical Bardolino, Soave, Valpolicella, Bianco di Custoza, Lugana and Amarone to IGTs, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines. - www.snooth.com
We've all heard the words Valpolicella, Ripasso, Soave, Prosecco and Amarone. These words are associated with the Veneto region of Italy. The Veneto is also the centre of a process called "appassimento" which translates to "grape drying".
The wines of Zeni fall into a number of categories or selections (selezione). These categories group the wines and highlight stylistic features. They are labeled i Classici, Vigne Alte, Marogne, Amaroni, Recioti and Gli Speciali. www.zeni.it/vini.php
Zeni family
Since 1991, the winery has also been home to a wine museum. It covers everything from ancient winemaking to current day viticultural and vinification practices. I took a look at the museum on the website. It really does look interesting. All those old tools remind me of the movie "The Princess Bride". You know the scene I'm talking about. Spending quite a bit of time on the website, I've developed a desire to make a trip to the region. It's for educational purposes...really! Time to purchase an Italian phrasebook.
My "passport" to the
wines of Zeni
Let's review some terminology:
IGT: Indicazione Geografica Tipica. This is the Italian classificationsystem for those wines that don't meet the strict regulations of the DOC (or DOCG which is one more level up). IGT rules allow for more experimentation or blending of international grape varieties. Wines with this classification are often very good.
DOC: Denominazione di Origine Controllata. This is the Italian classificationsystem for quality wines coming from a region. The highest level (one level up) is DOCG. Wines produced under this classification must follow very specific rules and regulations (for example, what grape varieties may be used). It's similar to the AOC system in France or our own VQA system.
Classico: In Italy this means the original zone of production within a DOC. It's the "classic" or historic area of that DOC. Classico vineyards are considered to be of superior quality.
Fausto Zeni (left)
photo by J. Aiello
Valpolicella: A region in the Veneto. This is in Northeast Italy. The grape varieties used in the blends are often Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara.
Ripasso: The Italian word for "re-passed". It is a styleof Valpolicella.Valpolicella wine is re-fermented on unpressed grape skins leftover from the production of Amarone. The fruitiness of Valpolicella wine is combined with the earthy characteristics of Amarone. It adds flavour, body and alcohol to the wine. Think of it as "Amarone on a budget".
Amarone: A red wine made in the Valpolicella "Classico" region. It is made with dried (passito) grapes. The grapes shrivel, becoming raison-like. This technique creates wines that are powerful and concentrated with alcohol levels reaching above 15%. The proper name is Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. Hence, Amarone for short. The Corvina grape is the dominant variety in the blend.
Rosso: Italian word for red.
Fausto Zeni and
@theyummygrape
Ciao! er...thumbs up!
photo by J.Aiello
What an evening. Delicious food coupled with enjoyable wine. Whenever Italians are involved, the fun is usually just moments away! The festivities were brought to us by the letters IYC - the iYellow Wine Club and as usual, I spent the night with old friends and as expected, made new ones. The iYellow Wine Club is a social club based in Toronto. Free to join, it's a wonderful way to socialize and learn about wine.
Here is a great review of the evening by fellow blogger @towineman: towineman.com
Now we go to L'abbinamento ("the match"). This Italian word is represents the pairing of food and wine. I've been practicing saying it with some Italian flair.
This wine was in Vintages for about $15! A good wine for the money. Too bad it's sold out. Well, it's actually good that it's sold out. Good for them, bad for me. This wine is mostly made of the grape Corvina with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended.
Full-bodied with hints of black cherry and well-ripened fruit. Traditional skin fermentation followed by 10-15 days maceration. After fermentation the unpressed Amarone skins are added to Valpolicella wine, according to the traditional Valpolicella 'ripasso' technique. (from Zeni tasting notes)
Scored 19 points with Decanter.
"Aromas of tobacco, woodsmoke and mocha. A very elegant palate with red fruit, silky tannins and fine acidity. - Decanter
Raising of the grapes for 4 months followed by traditional skin fermentation. Notes of vanilla and hits of cocoa and spices. (from Zeni product notes)
Course 5
Parmigiano Reggiano
Dried Muscat Grapes Wine: Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Nino Zeni 2000
A real treat for us. Named as a tribute to the father of the current Zeni children who run the family business. It was one of my favourites of the evening.
5 wines of the evening
photo by J.Aiello
I'd like to thank Angela Aiello of iYellow Wine Club for inviting me to this enjoyable yet very informative evening! I think my "fear" of some of the complexities of Italian wines has been greatly diminished. By writing this blog post, I now feel a more confident discussing the wines of Vento. Bring on the dinner parties. Ciao!
Salute!
photo by J. Aiello
For more information about iYellow Wine Club, Toronto's hippest social wine scene: www.iyellowwineclub.com
Each November I look forward to the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo. The Expo is a large showcase of everything food and drink. I attended the opening VIP night on Thursday and then back on the most popular evening - Saturday. I really didn't mind battling the crowds and endless choices of wine. It was all in the name of research right? It was fantastic to see many Ontario wineries featured this year.
Always a great time!
The annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is held in November at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building. Each year the Expo offers 38,000 guests an unparalleled opportunity to sample over 1,500 fine wines, spirits and beers from around the globe. www.foodandwineexpo.ca
The energy of the show was great! Everyone was in a good mood, relaxed and looking to have a great time. Don't come to the event to save money. Splurge a little and indulge your taste buds. Give yourself a budget and stay within in...or around it. Samples are purchased with tickets. How many tickets something will cost will vary, depending on what exactly you're trying. One sheet of 20 tickets will run you $20. The expo is a great way to sample a wide array of food and to tour the world of wine under one roof. Sometimes you'll be lucky and meet the actual people behind the wine from winemakers to the winery owners. There was a photo booth in the center of the pavilion that you could go in and take candid photos. That was a great idea...take some before and after shots. ;)
David Lawrason & Bryan McCaw
www.winealign.com
Another highlight of the event each year is the Tutored Tastings. These are 22 seminars during the course of the show. The seminars for this show included: Taste like a Pro Vitners' Barrel Tasting, Blind Value, Awesome Argentina. Special guest speakers guide you through the tastings. Saturday evening is usually the night of the Gourmet Gala (extra cost):
The Gourmet Gala will give you the opportunity to taste gold medal sparkling wines and six exquisite courses of chefs’ finest creations, each paired with two top rated International wines. www.foodandwineexpo.ca
Other features of the event included: Celebrity Chef Spotlight Connoisseur's Corner Food Network Stage Fine Wine Tasting Lounge All You Need is Cheese stage
My highlights:
* Discovery Burning Kiln Winery www.burningkilnwinery.ca
* Wines of Georgia pavilion
* Talking with the Colaneri's of Colaneri Estate Winery
* Discovering some gems at the Vintages booth
* Running into friends and just talking with people!
I learned so much about the wines of Georgia. It's definitely on my list of places to visit. One of my favourite wines of the show was the Bagrationi 1882 Reserve Brut sparkling wine. Wow. I also enjoyed the various wines from Kindzmarauli Marani (Kindzmarauli Wine Cellar). I'm still practicing how to pronounce this. There are so many indigenous grape varieties in Georgia that I've never heard of! I urge you to look up the Georgian alphabet. I'm now fascinated with this country.
In Georgia's most famous wine making region, Kakheti, there is a small place, Kindzmareuli, which the renowned Georgian wine derived its name from. Its situation at the foot of the Caucasian mountains, in the Alazani Valley... www.gwineimports.com
Jolene Aiello &
Erin Nicholson
Thanks for pouring Jo!
Wines of Georgia!
Dos and Don'ts:
* Do go out of your comfort zone: seek out new regions or unexplored grape varieties!
* Do buy more than 1 sheet of tickets at a time so you don't have to wait in those long lines. * Do purchase tickets to the show in advance. You can purchase tickets online!
* Do dress light. It gets quite warm with so many people in the pavilion.
* Do spit the wine: you'll be able to try a lot more and maybe even remember what you've tried.
* Do drink plenty of water.
* Don't drive!!
* Don't wear parfume. It distracts from the wine aroma.
* Don't come to the event looking to get your drink on. Everyone is always on pretty good behaviour but you do have the odd person that didn't really monitor how much they were drinking.
We've finally reached the fourth and final installment of the Bordeaux After Work Party series. Held at the popular Crush Wine Bar on King Street in downtown Toronto, it was the largest yet! I'm sad that this series has concluded. I looked forward to heading out after work to the party. It was so much fun to mix and mingle after work at various wine bars around Toronto. This series of events was a fun way to promote the wines of Bordeaux. Maybe we'll see more events in the near future? Bordeaux After Work Party Part Deux? (wish list!)
Keep those tunes coming dj!
Largest crowd yet!
I don't know if it was because Halloween was in the air and people were in the mood to get out and celebrate, but for a weeknight, this event was packed! It was great to see so many people coming out to try Bordeaux wine. Like the last event at Eight Wine Bar, there was a sommelier station set up so you could sample a taste of each of the wines on the menu before choosing your free glass of your preference.
Le Menu
The way the event worked was the first 100 people would get a drink ticket for a free glass of wine of off of the list of those wines featured for the event. After that, each additional glass was $5. Good deal!
The mission of these events was to showcase the diverse wine region of Bordeaux. People always associate Bordeaux with $$$$. That's not always the case! Yes, you easily spend a lot of money for a wine from one of the grand Chateaux but there are some terrific wines to be had for not very much money.
To wrap things up, this series in my opinion, was a great success! Once a
month we (the wine-loving public) all got to get together at a trendy
wine bar to learn about the delicious wines of Bordeaux. So what exactly
did we learn?
1. Wines from Bordeaux are most often a blend of several grape varieties.
2. Whites from Bordeaux are a blend of two grapes: Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon adds body to the wine while Sauvignon Blanc adds the aroma and crisp freshness.
3. Bordeaux reds can be classified in two categories: Left Bank and Right Bank.
Grab a glass and taste!
4. Wines from the Left Bank are Cabernet Sauvignon dominant in the
blend. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned grape that gives structure
and in some wines, excellent aging potential.
5. Wines from the Right Bank are Merlot dominant in the blend. Merlot
provides the wine with body and that silky softness that we all love.
6. Sauternes is a luscious, delicate sweet white wine made from the Sauvignon,
Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. It has a unique feature in that a
special "rot" called botrytis causes the grapes to shrivel.
The grapes then have extremely concentrated and unique flavour. It's
like a piece of heaven. :) Also look for similar wine styles from the Barsac region.
7. Wines from Bordeaux come in different styles and price points. You can definitely find a wine for any budget.
Thank you Bordeaux Wine Council and iYellow Wine Club for hosting these Bordeaux After Work parties!
The iYellow tour was co-hosted by Taylor Thompson, wine director for the Toronto Ritz Carlton. He offered a great dose of entertainment mixed with information. Learning can be fun! The day's activities, other than the funny commentary between Angela Aiello and Taylor, included a tour and tasting at 3 wineries, lunch, and some good ol' fashioned field trip shenanigans.
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