An entertaining tasting at Creekside Estate Winery

“This is going to be fun,” enthuses Krissy, my host at Creekside Estate Winery. “Let’s taste the wine from the front yard and the back yard.” She’s grinning as she lines up stemless glasses on the smooth-tiled tasting bar in front of me.

A bright red Massey Harris tractor is displayed in the front yard, close to the road, where cars and trucks rumble by, kicking up dust. The backyard block by contrast is serene: a small pond trickles and lush late-season hydrangeas bloom. Two plots of land in close proximity, yet producing very distinct Sauvignon Blancs. The grassy nose from the front yard wine* is bold, with a punch of tart lemon and lime, while the backyard sip is softer, the grapefruit and herbal notes mingling in my mouth. A third Sauvignon Blanc, the reserve lot, rounds out the tasting of the bright, clean, crisp Creekside whites.

* the front yard wine is the Creekside Sauvignon Blanc available at the LCBO

The tasting lives up to her pronouncement – it is fun! And it does not end with the Sauvignon Blancs. We move onto Syrahs, including the Iconoclast Syrah and the Unbroken Press Syrah Reserve. The Iconoclast is a full bodied wine, with aromas of ripe plum and spice, and a hint of chocolate. The wine can be enjoyed now or cellared.

Krissy is encouraging, coaxing my discovery of the wines. Her mindset is “anything goes” in terms of descriptors, giving me a safe space to throw out any word, from barnyard to funky.

The tasting experience is highly enjoyable. I also learn about the evolution of winemaking in the Twenty Valley. While winemaking had traditional roots (in the french style), winemakers over time studied the local conditions of Niagara and experimented with different varietals best suited to the unique land. Today the wines are uniquely Ontario, as winemakers tailor winemaking techniques to coax the best out of the soil, the grape, the season.

Pink Floyd is playing. Krissy and I share our stories about the first time we were introduced to Dark Side of the Moon (for me, it was Brad from my days working at Harvey’s in high school). I find it fascinating how music can trigger memories and transport you back to a moment in time, all the while being in the present moment, at the tasting bar, swirling, sniffing and tasting the wines of Creekside Estate Winery.

This is my first visit, but not my last. There is a casual restaurant with a lovely deck out the back yard overlooking the pond and vineyard. The menu looks really tasty.

And I suspect the music will be good too.