-
Food and wine at Pearl Morissette
“Let’s colour outside the lines for the food and wine pairing”, says Jenna, our server at Pearl Morissette. “It’s all about good food and wine.” Jenna is wine-savvy, but not afraid to experiment, to have a bit of fun. I was keen to try Pearl Morissette wines with my lunch. My husband and I were finishing our last savoury course and transitioning to sweet. So far, I had enjoyed the aromatic Irrévérence (my first taste of a skin-fermented or orange wine) and Lila, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Lemberger and Pinot Noir with lovely cherry and blackberry notes. At this juncture, Jenna suggested the Sputnik, a dry Riesling. Without hesitation…
-
Touring Flat Rock Cellars and beyond
I am standing among large stainless steel drums at Flat Rock Cellars. The air is cool and smells of musty grapes. In contrast to the crisp air, the glass of wine in my hand, the 2017 Twisted, is bursting with luscious tropical fruits like pineapple and guava. It lives up to its nickname “Tahiti in a glass”. I am amazed at the bold flavours in the wine. Tate, my knowledgeable tour guide, tells me the owner carefully choose the specific varietals best suited to their unique plot of land on the Twenty Mile Bench. Three of these varietals (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Chardonnay) are in this wacky twisted blend. Other Flat…
-
Wine and art at 13th Street Winery
It’s harvest time and I am touring wineries in Niagara’s Twenty Valley. Skies blue or grey, the valley glows with countless shades of amber, gold and copper. Approaching 13th Street Winery, I admire the bold sculptures in the garden silhouetting the sky: dark beams of wood bent under the weight of another, twisted black metal atop a small hill, running wolves in the distance. The verandas surrounding the crisp white buildings invite guests to relax and enjoy a baked good from the farmhouse bakery. It is after all famous for its butter tarts. But this is a quest for another day. Today, I am here for wine. I enter the…
-
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…
