In the past Victoria Long weekend, we went to a Wine and Herb tour in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's the annual celebration event of the 18 wineries, the participant can visit all 18 wineries where each stop will feature a different herb-themed food pariring matched to premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb.
We have visited 7 wineries in the Saturday afternoon as following:Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate, 2005 Proprietors' Reserve Meritage (Red), Sage.
Peller Estates, Ice Cuvee (Red), Chervil.
Reif Estate Winery, 2006 Gamay Rosé Lavender.
Inniskillin, 2004 Inniskillin Reserve Pinot Noir, Dill.
Hillebrand, 2007 Riesling (White), Tarrogon.
Pillitteri Estates Winery, 2006 Pinot Grigio (White), Fennel.
Joseph's Estate Wines, 2005 Riesling (White), Lemon Grass.
Link to more pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20982&l=168d9&id=549037776
As an occasional wine drinker, there're so much for me to learn about the wine. I'd like to share some of the knowledge that I found on internet with you. Hope you'll find it's beneficial too!
VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) is your assurance that the wine you choose is made from 100% grapes grown in Ontario and its unique viticultural areas. Also VQA wines follow standards throughout the winemaking process that govern content, processes and additives and are independently audited on a regular basis.
Estate Bottled is a wine label term indicating a wine is made from 100% from grapes grown in one particular winery or in vineyards one particular winery leases long term.
Decanting / “breathing” refers to opening the wine some time prior to serving it and allowing it to come into contact with air. Any wine that has been opened begins to react immediately with oxygen. Some red wines that are young and very tannic do benefit from “breathing,”. Tannin is a bitter substance found in the skins and seeds of the grapes, and the time spent “breathing” will help to soften the tannins so you won’t get a bitter wine face.
Dry or Sweet? The sweetness of a wine is defined by the level of residual sugar (or RS) in the final liquid after the fermentation has ceased. However, how sweet the wine will actually taste is also controlled by factors such as the acidity and alcohol levels, the amount of tannin present, and whether the wine is sparkling. For example, a sweet wine can actually taste dry due to the high level of acidity, or a dry wine can taste sweet if the alcohol level is elevated.
Vintage Wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year.
Riesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. It is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.
Ice Wine is a type of dessert wine. A true Icewine can only be made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine and picked when the thermometer dips to -8° C.) The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing a more concentrated grape must to be pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a small amount of concentrated, often very sweet wine.
Rosé is a red-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period. The grapes are then pressed, and the skins are discarded rather than left in contact throughout fermentation (as with red wine making).
Pinot noir ('pi no nwar) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera
It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a
difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine.Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex, full-bodied red muscled with tannins that will raise red meats and hard cheeses to new heights. This varietal is at its best after a few years in the bottle so look to older vintages for immediate consumption or cellar one.
Cabernet Franc takes a softer approach but still has the weight to marry with grilled steak, game and lamb.
Blending reds is a long-standing tradition that allows the winemaker’s art to shine through. Yes, great varietals are made in the vineyard but a great blended wine depends on the finesse of an inspired winemaker. Examples of red wines used to blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Baco Noir.
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