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| The view while tasting at Good Earth |
This was the first year that Shawn and I made it out to Niagara for the New Vintage Festival – and just under the
wire too, as it was the last day for this start-of-summer event. The Niagara New Vintage Festival takes place over two weekends when each winery offers an
interesting wine and food pairing for passport holders.
As with other Niagara Wine Festivals, Shawn got a designated
driver pass so that he could enjoy all of the food samples without the wine. I
can’t stress enough how much we like having this option and hope that other
wine events choose to provide it. He was able to have a fun day and try some
great food while I did the full pairings and there was no stress about the
driver not participating in the day.
driver pass so that he could enjoy all of the food samples without the wine. I
can’t stress enough how much we like having this option and hope that other
wine events choose to provide it. He was able to have a fun day and try some
great food while I did the full pairings and there was no stress about the
driver not participating in the day.
We started at Good Earth Food & Wine, which is one of
our favourite places in the Twenty
Valley. It was a gorgeous
summer day and we loved that we got to sit out on their beautiful patio and
enjoy their trio wine and food items. This was one of the best stops, as they
had obviously put tons of thought into their pairing and each bite-sized item was
matched perfectly with the wine. I particularly liked their 2012 Betty’s Blend,
which was perfect with the avocado, leek and asparagus soup.
our favourite places in the Twenty
Valley. It was a gorgeous
summer day and we loved that we got to sit out on their beautiful patio and
enjoy their trio wine and food items. This was one of the best stops, as they
had obviously put tons of thought into their pairing and each bite-sized item was
matched perfectly with the wine. I particularly liked their 2012 Betty’s Blend,
which was perfect with the avocado, leek and asparagus soup.
Next up was Tawse Winery, which always has great wine. They
paired each sample with cheese from Upper Canada Cheese – one of the best
cheese stores I’ve ever visited. Always nice to have two of my favourite things
together, but I was a little surprised that they hadn’t done something more unique.
Compared to some of the other stops this pairing was a bit unexciting, but
still – amazing wine with some of our favourite cheeses? Can’t really complain.
paired each sample with cheese from Upper Canada Cheese – one of the best
cheese stores I’ve ever visited. Always nice to have two of my favourite things
together, but I was a little surprised that they hadn’t done something more unique.
Compared to some of the other stops this pairing was a bit unexciting, but
still – amazing wine with some of our favourite cheeses? Can’t really complain.
My favourite pairing of the day came early on when we
visited Megalomanic Winery. This was my first visit and it certainly won’t be
my last. What an incredible view of the Twenty Valley
from this winery and the pairing was simply divine. They had their new
Bubblehead pink sparkling (so new it didn’t even have a label yet), which I
really enjoyed, as well as their 2012 Pink Slip Pinot Noir Rosé paired with an
incredible white chocolate and strawberry salsa tart. Shawn and I are still
talking about that tart. And we liked the Pink Slip so much we brought some
home. We’ll likely be back for the Bubblehead too.
visited Megalomanic Winery. This was my first visit and it certainly won’t be
my last. What an incredible view of the Twenty Valley
from this winery and the pairing was simply divine. They had their new
Bubblehead pink sparkling (so new it didn’t even have a label yet), which I
really enjoyed, as well as their 2012 Pink Slip Pinot Noir Rosé paired with an
incredible white chocolate and strawberry salsa tart. Shawn and I are still
talking about that tart. And we liked the Pink Slip so much we brought some
home. We’ll likely be back for the Bubblehead too.
We got lost on our way to Flat Rock Cellars and ended up at Calamus,where we enjoyed some quiche and Pinot Gris and Calvin’s Cabernet – all very
yummy. This is a great little winery and they were kind enough to give us a bit
of a mini-tour of the space. I’d love the chance to go back again when we had
more time to really experience their wines.
yummy. This is a great little winery and they were kind enough to give us a bit
of a mini-tour of the space. I’d love the chance to go back again when we had
more time to really experience their wines.
Flat Rock was well worth finding when we finally arrived.
I’ve already said their Riesling is one of my picks for the summer and Shawn
enjoyed the pork appetizer they were serving, so this was a great stop. I had
no idea what a truly gorgeous space they had and I loved the chance to just
walk around and enjoy the view.
I’ve already said their Riesling is one of my picks for the summer and Shawn
enjoyed the pork appetizer they were serving, so this was a great stop. I had
no idea what a truly gorgeous space they had and I loved the chance to just
walk around and enjoy the view.
I hadn’t experienced Sue-Ann Staff Wines before, but it was
just across the street so we stopped in. It didn’t disappoint. Chicken and
waffles with her 2011 Pinot Gris was a hit and then I paid the extra to sample
her sparkling with a delightful little meringue.
just across the street so we stopped in. It didn’t disappoint. Chicken and
waffles with her 2011 Pinot Gris was a hit and then I paid the extra to sample
her sparkling with a delightful little meringue.
We had planned to get to Creekside Estate Winery in time for lunch, but
were running far too late. Instead, I sampled their 2012 Cabernet Rosé with a
salmon bite. The Rosé is well worth picking up, as is their new Backyard
Sauvignon Blanc, which I’d tried at the recent Sip and Savour Ontario event. I also picked up one of their
new Roots shirts, which are super fun and fashionable.
were running far too late. Instead, I sampled their 2012 Cabernet Rosé with a
salmon bite. The Rosé is well worth picking up, as is their new Backyard
Sauvignon Blanc, which I’d tried at the recent Sip and Savour Ontario event. I also picked up one of their
new Roots shirts, which are super fun and fashionable.
We hit The Yellow Pear food truck for an excellent late
lunch and then did a quick visit to Featherstone Winery where I had their 2012
Rosé with a grilled strawberry shortcake. This was a great, relaxed stop where
we could sit on their lovely front patio and unwind. Much-needed after a
hectic day of going from winery to winery.
lunch and then did a quick visit to Featherstone Winery where I had their 2012
Rosé with a grilled strawberry shortcake. This was a great, relaxed stop where
we could sit on their lovely front patio and unwind. Much-needed after a
hectic day of going from winery to winery.
Last on our list was Stoney Ridge Estate Winery, which had one of the most
substantial pairings of the day with a fantastic turkey slider and their 2010
Warren Classic Pinot Noir. You only get very small samples of the wines at each
winery and I had eaten before we started, but it was nice when wineries
provided something of a good size to eat to ward off any tipsiness.
substantial pairings of the day with a fantastic turkey slider and their 2010
Warren Classic Pinot Noir. You only get very small samples of the wines at each
winery and I had eaten before we started, but it was nice when wineries
provided something of a good size to eat to ward off any tipsiness.
We managed to cram a whole lot into one day, but if we do
this festival again next year (and I hope we do), I’d love to spend a weekend
in Niagara so we could split our visits up
over two days. It was really hot and we were both pretty exhausted by the time
we rolled back into the city, but we had a great day and discovered some
fantastic new wines.
this festival again next year (and I hope we do), I’d love to spend a weekend
in Niagara so we could split our visits up
over two days. It was really hot and we were both pretty exhausted by the time
we rolled back into the city, but we had a great day and discovered some
fantastic new wines.
For more information on the New Vintage Festival and other
Niagara Wine Festivals visit http://www.niagarawinefestival.com/
Niagara Wine Festivals visit http://www.niagarawinefestival.com/
Read @cono_sur’s review of the festival: http://vintagewinepicks.blogspot.ca/2013/06/2013-niagara-new-vintage-festival-review.html
More photos from our day:
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| The tasting room at Megalomaniac |
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| The view from Megalomaniac |
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| The view from Flat Rock’s balcony |
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| The pairing at Calamus |
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| Megalomaniac Pink Slip |
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| The pairing at Good Earth – non veggie version |
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| Featherstone Rosé |
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