Ontario Wine Awards

Ontario wines are better than ever and only one competition focuses solely on recognizing them. The Ontario Wine Awards is the brainchild of renowned wine scribe Tony Aspler and will be celebrating its16th anniversary this year. It is judged in March by well known, seasoned wine authorities, including myself, with an awards banquet in June. To coincide with the banquet, the 3^rd week in June is officially Ontario Wine Week, as declared by the provincial government back in 2005. It includes exciting festivals, winemaker dinners, restaurant promotions and more. What a great venue to distinguish, appreciate and celebrate excellence in world-class Ontario wines!

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is Cabernet Sauvignon’s less famous cousin. Similar to Cab Sauv, with cassis, violets and raspberries, it possesses much more of an herbaceous edge. I call it the Sauvignon Blanc of Cabernets because of its leafiness. Better known as one of the blending grapes in red Bordeaux, it’s at its best in France’s Loire Valley where it is bottled straight up. Great with grilled and roasted red meats, stews, casseroles, medium cheeses and vegetarian dishes, it ages well too. If you haven’t tried Cab Franc from Niagara, you’re missing out on something special.We do a fab job with it here. In fact, I believe it does better in our terroir than Cab Sauv. So check it out for a real treat.

Champagne Sweetness Codes

Last week I addressed Champagne styles. This week…sweetness codes! The extremely driest of all Champers says Brut Nature on the label. Extra Brut is very dry. Up next is Brut, dry. Then it gets confusing. Extra Sec, meaning extra dry in French, really isn’t. It’s off-dry. Sec, meaning dry, is not at all. More like medium-dry. Demi-Sec, meaning semi-dry, is hardly that. It’s medium-sweet. And Doux or Rich is just that…sweet. Again much of this terminology spills over to other bubbly. Don’t fret though. Most of what we see here in Canada is Brut and occasionally Extra Brut or Extra Sec. We really don’t seem to have a palate for sweet Champagne. Uncork a bottle and enjoy!

Champagne Styles

Valentines Day is just around the corner and no vino says “amore” like Champagne. Several styles exist. Non-Vintage has no year on the bottle and is a blend of many years. Vintage is a blend of many wines, all from the same year, wearing that year on the label. Rosé utilizes some skin contact from red grapes for colour. Blanc de Blanc is made from white grapes only while Blanc de Noirs is made only from dark grapes. Single vineyard means the fruit came from one property. Cuvee Prestige or Grand Marques is the best wine a house produces. Grand Cru means the fruit came from the best, highest rated vineyards and Ier Cru, from vineyards 2^nd best. Much of this terminology spills over to other bubbly as well.