NewsUncategorized

Niagara hosts the ‘rebirth of cool’ (as in cool chardonnay)

Ravines_brunch_61

Note: Mark it on your calendar, Niagara is once again hosting the world’s cool climate Chardonnay producers this July. And you’re invited to the celebration. Here is the news release issued on Monday:

41808_104990356227969_504035322_nMarch 26, Niagara, ON – This July, Niagara will once again welcome the world’s top cool climate Chardonnay producers to celebrate the rebirth of a seriously cool grape. Wine enthusiasts and food lovers are invited to discover and enjoy the many reasons to celebrate everything Chardonnay throughout a weekend full of activities from July 20 to 22, 2012.

“It’s about time we had a festival that celebrated the greatness that is Chardonnay,” says Eric Hamacher, owner and winemaker at Hamacher Wines in Oregon.

The second annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) will showcase over 110 cool climate Chardonnays. Guests will have the ability to blend their own Chardonnay experience by choosing from 12 unique events over the three day celebration.

Harald Thiel_ I4C_4Friday evening’s official kick-off party will feature a wandering feast at Jackson Triggs where guests can meet all 55 winemakers, followed by a concert featuring a Juno-award winning band in the picturesque vineyard amphitheatre.

Connoisseurs can participate in an in-depth winemaker discussion hosted by 2012 i4C Keynote Speaker Stephen Brook of Decanter Magazine on “extreme winemaking” then mingle with winemakers at one of eight gourmet Chardonnay-inspired luncheons at some of Niagara’s most striking wineries.

 

The i4c’s signature event – the Cool Chardonnay World Tour – offers the only opportunity to sample all 110 wines and is set this year in the stunning rhododendron gardens at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. After the tasting, guests can stroll to the al fresco Taste of Canada dinner and cap off the evening with dancing under the stars.

_I4C7156Matt KramerChardonnay grown in a cool climate is “Chardonnay with vibrancy and life. When Chardonnay ripens properly in a cool environment, the fruit flavours are zesty and strong, but retains an acidity and minerality that makes the wine refreshing” says Michael Brajkovich, winemaker at New Zealand’s Kumeu River, one of 55 International and Canadian wineries participating in the  event this July.

The 2012 i4C offers attendees the opportunity to discover the many ways that Chardonnay can be “cool” – from latitude and attitude to misty ocean breezes, from steep alpine vineyard sites to extreme variations in weather conditions.  Guests will taste how these various “cool” factors affect Chardonnay, and can also participate in a “Chardonnay Boot Camp and Challenge” at the exclusive Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Sensory Lab.

“Our goal is not only to celebrate this fabulous grape, but to empower our guests to discover more fantastic cool climate Chardonnays after the event weekend,” says Ron Giesbrecht, winemaker at Henry of Pelham and i4c co-chair of the educational program.

Tickets and information are available here. Until May 23rd, guests can enter for a chance to win a “Cool i4c weekend” – 2 passes to all i4c events with accommodation.

Here’s a list of the wineries participating this year:

>> 13th Street Winery —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> A to Z Wineworks / Rex Hill —- Oregon, USA
>> Advini Laroche —- Chablis, France
>> Angels Gate Winery —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Bachelder Niagara —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars —- British Columbia, Canada
>> Bodegas Esmeralda —- Mendoza, Argentina
>> Cave Spring Cellars —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Caves Jean Bourdy —- Jura, France
>> Chamisal Vineyards —- California, USA
>> Champagne Ayala —- Champagne, France
>> Chehalem Winery —- Oregon, USA
>> Closson Chase —- Prince Edward County, Canada
>> Coyote’s Run Estate Winery —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Decelle-Villa —- Burgundy, France
>> Domaine Chanson —- Burgundy, France
>> Domaine des Clos —- Burgundy, France
>> Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot —- Burgundy, France
>> Domaine Marchand-Tawse —- Burgundy, France
>> Dutton-Goldfield Winery —- California, USA
>> Felton Road —- Central Otago, New Zealand
>> Firesteed Cellars —- Oregon, USA
>> Flat Rock Cellars —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Flowers Vineyard and Winery —- California, USA
>> Hamacher Wines —- Oregon, USA
>> Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Hillebrand —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Huff Estates Winery —- Prince Edward County, Canada
>> Inniskillin Wines —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Winery —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Kumeu River Wines Limited —- Auckland, New Zealand
>> Lailey Vineyard —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars —- New York, USA
>> Le Clos Jordanne —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Malivoire Wine Company —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Meyer Family Vineyards —- British Columbia, Canada
>> Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard —- Prince Edward County, Canada
>> Pearl Morissette Estate Winery —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Peller Estates Winery —- Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> PondView Estate Winery —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Ponzi Vineyards —- Oregon, USA
>> Printhie Wines —- New South Wales, Australia
>> Ramey Wine Cellars —- California, USA,
>> Ravine Vineyard —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Rosehall Run —- Prince Edward County, Canada
>> Rosewood Estates —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Southbrook Vineyards —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Stratus Vineyards —- NIagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
>> Villa Maria Estate —- Auckland, New Zealand
>> Viña Concha y Toro —- Santiago, Chile
>> Viña Haras de Pirque —- Santiago, Chile
>> Vina Quinta S.A. —- Chile
>> Vineland Estates —- Niagara Escarpment, Canada
>> Yabby Lake International —- Victoria, Australia