Note: This is a press released issued by Wines of British Columbia and Wine Country Ontario as wineries in both those regions get ready to head to the Big Apple for a Seriously Cool Chardonnay Event to show off Canadian Chardonnays.
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St. Catharines, Ontario (February 2, 2011) – Building upon the highly
successful Seriously Cool Chardonnay media tasting held in London, England
last spring, Canadian wine producers now have their sights on the Big Apple.
The New York City event will take place on March 8 and will include a larger
representation of cool climate VQA Chardonnays featuring 54 wines from 31
Canadian wineries located in British Columbia and Ontario.
“A generation ago, the New Zealand wine industry launched Sauvignon Blanc in Britain and put New Zealand wines on the map,†says Bill Redelmeier of
Southbrook Vineyards, who spearheaded the group effort to promote Canada’s
cool climate Chardonnays to international media. “Last May a group of
Ontario wineries went to London with a similar goal but showcased
Chardonnay, a grape variety that is particularly suited to Canada’s cool
climate regions.â€
The 40 Ontario Chardonnays from 22 wineries featured at the debut tasting
held at Canada House in Trafalgar Square attracted over 95 wine media and
members of the trade. The wines received accolades from such noted wine
critics as Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier and Oz Clark.
“The reaction from U.K. media was a surprise, appreciation and delight, not
only for the quality of the wines but for their consistency across the
range,†comments Canadian wine writer and author, Tony Aspler, who attended
the London tasting and headed the panel of judges selecting the top wines
featured at the event.
Buoyed by the success of the London event, Ontario wineries are now joined
by the Wines of British Columbia and are headed to New York City where the
key U.S. wine press is located to repeat the tasting to demonstrate the
success Canada has with cool climate Chardonnays.
“When people around the globe think of Canadian wines, they only think of
Icewine,†says Redelmeier. “Our aim is to change that perception by
presenting our wines to influential wine critics in such key cities as
London and New York to let the world know what a great job Canada also does
with table wines, in particular Chardonnay.â€
A review panel previewed 100 Canadian Chardonnays and selected 54
wines from 31 wineries to qualify for the New York City Seriously Cool
Chardonnay event. To ensure a diverse range and styles of wines, a limit of
up to two eligible wines per winery and one library wine over five years per
winery were selected for the New York tasting.
Lead judge Tony Aspler observes: “The wines chosen for the New York tasting
show how versatile Chardonnay can be when grown in Canadian vineyards – from sparkling wine, to unoaked Chardonnay, Chardonnay Musqué, ripe New World styles in warmer B.C. and Icewine.â€
Chardonnay is the most widely produced VQA white wine in British Columbia,
which has 144 VQA wineries in five wine growing regions – Okanagan Valley,
Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands. With
124 VQA wineries in Ontario, Chardonnay is the most widely produced VQA wine in Ontario in its four wine growing regions – Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie
North Shore, Pelee Island and Prince Edward County.
The public is invited to preview the Chardonnays that will be poured at the
New York City event at the upcoming Seriously Cool Chardonnay Toronto
tasting organized by The Ontario Wine Society on February 22 at 6:30 pm at
Toronto Lawn Tennis Club. Tickets are $43 for members and $53 for
non-members. Go to Ontario Wine Society to purchase tickets.
The New York City wine event will be held on the 50th floor of the
prestigious McGraw Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas located in
midtown Manhattan, for invited media and wine professionals. The 54 VQA
Chardonnays from 31 British Columbia and Ontario wineries include:
Angels Gate Winery Mountainview 2008
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2008
Casa Dea Estate Winery Unoaked 2009
Cave Spring Cellars Blancs de Blancs Brut 2004
Cave Spring Cellars CSV 2007
Chateau des Charmes Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard 2007
Chateau des Charmes Musqué 2009
Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005
Closson Chase Vineyards S.Kocsis Vineyard 2007
Closson Chase Vineyards Closson Chase Vineyard 2008
Colaneri Estate Winery ‘Paese’ 2008
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Black Paw Vineyard 2007
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Red Paw Vineyard 2009
Exultet Estates 2009
Flatrock Cellars Reserve 2007
Flatrock Cellars 2008
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Speck Family Reserve 2007
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Unoaked 2009
Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery Tête de Cuvée 2008
Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery 2008
Hillebrand Winery Showcase Oliveria Vineyard Wild Ferment 2008
Hillebrand Winery Trius 2009
Huff Estates Cuvée Peter F. Huff Blancs de Blancs 2006
Huff Estates South Bay Vineyards 2008
Lailey Vineyard Old Vines 2008
Lailey Vineyard 2009
Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2000
Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2007
Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace 2008
Le Clos Jordanne Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard 2008
Malivoire Moira Vineyard 2008
Malivoire Mottiar 2008
Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series Kenny McLean 2009
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Select Lot Collection 2005
Norman Hardie Cuvée ‘L’ Unfiltered 2008
Norman Hardie Unfiltered 2008
Pelee Island Winery Barrique 2005
Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cellar Series 2006
Pillitteri Estates Winery Icewine 2007
Pondview Estate Winery Unoaked 2009
Quail’s Gate Estate Winery 2008
Quail’s Gate Estate Winery Stewart Family Reserve 2006
Ravine Vineyard Reserve 2009
Rosehall Run Cuvée County 2008
Rosewood Estates Reserve Renaceau Vineyard 2007
Rosewood Estates Reserve 2008
Southbrook Vineyards Poetica 2003
Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy! 2008
Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe 2009
Tawse Winery Beamsville Bench Reserve 2002
Tawse Winery Quarry Road Vineyard 2008
Tawse Winery Robyn’s Block Vineyard 2008
The Grange of Prince Edward County Victoria Block Barrel Fermented 2008
For more information, go to Cool Chardonnay.
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