rickwine, The Blog

Roll out the barrels at the Niagara Icewine Festival

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Winter arrived in Niagara only a couple of days ago but it was sweet news for organizers of the Niagara Icewine Festival that kicked off this weekend.

Under sunny skies and chilly (but comfortable) temperatures and a light dusting of fresh snow, the main event of the first of three icewine weekends in Niagara featured all kinds of wine, icewine-inspired food, music and even barrel racing down the main street of Jordan that has been transformed into a tent city of wine and food goodness for the weekend.

It was all in good fun as locals and visitors crammed into the main square in Jordan to enjoy food, wine and the great Canadian winter. Here are some photos from Saturday’s first day of the Twenty Valley Winter Winefest that continues for the next two weekends in Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and at most wineries in Niagara. For more information check out the Icewine Festival website.

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Flat Rock winemaker Ross Wise takes a very serious approach to the barrel race in Jordan. Note the expression.
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Good Earth's winemaker Andrea Glass shows her barrel-rolling style.
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Sue-Ann Staff proprietor and winemaker uses the backwards style of barrel rolling.
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Angels Gate winemaker Philip Dowell, an Aussie, it should be noted, is slightly off track during the barrel rolling competition.
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Creekside's Yvonne Irvine got it going pretty good but ran into some tough luck.
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And the winner, Dan Stouck, cellar master at Malivoire.
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Winner, Dan Stouck, with the Golden Blundstones, the coveted barrel rolling trophy for the winner.
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Peter Bodner Rod explain the finer points of his 13th Street wines.

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Pouring Fielding icewine in one of the many tents at the icewine festival.
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Pouring bubbly at the Henry of Pelham table.
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El Gastrónomo Vagabundo's Tamara Jensen serves up some delicious beef cheek at the festival. So good!