In this Ontario Wine Report, we have the full details on the upcoming Taste the Season event and a rundown of the key wine and dinner lots up for bids at the Grapes for Humanity auction.
But first … Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Taste the Season.
There is no such thing as the November blahs when Taste the Season turns up on the calendar. The popular event takes place over four weekends in November and marries great Niagara wine with holiday inspired food pairings from over 15 NOTL wineries.
The dates
(All Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in November.)
• Weekend One — November 4-6
• Weekend Two — November 11-13
• Weekend Three — November 18-20
• Weekend Four — November 25-27
You will need a Taste the Season touring pass to enjoy this event. To maintain capacity control and minimize crowds and wait times, you can visit a maximum of eight wineries for tastings in one day.
And there is a new option: Guests may choose from an individual tasting pass ($75 plus tax and service fee) or a couple’s pass ($75 plus tax and service fee). These passes give you access to 15-plus properties with a maximum of eight winery tastings in one day. In other words, both passes are for a maximum of 16 tastings. A couple tasting at eight wineries in one day would use one couple’s pass completely. An individual would need at least two days to visit all wineries. But whether Individual or couple, you can also spread your visits out over the four three-day weekends and just visit two or three wineries at a time.
Tastings will be available from 11am to 5 pm. When purchasing your passes, indicate the wineries you wish to visit and on what date. (You are no longer required to book a specific time for your visit.)
Reservations will close at 6 am the day before the event date. There are also designated driver passes available at a discounted rate. Descriptions of all available tastings are listed in the links below.
Click here to purchase a couples passport.
Click here to purchase an individual passport.
— From information provided by Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Grapes for Humanity auction
Bidding is now open for the spectacular Grapes for Climate Change Action virtual wine auction, with a stunning array of wine and wine-related items up for bids until Oct. 19.
Waddington’s, in partnership with Grapes for Humanity and Dymon Wine Cellars, is presenting the virtual wine auction, with bidding on a stunning array of wine and wine-related items featuring over 400 stunning lots. Rare and affordable wines, international winery tours and tastings, dinners with winemakers, and much more are all available for bidding on now.
Unlike commercial auctions where buyers are charged GST plus an additional buyer’s premium, wines sold at charity wine auctions such as this one are GST exempt and have no buyer’s premium, which means you save over 30%.
The auction features some of finest wines in the world, unique “From the Heart“ bottlings, winemakers dinners, wine experiences and collectible wine and unique items from the likes of Sting, Sara Jessica Parker and Geddy Lee! Many of the lots are available at attractive prices for budding wine collectors or savvy collectors looking for hard to find iconic wine from prized vintages. While you save money, Tree Canada, the Nature Conservancy and humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine benefit.
To register and bid in the this auction, go here.
Wines In Niagara has scoured the auction items, which went live on Wednesday, to highlight some local Ontario lots up for bid. Here’s what to look for.
Ontario winemaker dinners
Lot 69
Leaning Post “Spring into Spice” dinner for eight with owner Nadia Senchuk and sommelier Beverly Crandon at Patois.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 70
Le Clos Jordanne Winemaker Dinner for eight with winemaker Thomas Bachelder and Grapes for Humanity Board Member, Steven Campbell at Canoe.
Estimate $2,500-$3,000
Lot 71
Southbrook Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Bill Redelmeier at Richmond Station.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 72
Cloudsley Cellars Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with winemaker/owner Adam Lowy and wine consultant, Leah Spooner at STOCK T.C.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 73
Malivoire Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with winemaker Shiraz Mottiar at BlueBlood Steakhouse.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 74
Redstone Winemaker Dinner for eight guests winemaker with Jessica Otting and wine blogger Miroki Tong.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 75
Therianthropy Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with David Eiberg and Cityline Wine Expert and sommelier Renée Sferrazza at Antler Kitchen & Bar.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 76
Bachelder winemaker dinner for eight guests at Barberian’s Steak House with winemaker Thomas Bachelder and author John Szabo.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 77
Rosehall Run Vineyards Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Dan Sullivan and writer Janet Dorozynski at North & Navy.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 78
Trius Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Craig McDonald and Wines In Niagara publisher and writer Rick VanSickle at Trius Winery Restaurant.
The menu for eight guests is still being put together by executive chef Frank Dodd, said McDonald. But it will mostly be á la carte and seasonal. “I usually talk to Frank ahead of time a see what’s fresh and that becomes the inspiration, so … to be determined, but it will be good!” McDonald has already chosen most the wines he will be pouring. Here’s what’s bringing to the table at the restaurant at Trius in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
• Trius Showcase Pinot 2 (the new Pinot Meunier-based bubbles).
• Trius Showcase Wild Ferment Sauvignon 2020 — a new release.
• Trius Ghost Creek Riesling 2014. “I Love the way the 2014s are aging and this is in the sweet spot,” said McDonald.
• Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2016. “Our single vineyard CF is farmed organically from one of the best vintages that is only now just relaxing.” Thirty Bench is part of the Peller family of wineries.
• Peller Estates NV ‘JEP’ red blend. “This is a unique blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon across five vintages. “I’m very excited about this wine and how we are tracking towards more thoughtful blending of aged barrels in a solera-style,” says McDonald.
• Trius Showcase Riesling Icewine 2018. “It was a tough year in NOTL but with all the vineyard stress, the flavours from botrytis and breakdown are sublime,” McDonald said.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 79
On Seven Estate Winery Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Vittorio De Stefano and Globe and Mail wine writer Christopher Waters at George.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 80
Stonebridge/Lailey Winery Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Faik Turkmen at Gare de l’Est.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 81
Karlo Estates vegan winemakers dinner for eight with Sherry Karlo and Jennifer Heuther MS at La Bartola.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 82
Pearl Morissette Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with François Morissette at Pearl Morissette.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Lot 83
Trail Estate Winery Winemaker Dinner for eight guests with Mackenzie Brisbois and Sommelier and Co-Founder, Grape Witches, Krysta Oben at the Royal Hotel, Picton.
Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
Unique Ontario wine lots
Lots 84 to 117
Multiple lots of From the Heart Cuvees #1, #2 and #3 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Over 40 Ontario vintners donated some of their finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir juice to these community blends. Thomas Bachelder returns as the master blender and will age the most recent cuvee wines in his cellar over the winter and will bottle them in magnums in early summer of 2023.
Estimate: $800-$1,000
Lots 158 to 169
The Great Chardo swap saw a dozen Niagara winemakers from both sides of the Welland Canal swap grapes to make Chardonnay from two vineyards — one from the Beamsville Bench, the other in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Six Bench winemakers crafted the NOTL wines, and six NOTL winemakers made the Bench Chardonnay. Perfect for a side-to-side comparison of winemaking and terroir.
Estimate: $500-$700
Lots 515 to 516
From The Heart Cuvée — a unique opportunity to own all cuvées. Package includes 1 Magnum each: Ontario Chardonnay Cuvee #1 and Cuvee #2; BC Chardonnay Cuvee #1; Ontario Pinot Noir Cuvee #1 and #2; BC Red Blend Cuvee #1
Estimate: $600-$800
Lots 526 to 527
From the Heart Cuvee Number 1 2019 (two magnums). Package includes 1 magnum each of ON Chardonnay and ON Pinot Noir Cuvee #1
Estimate: $150-$250
— By Rick VanSickle
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