From several news fronts in Niagara, Forty Creek Distillery is about to take orders for its newest limited-edition whisky, the Riesling Experience approaches and Pillitteri Winery is honoured.
Here are the news releases, as sent to Wines In Niagara.
Forty Creek Distillery limited release whisky
Forty Creek Distillery is pleased to announce bottle reservations for their 2013 Limited Release whisky: Forty Creek Heart of Gold.
Forty Creek Heart of Gold is a whisky inspired by both the heart of the distillation and the heart of the maker. Heart of Gold has been created with an artist’s palette of noble grains, unusual yeast selection, copper pot stills and delicately toasted oak barrels, mixed with passion, innovation & patience.
Whisky maker John Hall explains: “This project started nearly a decade ago, focusing specifically on Canada’s noble rye grain. I have always brought out the spicy, fruity notes of rye in my whiskies, but this time, I wanted to perfect how to capture the underlying delicate floral notes of the rye that too often get lost in the process.”
“My Heart of Gold is a rye forward whisky — but it is not 100% rye. I believe the art of blending adds a complexity and creativity to the final whisky. The final Heart of Gold blend includes some barley whisky for nuttiness and some corn whisky for weight and body. But there’s no doubt the fruity, floral rye whisky notes are the star of this show.”
Heart of Gold is the seventh Forty Creek special release. Only 9,000 bottles will be produced for release in the Fall. Forty Creek fans are invited to pre-reserve their bottles and can even choose their own number.
“We are pleased to offer our customers an opportunity to reserve a bottle number with significance,” says Beth Warner, Vice President, Marketing. “It’s fun when customers share their stories about what makes their chosen numbers so special — birth years, anniversaries, the year they discovered Forty Creek or the year they are planning to retire. Badge numbers are also a popular choice, and we have one customer who has chosen 1967 each time – the last year the Toronto Maple Leafs won a Stanley Cup!”
Reservations for numbered bottles open at noon on Monday, May 27th and end June 21st, 2013. Customers may choose any number between 00003 and 9,000. Numbers are offered on a first come, first served basis. Reservations must be completed on-line here.
Reserved bottles of Forty Creek Heart of Gold must be purchased and picked up at the distillery in Grimsby, Ontario. Forty Creek Whisky Weekend is scheduled for Saturday, September, 28th and Sunday, September 29th, 2013. “I always look forward to this annual event to celebrate with our fans and to enjoy special tours and events. It’s always a fun time. That’s when you can pick up your specially numbered bottles and I will be more than happy to personalize them,” says John Hall, Whisky Maker.
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Wine enthusiasts invited to experience Riesling
On June 11-12, Riesling lovers get a rare chance to join winemakers, grape growers, wine experts and media when the 2013 Riesling Experience conference is hosted by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI).
The event is an unabashed celebration of Riesling’s style, structure and purity.
“Riesling is what we do best in Niagara,” said conference chair Angelo Pavan, vice-president and winemaker at Cave Spring Cellars. “It’s by far the most pure and versatile variety that gives us this great panorama, from great table wines to luscious dessert wines.”
The event includes discussions with top experts, followed by a journey through some of Niagara’s oldest Riesling vineyards on the second day.
Day 1 features compelling speakers Nikolaus Weis, owner of the world-renowned St. Urbans-Hof Family Estate Winery in Germany; Terry Acree, sensory researcher at Cornell University in the United States; and Kathy Cannon, director of wines and vintages at the LCBO.
“Participants can hear world-class speakers on the whole gamut of the Riesling experience,” said Pavan. “They will also taste wines from one of the greatest Riesling producers in the world St. Urbans-Hof, and most of the Riesling producers here in Niagara.”
Weis says he plans to lead a discussion on the ageability of Riesling, including the sensory changes Riesling goes through as it ages.
“Canadian wine regions offer the right cool climate conditions for a special grape variety like Riesling,” said Weis. “Riesling was one of the first vinifera vines planted in Canada. It is fascinating to follow the development of different Riesling styles produced by Canadian wineries now for almost 40 years.”
Day 2 will see participants head into the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake to visit some of Niagara’s pioneer growers, hear first-hand accounts about growing Riesling grapes and taste the results that come from each vineyard.
Registration is open to the public, and Niagara vintner Craig McDonald says it is a chance to be seized.
“For Riesling fans or just the plain adventurous who might enjoy tramping around the beautiful vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake, this year’s Riesling Experience is one not to miss,” said McDonald, senior winemaker at Trius Winery at Hillebrand. “We’ll also enjoy a diverse sampling of some of the finest Ontario Rieslings over an incredible lunch at Trius Winery at Hillebrand.”
The conference will showcase Ontario Rieslings paired with food, including an optional vineyard dinner at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery. Lunch on the second day will take place at Trius Winery at Hillebrand, and a conference-closing event will be held at Inniskillin Wines, with participants able to enjoy casual food, local wine and craft beer from Niagara brewers.
For more info and registration details, go here.
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Pillitteri Estates Winery wines Ontario Food Exporter Award
Pillitteri Estates Winery has won the Ontario Food Exporter Award to recognize the winery’s role in Ontario’s agri-food industry and economy. This is the second year the winery has been nominated and the first time winning, placing in the top three last year.
Exporting is a key contributor to Ontario’s economy. It requires successfully expanding into new export markets and creatively working with international markets. It could even provide your next job.
“Since starting our business in 1993, we have grown to become one of the best known international icewine brands, now available around the globe. It is an honour to be recognized with the Ontario Food Exporter Award, and I want to thank the Ontario government for its support of the province’s agri-food industry,” said Charlie Pillitteri, CEO.
Since the winery’s inception in 1993, Pillitteri has grown to be the world’s largest estate producer of Icewine, exporting to 32 countries to date. Pillitteri Estates produces 45,000 cases of Icewine each year, making up 45% of the winery’s production and 80% of its exports. That’s a lot of frozen grapes!
“In order to support our exporting sales, we have focused specific departments to deal with different markets. From developing a new brand for a customer, to sending a Pillitteri team member to a trade show in another country … there’s always something exciting going on at the winery,” says Lucy Pillitteri-Friesen, CMO.
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