While were up in Niagara-on-the-Lakes for our “destination wedding, we decided to go try a couple of the local wines.  I have to preface this with the fact, that I had family in this area for years, but the whole landscape had changed since my last trip.  Where there had been cherry and peach orchards was now populated with vineyards.  It has become a Canadian version of Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley.  Driving along the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) you pass all of these signs proclaiming all of the individual wineries along the way.  It is very impressive and makes one want to stop by.

In fact there are so many wineries in this area, that it would be impossible to do them all even on an extended weekend.  Maybe a concentrated week of tasting, it could be done. Some of the wineries also have restaurants on the grounds, which make it even more enjoyable.  I looked at the menu of one restaurant, while we were at the winery and it was very enticing, but we already had a prior commitment.

We first went to Hillebrand Winery and tried three wines out of nine that they were offering.  We tried their “Artist Series Limited Edition” Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc.  I really enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc; it had all the qualities that I want from it.  We also tried a “Trius Red” which they said was one of their signature wines, and it was very pleasant, a more casual wine for more casual dinners.  After the tasting and the ensuing purchase, we were given a complimentary tasting card for another winery Peller Estates (owned by the same corporation).  So off we went, who can refuse a free tasting (I guess I have no shame).

At Peller Estates, we tried their Rose made from Pinot Noir, a Gewurztraminer, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Merlot, a Cabernet Franc and a Late Harvest Vidal (a dessert wine).  I felt that the Gewurztraminer lacked the spice that I associate with it (though it did have pepper), and the Merlot was soft (where I wanted fullness).  The Rose was great for the season and my Bride went crazy for the Cabernet Franc (which is her norm) so we ended up with a mixed case, very heavy on the Franc.

We then went to Inniskillin, which is one of the region’s famed winery, known for their Ice Wines.  In fact they almost have an Ice Wine every vintage, because the area is very suitable for this form of wine.  Iniskillin is so known for their procedure, that many of the other wineries now produce an Ice Wine as well.  From my conversation with one of their hosts (who it turns out was from the Detroit area), the process is a different version of what occurs in Germany, and that is why they have so many vintage years.  We tried some of their non-dessert wines.  A Pinot Grigio and another white wine called P3 (a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir) which was very appealing.  There was another white wine called Tenacity (a blend of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato) which was a little sweet for me.  They had a very good Meritage (which surprised me, as I thought this was a name only used in California for Bordeaux blends) and a Montague Pinot Noir which had a very strong cherry aftertaste.

When we got back to the resort to have dinner after all of these tasting, there was a complimentary tasting in the lobby of the resort offering two wines from Jackson-Triggs.  I forgot to make notes on these wines, because the couple right behind us trying the wines was a couple that I knew from the Detroit area celebrating their 29’Th anniversary.  Getting up to date with them was more important at the moment, then making notes on the wine.  They had a dinner reservation at one of the winery restaurants, and we had ours at the resort.  All in all, it was a good day.