#WineWednesday: In a South Coast State of Mind

By / Wine + Drinks / August 7th, 2013 / 2

Within about a year (or two) Ontario’s wine landscape will change yet again with the addition of another DVA, lovingly referred to, at this time, as the South Coast; aptly named because it runs along the south coast of Lake Ontario, starting from Dunnville, and stretches along the North-East coast of Lake Erie to about Port Stanley.  Other names being bandied about, but the folks here are positive official recognition is but a few acres away.

This is/was tobacco country and a vineyard manager working at Colio, Kevin Donohue once commented, “show me where you grow tobacco and I’ll grow you grapes” … very prophetic.  Having recently stepped foot on the soils of the South Coast I bring words of hope and news of interesting wines to come – and not just of the grape variety:

Burning Kiln 2012 Strip Room ($24.95)

A kiln dried wine, where the grapes are dried in old/modified tobacco kilns, a new world twist on an old world tradition (Veneto).  Spicy tobacco notes back up this fruit forward offering that blends Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Bonnieheath 2010 Lavender Ice (no price yet)

Mad scientist meet mother nature in a wine that combines distilled lavender essence with Vidal juice.  Just a touch can make this very flowery so the key to this wine is balancing the lavender with the apricot and touch of spice.  Done.

Quai de Vin 2012 Maple ($17.50 / 375ml)

Pour it on pancakes or add it to sparkling on a Sunday morning, it’s maple in a way you’ve never tasted it, but will want it again and again.  In no way syrupy.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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