Cuvée 2011: they poured; I drank
They poured; I drank. There was a lot of pouring, but I was careful to employ the handy spittoon located at each table. Otherwise, I would certainly require a taxi to ferry me back home. I stuck to white wines sampling Niagara Chardonnay and Riesling, and after sampling, I heartily agree with the St. Catharine's Standard wine writer, Monique Beech - Niagara Rieslings are splendid. I will stick with New Zealand for Chardonnay.
The 23rd annual awards night celebration recognizes the very best in Ontario's wine industry, the so-called Oscars of the Ontario wine world. Held at the glitzy Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, 62 provincial wineries submitted 270 wines for judging, each allowed to submit four of its best wines. Awards were followed by a gala featuring the food of seven top Niagara chefs paired with wines entered in Cuvée.
On this evening, I was witness to a strange event, a Cuvée win for a non-existent winery. Virtual winery, Twenty Twenty-Seven Cellars, captured first prize for its 2009 Fox Croft Vineyard Riesling. They represent a bizarre trend in contemporary operations - existing solely online. The Beamsville-based business ships wine directly to customers and uses winemaking space from Vineland's Featherstone Estate Winery to produce its Riesling and Pinot Noir.
Owner and winemaker, Kevin Panagapka, was among 22 wineries honoured at the 23rd annual awards night. Another virtual operation, Nyarai Cellars, run from Calamus Estate Winery in Jordan, captured the top red assemblage prize for its 2007 Veritas. Winemaker Steve Byfield was thrilled with his first Cuvée award. Far from virtual with its distinctive long mauve wall that juts towards Niagara District Airport, Bill Redelmeier, owner of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Southbrook Vineyards, was awarded the Tony Aspler Cuvée Award of Excellence for his work promoting the Ontario wine industry abroad. And Jordan's Creekside Estate Winery emerged as one of the biggest winners, nailing three awards.
Proceeds from the annual event go to the Niagara Community Foundation, which grants money to local charities through an $11 million endowment fund.
A Cuvée En Route weekend passport tasting program takes place at 39 participating wineries. For details, go to
www.cuvee.ca. Passports cost $30 and can be purchased at participating wineries.
Cuvée Award Winners 2011
Red Wine: Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2007
Limited Edition Red Wine: megalomaniac- John Howard Cellars of Distinction, Sous Terre Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2007
White Wine: Riverview Cellars Winery, Gewürztraminer 2009
Limited Edition White Wine: Creekside Estate Winery, Queenston Road Vineyard Reserve Viognier 2009
LCBO Red Wine: EastDell Estates Winery, Black Cab 2009
LCBO White Wine: Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate, Black Series Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Sweet Wine: Inniskillin Wines, Riesling Icewine 2008
Limited Edition Sweet Wine: Strewn, Riesling Icewine 2008 - 1st place
Stoney Ridge Cellars, Gewürztraminer Icewine Barrel Fermented Barrel Aged 2009 - 2nd place
Sparkling Wine: 13th Street Winery, Premier Cuvée NV - 1st place
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Cuvée Catherine Rosé Brut NV - 2nd place
Hillebrand Winery, Trius Brut NV - 3rd place
Chardonnay: Niagara College Teaching Winery, Dean's List Chardonnay 2009 - 1st place
Pondview Estate Winery, Barrel Fermented / Aged Chardonnay 2009 - 2nd place
Riesling: Twenty Twenty-Seven Cellars, Fox Croft Vineyard Riesling 2009 - 1st place
Cave Spring Cellars, Riesling CSV 2008 - 2nd place
Gewürztraminer: Riverview Cellars Winery, Gewürztraminer 2009
Sauvignon Blanc: Creekside Estate Winery, Creekside Estate Vineyard, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - 1st place
Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - 2nd place
White Assemblage: Stonechurch Vineyards, Quintet White 2009
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris: Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards, Pinot Gris 2009
Viognier
Creekside Estate Winery, Queenston Road Vineyard Reserve Viognier 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon: Strewn, Cabernet Sauvignon Terroir 2007
Cabernet Franc: Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2007 - 1st place
Kacaba Vineyards, Reserve Cabernet Franc 2007 - 2nd place
Meritage: Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2007
Merlot: Hillebrand Winery, Showcase Merlot 'Carlton Vineyard' 2007
Red Assemblage: Nyarai Cellars, Veritas 2007
Syrah/Shiraz: Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate, Delaine Vineyard Syrah 2007 - 1st place
Stonechurch Vineyards, Syrah Reserve 2007 - 2nd place
Tony Aspler Cuvée Award of Excellence: Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Vineyards:
For selflessly promoting the Ontario wine industry in London and New York. (He organized and arranged for Ontario Chardonnays to be blind-tasted by leading wine writers in Toronto to select the best to be shown to the trade and wine press in London and New York).
Cuvée Award of Excellence in Viticulture: Kevin Donohue, Colio Estate Wines Inc.
Cuvee 2011Chefs
Andrew Vergalito: Italian Ice Cream, Niagara Falls - An Assortment of Gelato
Claudio Marchese: Ponte Vecchio, Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls -
Wild Boar Sausage "Chiantigiana" with Black Truffle, served with Cippolini Onions Agrodolce, and Arugula; Acquerello Risotto with Ponderosa Forest Mushrooms, and Blu di Valcasotto Cheese garnished with Prosciutto Wrapped Rabbit Loins; Lobster and Marzolino Cheese Ravioli with Baby Leeks and Basil Lemon Sauce.
Chef David Penny: Inniskillin Wines/Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate/Le Clos Jordanne, a Constellation Company - Classic Beef Carpaccio with Sourdough Toasts and Traditional Accompaniments; Seared Scallop, Inniskillin Icewine Bacon, Vidal Buerre Blanc; Cauliflower & Potato Pakora, Cilantro Lime Raita.
David Watt: Zest Restaurant, Fonthill - Gourmet Duck "Dog" with Wild Mushrooms and Foie Gras; Organic Salmon Burger with Wasabi, Pickled Ginger and Arugala; Crisp "Naanza" with Curried Vegetables, Goat Milk Cheese and Spiced Heart Nuts.
Kevin Maniaci: Inn on the Twenty Restaurant, Jordan - Braised Oxtail Rilette, Foie Gras Raviolini, Cabernet and Clove Caramel; Smoked Salmon, Upper Canada Ricotta and Potato Blintzes; Porcini and Roasted Hard Neck Garlic Arancini, Fontina and White Truffle Veloute
Ryan Crawford: Stone Road Grill, Niagara-on-the-Lake - Vegetarian "Pogos;" House Cured Charcuterie Cones; Canadian Raw Oyster Bar.
Oscar Turchi: Savoia Hors D'Oeuvres, St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake - Hickory Smoked Chicken Caesar Salad on Parmesan Cheese Tacos; Buckwheat Crepes Cornucopia with Oriental Stir Fry Vegetables Mango Coulis; Lobster & Asparagus Crispy Rice Cakes with Lemon Saffron Sauce.
Professors and Students: Canadian Food and Wine Institute, Niagara College, Niagara-on-the-Lake - Selection of Pastries and Desserts; Students with Chef Professors demonstrating live a croque-en-bouche.
Dairy Farmers of Canada: Fine Canadian Cheese - Evanturel: Thornloe Cheese, Thornloe, Ontario; Niagara Gold: Upper Canada Cheese Co., Jordan Station, Ontario; Pine River 5-yr Old Cheddar: Pine River Cheese & Butter Co-Op, Ripley, Ontario.
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