All posts tagged Hillebrand winery

Asparagus Season

by Kato on May 31, 2011 in Food & Restaurants, Wine Picks with No comments

asparagusHELLO ASPARAGUS!

The first asparagus of the season is always special and this year I had one of those experiences you read about in cook books. From ground to table in twenty minutes – thanks to Ed and Sandy Taylor who operate a roadside stand on Sandy Hook Road here in Prince Edward County. Ed picked a bunch for me right from his organic farm, and they were sizzling under the grill, into a frittata pan, and on the lunch table in next to no time. Along with a very good baguette from Metro and open bottle of Aussie Semillon. Brilliant sunshine made it all quite wonderful. Ed and Sandy have organic produce all season long and they’re just one minute south of one of the County’s best watering holes, The Waring House.

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Hillebrand Jazz & Blues

by Kato on June 22, 2010 in Events with No comments

hillebrandUmbrellasHillebrand: Hillebrand’s Jazz and Blues events are a summer highlight, and hard to beat. They’re a picnic-fest of wine, food, music and lazy afternoon. Bring your favourite picnic gear (chairs, blankets, cushions, Riedel’s) and food – or buy theirs. Wines are offered at reasonable prices. Tickets and more details at www.hillebrand.com

Hillebrand Jazz at the winery, Saturday, July 10

Hillebrand Blues at the winery, Saturday, August 14

All Hail Hillebrand!

by Kato on August 15, 2009 in Events, Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 3 Comments

hillebrandJAZZEvery time I go to Hillebrand Winery I’m thrilled by the hospitality. Someone there is doing a great job teaching customer service, or simply hiring the right people. There is a feel good atmosphere running right through the place – from greeters right up to management. The restaurant is outstanding and beautifully located overlooking vineyards, and the courtyard feeling of the grounds invites wandering. When planning your Niagara visits be sure to include a visit to Hillebrand.

Here are a few photos taken at the recent Hillebrand Jazz Festival. A great outdoor concert with top musicians, picnicking on the grass and wines at modest prices. Ditto for the Annual Blues Festival in August. If you missed it this year mark your calendar for next.

FYI: Hillebrand is part of the Peller empire (Peller Estates, Thirty Bench and Andres) and some of their remodelled private stores (called Vineyards) are quite stunning.hilllebrandwines

Wines to Buy at LCBO
HILLEBRAND NONOAKED 08 CHARDONNAY ‘Artist Series’, VQA Niagara  88385 $10.95
Very pretty, charming everyday wine. Sure to wow! Fantastic value.

HILLEBRAND ‘TRIUS’ 08 Riesling, VQA Niagara  303792 $19.95
Crisp, light and refreshing. Aperitif or anytime gulper. Drier than in previous years.

HILLEBRAND 07 ‘TRIUS’ Cabernet Franc, VQA Niagara  587964 $19.95
Lively red with bright flavours and great drinkability. Good local expression.

HILLEBRAND 07 ‘TRIUS RED’, VQA Niagara 303800 $21.95 Vintages
Gutsy, rich and out to impress. A big show.

Wines to Buy at the Winery and Vineyards Stores
HILLEBRAND ‘TRIUS’ 08 White, VQA Niagara $18.95
A blend of whites including Gewurztraminer. Zesty, flavourful and crowdpleasing.

MUSCAT 08 ‘Artist Series’, VQA Niagara $11.95
Delicious Muscat perfume and flavour. Off-dry, anytime sipper – especially Sunday afternoons.

SAUVIGNON BLANC 08 ‘Artist Series’, VQA Niagara $11.95
Mild on flavour but loaded with zest. Great stuff to have open in the fridge.

RIESLING 08 ‘Ghost Creek Vineyard’, VQA Four Mile Creek $25.00
Steely, austere, classic dry Riesling. Only eight percent alcohol. Best aged a year or two.

HILLEBRAND 07 ‘Oliveira Vineyard Wild Ferment Chardonnay’, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $35.00
Very dry, citrussy and in the Chablis style. Elegant and understated, and therefore hard to describe. Has the mystery component that keeps bringing you back for more. Wonderful wine for a special dinner. Should be even more exciting in a year or two.

A Little Sweetness = Sales

by Kato on July 2, 2009 in Wine Picks with No comments

siblingrivalry1A little sweetness sells a lot of wine.

Niagara Wineries are finding great success with white wines that contain a little sweetness. And in many cases the spicy, exotic flavours of the Gewurztraminer. Flat Rock’s Twisted, Hillebrand’s Trius White and Inniskillin’s Brae Blanc have a big following and are likely to be joined by Henry of Pelham’s Sibling Rivalry 08 White (#4001353 $13.95).

This kid is very zesty, very pretty and very summery. A crowd-pleaser for sure, but there is a simplicity that may find you wanting something else after your first glass. Sibling Rivalry 07 Red is also crafted in the want-to-win-you-over style – with spicy/sweet flavours and softness we associate with Aussie reds.

Pelham is obviously going after the novice drinker with these wines and the question of the day is, does a winery with a reputation for quality and tradition risk damaging its reputation by introducing lighthearted brands?

Niagara Wine Tours

by Kato on April 13, 2009 in Food & Restaurants, Travel Notes, Wine Picks with Comments Off

before you go Pick up a copy of Wineries of Ontario at LCBO stores. It has maps and all the contact info for wineries, restaurant and hotels. www.winesofontario.ca

the low down The wonderful 07 Vintage is the current hot topic but don’t overlook the wines of 06, which are drinking really well right now. This cool year produced light wines that are truly local in character.

There are 2 district regions – the flat lands of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and the more sloped escarpment of Beamsville/Jordan/Vineland. The two regions are separated by the city of St. Catharines. If you’re on a day trip, I suggest you don’t try to visit both regions as this involves highway travel and that ruins the Niagara experience. The QEW is to Niagara what Yonge Street is to Toronto – a central artery best avoided. You need at least two days. Three would be better – especially if you want to take time to smell the roses. I like to do the Niagara-on-the-Lake region first, heading down York Road to Queenston, and then up the beautiful Parkway. A little refreshment on the back patio of the Riverbend Inn, and I’m in the zone.

Don’t spend all your time at wineries. At least take a break for lunch.

When confronted by a tasting bar with dozens of wines, try saying this: “Take me through a day of wine – lunch, aperitif, appetizers, main course, after dinner, nite cap. And how about something novel, an adventure?” This way you’re tasting with context in mind.

Niagara is producing some of the most exciting $20-$30 wines in the world.

Treat yourself. If you’re spending a few days consider staying at Inn on the Twenty in Jordan. Upscale but friendly, relaxed and everything in good taste. Some rooms have a garden, and breakfast in the grand dining room is a fab way to start the day.

On the restaurant scene, Stone Road Grille, located just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake is a rare Ontario edition of the bistro experience. Locally popular, personable owners and staff, bustling, informal atmosphere, generous  food portions, a commitment to local produce and wines, reasonable prices…you must go. (Reservations 905-468-3474)

best new attractions: Southbrook’s stunning modern winery – with a ‘great wall’ and pizza patio. Organized Crime’s sexy tasting room. Olson’s Foods and Bakery shop at Ravine Winery. Chefs Michael and Anna Olson have opened a big food shop/café on a lovely woodsy hillside in the village of St. David’s. It’s part of a complex containing Ravine Winery. Top quality foods and a rustic setting – can’t beat that.

Best winery reception on my last visit was by Lindsay at Thirty Bench. Most intelligent restaurant service was Christina at Hillebrand. Continue reading →

 

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