All posts tagged Sandbanks Winery

Tasting in Prince Edward County

by Kato on August 16, 2009 in Travel Notes, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

dunes-vidalbaco-noirTASTE the COUNTY: I haven’t talked about Prince Edward County (PEC) this year so let’s catch up. FYI: In my book, Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2009, read my recommendations about what to drink, where to stay and eat, and what to do in the County.

County red at the LCBO: SANDBANKS 08 Baco is a great mix of tasty fruit and something rustic, gutsy. Classic Baco. As Canadian as Neil Young. Have with family BBQs. Especially burgers. Sandbanks 08 Baco Noir, VQA Ontario #110049 $14.95

You may also want to check out Sandbanks off-dry, easy drinking 08 Vidal (#110031 $12.95). And join owner Catherine and the picking crew at harvest time – guaranteed good fun. www.sandbankswinery.com

Fantastic County White at the wineries: HUFF ESTATES winemaker, Frederic Picard, has produced the best Pinot Gris ($19.95) VQA PEC, I’ve ever tasted from Ontario. Shades of the top PG from Friuli in Italy – fresh, confident and tingling with nervy energy. If it were any purer it would be in a monastery. Five start aperitif and an oyster lovers best friend. I like to see Federick’s wine as the role model for the  Ontario style – elegant, understated and a lot like the best wines of Europe.
P.S. Other wines to explore at Huff are the super refreshing 08 Dry Rosé ($16.95) and the somewhat expensive, elegant 07 South Bay  Chardonnay ($30). www.huffestates.com

Carmela winery has new owners, a new winemaker, and a new name, CASA-DEA. The best part is the wines are now much better.
The 07 CD Rosso, Gamay/Zweigelt, VQA PEC ($14.95) is lively, earthy, funky and the style of red I’ve been waiting to see from an Ontario winery. A true local. Our version of a bistro wine. A great partner for food. The 08 Riesling VQA PEC ($17.25) is classic austere, dry Riesling that will delight the fan. Age a year or two. www.casadeaestates.com

vickiePicnic supplies, books, coffee and hot dogs on Main Street in Picton
Picnic is an upscale food shop operated by Karin and Mike Potter of  Harvest Restaurant. You’ll want to buy everything. I suggest you start with the free range, rotisserie chicken. 613-476-4404 www.harvestrestaurant.ca
Across the street is the gorgeous Books & Company offering the best of new and old books and Miss Lil’ys Café offering tasty baked goods, sandwiches and damn fine espresso. www.pictonbookstore.com
Also on Main Street is the wonderfully innovative Buddha Dog. The humble hot dog elevated to gourmet status. A must visit.

More County wine news in a few weeks.

Prince Edward County Wine Tours

by Kato on April 14, 2009 in Events, Food & Restaurants, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

Also check these sites:
www.winesofontario.org
www.thecounty.ca
www.tastetrail.ca
www.pecountywines.ca

the low down
This island-like region between Toronto and Kingston (south of Belleville) is enjoying a wave of excitement thanks to the influx of winemakers, chefs, organic farmers and artists. But it’s still a work in progress.

Being surrounded by water and cut off from the rest of the province has given ‘The County’ (as it’s known) its own identity. It looks and feels a little different, with some of the pastoral feeling of New England. Winding roads encircle and criss-cross the area so you never have to come and go the same way. Cut off from highway traffic, The County is considerably quieter and slower-paced than Niagara.

Sandbanks Provincial Park is probably the best known feature and main draw, attracting a large percentage of summer visitors from Quebec and elsewhere. The three major towns, Wellington, Bloomfield and Picton, are well kept and almost devoid of sprawl or trash. Manufacturing industry is non-existent so the region is committed to the land for survival, making the present food and wine industry a natural fit. Because most of the food and drink players started more or less at the same time, there seems to be a nice all-in-it-together spirit that has moved everything forward in a cohesive, well-planned fashion. Farmers, wineries and restaurants are members of the Taste Trail, which is sign-posted around the region. So simple, but so effective. Taste! is the brand as such and is showcased with a big bash each September at the Picton fairgrounds.

The wine thing started because someone noticed a lot of the County’s soils were shallow dirt and gravel on top of limestone – just like in Burgundy, the home of Pinot Noir. But there is one problem – winter. Growing vines in the County is certainly testing the limits of what’s possible in Ontario winemaking. The solution seems to lie in burying the vines under hilled-up earth at the end of the year and unearthing them in the spring. It’s a huge job but it may be essential. To boost sales, some wineries supplement local production with Niagara grapes. When visiting, look for the ‘100% County’ sticker to help distinguish local efforts. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris have done well so far and Pinot is coming on strong, as long as you’re happy with a light, elegant style. Continue reading →

 

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