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.

Kato
Kato Wake is an entrepreneur – a creative thinker and a visual maker with over twenty years experience in the design business. She possesses strong communication skills and has managed teams and groups of many sizes. Creative, resourceful and curious by nature – Kato is an ideas person and a problem solver. She sees the big picture, the practical steps needed to achieve it and the means to do so. Experienced with both print and web, she is motivated by serving the client and communicating ‘their story’ – however it needs to be told. She has been involved in the restaurant and hospitality industry for almost as long as Billy – but hasn't drunk quite so much. Over the years, Kato has instructed hundreds of hospitality workers in 'the art of service' and has implemented training programs for several restaurants. Presently, Kato manages both the print and web for Billy’s Best Bottles (www.billysbestbottles.com) and has designed 10 editions of Billy’s Best Bottles annual wine book – which has been a Canadian best seller each year. She also designed Kathy Guidi’s book on Canadian Cheese (published by McArthur and Company) and is currently designing a breakfast cookbook for County resident Elizabeth Pulker. As Billy's 'right hand woman', she helps him conduct seminars is is the 'operations manager' behind the Wine with Life Tours. :)
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One Comment on "Tasting in Prince Edward County"

  1. PEC_fangirl says:
    March 29, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    I adore Harvest Restaurant but I didn’t know the owners also had a shop. This calls for a roadtrip!

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