After giving much thought to the question of which wines I should feature this week, I selected three wines that should tempt all of you wine lovers.
I have covered all my bases.
There is an award-winning white wine from Ontario's Niagara region, a refreshing sparkling pinot Grigio from Italy, and, last but not least, I am bringing the beach house to you with this great South African red blend.
TAWSE
2010 RIESLING (204511)
ONTARIO
Nestled along Cherry Avenue in the Ontario town of Vineland is the Tawse winery.
It sounds like a very appropriate place for a winery. Is it just coincidence? I don't think so. The Wayne Gretzky Estate winery is in the neighbourhood - in fact, just down the road.
In 2001, owner Moray Tawse purchased the winery's property and opened his winery four years later. Tawse was named 'Canadian Winery of the Year' by Canadian Wine Access Magazine both in 2010 and 2011. This is the first time an Ontario winery has won this distinction two years in a row.
Also in 2011 Winemaker, Paul Pender, was named Winemaker of the Year at the Ontario Wine Awards. Last year, Tawse also won Gold for its 2010 Riesling at the 2011 Canadian Wine Awards.
The grapes for this award-winning Riesling were sourced from old growth vines resulting in a more flavourful wine. The Tawse winery is organic and they do use biodynamic
methods in their production.
As a Canadian, you have to be proud of the award winning wines we are producing time and time again. The Tawse winery's medals of achievement will attest to the quality of this wine for sure. This Riesling is rated at a four but doesn't drink like it.
There is more of a sweet citrus on your palate with that little bit of a zing on the finish.
I did get some minerality as well but it took a while to come through. Chill this Riesling and try pairing it with a fresh summer salad or almost any seafood dish too. $19.99 Very limited supplies available.
VOGA
SPARKLING PINOT GRIGIO (470351)
ITALY
$22.99
You may already be familiar with Voga Italia's interesting table wines which some say the bottle shape reminds them of shampoo. Advertisers often say that "We eat with our eyes, and shop with them too." How very true. That's where the idea to create an
extraordinary bottle came from.
Voga Sparkling is in a very sexy bottle, one that would present well as a gift. This wine is straight from Italy's world-class Pinot Grigio growing regions of Trentino and Veneto, which happen to be in the heart of the
high-fashion district.
In order to create a high-quality sparkling wine, Voga Sparkling has gone through what the wine world calls the charmat method, or metodo Italiano. This process is a secondary fermentation that occurs in the tanks, and which is then bottled under pressure to
produce longer lasting bubbles.
Drink in style with this sparkling Pinot Grigio and its aromas and flavours of green apple, peaches and citrus finishing, with a finish that reminds me of homemade biscuit dough. $22.99
THE BEACH HOUSE
RED TABLE WINE (12373)
SOUTH AFRICA
Before you open the bottle, pause, close your eyes and think of the beach and the sandy shores and all the fun that you can have very soon.
A beach is really where summer happens and a house there is where memories are made. The Beach House red is just that fun and relaxation in a bottle.
Coming from South Africa's Western Cape region, The Beach House winemakers are members of Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) which guarantees the origin, vintage and authenticity of the grape varietals listed on the label. There are many players in SWSA including the Wine and Spirit Board, Integrated Production of Wine, Biodiversity & Wine Initiatives, and Wines of South Africa.
The seal on the top of the bottle is your guarantee. Now that all the technical stuff has been taken care of let's focus on the wine.
The Beach House red is a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Viognier. Even if you don't have a beach house, you can pretend you do with this red wine. At the winery itself on the patio high above in the rafters are empty beach house wine bottles decorating the roof.
The Shiraz grapes bring forward the body and strength with its blackberry and spice flavours while Mouvdre and Viognier help to keep the balance.
Low in acid, Viognier blends beautifully with Shiraz. You definitely think of dark fruit and spice with this red. The balance is just right and you are left with an easy drinking red wine.
Simple, nothing over the top, but worth trying for your next steak BBQ or a simple cream cheese and crackers, or even on its own. $ 11.99
