Gourmet Travel Wines: six under-the-radar bottles from Prince Edward County and Niagara
Gourmet Travel Wines: six under-the-radar bottles from Prince Edward County and Niagara
Prince Edward County and Niagara are known for producing great wine, but plenty of vintners go under the radar. Here, six bottles you can only buy directly from the winery. Our advice? Bring them home by the boatload.
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- <p><strong>Huff Estates 2012 Pinot Noir | $30 | 89 points</strong></p><br /> Huff Estates has a restaurant, an inn and an art gallery, and is the perfect place to kick off a weekend of tastings. Its talented French-trained winemaker, Frédéric Picard, is now making a deft and juicy pinot noir with intense cranberry, spice and light smoke flavours. <em>Open daily, 2274 County Rd. 1, Bloomfield, 613-393-5802.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
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- <p><strong>Keint-He 2012 Portage Chardonnay | $20 | 90 points</strong></p><br /> New Zealand winemaker Ross Wise took the helm of this pioneering winery in 2012, and his debut bottlings are impressive and totally affordable. This cool chardonnay comes across like a fine mâcon or pouilly-fuissé, with subtle apple, honey and spice. It’s mid-weight and very smooth, with typical County acidity and minerality firming the finish. The Portage pinot is also excellent. <em>Open daily, 49 Hubbs Creek Rd., Wellington, 613-399-5308.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
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- <p><strong>Casa-Dea 2010 Cabernet Franc | $19 | 90 points</strong></p><br /> Re-launched in 2009 under winemaker Paul Battilana, Casa-Dea is making the County’s best-priced serious wines, partly due to its well-established vineyard. The light- to mid-weight offerings aren’t flashy, but they are balanced and authentic. The cab franc delivers cran-raspberry fruit, tobacco, and wet slate aromas and flavours. Pinot noir, pinot gris and riesling are also very good. <em>Open daily, 1186 Greer Rd., Wellington, 613-399-3939.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Prince Edward County
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- <p><strong>Domaine Queylus 2011 Pinot Noir Réserve | $45 | Twenty Mile Bench | 91 points</strong><br /> </p><br /> Gilles Chevalier, president of Domaine Queylus, is rushing to open his tasting room for mid-June (phone ahead). His euro-styled pinot noirs from organic vineyards are made by star winemaker Thomas Bachelder. The 2011 shows cool-climate cranberry-cherry fruit with oak toast, smoke and foresty earthiness. Its structure and depth exceed most other Ontario offerings. <em>3651 Sixteen Rd., St. Ann, 905-562-7474.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
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- <p><strong>Big Head 2012 Chenin Blanc | $25 | Niagara Lakeshore | 91 points</strong></p><br /> From a high-tech studio winery located at Cornerstone, Andrzej Lipinski is making big yet balanced wines, often drying his grapes before fermentation to concentrate flavour and sugar (and therefore alcohol). His fleshy chenin blanc has lovely viscosity, with clear acidity and fruity brightness. Its pear and honeysuckle notes are reminiscent of chenin from the Vouvray AOC of France’s Loire Valley. Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., or by appointment. <em>4390 Tufford Rd., Beamsville, 905-359-3239.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
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- <p><strong>Leaning Post 2010 Merlot | $38 | Niagara Peninsula | 90 points</strong></p><br /> Ilya and Nadia Senchuk opened their winery in a refurbished 19th-century barn last fall, sourcing from choice vineyards across Niagara while their own vines mature. Their merlot is among the best I’ve tasted from Ontario. Made with grapes from 15-year-old vines, it offers ripe fig and berry fruit flavours lavished in chocolate, marzipan and dried herbs. It’s full-bodied and smooth yet well-structured. <em>Thursday–Monday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 1491 Hwy. 8, Stoney Creek, 905-643-9795.</em>
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
- Gourmet Travel Wines: Niagara
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![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/gourmet-travel-wines/&title=Gourmet Travel Wines: six under-the-radar bottles from Prince Edward County and Niagara&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/gourmet-travel-special-wines-pec-niagara-624x395.jpg&description=By David Lawrason
Prince Edward County and Niagara are known for producing great wine, but plenty of vintners go under the radar. Here, six bottles you can only buy directly from the winery. Our advice? Bring them home by the boatload.
[gallery columns="6" ids="276049,276050,276051,276045,276047,276048"]){kind=link}