Call me biased, but I have a small beef with Ontario wineries. After doing wine tours in the Okanagan, three summers in a row, I have to give BC the edge in overall experience.
First things first, all Ontario wineries charge for tastings. Some BC wineries charged for tastings as well, however, in all cases (that Neil and I experienced in BC) the "tastings" charge was removed or subtracted from any purchase made -- we could live with that. We really enjoy touring the wineries and tasting their wares... and we do so with the intent of buying a bottle or two for our wine rack. When you are immediately confronted with a tastings charge you get more selective, try fewer wines and we've found as a result you buy less.
Second, the wineries themselves are not as impressive. I'll admit this has a lot to due with geographic location -- Okanagan Lake is a much more pleasing backdrop. While the wineries we've visited in the Niagara region are nice, none have had that "Wow!" factor that you experience at wineries such as Mission Hill in Kelowna or looking out at the lake off Thornhaven's patio in Summerland. Further, none have had a that quirky, yet interesting hook like Summerhill's "pyramid aged wines."
Our last venture into the Niagara region saw us go to:
- We really like Jackson Triggs. We had tried to visit their winery in the Okanagan but it had been closed when we were there. They have a pretty agreeable approach to tastings -- they feature 2 wines to try for free and afterward, all tastings were $1 each. The wines we tried were the 2006 Gewurtztraminer (we both liked -- though perhaps a touch sweet for Neil's palate, but none the less, a very nice white for sipping on the patio after work) and the 2004 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend (again, a very nice wine). We ended up buying 2 bottles of each and left with a very favourable impression. Neil and I agree we'd go back to sample another 2 wines.
- Reif
- This winery has a warm and friendly atmosphere. You recieve one free tasting (wine of your choice from their tasting list -- several whites and reds to choose from) and then tastings are $1 each. Neil and I each tried something different... I tried a Gamay Rose, which was good enough to pick up a bottle at $10 a pop. Neil tried the Ingwaz which is as close to something hokey -- think "pyramid aged" as we've seen out here! It wasn't our favourite. The wines we tasted here were only ok -- still, due to the warm and friendly atmosphere, we'd give it another shot and try something new next time.
- Stratus
- What can I say that hasn't already been said in this review here. Very modern building, very posh environment, trendy looking employees and wines that start at $35. Tastings here are $10 to try three wines (though ice wines were included). To be honest, our first impression was to turn around and leave. After an initial walk around we become aware that though their wines started at $35 -- most were much more expensive. We're talking in the $50-$65 range. Now, I will not profess to be a wine expert, but I have enjoyed many much cheaper bottles of wine so Neil and I after a quick chat decided to share a $10 tasting to see if the price lived up to the hype. I won't lie, the wines were good. That said, the cab franc/cab sauv we purchased at Jackson Triggs for $12 was just as good as the cab franc for $65 at Stratus -- and therein lies my problem. To add further insult, we thought that our service at Stratus was frigid.
- One other interesting thing to note was that their ice wines ($39) were some of the cheapest wines they offered... which Neil and I found bizarre.
To end our trip, we ran back to Inniskillin -- we really enjoy the wines there. We picked up another three bottles of their very good 2004 unoaked Chardonnay. Without sounding like too much of a lush -- this is a very nice sit-on-the-patio-after-work-and-let-your-mind-unwind wine. We've drank 3 of the 5 bottles of it we've purchased this year so far.... Mmmm.
