Eatdrink #44 November/December 2013
The LOCAL food and drink magazine serving London, Stratford and Southwestern Ontario since 2007.
The LOCAL food and drink magazine serving London, Stratford and Southwestern Ontario since 2007.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
48 www.eatdrink.ca<br />
№ 44 | <strong>November</strong>/<strong>December</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
wine<br />
Wines for the Holidays<br />
By JANE ANTOniAK<br />
Whether you are looking for something to<br />
sip while wrapping presents, a perfect<br />
pairing with your holiday meal, something<br />
to uncork on New Year’s Eve or a gift for<br />
your boss, the eatdrink Holiday Wine feature is here to<br />
help! Our focus this year is on delicious, affordable and<br />
local. ’Tis the season to support our Ontario growers<br />
and producers!<br />
A favourite wine road trip this time of<br />
year is to Pelee Island Winery in Kingsville,<br />
where the building is decorated for the holidays<br />
and the selection of off-list LCBO wines<br />
is certainly worth the drive. (Although their<br />
sales reps will also make deliveries<br />
to London-Stratford.)<br />
The Vinedressers series is what<br />
Pelee calls “the best of the best”<br />
and some, such as Vinedressers<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon, Red (a<br />
blend of Merlot, Cabernet<br />
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon<br />
and Lemberger), and White<br />
(a blend of Sauvignon Blanc,<br />
Viognier and Chardonnay)<br />
are available at some LCBO<br />
outlets. The series includes<br />
Pinot Noir, Shiraz and<br />
Sauvignon Blanc Viognier. They<br />
are all under $16 and provide<br />
smooth, ripe, full fruit flavour.<br />
The Red is rich with a shaved<br />
chocolate finish. These are<br />
crowd pleasers that are a step<br />
above your house wine but still affordable.<br />
The elegant gold label celebrates Pelee’s<br />
historical connection to winemaking on<br />
the Island, going back to the 1800s.<br />
Ontario shines with rieslings which is<br />
especially great news during the holidays<br />
as the fabulous floral, honey and fruit<br />
flavours go well with a variety of cheeses,<br />
sushi, poultry, ham and, if you are like us,<br />
the Chinese food<br />
you order on New<br />
Year’s Eve. Some<br />
wine drinkers shy<br />
away from rieslings,<br />
thinking they<br />
will be too sweet.<br />
Certainly, German<br />
rieslings are known<br />
for their sweetness.<br />
The Ontario (and<br />
New York State<br />
rieslings) vary from<br />
dry to sweet and<br />
are wonderful for sipping or at parties<br />
where cheesy, spicy treats, and charcuterie<br />
are on offer. Try the Cave Spring Estate<br />
Riesling from the Beamsville Bench,<br />
Niagara Peninsula which is dry, clean<br />
and refreshing. Cave Spring also offers a<br />
Medium-Dry Riesling and Dry, both LCBO<br />
listed for under $15. If you like lobster or
Change language