If riesling is Niagara's signature varietal, the Beamsville wineries along and adjacent to Mountainview Road set the standard for all others. And, while outstanding rielsings are produced throughout the Niagara region - by Flat Rock Cellars, Cave Spring & 13th Street (Jordan), Vineland Estates, Henry of Pelham, Cattail Creek (NOTL) and Ravine Vineyard (St. David's) to name a few - the very best rieslings come from the Beamsville Bench wineries, particularly those created by 30 Bench Wine Makers and Fielding Estate Winery.
Riesling is undoubtedly Niagara's most adaptable (and, as a result, popular) varietal, lending itself to the production of many styles - dry, semi-dry, late harvest and, notably superior icewines.
Perennial winners at the Ontario and Canadian Wine Awards, as well as numerous smaller wine events, Beamsville Bench rieslings are crisp and refreshing, displaying balanced acidity and the unique minerality of the area's limestone soils. So exceptional are these rieslings that several other Niagara Peninsula wineries contract Beamsville Bench growers to provide their riesling grapes.
Dry rieslings go well with most seafoods (lobster, crab, scallops, shrimp, oysters). The semi-dry are best paired with spicy Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes, while the late-harvest rieslings complement fruit and desserts. Riesling icewine works well with foie gras, blue cheese or as dessert itself.
A list of Niagara's premier riesling wineries is provided, but the Niagara Grapevine's favourite rieslings include those from: 30 Bench (Steel Post, Wood Post & Triangle Vineyards), Flat Rock Cellar (Nadja's Vineyard), Cave Spring (CSV), 13th Street (Funk Vineyard), Vineland Estate's semi-dry rielsing, Fielding Estate's late-harvest riesling, Ravine Vineyard's 2007 rielsing "lite" (7 %), 30 Bench and Hillebrand 2007 riesling icewines. Fantastic !!!
Best ever Niagara riesling ? 30 Bench 2005 Steel Post, Cave Spring 2003 CSV or, perhaps, a 2007 riesling yet to be enjoyed. As vineyards mature and alternative winemaking methods are explored (e.g. the Foreign Affair Winery's introduction of the appassimento process in which the grapes are dried before vinification), Niagara's rieslings have yet to show their full potential.
Mountainview Road wineries: Angel's Gate, Organized Crime, 30 Bench, Fielding and EastDell (where visitors can enjoy lunch at 'The View"). While these wineries do produce other varietals, outstanding rieslings are their "raisond'être".
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NGV Bulletin Board - February 2009
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Annual Pinot Noir Event Saturday, February 21 / 09 | |
 Sample & savour pairings of wine and chocolate when touring the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Each winery will feature a decadent chocolate selection paired with a premium VQA wine. |
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| Cuvée 2009, consisting of the Cuvée Gala, the Cuvée Awards, and Cuvée en Route, is a red carpet celebration of the outstanding Ontario wine and food in the heart of Niagara wine country. Join us for the "Oscars" of the Ontario wine industry at the black-tie gala where the winemakers select the winners, guests mingle with the stars of the Ontario wine and culinary scene, and travel the wine route for special tastings as our wineries roll out the red carpet.
February 27 - March 1, 2009 |
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