BEST WINE CLUB

Taste the top class wines – Go for wine tasting tour

2009-12-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

Wine tours are an amazing journey that is designed around the best Niagara wineries canadian ice wine where you get to taste the top class icewines. Niagara-on-the-lake is the region where icewine grapes are grown for the production of icewine.
This region has the best climatic conditions that are perfectly suitable for growing icewine grapes. These grapes are handpicked frozen from the vines and then processed to produce icewine. People who go for wine tasting tours get to taste hundreds of different varieties of icewines from some of the best niagara wineries.
They get to know more about the details of making of different icewines canada - wineries in ontario and their exotic tastes. The wine tasting tours are planned around the wineries and include knowing every aspect of the icewines. You also get to meet wine producers and see some tasting rooms where wines from some of the best Niagara wineries are poured.
Organizing and managing a wine tasting tour can be a little complex on your own therefore it is advisable to go in for some packages offered by some travel companies. They will arrange a day wise trip for you wherein you will get to taste maximum number of wines. The trip will also comprise of visiting niagara-on-the-lake top attractions. As in most of the wineries the tasting areas are only open for the tourist for some couple of hours, it is advisable to schedule the tasting tour accordingly. Your travel agency will arrange the appointments with the winery producers regarding the visit.
The producers will assure that you are attended properly and get to see all areas of the winery from the vineyards to the wine lab and making rooms so that you get acquainted with the entire course behind making of the icewine. They travel companies also arrange for local professional guides and chauffeurs who will guide you through the routes of niagara-on-the-lake.
Plan a magical wine tour of Niagara-on-the-lake and visit Hillebrand winery, the wine making pioneers. Taste some of their award winning wines and their specialty Trius, Trius is a blend of selected best Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Hillebrand is known for offering the best of best icewines in the area.

Ice wine in the Niagara region

2009-11-04T21:40:00.000-08:00

There are more than 70 wineries in the Niagara region, as it's at the same latitude as Bordeaux and the Napa Valley and is an hour's drive south of Toronto, making it a popular weekend destination. Many bed and breakfasts and hotels have their own vineyards, including Riverbend Inn , a renovated 1860s Georgian mansion. Staying at Riverbend is like channelling Scarlett O'Hara: grand staircases, sky-high ceilings and french doors opening on to marble balconies. Deer graze between the vines and some nights you can hear coyotes howl.

The Niagara Peninsula is the world's largest producer of ice wine, made from frozen grapes picked in winter, at wineries such as Pillitteri Estate (run by Australian wine master Dr Mark Bradshaw) and Inniskillin. The Niagara Wine Festival September is one of the largest in Canada. A 10-day ice-wine festival is held in January and the Niagara New Vintage Festival in June.

Niagara-on-the-lake

2009-11-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

A charming, restored heritage village 20 minutes' drive from the falls and a world away from its high-rise hotels and casino complex is Niagara-on-the-lake (NOTL). It's the kind of place where it's Christmas all year round (in the Christmas shop at least), where paint doesn't dare peel, where every blossom knows its place in the hanging baskets adorning the lamp posts. It's where people stroll arm-in-arm window-shopping until 9pm in summer. Buy a bag of maple-roasted peanuts, pop in to Niagara Apothecary (Canada's longest-serving pharmacy) or sample the watercress sandwiches at the Prince of Wales Hotel tearoom.

There are British-themed shops selling everything from spotted dick to HP Sauce and stately Edwardian- and Georgian-style homes (rebuilt after the town was razed by American soldiers in the War of 1812).

NOTL is also rumoured to be the most haunted town in Canada, thanks to its war-torn history.

You Deserve the Best Wine at all Times

2009-04-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

When you are in a famous wine region, to get the real feel of the place is best to go on wine tours. Niagara Falls Ontario wine tours are well known all over the globe. The wineries here are well located and within easy reach. If you are an avid wine lover or just enjoy a beautiful country escape with a bit of food and drink, Niagara wine region is the best place to be. The place really beckons. Wine can be had with every occasion, since it is a light beverage. In the entire Niagara wine region-the peninsula along the shores of Lake Ontario; there are around fifty wineries.

If you follow the Wine Route of Ontario through the countryside by car, bike or guided tour you can discover the best of Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyards and Niagara Falls winery. At Niagara, you can feast on many Niagara restaurants and Niagara Winery Restaurants, where you can taste the perfect combination of fine wines with regional cuisines.

One of the strongest growing industries today, is Wine business. Niagara Falls wineries are one of the best wineries in the market. They age the wine before manufacturing your very first bottle. There are many Niagara Falls Ontario restaurants, which serve the exceptional cuisines, which will really stay on your taste buds for a long time. Niagara offers overwhelming recreations at scenic spots.

Ontario is considered the perfect destination, for wines. Ontario’s boasts of a cool climate, at the time of harvest grapes have more concentrated flavors and balanced acidity levels. Ontario is able to protect the vines from frosts in the spring and actually grants the benefits of an extended growing season in the fall.

If you go on Ontario wine tours, you will be able to see the influence of Ontario’s soils on the quality of grapes; there are many different varieties of grapes that can be produced in the four viticulture areas of Ontario. Lake Ontario has been able to create a micro climate suitable for the production of World Class Wines.

Ontario wine clubs are quite popular all around the globe. Around the same region one can also try out wine tasting. Wine tasting is can be an extremely new form of entertainment and delight.

It is often stated that when you take the wine, you should always handle the glass by the stem, to avoid heating it with your hands. When you attend a wine tasting for the first time, you'll notice that the glasses are clear; this helps you to examine the wine better.

Smells play an integral part of the process, at wine tastings, you'll need to look at the wine, smell it, then after swirling it around in the glass - taste it.

Wine tasting is an opportunity never to let go. You can develop an experience in the world of wine tasting and get to experience wines that you may never have heard of in your entire life. For more information visit http://www.hillebrand.com

Niagara ‘wine emporium’ proposed

2009-04-09T22:41:00.001-07:00

The city is asking Niagara County for $100,000 to help launch a Wine Emporium on Canal Street.

On behalf of Beautiful Visions LLC, the city earlier this month filed an application for a Niagara River Greenway grant to complete the purchase and furnishing of 79 Canal St.

Beautiful Visions, a separate company by J. Fitzgerald Group partners Jack Martin and Carmel Cerullo-Beiter, would rent the building to Margo Bittner’s Appleton Creek Winery LLC as a satellite winery.

According to Martin, the Wine Emporium would sell all Niagara County-produced wines and a host of other locally grown and created goods.

His ambitious vision has the emporium serving both tourists and residents, jumpstarting redevelopment of the long-dormant Canal Street block and strengthening Niagara agribusiness all at once.

“In this kind of economy, it’s a good thing, instead of each business struggling to get by, we all help each other grow,” Martin said.

Everything’s still in concept stage but the gist, according to Martin and Bittner, is the emporium would sell wines and other products of members of the Niagara Wine Trail who rent shelf space. It could also sell locally produced food goods such as honey and jams; art, crafts, local gift baskets and tourism-related items such as T-shirts.

What exactly could be sold in addition to wine is still up in the air; Bittner’s company would get the liquor license, so wine may be sold and served on site, but the state liquor authority, in turn, limits what can be sold there. Fresh fruit and unpackaged/ready-to-eat food could not be sold, for instance, Martin said.

The emporium would capitalize on location — between Erie Canal Discovery Center and Lockport Underground Cave Tours/overlooking the Erie Canal locks — to both draw and serve visitors, according to Martin. The business plan calls for the emporium to refer visitors, “concierge style,” not just to the wineries along Niagara Wine Trail but also to tourist attractions and places of hospitality countywide.

J. Fitzgerald Group, a West Main Street-based advertising/marketing firm, would provide the publicity and promotions for the emporium, including a Web site where orders could be placed for all-Niagara County goods gift baskets.

“There’s a great need for this sort of thing,” Martin said of Niagara-centric marketing. For the city, he added, “I see it as a catalyst for Canal Street.”

The city is seeking a Niagara River Greenway grant on the premise the project fits a greenway goal of increasing access to and from local waterfront, in this case the canal and related attractions. Lockport is not in the Greenway area, but Niagara County gets $390,000 in greenway funding every year, as part of the 50-year deal Niagara Power Coalition struck with New York Power Authority in relicensing of the Niagara Power Project.

The city estimates it will cost $195,000 to buy and equip 79 Canal St. Beautiful Visions would kick in $95,000 and take the deed, which currently is held by the city/Greater Lockport Development Corp. The grant would cover the remainder of building purchase cost — GLDC offered to sell it for $115,000 — and interior build-out.

Martin won’t make a formal purchase offer until a decision is rendered on the grant request, he said Monday.

The grant is important to Niagara Wine Trail, group President Oscar Vizcarra said, because ultimately it decreases costs for members who want in on the emporium. If furnishing costs were folded into rent, the bill could be too high for members.

Mayor Michael Tucker vouched for the project in the grant application, writing in a support letter that the emporium would be the “stimulus to entice other businesses” to the Canal Street block. GLDC has showed 79 Canal to several prospective buyers but is holding them off in the hope Beautiful Visions goes for the purchase; it has “first dibs” at the moment, he said, because its proposal satisfies two GLDC goals — recruiting retail and increasing downtown’s tourist appeal.

“It’s important for us to get a business over there and get the ball rolling, but we’re much more concerned with what goes in than just filling it,” Tucker said. “This is a great project, by far the best one I’ve heard yet. It spurs investment in the city and helps the county as a whole at the same time.”

The Niagara River Greenway Commission is undertaking “consistency” review of 10 grant proposals now. Through April 30, members of the public are invited to comment on the proposals and how well they fit the greenway plan. The plan can be viewed at www.niagaragreenway.org; comments can be submitted at the Web site or mailed to the commission at 2136 W. Oakfield Road, Grand Island, NY 14072.

A county Legislature vetting committee also will look over the emporium request. Normally, according to legislator Andrea McNulty, D-North Tonawanda, the committee would refer the application to the greenway commission on merit, but because the application deadline was approaching in mid-March, legislators consented to let the city go to the commission first. The Legislature approves county greenway grants based partly on the commission’s recommendation.
news source :- Niagara ‘wine emporium’ proposed

Canadian wineries earn honours in Italy

2009-04-06T03:43:00.000-07:00

Canadian winery Inniskillin has won the top prize at Vinitaly.

The winery, from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., won the Premio Speciale Gran Vinitaly 2009 at the 17th annual Concorso Enologico Internazionale.

Canadian wineries received a total of seven medals and 14 special mentions at the prestigious awards, which were officially announced in Verona at the world's largest wine fair.

More than 130,000 people will attend the fair, which runs through Monday. Some 3,500 wines from 34 countries were entered in this year's competition, with results judged by 100 wine critics, wine writers and winemakers from around the world.

This is not Inniskillin's first major Vinitaly award; the winery is renowned among international media and festival judges, primarily for its icewines.

A number of other Canadian wineries also did well at this year's event.

In the still white wine category designated by geographical zone, Magnotta Winery from Vaughn, Ont., received a special mention for its Gewurztraminer Dry Niagara VQA Special Reserve 2007 and its 2007 Chardonnay.

Jackson-Triggs also received a special mention for its Gewurztraminer Niagara Peninsula VQA Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007, as well as its Meritage White Grand Reserve Okanagan Valley 2007.

And in the still wine category designated by geographic zone, for white wines aged in oak, the Gold Medal was won by Jackson-Triggs' Niagara Estate, for its Chardonnay Proprietors Grand Reserve 2007. It shares the award with Italy's own Veronese IGT Bianco "Villa Cordevigo" 2006.

Canadian wineries won three of the top four categories in the Vini Dolci Naturali Category for still wines.

Konzelmann Estate Winery in Niagara won the Grand Gold Medal for its 2007 Vidal Icewine, Inniskillin won the Gold Medal for its 2006 Vidal Oak-Aged Icewine from Niagara and Jackson-Triggs won the silver medal for its 2007 Proprietors Reserve Grand Icewine.

Magnotta Winery also won the Grand Gold Medal in the Vini Spumanti Dolci category (sparkling sweet wine) for its Limited Edition 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine from the Niagara Region.

Inniskillin won the gold medal in the same category for its 2006 Sparkling Vidal Icewine.

news source :- Canadian wineries earn honours in Italy

Ontario wine pioneer says goodbye

2009-04-03T01:22:00.000-07:00

Ask any wine critic about the hard to pronounce grape variety Gewurztraminer, and a couple-of words come to mind: Misunderstood, underrated.

When Allan Jackson thinks of his favourate wine, other thoughts come to mind: Flexible, great character, spicy.

Maybe it's because the 57- year-old Jackson, a bit of an undercover Canadian wine mogul, sees himself in the sometimes-forgotten aromatic grape.

"It's kind of away from the mainstream, which has kind of always been part of who I am," Jackson said wryly. For years he worked behind the scenes helping build what was Canada's biggest domestically-owned wine company, Vincor International.

His name is emblazoned on the Jackson-Triggs wine label -- a reminder of his partnership with businessman Donald Triggs that started it all.

Triggs would go on to be the face of the company as chief executive officer. Jackson, who preferred to keep his name out of the headlines, worked in the cellars and vineyards, overseeing wine production and building a quality team.

Last month, the warm, well-respected man with a satirical sense of humour retired after more than 30 years working in the Canadian wine business.

The legacy Jackson leaves behind of fostering winemaking talent is great, says noted Toronto- based wine writer Tony Aspler.

"His legacy is something that should be celebrated," he said. "Again, he's kept a low profile on the international stage, but I think he deserves the Order of Canada for what he's done."

Jackson was a brainy kid who grew up in Hamilton's west end playing football and baseball. His dad, Harold, was a elementary school principal. His mother, Isabel, a grade school teacher.

The youngest of three siblings, Jackson opted instead to become an academic, eventually earning a PhD in chemistry from McMaster University. His doctoral thesis focused on taste characteristics of different grape varieties to help improve the quality of Canadian wines.

news source :- Ontario wine pioneer says goodbye

Wine flows through Central Coast and Cal Poly

2009-03-31T03:12:00.000-07:00

Wine is big on the Central Coast. Really big. So big that even Cal Poly has its own wine program-and wine. The wine industry is enormous along the Central Coast and Cal Poly is in the heart of it, surrounded by luscious vineyards in all directions.

Whether you dabble in it or drink a lot of it, wine's presence in San Luis Obispo is undeniable. World-renowned wineries pop up everywhere you look, including one on campus. Various wine tasting rooms dot the landscape of downtown. Wine is even sold at the downtown Cal Poly merchandise store, not too shabby for a dry campus.

It's not surprising that all this wine-love has trickled down to the local college students. Business senior Ryan McKinley has grown quite fond of wine since coming to Cal Poly.

"I'm a cabernet sauvignon man," McKinley said. "I like the full body, the rich flavor. It's not sweet like a lot of whites."

Like most college students, McKinley is on a relatively tight budget, and doesn't want to spend precious cash on expensive wines, He prefers to purchase cheaper wines at Trader Joe's and Cost Plus World Market. These stores sell bottles from $4 to $12 and offer excellent deals on Central Coast wines.

McKinley notes that wine is popular amongst students, but isn't your typical party drink like beer, and probably never will be.

"People drink wine when they want to have a nice, classy time," McKinley said. "It's good for dates and celebrations. It's not really an everyday type of thing cause nobody has that type of budget."

San Luis Obispo wine country is capable of influencing even the most seasoned wine drinkers. Physics senior Florian Mettetal grew up in France and has been drinking wine with meals since he was young, yet he still considers San Luis Obispo a wine-drinker's paradise.

"There are a lot of amazing wineries around here," Mettetal said. "I've been on a couple wine tours and those have always been great. When I go to a winery, I'm willing to spend $50 dollars on a bottle."

One way students experience the Central Coast wine culture is through wine-tasting. Going on weekend wine-touring excursions is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon while becoming familiar with the local wine culture. Grace Keggl, the tasting room manager at Per Bacco Cellars, a San Luis Obispo winery and vineyard, said she has noticed a recent increase in wine-tasting popularity amongst students, who tend to prefer white wines.

news source :- Wine flows through Central Coast and Cal Poly

Cafe raises glass to An Evening with Hillebrand

2009-03-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

WELLAND — For people who like the finer things in life, Cafe on Main is hosting An Evening with Hillebrand this Saturday.

Paying guests can sample Niagara wines and learn more about pairing wines with food. Desserts created by Indulgence, will also be available.

The event featuring Hillebrand Estates Wines is ideal for people at all levels of wine knowledge, said cafe owner Patti Fagan.

"The majority of people in Welland would not necessarily pick up and go to a winery, so I'm offering it to them. Often at this time of year people are looking for something to do ... and this is a perfect intimate evening."

Owning a business that often caters wine and cheese events, Fagan wanted to get more informed about wine and food pairings. In 2008 she attended a Wine Council of Canada symposium at Niagara College which attracted 70 wineries.

"It was meant for wineries and sales ... but I learned so much more," she said.

Before opening her cafe, Fagan used to organize wine tours with groups of about 50 people.

A wine tasting held at the cafe in February was well-received, she said.

Fagan said Saturday’s event is another step in promoting the Buy Local philosophy to support Niagara’s economy and the environment.

Cafe on Main can accommodate about 30 people for the event. Tickets are $35 a person or $60 a couple, plus taxes, and people must call to reserve a spot.

news source :- Cafe raises glass to An Evening with Hillebrand

Taste the best wine and experience the best taste

2009-03-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Wines are exotic drinks and can be had anytime. Ice wine is a kind of a dessert. Ice Wine is produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. Where ice wine is concerned the sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, the same process allows a more concentrated grape which must be pressed from the frozen grapes and gives out more concentrated and very sweet wine.

For the best ice wine, the freezing happens before the fermentation, not afterwards. Icewine grapes should not be affected by noble rot; it should be avoided at the most. Canadian Ice wine, boasts of characteristic refreshing sweetness balanced by high acidity. The quality of grapes from Canada is of high qulaity and come in clean and is completely free of Botrytis.

Canadian ice wine and ice wines in general are quite expensive in nature, since they are made with the help of intense labor and risky production process, which in turn causes small amounts of wine, and it becomes even rarer in nature. Canada has very consistent freezes in winter and has become the largest ice wine producer in the world. It is known that Ontario, Canada recently claimed itself as the largest icewine producer in the world, overcoming the well known Inniskillin

The well known ice wine producers are mainly from areas such as: Canada, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and British Columbia.

Peller Estates are known all over the world; Peller Estates Icewines are known for outstanding quality and production. Peller icewines have have won major awards at the world's finest wine competitions. According to research and survey, in a record setting year, Peller Estates Icewines have captured more major medals at the world's most important wine competitions than ever before, thereafter carving a name for themselves.

Vidal Icewine is extremely famous; Vidal is an aromatic and hardy French hybrid, it is perfect or ideal for making Canadian Icewine. Vidal is a long and steady ripener. It consists of rich, full aromas and flavors balanced by a firm acidity. With Vidal you can experience luscious intermingling of lemon and apricot. You can enjoy various wine recipes and even try a hand at making some interesting and involving wine recipes yourself.

The flavors are never heavy; wines have a delicate touch, along with being elegant and integrated in character. In the end you can get a sweet high in pleasing and tasty manner.

Proposed Weir winery questioned

2009-03-18T02:38:00.000-07:00

Pro golfer Mike Weir’s proposed Niagara Falls winery has been caught in the middle of a maelstrom of controversy over how the Niagara Parks Commission conducts business.

The self-financing provincial entity that controls about 4,300 acres along the Niagara Parkway has been criticized in recent weeks for failing to open up the bidding process for a 25-year Maid of the Mist tour boat deal and other activities.

This week, the Canadian-born PGA star’s winery was pulled into the throes. Last November, Weir and Barry Katzman, who runs the golfer’s Niagara wine operations, announced the winery was to be located on a 15-acre plot next to the Whirlpool Golf Course, which is also run by the parks commission.

But several winery owners are now calling the deal into question because Barry Katzman is the son of Archie Katzman, a St. Catharines businessman and longtime parks commissioner and head of its golf committee.

Donna Lailey, owner of Lailey Vineyards on the Niagara Parkway, said she wants to know why all wineries weren’t given the same chance to pitch a proposal to the commission.

“Why does one winery have this opportunity?” said Lailey, who served as a Niagara Parks commissioner from 1996 to 2002.

“If you’re going to do something like that and you want to promote a winery, you should open it up to everyone.”

Both Katzmans and commission officials say Archie Katzman was not part of any discussions about the project and recused himself from any dealings around the issue.

Archie Katzman, who has been part of the commission since 1971, said he even offered to resign from his post as vice-chairman.

“He’s stepped so far away from this you don’t even know that he’s in the same town,” said John Kernahan, the commission’s general manager.

news source :- Proposed Weir winery questioned

Wine for every Occasion

2009-03-16T00:45:00.000-07:00

Wine is a great beverage for every occasion. It can be consumed by almost everyone and at anytime. Canada - wineries in Ontario house the best wineries ever. Wines are made through a process that transforms the grapes into the liquid form. It is perfectly made by fermenting with yeast to add flavor and also squishing the grapes into small pieces. Wines are best to taste when they are stored in containers for some time before being bottled and thereafter served.

The process of making wine can be done also at home or even commercially. You just have to make sure that you have the right machinery and the grapes available to make the bottles in volume. Canadian ice wine is also very popular. Characteristics of a winery are the vast acres of the vineyards. Canada offers a lot of vineyards and professional cultivation. These wines are available all over the world, they are usually manned or handled by farmers who plant and harvest these crops and when harvest season comes they reap in the long-term benefits.

Canada – wineries are considered to be the best because of the conducive weather and apt soil, which plays a key role in the quality of the wine produced at the winery. The longer the wines are stored will eventually determine the kind of wine that will be produced whether it is whiteorred.
Ice wine Canada is very rare form of wine. Ice wine is produced under certain types of weather conditions; the weather conditions have to be right for the wine. Ice wine is extremely rare because it is produced in very small quantities. It requires very high quality standards, due to the scarce amount or minimum available it is very expensive and out of the price range for a majority of us.

Since it very rare and unusual, ice wine is something that many of us hope and dream to xperience at some point in our lives. It is very tough to produce and have a regular supply of Ice Wine because the weather conditions are even more crucial to producing this wine. Ice wine requires, fully ripened grapes and a temperature of around 5 degrees C. Since the wine maker requires to completely make the wine the weather has to remain the same for quite a few days.Grapes that are frozen during these extremely cold temperatures are hand plucked at night bythe wine maker and his helpers.

Ice wine is created when the temperature creates the frozen water crystals, which are fermented along with sugars and the particles that are found in the free running juices When you actually get to taste this rare and precious wine you will realize it was worth the effort. for more information please visit http://www.hillebrand.com/

Ontario wine pioneer says goodbye

2009-03-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ask any wine critic about the hard to pronounce grape variety Gewurztraminer, and a couple-of words come to mind: Misunderstood, underrated.

When Allan Jackson thinks of his favourite wine, other thoughts come to mind: Flexible, great character, spicy.

Maybe it's because the 57- year-old Jackson, a bit of an undercover Canadian wine mogul, sees himself in the sometimes-forgotten aromatic grape.

His name is emblazoned on the Jackson-Triggs wine label -- a reminder of his partnership with businessman Donald Triggs that started it all.

Last month, the warm, well-respected man with a satirical sense of humour retired after more than 30 years working in the Canadian wine business.

The legacy Jackson leaves behind of fostering wine making talent is great, says noted Toronto- based wine writer Tony Aspler.

"His legacy is something that should be celebrated," he said. "Again, he's kept a low profile on the international stage, but I think he deserves the Order of Canada for what he's done."

Jackson was a brainy kid who grew up in Hamilton's west end playing football and baseball. His dad, Harold, was a elementary school principal. His mother, Isabel, a grade school teacher.

The youngest of three siblings, Jackson opted instead to become an academic, eventually earning a PhD in chemistry from Mc Master University. His doctoral thesis focused on taste characteristics of different grape varieties to help improve the quality of Canadian wines.

news source :-Ontario wine pioneer says goodbye

Wine Country Tour News

2009-03-09T04:34:00.000-07:00

Take one of the various wonderful Napa Valley wine tours or Sonoma Valley wine tours which include some of the roughly five hundred wineries in the northern California wine country, enjoy the offerings to be found in their tastings rooms and then select some of your favorite bottles to ship home. Then go home and sell your house and move somewhere other than the eighteen states where it is still illegal to ship wine across state borders so that you’re not charged with a crime. In fact, if you live in one of six states, you will be trying to avoid being charged with a felony. So in those eighteen states, especially within the six, you are best served by leaving the fruits of your discovery from those wonderful wine country tours behind when you head back to San Francisco to fly home. Only thirteen states currently have reciprocal privileges where you are permitted to ship wine between them. The remaining states have legal restrictions that are particular to each.
This fiasco is a leftover byproduct of the prohibition era after which each state gained control over its own liquor laws and while the internet and the ease of purchasing has begun to expose the state-by-state inequities and absurdities of the antiquated laws and the push for change is ongoing, the laws are mostly as they were in the early twentieth century. So if you’re looking forward making your own personal discovery while in wine country having the time of your life on a wine country tour and shipping cases home for the benefit of you and your friends, you may be in for some sobering news. Check the status of your state below:

news source :-Wine Country Tour News

Ice Wine Festival coming to Northeast Ohio

2009-03-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

,Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley are hosting their annual Ice Wine Festival on Saturday, March 7 and Saturday, March 14.

Six area wineries, all within about a 10-minute drive of each other, will participate. They include: Debonne Vineyards, Ferrante Winery and Vineyards, Grand River Winery and Restaurant, St. Joseph Vineyards, Laurello Vineyards and South River Vineyards.

The events start at noon and ends at 5 p.m. Participants begin their tastings at the winery of their choice. Each winery will provide a sample of its ice wines, along with an appetizer or something sweet.

news source :- Ice Wine Festival coming to Northeast Ohio

Try a first-class wine and dine tour with slow season prices

2009-02-24T04:02:00.000-08:00

NIAGARA FALLS–Wine can't melt snow, but it sure can warm your heart.

With more than 80 wineries in the peninsula, Niagara is an oenophile's playground. If you had the constitution – and a designated driver – you could easily spend two weeks working your way from tasting to tasting, sipping, sampling and savoring.

Given that most of us just don't have the fortitude for a fortnight of frolicking, we have to choose our moments.

And the moment is now.

Winterglow, a Niagara-on-the-Lake celebration designed to light the darkest days of the year with entertainment, music, food and wine is about to begin its most delectable phase – Winterlicious.

From Feb. 26 through March 2, frugal gourmands will be treated to star performances by chefs at many of the area's best restaurants, such as the Grill at the Epicurean, the Hillebrand Winery Restaurant, LIV at White Oaks, the Riverbend Inn, and more. Lunch can be had for $20 to $25 and dinner for $30 to $35.

Slow-season deals at hotels and restaurants may not be anything new, but these are bargain basement prices at top-flight Niagara restaurants. It's enough to take your mind right off your stock portfolio.

Passionate about wine? Book your trip to Niagara for Cuvée, the wine lover's Oscar weekend. Running from Feb. 27 to March 1, Cuvée begins with an over-the-top, black tie Awards Gala celebrating the finest area wines and winemakers at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

On both Feb. 28 and March 1, the celebrations will continue along Niagara's famous wine trail as enthusiasts enjoy Cuvée en Route, a sipping, sampling, savoring and shopping opportunity at many of the area's most renowned wineries. Tickets for the Cuvée weekend are $200 and include all events.

If a glass of wine can blunt your winter blahs, just imagine what the addition of a bit of chocolate could do. Visit the 20 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake any time in February and experience special chocolate and wine pairings – the ultimate indulgence. A passport good for three weekends is $34.50 and is available by phone at 905-468-1950 or go to

There's more to Niagara than wine, of course, so you might want to visit White Meadow Farms near Vineland. The sap is beginning to run and, beginning Feb. 21 the maple sugar bush will be in full swing every weekend until March 29. A great opportunity for the kids to blow off some steam on a bright wintry weekend, a visit to the sugar bush starts with a hay ride, includes a chance to try tapping a tree, a self-guided tour with period-costumed hosts to provide explanations, demonstrations and an introduction to maple taffy pulling.

Be sure to arrive early enough for a pancake breakfast served with maple baked beans, maple muffins and tarts, maple cream cheese, maple apple crisp, maple cheese cake and more.

In case you're thinking that winter in Niagara offers nothing other than fine wine and great food, think again. Winter is perhaps the most spectacular time of year to ride the Niagara Skywheel, a four-season Ferris wheel in the heart of the Clifton Hill tourist area of Niagara Falls.

With the trees bare, the view of the Falls from the Skywheel is unobstructed and mind-bendingly powerful. Beautiful at any time of year, the Falls are most dramatic when surrounded by bushes, rocks and railings coated in icy crystals.

news source :-Try a first-class wine and dine tour with slow season prices

More wineries join state directory

2009-02-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

In the past year, nine wineries joined the Iowa Wine and Beer Directory. LuAnn Reinders, with the Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board, says there are now at least 70 wineries in the state. A special "cold variety" of grapes are grown in the state creating unique flavors of wine.

"The breweries and brew pubs are also just exploding," Reinders said. "It's interesting...that craft beer that you just can't get anywhere else." There are now at least five brewing companies in the state and more than a dozen brew pubs.

The oldest beer brewing company in Iowa is in Amana. Millstream Brewing Company opened for business in 1985. The 2009 edition of the Iowa Wine and Beer Directory is now available at Iowa Welcome Centers or on-line at" lowa wine and beer dot com"

Reinders says each listing includes a short description, the location and hours of operation for the state's wineries, breweries or brew pubs. "Some of them can be a bit of a challenge to find, so we include a map in there, so people can go find them and experience their products first hand," Reinders said.

The 2009 guide also identifies the five Iowa wine trails and includes a listing of special events.

news source :-More wineries join state directory

Mandala Winery ties up with Nasik based York Winery

2009-02-16T01:18:00.000-08:00

Boutique wine producer Mandala Winery has tied up with Nasik-based York Winery Pvt Ltd (YWPL) for the production of wines under its brand. "Presently, we produce about 10000 cases of wines per year and the aim is to increase this volume by 50 to 60 per cent year on year," says Ramesh Rao, Managing Director, Mandala Valley Vineyards.

The company's present focus is to improve product quality and overall volumes. It is currently studying the consumer response of three varietals in its portfolio -- Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel and Cabernet Shiraz. The wines are available in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa and Pune. The company will also introduce the products in Hyderabad, Chennai and Pondicherry by March 2009. North Indian markets will be tapped by end 2009. The company had earlier tied up with Sankalp Winery in Nashik.

The company will also be adding the Sauvignon Blanc varietal to its portfolio by March 2009. It has introduced a private selection range to target only select institutional sales. The wines are 100 per cent Shiraz and the company has produced only 500 cases of the wine. "The private selection range aims for selective marketing. We have also received enquiries from high end fine dining restaurants in Japan and UK and will export the products there," Rao adds. Almost half the produce will be targeted for the exports.

"Since our present production is very small, we will grow in a phased manner, target key markets first rather than rushing for a pan India presence. The present focus is on establishing the brand and marketing it in the country," informs Sachin Sonavane, National Sales Director, Mandala Valley. The company will focus on its key wine consuming accounts, expanding markets and venturing into new territories in the next three years. Plans are also in progress to develop the company's own winery in Bengaluru. It has identified land and is expected to start wine production by 2010. It will initiate the facility's operations with grapes acquired through contract farming.

news source :-Mandala Winery ties up with Nasik based York Winery

Local couple reach Kilimanjaro summit with Peller icewine to celebrate climb

2009-02-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

Local grape growers Lorna and Phil Tregunno are passionate about promoting Niagara products.
They also love to hike.
Their recent trek up Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, was a totally new experience for them, but pushing local produce was not.
Phil, 54, grows peaches and grapes on a Niagara River Parkway family farm, and became a familiar face on TV last summer promoting local fruit. When he and Lorna, 53, decided climbing Kilimanjaro was something they wanted to do, they also thought they would take along something that would represent home, but it just wasn’t the right season for peaches, says Lorna.
So instead they carefully bubblewrapped a bottle of icewine and cradled it in their duffel bag, to enjoy once they had accomplished their climb up the frozen 5,800-metre mountain.
The mystique of icewine and its identification with Niagara made it the perfect product to take along, says Lorna.
It was carried by one of about 40 porters who helped lug all the necessary gear for the seven climbers, a group which included the Tregunnos, who had never met their climbing companions, along with one person from New York and two from California.
They discovered once they reached the top, where they proudly photographed the Peller Estates Vidal icewine with pink-tinged glaciers in the background, that none of the other travellers had tasted the liquid nectar so popular with tourists who visit NOTL.
They also realized that due to the cold, the thin air and the 10,000-foot descent that had to be completed by the end of the day, they would be well-advised to wait until they had finished the day’s climb before celebrating.
The couple made sure they were both fit for the ascent, having done a lot of hiking locally, and trained for the mountain-side by climbing up and down the Niagara gorge for as long as the weather permitted, but although the final stage was a challenge, they never doubted the successful outcome of their mission, she says.
“We were very prepared and very determined. We knew we would do it.”
After four days of climbing, they left their camp at midnight for the final mount to the top, says Lorna, which gave them the opportunity to see the breathtaking sights as the sun came up.
“It was unbelievable. We had no rain, just sunshine every day, and the scenery and the colours are beautiful. It was a wonderful experience.”
But it was also a challenge, especially the 18-hour day of climbing for the final ascent and then back to camp, she said, where they finally felt comfortable celebrating with their icewine.
It was a lot of fun sharing it with a international group, many who had never tasted icewine, especially one that had travelled so far and high, said Phil.
But they all seemed to enjoy it, says Lorna, and some of those who shared the bottle have emailed to ask where they can buy it—making not only their climb successful, but their efforts to promote Niagara as well.

news source :- Local couple reach Kilimanjaro summit with Peller icewine to celebrate climb

A toast to Calgary's newest wine boutique

2009-02-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

What: Grand Opening of the Ferocious Grape Whether you get Chablis and Chardonnay all mixed up, or you consider yourself near sommelier status, the Ferocious Grape has got the perfect mix of flavours for your rack.
The new wine boutique, located in Calgary's Beltline area, celebrated its grand opening in January.Brain child of owner Kim Chernow-Little, this wine shop aims to make wine more approachable and engaging for all drinkers, especially those just starting their love affairwith vino.
"Unlike many other wine stores in the Calgary market, our focus is on helping customers understand that wine doesn't have to be complicated. Wine can be approachable and easy to understand and just as fabulous paired with frozen lasagna as it is with prime rib--or even just on its own," says Chernow-Little.

Chernow-Little left her career in the oil and gas industry to pursue her interest in wine after studying the ins and outs of the business and visiting many vineyards and wineries.

"I felt that a unique wine boutique, focusing on the wine drinker's experience with wine, was the way to truly provide value to new wine drinkers and collectors alike," she says. "Wine shouldn't be intimidating, wine should be fun."

news source :-A toast to Calgary's newest wine boutique

Wine time north of border

2009-02-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

Niagara-on-the-Lake is gearing up for one of its busiest winter weekends.

As many as 7,000 people are expected to visit the picturesque Southern Ontario town as it hosts the 14th annual Niagara Ice Wine Festival. The festival will run Jan. 24 and 25 along Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

A series of covered tents will feature local wineries and restaurants showing off their ice wine and foods. Samples can be purchased with tickets priced at $2.50 each and samples priced by the wineries and restaurants.

In years past, Queen Street was covered by one single tent, but to make this year’s festival more visitor-friendly, the wineries and restaurants will be split among 10 smaller tents.

“It will help make the street a bigger part of the festival,” said Janice Thomson, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce executive director. for more information please visit http://www.bizjournals.com/

Bernhardt Wine Dinner a lovely intimate affair

2009-02-02T04:01:00.000-08:00

JERRY and JERRI BERNHARDT hosted an intimate evening for 40 wine lovers in their new winery event room at the Bernhardt Winery last Saturday evening. The Bernhardts’ strong desire to bring the best to area residents was evident in the great food catered by DARLENE GOLD from the Italian Grille paired with the great wines from the Bernhardt Winery Library along with the premier of the Bernhardt’s newest wine, Pinellie, a fruity white wine.

One of Texas’ great troubadours, SHAKE RUSSELL, entertained the crowd with his country folk music including his legendary “TRAVELING TEXAS” which was the theme music from RON STONE’S weekly television show “The Eyes of Texas.”

This special event had birthday celebrations for KRIS MCBRIDE, JAN SILVER and PETER SAMOFF along with the celebration of the 46th wedding anniversary for PETER and JACKIE SAMOFF.

Also seen enjoying themselves were MICHAEL MCBRIDE, BRUCE and CINDY MORIARITARY, PETER and TRISH WAKEFIELD, RAY and IVANA BROOKS, BONNIE and GEORGE HARTNETT and MARTY SAIKOWSKI.

Several people have told me they would like to grow grapes either in their backyard or on acreage they own. There will be a vineyard seminar on grape growing at the BERNHARDT WINERY on Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 28. This seminar is a MUST if you are interested in starting your own vineyard or growing grapes in your backyard.

This seminar begins at 9 a.m. with classroom education with hand-outs for an hour and a half with another hour and a half in the vineyards. This seminar will provide hands-on experiences in the BERNHARDT VINEYARDS under the watchful eye of JERRY BERNHARDT. The seminar fee of $30 per person includes a light noon luncheon paired with Bernhardt Wines. For more information, call (936) 894-9829.

The Texas Wine and Grape Grower’s Association will be holding its semi-annual conference Feb.18-21 in Austin. This organization has been a huge key in the growing success of the Texas Wine Industry. Texas now has more than 170 wineries and 3,500 acres of vineyards. One of the biggest needs in the Texas Wine Industry is a readily available supply of Texas grown grapes. As a result, there will be a wine growing seminar held during the TWGGA Conference titled “Top Ten Keys to Growing High Quality Grapes in Texas” by Dr. Ed Hellman.

Montgomery County is blessed to have several upcoming wine events worthy of your consideration as follows:

VINO 100 The Woodlands has special wine tastings at its Sterling Ridge location on Friday and Saturday of this week. For more information, go to www.vino100woodlands.com

Western Winery in Montgomery has tastings of Texas wines every day. They have a great array of Texas wines by the bottle and great wine accessories.

Messina Hof in Bryan will host a special wine tasting and appreciation of sparkling wines this Sunday at 3 p.m.

CORK THIS in Montgomery is a new winery with an anticipated opening on Valentine’s Day. More on this new winery in next week’s column.

In keeping with my resolution to drink more red wine, I have selected LLANO ESTACADO 2005 VIVANO which is one of the top award winners of this year’s Houston Rodeo Uncorked Wine Competition. This huge blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese was grown on the high plains in the infamous Newson Vineyards. This wine is awesome and should be decanted at least 30 minutes before serving. This wine has big black cherry tones with nuances of tobacco and oak. This wine will stand up to the best of California Cabernet Sauvignons and is nicknamed “SUPER TEXAN.” With a wine as great as this, it is sold for only $39.95 at the winery and at certain SPEC’s Liquors. for more information please visit http://www.hcnonline.com/

Icewine festival celebrates Niagara's signature beverage

2009-01-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

Icewine fever hit Jordan Village this weekend with revellers aplenty descending on the little town to sample some of the area's finest.

Main Street was overtaken by a 24-foot ice bar, buskers, and thousands of tourists who came from all over the continent to enjoy the sweet wine from more than 20 local wineries.

The 14th annual Niagara Icewine Festival runs Jan. 16 to 25 and will continue in Niagara-on-the-Lake this weekend.

"We do this product better than anyone in the world," said festival co-chair Barry Katzman during the festival's opening ceremonies Saturday afternoon.

The weather was perfect for the event, frigid enough that the bar remained frozen and the icewine samples warmed the soul.

"The icewine is fantastic," said St. Catharines residents Sandra and Jim McGowan. "This is definitely something to try on a cold winter day."

For the local shops nestled quietly in the village, the weekend marked the busiest weekend of the winter season.

Many bustled in and out of the shops to keep warm between tastings.

Three college friends from Ohio who made the trek to Jordan Village for the weekend said experiencing Niagara's icewine is special.

Discovery passes in hand, Ashley Cornelius, Bobby Stark and Brittany Hill carried five bottles of liquid gold apiece. The pass gives tourists complimentary admission to special events at participating wineries, including luncheons and seminars.

"We were here two years ago, hitting winery after winery," said Cornelius. "The experience ... that's what it's all about."

"Ohio icewine doesn't taste anything like this," she added.

"If a guy wants to impress a girl, he has to buy Niagara icewine," said Stark.

The festival is hosted by the Twenty Valley Tourism Association and the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. Musical entertainment, cuisine and a life-size ice throne were all part of the merriment.

The festivities continue this week at local wineries.

"We are very proud of our icewines," said Lincoln Mayor Bill Hodgson. "While we're famous for our icewine, we're about to become famous for our ice hockey, too."

He then encouraged everyone to support the town's attempt to become Hockeyville 2009.more info plz visit http://www.niagarathisweek.com/

Icewine festival celebrates Niagara's signature beverage

2009-01-22T20:28:00.000-08:00

cewine fever hit Jordan Village this weekend with revellers aplenty descending on the little town to sample some of the area's finest.