Popular Chardonnay
Wineries to visit: Coyote’s Run Estate Winery, Stonechurch Vineyards, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Hillebrand Winery, Lailey Vineyard, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Southbrook Vineyards |
Stop by our wineries and you’ll taste the reasons for Chardonnay’s immense popularity. This itinerary will take you on a
tour of oaked and non–oaked styles. Oak ageing in barrels imparts characteristics that give Chardonnay a fuller body and
flavours that may be vanilla, spicy or smoky. Much depends on the type of oak (i.e. French, Hungarian, Canadian), the degree
of toasting inside the barrel, and the length of time the wine ages in the barrel. These are white wines that can take the place
of a red at the dinner table. Non-oaked Chardonnays aged in stainless-steel tanks will be lighter and fruitier wines. Which to
choose - it all comes down to taste. |
Non-oaked Chardonnay
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery produces its most popular
wine in stainless steel tanks: perfect for those who prefer
a fresher and fruitier style of Chardonnay. It has been
named “one of the most consistent and best value whites
in Ontario.”
Stonechurch Vineyards- 2007 was a wonderful year for
Chardonnay. The juice was fermented in 100% new French
and American barrels. We have sought to marry the vibrant,
classic flavours with the elegance of some of the world’s
best barrels. Our 2006 Chardonnay Reserve is for the
wine drinker who appreciates the upfront voluptuously
rich flavours of a classic Californian Chardonnay. There
is nothing subtle here; this is BIG, Bold and Beautiful.
Each vintage, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery produces Chardonnay for its “Proprietors’ Reserve”,
“Proprietors’ Grand Reserve” and “Delaine Vineyard” tiers.
Taste and explore the versatility of how Chardonnay is
crafted for each of these, from unoaked, to partial malolactic
fermentation and, of course, full-bodied rich and buttery
oak-aged Chardonnay.
Oaked
At Hillebrand Winery there’s a rare treat in store. The winery produces single barrel Showcase Chardonnays: only 22 cases of each wine are made and each is hand numbered. Other notable Chardonnays include Trius Chardonnay 2004 and Trius Unoaked Chardonnay 2004.
Lailey Vineyard has some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the area. Wines produced from these grapes are delicate, elegant and intense expressions of one of Niagara’s premium varietals.
Oaked Chardonnay has been Niagara College Teaching Winery’s wine of distinction since its first vintage won gold in 2001. In fact, this wine has won medals each year since its inception, including Top Chardonnay at the Cuveé in 2007. Niagara College produces excellent Chardonnay grapes in its campus vineyard located on the St. David’s Bench at the foot of the Escarpment.
Southbrook Vineyards offers the unique opportunity to taste three Chardonnays of different vintages side by side. From their "Triomphe" family, these are all reserve-quality wines, some with significant time in the bottle. A practical demonstration of the ageability of well-made Ontario wines!
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