Let's Mingle with Reds

Wineries to visit: Château des Charmes, Hillebrand Winery, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Marynissen Estates Winery, Reif Estate Winery, Strewn Winery

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Blending reds is a long-standing tradition that allows the winemaker’s art to shine through. Yes, great varietals are made in the vineyard but a great blended wine depends on the finesse of an inspired winemaker. We’ve devised a tour to let you see what we can do with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Baco Noir. If you want a full bodied red for a grilled steak without sizzling tannins, we’ve got mellowed reds that will win you over. We’re committed to crafting well-balanced blends that bring out the best in each other and know how to behave.  We invite you to try them on for size.

Château des Charmes’ Estate Bottled Cabernet Merlot is robust and earthy with complexity that you would expect in a much more expensive wine. It’s a bottle to have on hand whenever you fire up the BBQ. Available for tasting at the winery, it’s also listed as a Vintages Essential.

Hillebrand Winery’s Trius Red – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot – is one of Canada’s most awarded red wines and is well recognized by most guests who visit Niagara. The much celebrated Trius Red 2005 received a Double Gold Medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships in 2007.

When it comes to red blends at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, the belief is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. By skillfully crafting red blends, these wines become more robust, more complex and rich with flavours and nuances. Try the Meritage, Cabernet-Merlot and Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon.

Marynissen Estates Winery boasts some of the oldest vinifera vines in Ontario. The 2002 Cabernet-Merlot is the winemaker’s favourite - a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot. Showing that exceptional wines really do come from exceptional grapes, this Cab-Merlot is a stunning great value that can stand up to much pricier Bordeaux.

Reif Estate Winery produces some of Niagara’s fullest bodied reds as their 125 acre vineyards are located in the Niagara River sub-appellation, the warmest in the region. Reif has already earned three fabulous awards this year for reds, including Cuvée gold for best Meritage for their First Growth Cabernet-Merlot. The Cabernet Merlot is a blend to savour.

Strewn Three, made from the classic varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, is the flagship red blend at Strewn Winery and truly reflects the winemaker's art. Strewn Three is made in only the best years and with only the very best lots of grapes (the proportions vary with each vintage, making each release unique). A limited supply of Strewn Three from the 2005 vintage is currently available.

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