Upright and Sideways Reds
Wineries to visit: Coyote’s Run Estate Winery, Konzelmann Estate Winery‘s, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Château des Charmes
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Pinot Noir (a.k.a. “the heartbreak grape”) has a reputation for being difficult. It’s thin-skinned and moody if the elements
aren’t to its liking. A bit like the creative soul who takes to the sick bed when things go awry. But we’ve developed a
remarkable relationship with Pinot Noir – it thrives in our soils and climate – and the grape delivers poetry in a glass.
The wineries on this tour will give you a taste of the sublime. We’ve also included a stop where you can get to know a
unique varietal, Gamay Droit. It’s the creation of Paul-Michel Bosc: one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s pioneering visionaries. |
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery has won Pinot Noir of the Year
for two years at the Canadian Wine Awards. The winery’s
unique terroir has two different soil types – red clay and
black clay – and Pinot Noir is planted on both types of soil.
Whenever possible, the winery bottles Red Paw Vineyard
and Black Paw Vineyard Pinot Noirs separately. You can taste
for yourself the difference a soil makes.
Pinot Noir, grown on Niagara’s only winery vineyards that kiss the shores of Lake Ontario, has consistently been one of Konzelmann Estate Winery‘s favourite wines to showcase. Wine master Herbert Konzelmann takes great pride in producing three unique styles of Pinot Noir from two Niagara Sub-appellation vineyards.
Niagara College Teaching Winery has gained a reputation
for high quality Pinot Noir and a loyal following amongst
wine enthusiasts. The Pinot Noir Reserve received Top
Pinot Noir at Cuvee 2006, and the 2007 Pinot Noir has
received Dean’s List distinction for its outstanding quality. All
Niagara College wines are VQA approved and have been
made under the direction of the professor/winemaker with
the assistance of students. All proceeds from sales support
student learning.
There’s a story behind Gamay Droit, “Canada’s first vinifera”. In 1982, Château des Charmes’ founder, Paul-Michel Bosc, while conducting pioneering clonal research at his vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake, noticed a single Gamay Noir vine that exhibited some interesting and unique characteristics. Most noticeable, the vine shoots grew in an upright (“droit”) position. Propagation of this single vine began immediately and culminated almost two decades later in the granting of international Plant Breeder’s Rights to Château des Charmes. Gamay Droit produces grapes that ripen later than Gamay Noir with higher sugar levels and colour. The result is a red wine with more body, alcohol and flavour concentration.
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