Any suggestions for a really good Ontario Sauvignon Blanc?!
Any suggestions for a really good Ontario Sauvignon Blanc?
I am going to a 'wine party' and was asked to bring an Ontarian white. Sauvignon is my fave, but haven't explored too many from Ontario (where I live!). The host prepares the meal, and asks each guest to bring a wine to pair with a course. We have been doing this a few times a year for about 5 years, and have even tried to save labels and keep a journal - but usually end up too drunk to keep track!!:):):):)
Answers:
Sounds like fun, wish I could join you.
Well, the 2004 Wine Establishment Sauvignon Blanc award went as follows:
Gold: Peninsula Ridge Estates 2003
Silver: Southbrook Winery 2003
Bronze: Southbrook Winery 2002
The VQA Niagara Peninsula blanc for 2003 is well-rated too.
"Review by Rod Phillips: Sauvignon Blanc has established itself as a premier grape variety in Niagara, and here's a reason why. This has elegant and intense lemon-lime aromas, with some mineral, herbaceous and aniseed notes. They flow through to the flavours, where the fruit and characteristic Sauvignon Blanc acidity form an excellently-balanced partnership. Overall, it's a delicious wine that's superb with raw oysters and most seafood appetizers and dishes."
Not withstanding some industry accolades about Sauvignon Blanc being a premier grape in Ontario (and will_o_t's comment) it is more indicative that less than 20% of the Ontario-bottled sauvignon blancs available at the L.C.B.O. are Ontario V.Q.A.s. And, indeed, our experience has been that the general mostly outside wines blended and bottled in Ontario are better (and much cheaper) than most of the native VQAs. Maybe it is the lack of stones in much of the soils of Ontario vineyard areas; or maybe it is the early frosts (compared to New Zealand or California or South Africa or even the Okanagan in B.C.). Assuming by "Ontarian" you mean VQA, if you are near the Niagara or to any of the wineries' wine stores we can just suggest that you taste until you find one good enough to present at your party.