When you visit our wineries we want you to feel comfortable exploring our wines and we want you to enjoy your purchases once you get home. If you’re confused by wine jargon, then relax—it’s not our style. We speak your language and we’re happy to answer your questions. Wine is one of life’s simple pleasures. Drink what you enjoy. Period.
A few notes to get you started:
We name our wines after the grape variety, not the region in which they were produced. The word ‘varietal’ refers to the wine made from a type of grape.
Varietal wines are often blended together because the traits of each wine complement each other. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, known as Cab/Merlot, will have body and fullness without the wild tannins.
Authentic Icewine is made from grapes that are left on the vine after the final harvest. When temperatures dip to -8°C (or lower) the solidly frozen grapes are handpicked and pressed immediately to gently release a thick, rich, yellow-gold liquid, highly concentrated in natural sugars and acidity. The yield is small, but the result is a sumptuous wine that’s a dessert in itself.
Wine can last months or even years, if stored correctly. If you’re not a serious collector you don’t need to invest in a cellaring system with all the bells and whistles. Find a cool dark, dry place away from vibration and direct sunlight – perhaps the basement or a closet – and lay bottles on their sides so the corks don’t dry out. Don’t keep wines in a warm kitchen or leave unopened bottles in the fridge.
Opened, unfinished wines should be re-corked and placed in the refrigerator. Generally, white wines have a life span of up to four days and reds, two days.
Count on pouring five to six glasses of wine from a 750 ml bottle. Give a wine space to breathe and it will release its aromas. Plus, you’ll be able to comfortably swirl the glass and enjoy the bouquet.
Tannins are a good for the wine but not always for the drinker. A full-bodied red needs time to age and mellow out, but if you want to drink it immediately, decant the wine for a couple of hours before enjoying.
A common mistake is to serve red wines at room temperature which, given the levels on our thermostats, is actually too warm. Cool down Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc for a quarter of an hour in the fridge; increase this to half an hour for Gamy Noir and Pinot Noir.
White and sparkling wines need about an hour to chill, although a fuller bodied white, such as oaked Chardonnay, may be served closer to room temperature to allow the rich flavours and aromas to come forward.
Icewine should chill in the fridge for an hour and a half.
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