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December Archive

The County Wassails

Posted on December 4, 2007

Last weekend the wineries of Prince Edward County were wassailing, reviving an English custom that is something of a post-harvest, pre-Christmas song and mulled wine fest. They have plenty to wassail about in 2007—the biggest and best harvest in the region’s short history, and its first harvest as an official VQA-designated vineyard area. The Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association estimates that over 679 tonnes of grapes were harvested in 2007 (about 600,000 bottles). On a global scale, this is less than a drop in the bucket; indeed, some international wineries make single brands that exceed this amount. But within a local context, it is five times the amount that the county harvested in 2005. And despite a drought summer that reduced quantities in Niagara, the county’s slightly more fluid season has exceeded 2006 by about 40 per cent. Not to mention that in both Niagara and Prince Edward County, grape quality for 2007 may be the highest yet recorded. With vines now buried under their earthen hills—to protect against the very cold winter Environment Canada is predicting—the wineries have time to catch their breath and celebrate the holidays. Here, some Prince Edward County wines recently tasted, which are newly released or still in stock. Order via the Internet or take a trip to the county; most wineries are open on the weekends leading up to Christmas.

Trophy Wines Sell Out

Posted on December 11, 2007

My Drink column in current issue of Toronto Life reviews ten very expensive, gifting wines released Saturday (December 8th) at Vintages, complete with a warning that you need to “step lively” to actually acquire them. I should have said set your alarm clock for 5 a.m. Within an hour or two of doors opening many of the trophy bottles were sold out.

Wine, Words and Wisdom

Posted on December 17, 2007

If you haven’t bought your special bottles for Christmas gifts you may be too late, as LCBO shelves will be emptying fast this week. Plan B? Nip into your local bookstore for a wine book.

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Categories: General, Wine pairings, Sommeliers, Wineries

My favourite wine moments of 2007

Posted on December 27, 2007

1Hidden Bench 2005 Nuits Blanche, Niagara
My head-spinning first tasting of a brilliant bordeaux-inspired white blend of sauvignon blanc and sémillon that went on to win white wine of the year at the Canadian Wine Awards. Hidden Bench opened in June and came out of nowhere to take runner-up for winery of the year.

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Categories: General, Events, Wine pairings, Sommeliers, Wineries, Germany, Canada, Italy

David Lawrason

David Lawrason has worked full time as one of Canada's leading, independent wine writers and educators for over 20 years. He was the founder of Wine Access magazine and Globe and Mail wine columnist for 13 years before becoming resident wine guy at Toronto Life, where he pens a monthly column and writes an exhaustive review of LCBO general listings for the annual Food and Wine Guide. As a wine educator he has taught sommelier programs at George Brown, Humber and Niagara Colleges, and has run popular public courses in Toronto since 1988. He has visited every major wine major producing country in the world, while focusing recently on the booming Canadian wine scene, as founder of the Canadian Wine Awards program, and Canadian wine columnist for Wine Access.

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