A Photo Tour of Our Visit to i4c

The second annual International Cool Climate  Chardonnay Celebration came to Niagara this past weekend, and from the looks of things, it was a roaring success!

Other obligations meant we were only able to get up to the World Tour Tasting & Beyond the Barrel Dinner on Saturday night, but we were thrilled to have made it, as it was a relaxing, happy and genuinely entertaining evening all around.

Pegged as the Gala Event of the weekend, the night featured all 55 global winemakers pouring more than 100 Chardonnays, followed by a four-course alfresco dinner showcasing the personal recipes of some of Ontario’s leading winemakers to which 350 wine lovers (including your truly), ate, drank and some even danced, the night  away.

We stuffed ourselves silly, sampled as many wines as we could (sadly spitting most of them out so we could remain as classy as possible), and chatted with wine makers, wine writers and wine lovers.  Here’s our personal photo album of the evening:

Arriving at the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre, we got our passes and warmed up to begin some serious tasting.  Friendly & energetic volunteers made the line up a breeze & we were drinking (and spitting) in no time!

And we weren’t the only ones! We arrived around 6:15 for the 6pm start, and already eager Chardonnay enthusiasts were sampling and sipping away. Luckily, just enough cloud cover rolled in to cool off the 30-something degree day that’s been a Southern Ontario norm this summer.

The whole point of this weekend celebration is to highlight and showcase what cool climate wine regions can do with Chardonnay.  For awhile Chard took a bad rap, likely because of the heavy, over-oaked, wood bombs of the 80’s. It suffered a backlash and fell out of vogue fairly hard.  This conference is designed to show the world what Chardonnay can do in cooler climates like Canada, New Zealand, France, and certain parts of Australia, Chile and even California.

Winemaker & a founder of i4c, Thomas Bachelder, makes terroir driven wines in Niagara, Oregon and Burgundy; formerly of Le Clos Jordanne, he now operates satellite wineries in all three regions for the Bachelder Project: making Chardonnay & Pinot Noir that refelct the soils and climate in which they were grown.

Another Ontario winemaker who takes his cues from Burgundy is Norm Hardie.  With his winery in Prince Edward County, and using a various mix of PEC & Niagara grapes, depending on the wine and vintage, Norm strives for lean, focused, elegant Chards that are reminiscent of the sophisticated wines coming from Bourgogne.

Of course, this was the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration; winemakers from France, Australia, America, Chile & New Zealand  all came out to pour their finest Chards (reviews of our favourites are at the end) but the seriousness stopped with the wines, as winemakers easily joked around and chatted with wine lovers.

After the two-hour tasting, wines were brought up to the al fresco dining area and all 350 of us got down to some serious noshing.

Seven different dishes were served; all local winemakers’ signatures dishes.  They can make wine and make dinner?  Now that’s talent.

Already stuffed from all the glorious food, just to get in the one-two, knock-out punch, came dessert. Needless to say, we found room.

As the event started to get down to the final hours, out came the blanc de blanc bar.

And as they say, if you build it, they will come.

Stuffed and beyond satiated, we finally rolled (sort of literally) out of there to go home, and left the Chardonnay revellers to continue the celebration.

And the band played on.

And now for The Wine Sisters’ favourites of the evening:

Bachelder “Saunders Vineyard” Chardonnay, VQA Beamsville Bench 2010
$45 thomasbachelder.com
Of the three Niagara wines Thomas was pouring at the World Tour & Tasting, our favourite was from the Saunders Vineyard in Beamsville Bench. Graceful & elegant, with the ability to last another decade, this was full of yellow orchard fruit and mineral flavours.

Malivoire Chardonnay VQA Beamsville Bench 2010
$19.95 Vintages 573147
50% fermented in stainless steel, this is a refreshing, zesty afternoon sipper of a Chardonnay, with flavours of green apple, fresh lemon & and a bit of mineral.

Flowers “Camp Meeting Ridge Estate Vineyard” Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2010
$102, Rogers & Co.  
An incredible wine — and should be, considering the price — this Chard comes from 20 year old vines and is all biodynamically produced.  The vineyard is not far from the ocean and as a result has a sassy, refreshing, sea salt quality.  100% barrel fermented. Look for lemon-lime, ginger spice, and orchard fruit. A great collector’s wine that can easily age another 15 years.

Ayala “Cuvee Perle D’Ayala” Brut Nature Champagne, 2002
$119, John Hanna & Sons
A rich, indulgent and hedonistic Champagne to be sure, this wine has been aged nine years on its lees with disgorgement done by hand. All Grand Cru grapes, 20% of which are Pinot Noir, this has flavours of fresh baked German Stollen, marzipan, baked apple and vanilla. Delicious.

Cooralook “Strathbogie Ranges” Chardonnay, Victoria, Australia 2009
$17.55 LCBO 269845
Refreshing and light, this is 75% stainless steel, 25% French oak fermented. Mid-weight with a creamy, smooth texture, look for flavours of white, crunchy fruit, floral tones and light spice.

Pearl Morissette Estate Winery “Cuvee Dix-Neuvieme” Chardonnay, VQA Niagara Peninsula
$45, call for availability 905.562.4376
Lovely and elegant, with flavours of white peach, golden apple and light vanilla, this is an intriguing and exceptional wine.  If you can find it, buy it.

Domaine La Roche “St. Martin” Chablis, France 2010
$21.95 Vintages 15657
Lively, zesty, fairly typical Chablis with lemon-lime, oyster shell minerality and tart green apples.