Question – When a consumer buys a bottle of wine at their local liquor store, how long after does that person hold on to it? Answer – Less than 1 hour!  This is the answer that I received from my local Vintages consultant.  Hard to believe but most wine is bought and consumed within an hour after its initial purchase. Which is why we have a lot of ready to drink wines today…think about all of those critter wines with screw caps coming out of Australia, all those ripe & fruity California & Chilean Cabernets with Argentina and South Africa  not far behind.  Think about the recent success and popularity of Tetra Pak wines (which, by the way are PERFECT for sneaking into a movie theatre and pairing with buttered popcorn, though they don’t make great gifts).  Perhaps it is a reflection of the theme of instant gratification that is so prevalent today.  But I truly hope the balance between wines ready to drink now and wines that you should put away for a few years remains constant.   We do need those ready to drink, crowd pleasing, anything goes wines but we do need wines that can age.  Imagine with me…about 30 – 40 years from now and you are enjoying and appreciating a great  Bordeaux or Super Tuscan from 2007 from your wine cellar!  Now how cool would that be. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Prince Edward County.  Naturally, I stopped in at a few wineries along the way and, incidentally, this area was recently included as one of the newest VQA appellations in Ontario.  Here are my thoughts on some wineries that I went to visit. Huff Estates – Modern architecture, smooth jazz on the patio and sipping on a fabulous rosé that is bursting with pink grapefruit is what Huff is all about.  They also have a fabulous Chardonnay that will be released sometime late this year that is 50% barrel and 50% stainless steel fermented that is bursting with citrus notes and has a great key lime pie finish in your mouth.  The SouthBay Cabernet/Merlot is always a hit and always sells out quickly.  They also have an Inn on the east side of the property if you decide you’d like to stay the night or longer. Waupoos Winery – Down home feel and friendliness exude from the minute you step out of your car.   Hosts Ed & Rita and their dog, Prince Felix are extremely welcoming.  This winery also specializes in some unique and equally delicious Hybrid wines such as Geisenheim, Seyval Blanc, and Auxerrois for whites and Baco Noir and De Chaunac for reds.  If you go, I recommend having lunch on their spectacular patio overlooking the vineyards and Lake Ontario just feet away.  The steak sandwich paired with Baco Noir is a perfect match on a warm fall day.  You can also come to this winery by boat—they have dock to tie up too! The Grange of Prince Edward County – Old World elegance and charm meets New World here in Prince Edward County.  From the minute you step out of your car, you feel as if you have stepped back in time (and gals, if you are not married, this would be a place that you would consider having your wedding reception).  But hey, lets get back to the wine…I tasted their Pinot Gris with its bright, deep golden colour,  lots of apple on the nose and finishes with a clean golden delicious apple finish.  The 2004 Pinot Noir was amazing, a big Pinot with lots of cherries on both nose and in the mouth.  A great food wine.   Caroline Granger, President & CEO, is warm and inviting and truly has a hands on approach when it comes to running the winery.  You can also find Grange wines at your local LCBO in the Vintages section if you want to get your hands on a few bottles fast. Norman Hardie – One of the first wineries that I visited in Prince Edward County and his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the County and Niagara are getting rave reviews.   The 2006 Chardonnay Sans Barrique (unwooded) is what Norm calls a “Chablis meets Sancerre” with a Sauvignon Blanc nose (grass/dill) integrated with the minerality of a Chardonnay.   His 2006 County Pinot Noir is young; I recommend decanting, but is well integrated with lots of strawberry, good acidity and balanced tannins.  There is no Inn or restaurant here but the wines truly speak for themselves.   So, what are you waiting for, hop in your car, to taste a new wine destination!