Uncorked Ontario

It’s easy to bash the LCBO. That big “C” word makes it easy. They control the wine industry in Ontario. They decide what wines are imported, and more importantly what Ontario wines get exposure. Like them or not they are not going anywhere soon. So is there anything good about them? Yes I say.
Our family vacation this summer took us to Florida. I discovered a few large wine stores down there. ABC Fine Wine and Spirits and another one called Total Wine and More which claims to be America’s Wine Superstore. Both have multi locations throughout Florida, Total Wine has locations in about 10 US States.
I visited both stores. ABC was quite limited in selection. While Total Wine was larger and had a bigger and better selection of wines most of them seemed to be what would appear on LCBO’s general list or Vintage Essentials.

Yes, the LCBO has a lot of power and control over what wines are available here in Ontario however they are doing a good job in bringing quite a bit of variety to the shelves with new and interesting wines appearing every two weeks in Vintage Releases. For example, I recently worked on a Republic Of Georgia wine presentation and needed some wines for a tasting. Both US wine stores not only didn’t have any wines from Georgia in stock, they believe they never have had any. The LCBO on the other hand has in the past year imported at least 6 wines from the Republic of Georgia.

The LCBO is exposing us to wines that we probably would never get a chance to taste if our wine distribution was like that in Florida and other US states.
Now if only the LCBO would do the same with Ontario wines. Yes, they are trying but they could do better. Sure each Vintage release has several Ontario wines; most are from Niagara, which is Ontario’s largest wine region. A few are from Price Edward County, Ontario’s newest wine region but it’s rare to find a Lake Erie North Shore or Pelee Island wine in the bi weekly Vintage releases. That needs to change.

The Ontario wine Vintage releases also seem to only make it to a few select stores, and rarely into a Southern Ontario Vintages LCBO. Every other week I scour the latest Vintages release magazine and there is usually an Ontario wine that catches my attention. Rarely is this wine available locally here in at any Essex County LCBO Vintages location. I have been told that it is because local wine drinkers buy local, In Essex County, they buy Pelee or Colio, in Niagara they buy Niagara wines. I am sure LCBO has done their market research and this may be true. But it would be nice to see Ontario Vintage released wines make it to Essex County so that they could be tried. One thing is for sure, if they are not stocked on the shelves, they won’t sell.

September 9 at 1:00pm – September 12 at 10:00pm
Amherstburg, Ontario

Wineries
Aleksander Estate Winery
Colchester Ridge Estates
Colio Estate Wines
D’Angelo Estate Winery
Erie Shore Vineyard
Mastronardi Estate Winery
Muscedere Vineyards
Pelee Island Winery
Sprucewood Shores
Viewpointe Estate Winery

September 9th (Thursday)
•Pat Robitaille
•Steven Page
•Sloan

September 10th (Friday)
•Winemakers Dinner
•Thornetta Davis
•Fireworks 10 pm

September 11th (Saturday)
•Culinary Demos
1:00pm – Patrick McClary, Caesar’s Windsor, Culinary Delight: TBD
2:00pm – Elizabeth Baird, Canadian Living Magazine, Culinary Delight: Fennel Salad
3:00pm – Rose Murray, Canadian Living Magazine, Culinary Delight: TBD
4:00pm – Doug Cordier, Channel 5 “Who’s in the Kitchen”, Culinary Delight: Super Simple Italian Delights.

•Local Vine Pavilion
12:30pm – Wayne Bentley, Riedel Glass Wine Tasting
2:00pm – Tony Aspler (How to Enjoy a Glass of Wine — From Pulling the Cork to Imbibing!)
3:30pm – Thomas O’Brien / Michael O’Brien – Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard (Essex County Terroir)
4:00pm – Book Signing with Tony Aspler and Rose Murray

•StereoGoesStellar
•Blood Sweat & Brass
•Antique Show

September 12th (Sunday)
•Culinary Demos
1:00pm – Chuck Koury, Seasons Bistro, Culinary Delight: TBD
2:00pm – Tim Dimoglou, Chanosos, Culinary Delight: TBD
3:00pm – Harrow Fair Cookbook with Moira Sanders and Lori Elstone, Culinary Delight: Peach Ice Cream and Fresh Raspberry Sauce
4:00pm – Mary Ann Marshall, Viewpoint Estate Winery, Culinary Delight: TBD

•Local Vine Pavilion
2:00pm – Thomas O’Brien / Michael O’Brien (Essex County Terroir)

•Pavlo / Rik Emmett / Oscar Lopez
•Kimmie Horne
•Antique Show

When: Saturday, September 18, 2010
Where: Aleksander Estate Winery. 1542 County Rd 34 Ruthven, ON
Time: 6:30pm

For tickets please call: 519-326-2024

Ticket price: $35.00 plus tax

The event will include food, wine, and an introduction to our universe by a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. During the event we will have numerous telescopes present for an opportunity to gaze up at the stars and planets.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada has dedicated most of its effort on reaching out to the local community, offering public education and a way for to enjoy the wonders of the night sky.

For more information please contact Nathalie at 519-326-2024 or by email at info@aleksanderestate.com