Canadian Wines From Pelee Island In The Middle Of Lake Erie

Canadian Wines From Pelee Island In The Middle Of Lake Erie – Episode #429

March 24, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk still thinks that Canada is one of the hot up and coming areas in the world and puts a few wines to the test from a pretty cool area!

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Comments on this episode(263) Leave a comment ›

“Funny enough, my wife just started a wine blog about Canadian Wines an…” by Ray Slakinski
“Ouch….. Another o’ fer? Tough draw, sir. Its ok though, I dont kn…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 263 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Pelee Island Gewurztraminer Reserve
2005 Pelee Island Shiraz
2006 Pelee Island Cabernet Franc

Links mentioned in todays episode.

263 Responses

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April 14, 2009

Ray Slakinski
Funny enough, my wife just started a wine blog about Canadian Wines and just recently panned a bottle of 2008 Eco Trail Cabernet Franc from Pelee Island Winery. I think they will get it soon, a lot of vineyards in Canada are still experimenting with grapes and such and figuring out what works best, its always fun to watch and drink
January 9, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Ouch….. Another o’ fer? Tough draw, sir. Its ok though, I dont knock on Canada. I know they are a quality producer and have several bottles cellared. QOTD: Just a simple American Pino Gris. It was a cheap-o $6 or so bottle and of course I was like “meh” before I tried it but it was quite drinkable. Nothing special but once again putting me in my place for poo-pooing a cheap wine.
January 8, 2009

Caroline
I’m from Quebec Canada and discovered Ontario wines over conducting studies in the Niagara wine region, at Brock University. What you tasted is pretty bad but on visiting the Niagara region wineries I had the chance to enjoyed out of the ordinary wine experiences. Malivoire makes a Gamay like nobody else and others like Cave Spring with 13 Street and Thirty Bench have made Riesling one of my fav grape. If you think Icewine is too sweet try something from Lailey and you might change you mind getting hit by a good dose of acidity. And after all the hype around Pinot Noir I had to fall over a Le Clos Jordanne wine to finally get what it’s all about (I was zipping roses!!?).

In Ontario most people are not even aware of the little jewels hidden in their backyard. But not every winery deserve too much attention. Many are doing everything and anything including too many weddings.

Before you toss Ontario wines aside, people from Ontario should give them a fair chance. Caroline from Quebec
July 6, 2008

Earl Dunbar
I have not tried a lot of Pelee Island wines, so won’t comment other than to say that what I’ve had from them was OK, but nothing spectacular. I’ll admit I haven’t sampled their higher-priced offerings.

As for Quinn who said “Ontario isnâ€™t the place for good Canadian wine.” … balderdash! I will not put down BC wine because I haven’t tried enough to form an opinion. But man, that comment is just so wrong. Angel’s Gate, Malivoire, Hillebrand, Flat Rock, Stratus … the list goes on. The ‘97 Hillebrand Showcase Cab Franc was one of the best reds I have ever had … 98 and 99 were good years all around for most wineries in Ontario.

The growing season may be shorter than the Okanagan, but the Niagara escarpment and the stored heat from Lake Ontario give the region a better growing season than most people think. Rieslings are what are best known in Ontario, but I find cab franc to be consistently good and often outstanding. In Prince Edward County I had a Seyval Blanc from Waupoos that was so outstanding I was tempted to buy a fortune’s worth of oysters just to pair them up. And down the road from Waupoos was an unoaked chardonnay that made my mouth very happy … the most interesting finish I’ve ever had in a chardonnay.
May 13, 2008

WiredRacing
While I continue to hear good things about Pelee Island wines, every single one of them I’ve had has been mediocre to poor. The Niagara region can produce some great whites and is well known for it’s Ice Wines. But that’s the issue you have to like sweet wines. Inniskillin is sort of looked down on around here, probably for it’s success, but every Riesling I’ve had from them has been quite tasty at a fair $12-14 price. However the favorite of mine and our friends is Riverview Cellars. They don’t sell to LCBO, but they will ship in the region for free after a case.

They make a couple good reds, one is the Fontana Dolce, but this is a semi-sweet red. The Baco Noir is actually a good dry red which is, in my experience, impossible to find in the Niagara region. Reds are often very weak here. But if you like fruity whites, most places in the region make good to great Rieslings, Vidal’s and Ice Wines. Pelee can’t even make a decent Rose.
April 24, 2008

Quinn
As some have said, Ontario isn’t the place for good Canadian wine. They have a very short and very hot summer typically, and produce a lot of commodity grapes instead of the good stuff. BC, on the other hand, has a longer growing season, plenty of wonderful (cooler) micro-climates, and the hot (desert) Okanagan Valley. I’m saying this as a Canadian, who lives in Ontario, but misses his BC wines.
April 16, 2008

ValerieM
QOTD: I had a white wine from France, and I always thought of France as best at reds, but the white was excellent!!!!
April 1, 2008

Ivan C.
I’m not generally impressed with Ontario wines, and I live in Ontario. As far as Canadian wines, I’m all about the Okanagan Valley in BC.
March 31, 2008

MtnCharlie
I have only seen you dump a wine on one other episode, but all three, ouch! That was a great show for exactly what you are saying about preconceived notions.

QOTD: The 1992 Russian River Valley White Table Wine (Muscat) I recently had. Opened it as a lark with friends and found it enjoyable a week later. I thought this was going to be a vintage “cheap” wine and be undrinkable because of its age. Surprise.
March 30, 2008

charlie berg
Interesting show, Gary. You know, I got that same melted plastic weird kinda palate on a Charlottesville, VA. Norton wine by White House Vineyards. Hm. Also, I’ve never seen you actually dump bottles into the Jets bucket. dang.
QOTD: I tasted the Gemtree ‘Tatty Road’ Cab Franc, Merlot, P.Verdot blend 2003 from McClaren Vale Aus.
I never would have guessed that it was an Australian wine. It wasn’t that full bodied, no Jam, cinnamon or leather. It was all veggies and licorice, and even some ferrous minerals. I think my palate was expecting a typical Australian Shiraz and I was super-surprised by the almost old world quality of this interesting wine.
March 30, 2008

wannaBconnoisseur
Interesting!

Q-I had my first Gruner V from Austria not long ago and loved it!!
March 29, 2008

Dan-o
I had a Glaeser Cabernet Franc from California recently, which was so cool because it was like drinking a glass of celery and other vegetables.
March 29, 2008

Memphis Mike
I’m sure this is in the comments somewhere already but it’s pronounced PEE-LEE. I’m from Northern Ohio, Catawba Island. I’ve never had a good wine produced in the southern Ontario/Northern Ohio region. The limestone content in the soil is great for growing apples but no so much for grapes. I think you’re right on with what you’ve said in the past about wines tasting better on vacation because of the atmosphere and the lack of stress. That area is a huge vacation spot; Cedar Point is just a few minutes away. There are a ton of wineries in the area and I’m always surprised by how many people I meet that have vacationed there and talk about how good the wine is. It’s pretty much a local joke, but to each his own.
March 29, 2008

Dan A
Cool show, although dissapointing… I’m from Ontario, Canada, and I try Ontario wines often. I can’t stand Pelee Island wines personally (ok-I had one Pinot Noir that was nice). There are few and far between, but there are some really great wines. If you can find Daniel Lenko wines (they sell as they hit the shelf up here), they are great… The higher end wines is where you gotta go though… Peller Estates (Niagara) have serious stuff – NOT the lower-end, but the Signatures Series (CDN$45). The sad thing is: for that $45 bottle of very good Ontario wine, you can find a wine of equal quality elsewhere in the world for half the price… Crappy climate, what can I say! Cheers!
March 29, 2008

Karl Laczko
Those wines sucked big-time, but you’re right, you can’t generalise.

QOTD – I can’t really say, I tend not to have hard preconceptions to change. Maybe it was the Grant Burge “The Holy Trinity” 2002 GSM, which remionds me there are some nice red wines from Australia in the under $30 category!
March 28, 2008

Steen Larsen
Comment on Question of the day, Pinot Noir: I have been told that thissis a wine to be loved. I did not see it. Last night I finally found a Pinot noir I can enjoy. (Lulu B.) Also remember the ABC wine drinkers (anything but CHARDONAY). Look elsewhere. Australia, Is doing an incredible job.
March 28, 2008

Carlitos
As a follow up. Pretty much anywhere in Canada is just WAY too cold to barely ripen the grapes! Ok, it’s the same latitude as Mendocino and also as Spain or Italy! But it’s a completelly different climate with Arctic winds pounding you daily. The European equivalent would be wines from Denmark or Sweden. I’m not running to try and get them. Let’s admit it, you can’t grow vines everywhere and we’ll all be happier. And you know I’m not a fan of overripe wines, more like the opposite.
March 28, 2008

Carlitos
Dude! Quince paste and cheese! The dessert of Spain!!! Welcome to that taste profile!

QOTD. Really good question. Kudos! I guess a quick answer would be formerly unknown or unheralded Spanish regions that now are producing decent wines when 10 years ago when I was still there it was only drinkable mixed with 7up. That includes Jumilla, Yecla, Utiel-Requena, CariÃ±ena and Calatayud… Also having the opportunity lately to taste more aged California wines from great producers also changed my perception that I had on them being just fruit and American oak.

And what are you thinking? Canada? Maybe for ice wine! I spent a week in the Niagara peninsula and only had a very few whites that we just ok. The rest was like what you had today. Good luck!
March 28, 2008

Josh in Burgundy
Bummer that canada struck out. I have two bottles of Canadian wine in my cellar that I am hoping are better then what you tasted.

QOTD: Domaine de Laporte 2001 Pouilly Fume La vigne de Beaussoppet, Incredible Sauv Blanc that was in Oak a little. Just beautiful all around. Wasn’t a huge Sauv Blanc person because I had not had a lot of Loire Valley Sauv Blancs and now I am almost a fiend
March 27, 2008

Boris Jazbec
WOW…To see Pelee Island crash and burn HARD really isn’t a surprise for me. If these wines were from the 1999,2000,2001 vintages I think they would have fared alot better. Back then the winemaker was putting out some great stuff. Since then a new winemaker is coming up with what was sampled here. Another point to keep in mind is that the Pelee Island area does have a unique terroir yet they are the only winery there. If you want to taste the wines from Canada that make us proud you have to explore the Niagara region, Beamsville Bench, Vineland, St. David’s Bench, Niagara on the Lake. There is about 100 wineries in this vast neighbourhood. The founding fathers of the modern day wine industry are enjoying over 30 years of making some of the finest wines from Ontario. Chateau des Charmes, Inniskillin, Reif, Konzelmann, Henry of Pelham, these are the pioneers. From there the sky is truly the limit. Angel’s Gate, Featherstone, Fieldings, Marynissen, Flat Rock, Coyote’s Run, Mike Weir, Cave Springs, I certainly can go on. The two other areas to check out is the Prince Edward County region, near Kingston, east of Toronto. They are making some kickass Pinot’s there and British Columbia, the Okanagan, Kelowna regions are world class producers like their brothers in Ontario. Tinhorn, Mission Hill, Burrowing Owl, Grey Monk just some of again about 100 wineries in BC to explore.

Thanks Gary for supporting our efforts. I look forward to more reviews. It’s great to get an honest opinion.
March 26, 2008

Harley Stan
Wow, straight to the spit bucket with all three. ouch!!!
QOTD- 2001 Arrowood Merlot, it did not act like a merlot and was a total surprise, I thought I was drinking a cab at first and had to double check.
March 26, 2008

yowens
Dude- brutal episode. Nonetheless, I’ll totally search out Canadian wines. QOTD: well, I’m drinking a Fess Parker reisling right now that I assumed would suck but I really like it- go Santa Maria
March 26, 2008

Peter Wood
Hi Gary – been away for a ten days and playing major catchup on my WLTV viewing. The last wine that made me change my mind about a category was Wakefield Shiraz 2006. A brilliant wine that made me want to try Australian Shiraz again, after years of just not giving them much thought.
March 26, 2008

latraviata
Thanks for plugging Canadian wines, despite your experience with the wines in this one episode.
QOTD: I did not like my first couple of Sauvignon Blanc wines but recently had one from Ontario (!) and it was fabulous!
March 26, 2008

Martin
We just had a really nice pink wine from Australia. Before that, my only experience was Grandma’s Beringer white zin.