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.

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.

Interesting!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 🙂

Pelee makes some incredible wines – their Merlot and Pinot Noir are both worth seeking out. Too bad about those three. It is worth visiting North Shore Lake Erie. There are only eleven main wineries to check out. Mastronardi is excellent and Colio Estate. Pelee does make an incredible Meritage and a Cabernet/Petit Verdot blend that will appeal to many Napa Valley fans. Colio’s wines are excellent in the CEV line. Cabernet Franc is one of the best offerings in Canada.

Those wines were burned but they don’t represent Canada. Not at all. I live in the Niagara Region and we have amazing Pinot Noir and Riesling. There is a Colio store in Niagara on the Lake, just across the border from Lewiston.

QOTD: La Crema Chardonnay helped me fall in love with Chardonnay all over again.

Have not tried wines, don't plan to, try many new wines, just don't like wasting my money unless I know a wine is drinkable. QOTD-had a Pinot Noir from Brazil that was good. http://www.winelx.com