Event Report: Finest Canadian Wines Tasting from Coast to Coast

Reported by Christian Marcoux  

​​Last night the National Capital Sommelier Guild held an evening of Canadian wine tasting, discovering wine from our own backyard. Matt Steeves animated the event and poured fifteen wines from coast to coast, taking us from the magical regions of British Columbia to the maritime region of Nova Scotia. Each wine was unique and carefully selected by Matt to express the diversity of the wine crafted in Canada. 

Matt started with a selection of white wines from BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia, including Chardonnay and Riesling. The group was able to note the differences between each grape and the region it came from, taking into account elements such as ripeness, sun exposure and soil. 

The second flight offered two Pinot Noir and two Meritage from Ontario and BC. This flight revealed the good quality of BC Pinot Noir, such as Foxtrot Vineyard from the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. The group also enjoyed a Meritage from Icellars Estate Winery, a new Niagara winery that opened in 2010. 

The third flight provided bold BC wines, showing deep colors, full body and a lot of fruit. I believe this was the preferred flight of the night. Matt explained the bio climate difference in BC, which causes the grape to reach a high level of sugar and ripeness, and results in a rich and bold type of wine. 
For the fourth and last flight, Matt surprised us by showcasing three bubblies from Nova Scotia. Although not renowned for its bubbly, Canada has what it takes to produce well-made effervescent wine. All three bubblies impressed the group with impressive freshness and acidity, making these noteworthy choices for upcoming holiday season.  

Stating with last night’s event and onward, the group will select the three wines of the night, according to the following three categories: Best of the Night; Best Value; and Hidden Gem.  

Thank you to Matt Steeves for introducing these Canadian gems, as I am sure these were new discoveries for many in the group. Thank you to Julie as well, our friendly worker bee. 
Looking forward to seeing you at the next event.

Best of the Night: Burrowing Owl, Meritage 2014 from Okanagan region BC. An assemblage of 39% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Full-bodied with a long finish, this heavy weight gains victory at the first sip. The group enjoyed its bouquet, fruitiness and body. All harvested by hand and loved for two years, this wine shows the savoir faire of the BC wine region.
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Hidden Gem: Equuleus, Meritage 2007 from Château des Charmes, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Château des Charmes owned by Paul Bosc created this Meritage from his best vintage, ensuring the conception of a unique and delicious wine. The group loved this wine for its full body and aging notes such as leather, soy sauce and mushroom. In addition, the Equuleus shows great structure for its age. Are you wondering what Equuleus means? It is the “Little Horse” constellation. Good luck finding it in the night sky.

Best Value: Petales d’Osoyoos, Meritage 2012 from the Okanagan region of BC. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, provides a classic and magical red wine. Osoyoos Larose winery is owned by Château Gruaud Larose in the Saint-Julien appellation, which was classified as a Deuxième Cru Classé in 1855. The Bordeaux style is reflected in the wine making of the Osoyoos Larose winery. The group loved this wine’s fruity aromas, balance and finish.