News from the Ontario Vines

Fred Couch

Meeting Hockey Great, Johnny Bower and “Grazing the Bench”

Living in Beamsville's wine country sure has its benefits! Where in one day can you meet a hockey legend in the morning and visit seven great wineries for food, wine and music in the afternoon?

 

When I first read that Rosewood Estates Winery was producing a Merlot named for NHL award-winning goalie, Johnny Bower, I wondered how many people would actually remember him. Well, it seems quite a few people judging by the line up to get their bottle of 2009 Rosewood Merlot autographed! Even though the line was long, Johnny didn't hesitate to have a photo taken with his fans or sign their hockey memorabilia. The 2009 Johnny Bower Merlot is available at the winery and, in Ontario, through the Rosewood website at www.rosewoodwine.com/ .

 

“Graze the Bench” is an annual event held in June where seven Beamsville Bench wineries present great wines, food and entertainment. A $25 passport gets you a commemorative crystal glass and your first sample of wine and food. Additional wine and food could be purchased for $7 each. The food at a number of wineries was enough to share and that way you could “graze” at more wineries. We noticed a number of people “walking” and “bicycling” the Bench! What a great way to visit the wineries and not have to worry about driving. For those readers not familiar with the Beamsville Bench area, the wineries are in close proximity of each other.

After a trip to Peninsula Ridge Winery to pick up our extra passports, we decided to return to Rosewood Estates Winery and participate in the event. Rosewood was serving a honey and garlic sausage on a crusty bun or a bowl of penne “all'ammatricana”. Not sure what that is but it tasted really good with the 2009 Rosewood Pinot Noir that I chose. My friend's sausage on a bun was so large that she took half home.

We then went to Thirty Bench Winemakers not for the event, although they were participating, but to try some new releases. The 2010 Rosé was everyone's favourite. We moved on to the Organized Crime Winery where we were greeted by owner, Krystyna, who said there would be a lot of food. She was right! About Thyme Bistro was serving up Niagara's version of poutine – hand cut fries with shredded pork and apple smoked ketchup. My friends shared a portion and that was plenty. I knew I wasn't having supper that night so I finished mine off paired with the 2006 “Download”, a Meritage blend. It was so pleasant sitting in the shade at the back of the property that none of us wanted to move. Krystina recommended that we come back again sometime and bring a picnic lunch and just relax on the property enjoying the vineyard views and a glass of wine. We'll have to take her up on that suggestion!

Moving on, we visited Hidden Bench Winery for a glass of their 2009 Bistro Rosé (we had no room for more food by this point) and sat on the patio listening to acoustic guitarist Terry Rawlinko, a local musician.

Our last stop for the day was Fielding Estate Winery. Unfortunately, we arrived there just as the band, The Black Spurs, was finishing their last number. We did have time to have our last glass of wine (for me the 2008 Cabernet Syrah) and have a relaxing conversation with the Fielding family.

For details of next year's “Graze the Bench” go to the website at www.grazethebench.com .

Congratulations to Curtis & Heidi Fielding of Fielding Estate Winery for winning the “40 Under Forty Business Achievement Award" for the Niagara area. It couldn't happen to a nicer and harder working couple in the wine industry.

- photos by Fred Couch
additional photos

Previous Articles by F.G. Couch

~ Twenty Valley Passport Event

~ Secret Shoppers

~ Wine and Chocolate

~ Prince Edward County

~ Dec 2010

~ Fall 2010

~ Summer 2010

~ May 2010

~ April 2010

~ March 2010

~ Feb 2010

~ Jan 2010

~ Dec 2009

~ Aug 15th 2009

~ Aug 1 2009

~ Sept 2009

~ Calamus Estate Winery

~ Oct 09 Grape King

~ Nov 09

~ Fielding Estate Winery