Ontario Chardonnays Shine on Trafalgar Square

Top U.K. wine critics embrace Ontario Chardonnays

NIAGARA, ON, June 1 /CNW/ - On May 17th, Canada House - prestigiously located on Trafalgar Square in London England, hosted a tasting of Cool Climate Chardonnays from Ontario. Twenty-two Ontario wineries showcased a selection of 40 Chardonnays highlighting the quality and range of these wines to top U.K. wine critics, proving that Canadian wine can hold its own on the world stage.

Ninety-five top wine critics and members of the trade attended the event including Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier, Oz Clarke, and Charles Metcalfe amongst others. Many of the winery owners and winemakers were on hand at the event to pour their wine and showed how Ontario wines are food-friendly and reminiscent of fine white Burgundies.

"The excitement in the room was unbelievable. This was an historic moment for Canadian Wine," said Ed Madronich, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario and proprietor of Flat Rock Cellars who also attended the tasting.

"Attracting this number of top U.K. wine critics for a single tasting is almost unheard of, it is an accomplishment unto itself," said Bill Redelmeir of Southbrook Vineyards, the brainchild behind the "Seriously Cool" Chardonnay tasting.

Jancis Robinson, world-renowned wine authority, said "Ontario alone can produce a vivid array of styles of Chardonnay, some of which can hold their own with the world's finest". When leaving the tasting she commented "This variety (Chardonnay) is very well suited to Canada I'd say".

"Overall I was amazed," said Steven Spurrier who was impressed that all the wines he tasted were of such a high quality. "There was not a single poor wine there. They all have an individual personality. They're all brilliantly well made. I'm very impressed."

Oz Clarke told the winemakers to "be confident about their Chardonnays and not to let the populist tabloid press put them down. We all know that Chardonnay is a fantastic grape whose time will come again."

"Having this group of wine critics say that Ontario makes some really terrific table wines is hugely significant," said Tony Aspler, long time supporter of Ontario wines and assisted in organizing the tasting. "It shows that Ontario wines can sit proudly on the world stage".

For more information about Wines of Ontario visit www.winesofontario.ca or visit www.coolchardonnay.ca for additional details on the U.K. tasting.

The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade association that represents 72 wineries from Ontario. Ontario has four wine regions - Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward Country.

For further information: Media contact: Magdalena Kaiser-Smit, Director of Public Relations - Marketing & Tourism, Wine Council of Ontario, [phone] ext. 228, [email protected]