One-Tank Trip for
Jan. 11/2020
(c) By Jim Fox
Postmedia Network/Sun Newspapers and websites
These are the days
of icewine and roses as “Canada’s liquid gold” marks its quarter-century
celebration.
 |
| Saying cheers with Ontario’s icewine. |
The Niagara Grape
& Wine Festival marks this icy milestone with events that include the
launch of a new dining experience.
“The Snow Globe
Soiree Series is set at the edge of Niagara Falls,” said Dorian Anderson,
festival executive director.
 |
| Dine in a dome overlooking Niagara Falls during the icewine festival. (Katy Wassenaar, Niagara Parks) |
“This new pop-up
series blends Niagara’s world class VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) wines,
exciting wine country cuisine, spectacular views and one of the hottest dining
trends,” she added.
From Jan. 16
through Feb. 16, a collection of 10 domes will appear at the edge of Niagara
Falls as featured by the festival and Niagara Parks.
Top chefs from five
popular restaurants will create signature menus that diners can enjoy inside
their own snow globe.
 |
| Tables with a view of Niagara Falls inside the domes. |
Featured are Chef
Jay Williams of Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine in Niagara-on-the-Lake; Chefs
Cameron MacDonald and Steve Sperling of Tide & Vine in Niagara Falls; and Chef
Andrew McLeod of Bolete in St. Catharines.
Joining the fun in
February are Chef Ryan Crawford of Backhouse, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Chef Ray
Syegco of Incoho in St. Catharines.
Two dinner seatings
will be offered each evening from Thursday through Sunday available for groups
of six at $999 per dome for a three-course meal and two bottles of premium VQA
wine.
The Snow Globe
Soiree Domed Dining Village will be 10 clear, heated dining domes set along the
Niagara Parks promenade overlooking the illuminated American and Canadian Horseshoe
Falls.
The globes will
offer diners a stunning view, complete with twinkling lights, cozy blankets and
a concierge.
The village will
also feature the Niagara Parks Snow Lounge, where diners can enjoy pre-and
post-dinner wine while mingling with other guests.
Step aside maple syrup
This dessert wine
is renowned for its intense flavour, rich bouquet and smoothness, and is snapped
up around the world.
 |
| These vidal grapes are left to freeze on the vine to become icewine. (Jim Fox photo) |
It is
produced entirely from grapes naturally frozen on the vine and picked when temperatures
are -8C or lower and immediately pressed after picking.
The most
common grape for icewine is vidal but numerous other varieties are increasingly
being used.
This
season had the earliest picking of icewine grapes on Nov. 12 when snow covered the vineyards.
The story of Ontario icewine began 35 years ago when Karl Kaiser
harvested his first frozen crop in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Familiar with
German Eiswein, discovered as a grower tried to salvage a crop frozen by a
sudden early freeze, Kaiser recognized that Ontario’s climate was ideal for
producing icewine vintages.
Now Niagara is the
largest and most awarded icewine producing region in the world.
Sip and savour
 |
| Icewine presentation at Trius Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. |
The festival’s popular
Discovery Pass allows visitors to experience wine country during the winter
($45; $35 for designated drivers).
Choose eight stops from
among 36 wineries that showcase Niagara’s bounty paired with sweet and savoury
chef’s creations on Fridays through Sundays now through Jan. 26.
There’s also the
Twenty Valley Winter WineFest in Jordan Village this weekend and the Niagara-on-the-Lake
Icewine Festival, Jan. 17 to 19 and Jan. 24 to 26.
Admission is free
for both events that feature live entertainment and fun activities for all
ages.
Visit niagarawinefestival.com
for a listing of signature events, street festival schedules, Discovery Pass
listings and tickets.
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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