If you only like red wines, and drink a lot of Cali reds, you will not like Ontario wines much - but Lenko is considered genious. I've had GREAT ontario wines, and am looking forward to my shipment of Lenko, Southbrook, Stony Ridge, and future shipments of Pelleteri, Vineland Estates, Thirty Bench and Konzellman.
More to look out for in Ontario are, Strewn, Rief, Thirteenth Street, Lakeview, Hernender, Magnotta, Willow Hieghts, Pelham, Benchmark, Chateau de Charmes, Creekside, Maliviore, Cave Springs, Peninsula Ridge, and Kakaba.
When will you open your bloody eyes Ontario ?? You are really poor excuse for Ontario residents - being the center of the Canadian universe and all
I mean that fondly, amusingly, but sadly. I know more about Ontario than any of you do, and I've only tasted 6 different wines
Learn !!
Mishy

[ 04-25-2002, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Mishy ]

Great Ontario wines (other than ice wines) is an oxymoron, and I've tasted a hell of a lot more of them than you have.

Yeah, we know.............Board-O

Mishy,

I tried about a couple dozen different Ontario reds at the Toronto Wine & Cheese show a couple months back, and to be honest, I only came up with one wine that I liked - the 2000 Cilentro Baco Noir. Everything else was awful. Feel free to take alllll the Ontario wine you want -- I'll even pay for the shipping to B.C. At least then there'll be more shelf space for the good stuff.

I picked up a case of the Baco that I mentioned, so if you want to try a bottle and can't get it out there, let me know.

Hey, I'll give you an A for effort. Someday, maybe. The same goes for NY.

I'm NOT talking of reds primarily.................you guys are in a big red rut !
M

I wasn't just talking about reds.

You don't know what your talking about Board-O. Love ya Board-O, but you haven't got a clue.
Who is Lenko?!!!!
You don't know ?
If you don't know Lenko and Southbrook, you don't know squat !
Even though you know everything.......
Oh yeah...........How about some thin Pinot Gris.........
Mishy

[ 04-25-2002, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: Mishy ]

At least I admit when I don't know something. I know nothing about those two wineries. I HAVE visited almost all the Niagara wineries three or four times and tasted virtually all their wines. If you think good dry wine is made in Niagara, BC, or the easter 3/4 of the US, you're dispalying your ignorance, Miss Lunctime Sommelier. It is possible, I will admit, that a miniscule few good dry wines may be produced in those areas, but the percentage will be in the single digits. You may continue arguing with yourself. Anger becomes you.

You base this information on which BC wines ??? I'd just LOVE to know ???? Please.............Specifics as well, vintages, varietals,wineries, etc.................please share..........I'd LOVE to know which BC wines you had 3 years ago when you visited for 2 day....... ???
Please share Mr. know-it-all,
Mishy

I spent 4 days there in 2000, 4 days in April, 2001, and 4 days in June 2001. I visited virtually all of the wineries from Niagara-on-the-Lake to miles west of Jordan and Ste. Catherine. Just to name a few from memory, I was at Hillebrand Estates, Henry of Pelham, Crown Bench, thirty Bench, Inniskillin, Vineland Estates, Cave Springs, Stoney Ridge, Kittling Ridge, Konzelmann,and maybe 15 others. I can't name them all off the top of my head. How many have you visited? I tasted everything available, and the dry wines were uniformly swill. You're letting your nationalism color your judgement.

Now go to sleep. It'll be time to recommend wine with burgers before you know it.

The BC wineries were in 1999. I spent two weeks there. If they make any good dry wines, they've had a major Renaissance since then.

So, which ones did you try Board-O.............?? Still waiting..................????? Or are you looking it up presently on you search engine ? You don't know squat !!!
Mishy

Oh, BTW, the BC wines are just releasing some '99s reds in November. Were you here in December ????
Mishy

[ 04-26-2002, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: Mishy ]

I was there in mid-Summer 1999. The memory of the swill I tasted there still lingers. Nighty-night. Take something for your blood pressure.

You drank '99s in '99 ?
WOW, that's just miraculous !!!
It must have been a very fast fermentation......
Which wine were these again ??? Still wondering ???
Mishy

I agree with Board-O in saying that most Ontario wines are absolute garbage. You'll never see me go out and randomly pick up a bottle at the liquor store. I may try them at a tasting, and go from there, but that's about it. Why spend $10-15 on a bottle of wine that has a 95% change of being crap when you can spend that same money on a real bottle of wine that has a 95% chance of being good?

I'll cut my losses and stick to wines that are not from this continent, thanks. Yes, that includes California wines (dun dun dun ... *puts on flame retardant suit*).

We produce a lot of bad wine in New York. The climate's fine, but I think the vinifera vines aren't old enough. I believe that's likely the cause in Canada also. futronic, next time I get up to Toronto I'll change your mind on California wines.

Board-O,

Sounds like a plan. Let me know next time you're in the area, and dinner's on me.

We don't have any plans yet. It's possible we'll go to Ottawa this Summer, than stop at Toronto for a day or two before going on to the Niagara wineries. In Toronto, we can't miss Sang-Ho or Susur. Ever go to either of them?

Haven't made it out to either yet, but I've heard nothing but stellar reviews of Susur. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance. The head chef was actually featured in the Toronto Star last week, not for his cooking - which is world renouned, but for his house. Go figure! There's also a few of the other upscale places such as Canoe, Monsoon, and Centro. Other, less expensive places you may want to look at are the Summit House Grill and Whitlock's. Whitlock's is actually just down the street from my place, has a fabulous wine list, a very knowledgeable sommalier, and excellent food. One of my favourites. Feel free to email me at futronic@rogers.com if you would like phone numbers or wine lists, etc.

I have been a few times to the Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries... I think most of the stuff there is just average, or worse. Now, I hear good things about the Icewine they make (Inniskillin), but have never tried any.

I must admit that the wines from that region that are red, well, aren't very good. Of the ones I tried, the whites tended to be better, but were just really average. Or worse.

While I love going there for other reasons (Shaw Festival, etc), I would not go there for the wines alone....

Talk about leaving the nuts in charge of the asylum. I'm afraid to say that the staff gave away so many drinks on the house that the bar is about broke. The first drink was supposed to be free. Not the first drink every time they came in. I won't name names but it seems that many of you would get your free drink, leave the bar for a few minutes and come back in to get another free drink. Shame.

I also must announce that Board-O and Mishy have been placed on double secret probation. NO FIGHTING IN FRONT OF THE CUSTOMERS. Where was Keith? He's the bouncer and should have seperated them.

Lastly, I know we need to open a Burgundy, Washington, New Zealand and Champagne departments. These postitions are currently under consideration.

VM

PS. Thanks for the kind words.

Bar fight !
Board-O started it !!!
Welcome back Vino Me, I cleaned up all the broken glass.
Mishy

Welcome Back Vino Me!

We certainly missed you. How was Hawaii? Where did you end up eating in Waikiki?

It looks like the Cubs missed you as well. Don Baylor better give those boys a pep talk and let them know that there's a Barolo riding on this season.

Glad to have you back,
Keith