On the Road with the Grape Guy

Days of Wine & Chocolate 2017 (NOTL)

28 Feb 2017

There was a time during these Niagara-on-the-Lake events when I would rush to every winery to try every single pairing in the hopes of garnering a top 10 list – then as I aged I realized there were things I just didn’t like: chocolate and orange (sorry Small Talk), chocolate and spice (sorry Stratus) or any long complicated names that made the tongue twist just trying to say them (sorry Strewn) … and thus the culling of the herd began.  

I want to enjoy the experience of the Days of Wine & Chocolate, not rush through it … so over the years, the wife and I started to get selective with our choices of venue – picking stuff we liked the sound of and were in agreement that it sounded “try-worthy” (instead of choking down chocolate covered orange peel and nodding how good it was but secretly wanting to spit it out the moment we got to the parking lot) …

With all that said we stopped by a dozen wineries during the Days of Wine and Chocolate and these were our top 5 taste sensations – in no particular order.

Coyote's Run

Coyote's Run: 2013 Black Paw Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a dark chocolate and bacon brownie

 

Niagara College: 2011 Dean's List Meritage paired with a milk chocolate and coffee brownie bar

 

Pillitteri Estates Winery: 2013 Cabernet Merlot paired with a dark chocolate cup with milk chocolate mousse
and Cabernet Merlot raspberry compote

 

Pondview Estate: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bella Terra, paired with succulent ribs
smothered in a delicious chocolate concoction

 

Riverview: 2013 Pinot Noir paired with season pulled pork on a chocolate crustini
with chocolate balsamic drizzle

 

And the days best wine goes to ...

Trius 2015 Gamay Noir

 

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