Burning Kiln winery tour (Norfolk), and South Coast Wine fair, July 29/13

The Date and Time: Monday, July 29, 2013  8AM to 7PM

The Event: A double-barreled event – First, a tour and tasting of Burning Kiln winery, followed by lunch and two – a tasting of selected South Coast Winery wines.

The Venue: Burning Kiln winery, Norfolk County, near Port Dover.

The Target Audience: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada members.

The Availability/Catalogue: everything is available through the winery.

The Quote/Background: We had the tour of the facility, including the use of kilns to dry out wines. Burning Kiln replanted 26 acres of tobacco with vines in 2006 and opened in 2010.  Their first vintage wine, Burning Kiln Strip Room 2010, was the Ontario Legislature's official red wine for the 2011-2012 session. Andrzej Lipinksi, known for Italian "appassimento" in Ontario (grapes are dried on mats to concentrate the fruit flavours) is drying the grapes in former tobacco kilns instead of on mats (no heat is added). The current production of Burning Kiln is 7,000 cases. Cigar-shaped barrels are being used: they are thinner and longer, which promotes more oak tones while keeping the fruit.

 

The Wines: In addition to Burning Kiln, we got to sample a mini-fair of wines from Quai du Vin, Villa Nova, Wooden Bear, Golden Leaf, Bonnieheath Lavender, and Dover Vineyards (the latter two just open). I think I tried all the wines.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Burning Kiln Stick Shaker Savagnin 2012, $24.95 100% kiln dried 15 days

-Burning Kiln Table Gang Gewurztraminer 2012, $24.95 100% kiln, 9 days

-Burning Kiln Harvest Party Red 2012, $15.95 100% kiln, 100% cab franc

-Burning Kiln Kiln Hanger – The Sequel 2010, $59.95, also $119.95 magnum, 100% cab franc, 100% kiln 9 days, 30 months in French oak.

-Dover Vineyards Frisky Beaver Red Cab Syrah Merlot 2011, +345611, $14.95

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Gewurztraminer Sussreserve 2011, $24.95

-Quai du Vin Red Signature Series 2011, $12.50

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Burning Kiln Harvest Party White 2012, $15.95 with 8% savagin kiln dried

-Burning Kiln Horse & Boat Riesling 2012, $19.95 10% kiln, 11 days

-Burning Kiln Broken Needle Rose 2012, $15.95 12% kiln

-Burning Kiln Prime Pinot Noir 2011, $24.95 20% kiln

-Burning Kiln Cureman's Chard 2011, $19.95  no kiln

-Burning Kiln Planter Pinot Gris 2012, $19.95 100% kiln, 1 week

-Burning Kiln Cab Frank 2011, $24.95 100% kiln, 1-2 weeks

-Burning Kiln Cab Frank 2012, $24.95 100% kiln, 10-14 days

-Burning Kiln Strip Room 2012, $24.95 100% kiln, 1-2 weeks

-Burning Kiln Chenin Blanc 2010, $24.95 500 mL sweet, 100% kiln 16 days

-Wooden Bear Cherry 2011, $14.95

-Golden Leaf Chardonnay 2011, $15.45

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2011, +332825 Vintages $18.95

-Dover Vineyards Frisky Beaver White 2010, +345629, $13.95

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Merlot Reserve 2011, $22.75

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Cabernet Franc Apassimento 2011, $39.95

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Chambourcin 2011, $18.20

-Bonnieheath Estate Don't Count Your Chickens [frontenac gris]2012, $18

-Quai du Vin Cabernet Franc 2010, $16

-Quai du Vin Dry Riesling 2012, $11

-Quai du Vin White Signature Series 2012, $13.50

-Quai du Vin Semi-Dry Vidal 2012, $11

-Villa Nova Estate Pinot Gris/Riesling 2012, $14.50

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Burning Kiln Riesling 2011, $19.95 10% kiln, 18 days

-Burning Kiln Sweet Leaf Riesling 2012, $24.95  10% kiln, 11 days

-Wooden Bear GalaCrisp, $14.95

-Wooden Bear Apple Cherry, $14.95

-Wooden Bear Bear Claw Hard Cider, $3

-Wooden Bear Eve's Temptation 500 mL $21.95

-Golden Leaf Vidal/Riesling 2012, $14.50

-Golden Leaf Riesling 2012, $14.95 off-dry

-Golden Leaf Rose 2011, $14.20 Lucy Kuhlmann, off-dry

-Dover Vineyards Smoke & Gamble Kuhlmann/Foch 2011, $18.20

-Bonnieheath Estate Lavender Ice 2012, 375 mL

-Bonnieheath Estate Seyval Blanc 2012, $16-17

-Bonnieheath Estate Crooked Wrench Red [frontenac rouge] 2012, $17-19

-Bonnieheath Estate Marechal Foch 2012, $17-19

-Quai du Vin Aurore-Muscat 2012, $11

-Villa Nova Estate Riesling 2012, $14.50

-Villa Nova Estate Aenigma 2012, $14.50 regent, with cabernet

 

The Food: charcuteries and cheese trays, local pork tenderloins, Lake Erie fried perches.

The Downside: I was not ready to leave, time flew by…

The Upside: great sparkling wine transportation from Knight Limo service www.knightlimo.biz

The Contact Person: dbeatty@burningkilnwinery.ca and judy.buck@ontariosouthcoastwine.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com