i4C 2023: Canada Shines From Coast to Coast with Top Quality Cool Climate Chardonnay
The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration 2023 was an unforgettable four day event that included wines from all cool-climate corners of the globe. The list of events were perfectly curated to please everyone from wine professionals to the wine curious, and maintained a consistent balance between learning and fun, of course, centered around all things cool-climate Chardonnay!
School of Cool
The School of Cool event kicks off the i4c program in a conference style fashion at the White Oaks Conference Resort. An explore and learn through tasting session that is essentially a wine geek’s dream. Three sessions, with 8 tastings each make up the day and this year they were divided as follows:
Session 1 - Learn to Taste Like a Master of Wine - a study in Chardonnay. Moderated by Master of Wine Michelle Cherutti-Kowal.
Session 2 - Blend Like a Winemaker. Moderated by Rob Power, Winemaker at Queenstone Mile Vineyard.
Session 3 - Filling in the Blancs. Moderated by Master of Wine Michelle Cherutti-Kowal.
The School of Cool concluded with a walk around tasting of cool-climate Chardonnay from around the world.
Chardonnay in the City
Wineries set up stands in Market Square, St. Catherines to showcase their best cool-climate Chardonnay expressions for wine media and consumers. Incredible food from a diverse range of local vendors, photo booths, and a DJ all make for an evening of gastronomy delight and dancing, or as we like to say, a proper Chardy party!
Chardonnay in the Vineyard
Chardonnay in the Vineyard was held on the beautiful grounds of Riverbend Inn. It began with an interactive blind tasting of four wines that were categorized as Rich, Fruity, Smooth, and Crisp. Once you reveal your favourite wine style, you’re given a card with wines in the walk around tasting to fit your preferred category.
Following the walk around tasting, we were sat under an infinite mini light canopy under the tent for a delicious family style dinner that included consistent pours of cool-climate Chardonnay and cool-climate reds such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cabernet Franc. The evening spun in to another “cool” night with a Chardonnay bar and endless dancing thanks to an extremely talented live band - Xprime.
The Moveable Feast
The Moveable Feast took place at Ravine Vineyard in the St. David’s bench sub-appellation. Brunch featured local farm fare and artisan producers, and was accompanied with an oyster bar, and a selection of Ontario’s Chardonnay, sparkling wine, and rose.
Top Picks
The cool-climate Chardonnay that were being poured this year were overall intriguing, as well as delicious. Something that stood out to me was that I had favourites popping up from several provinces in our country. It’s safe to say that Canada is producing world class, standout cool-climate Chardonnay from coast to coast! A few (but not all) of my top picks included:
Blomidon Reserve Chardonnay 2021
An unflitered Chardonnay from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. It has enticing aromas of white flowers, butter cream, caramel, and yellow plum. Pristine and pure, with flavours of lime and yellow fruit flesh adding complexity. The palate displays a structural delight of high acidity, and plenty of mineral and fine lees texture that persists on an infinite finish. Excellent!
Leaning Post Senchuk Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
It’s love at first scent with the totally ensnaring aromas of cedar, gala apple, nectarine, and caramel. Blooming with a chalky mineral mouthfeel. An elegant and harmonious structure. Lemon zest, ruby grapefruit and nutmeg sing all the way to a long, saline finish.
Rosehall Run St. Cindy Chardonnay 2020
Toasted almond, bosc pear, candied lemon, and wet stone aromas. These notes are reflected on a creamy palate with an underlying base of river rock nuanced minerality, and juicy, ripe acid. Fantastic texture and structure. Toast and butterscotch add extra depth on a long, persistent finish.
Hidden Bench Felsek Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
This Chardonnay somehow encapsulated all the attributes of a hot vintage on the Beamsville Bench sub-appellation, while maintaining all there is to love about cool-climate Chardonnay. It’s silky, mineral driven palate is complex with a plethora of stonefruit and ripe citric flavours. Seamless, and well-balanced with nutmeg, cinnamon, and butter notes. Its’ opulence is experienced straight through to the long finish.
Cloudsley Foxcroft Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Crisp orchard fruit - bosc pear and baked apple aromas. A complex, but light texture of linear acidity and encompassing minerality. More depth discovered still with a slight savoury aspect attributed with button mushroom and earthy notes. Golden apple and sweet spice ring through on a persistent finish.
l’Orpailleur Chardonnay 2020
This Chardonnay comes from Dunham, Quebec and opens with aromas of vanilla, lillies, and white mushroom. The palate showcases green apple, caramel, lemon peel, and brioche notes on the end of a long finish. The structure is unique and maybe a touch jagged, but the wine is complex and has soul; quite captivating.
Bachelder Wismer-Wingfield 2020
On the nose - pecan, toffee, buttered toast, corn, and reductive notes. The palate is a sexy, creamy cocktail of signature Bench acid and mineral prominence. Cohesive, and balanced. Apples, apples, apples...and ripe citrus. An impressive display of Niagara’s cool-climate Chardonnay!
Westcott Butlers Grant Chardonnay 2021
A Chardonnay that begins with inviting aromas of toffee, apple skin, and lemon drop. An elegant and creamy mouthfeel that between notes of apple, citrus, and dazzling minerality lies admirable balance and poise. A hint of salinity on a long finish wraps up another exceptional expression of terroir from the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation.
The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration has become the most anticipated wine event of the year for many, including myself! I can’t wait to see you all at i4C 2024!