Erie Shore Vineyard

2012 CCOVI Lecture Series

2012-01-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are interested in the latest research on both professional wine making and viticultural, the 2012 CCOVI Lecture Series at Brock University starts January 18 and runs to mid-April. The sessions start at 3 pm in room H313 of the Mackenzie Chown complex at Brock. Admission is free.

The lectures are also webcast live on www.brocku.ca/ccovi at the scheduled presentation time.

The lecture series schedule and more info follow the pdf link or on our News and Events page

Ice-tini Recipe

2011-12-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

Ice-tini Recipe

While we prefer icewine straight and unmixed as a dessert, we’ve seen many icewine dessert cocktail recipes. This one is still our customer’s all time favourites:

1 ½ oz Erie Shore Vineyard Vidal or Cabernet Icewine
1 ½ oz Vodka

Pour ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cranberries for the Holidays.

Holiday Desserts-Glamorous and Easy

2011-12-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

This continues to an all time favourite!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

16 oz Milk Chocolate Chips
Or 16 oz Dark Chocolate
2 tbsp shortening (the original recipe called for paraffin)
1 pound fresh strawberries*

1. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries

2. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into Styrofoam for the chocolate to cool. White chocolate may be drizzled over the chocolate for a fancier look.

/recipe modified from allrecipes.com

Serve along side 1-2oz of Erie Shore Vineyard’s Vidal or Cabernet Icewine

"Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures."--Michael Broadbent

2011-12-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Great Holiday Entertaining...

Party Wines & Foods:
Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds and other nuts all have an oily, salty taste and need a

wine with an acidic backbone such as our Riesling or Blanc de Blancs to balance their taste.
Spicy Asian and Thai foods need some sweetness to temper their heat. Winter Harvest Cabernet, Summer Sun, Sellar Secret and Vidal all complement these.

Snacks such as oysters, shrimp and salmon are too briny for red wines and make the wine taste metallic. Try our Vidal, Blanc de Blanc, Proprietor's White or Summer Sun Cabernet and Sellar Secret.

Wine-friendly cheeses:
• Brie• Cambozola
• Camembert
• Canadian Cheddar
• Chevre

• Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Log

• Duo Bleubry-Saint-Honore

• Fondue Cheese

• Friulano

• Oka

• Parmigiano-Reggiano

• Port Salut

• Roguefort

/ from Natalie MacLean & Costco Connection-2009

Erie Shore Vineyard Icewine Sale!

2011-11-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to offer a Holiday Special:

2 for 1

for both our award winning 2008 VQA CABERNET ICEWINE with gift box

2006 VQA Vidal Icewine with Gift box &packaged

REGULAR $54.80,

ON SPECIAL FOR $29.95 tax included!!
not sold separately, limited time available as gift package only!

'Tis the Season for Mulled Wine

2011-11-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

Erie Shore Vineyard’s Mulled Wine

Ingredients:
1 bottle of Erie Shore Vineyard’s Cabernet Franc or Zweigelt Red wine
Cinnamon sticks
Orange slices
Honey

Preparation:
Pour wine into saucepan and warm over medium heat until heated through, but not boiling!
Serve with Cinnamon Sticks and orange slices, add honey to individual taste.

ECFA Farm Hiker Tour-

2011-09-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who attended the ECFA FARM HIKER TOUR-Erie Shore Vineyard was proud to be one of the Host Farms. Over 1,000 learned about wine growing and winemaking with vineyard displays, seen & fed the horses, and played on the grass. The Pavilion had delicious local food available, prepared by Gourmet Chef Jeff Wright of ToYourKitchen, wine tasting, and wine by the glass were also available in the pavilion.

Did you test your identification skills?

Answers to our Id Variety quiz and other:

-Can you identify a grape variety?

1. Chardonnay

2. Riesling

3. Vidal

4 Zweigelt

5. Cabernet Franc

6. Chambourcin

7. Baco Noir

For a wine to use the VQA term on its label it:

A) Must be 100% made from grapes grown in one of Ontario’s four designated viticultural areas

B) Must be made from an approved list of Vitis Vinifera grape varieties &/or French Hybrid varieties.

C) Must be entirely fermented processed, blended, finished and bottled in Ontario

D) All of the above

E) None of the above

How many of Erie Shore Vineyard’s wines are estate grown?_All

Thank you for coming out and enjoy the great produce, products and hospitality of the County. Thank you to the ECFA (Essex County Federation of Agriculture)

Cabernet Franc

The 7th Annual Shores of Erie-next weekend, Sep 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2011

2011-09-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

From the Amherstburg Echo:

Organizers excited for Shores of Erie International Wine Festival

Wine festival runs Thursday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 11

By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 35 minutes ago

AMHERSTBURG — The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival has arrived for 2011.

This year's festival runs Thursday, September 8 through Sunday, September 11 at Fort Malden National Historic Site with 11 wineries participating. There are also 29 other booths featuring mainly restaurants with other vendors also participating.

"We've got a lot of new stuff this year," said festival director Kelly O'Rourke.

One of the new things is additional shuttle service. In addition to the shuttle that will continue from the former General Chemical property, shuttles will also be run out to the Crown Ridge and Monopoly subdivisions as well as the Pointe West/Kingsbridge areas.

The shuttles are free but a donation of $1 or $2 is welcome with proceeds going to the House of Shalom youth centre.

"We're also unveiling something called 'Galleries at the Shores'," said O'Rourke.

The wine festival is working with the Gibson Gallery and is bringing in roughly eight groups with a wide variety of arts and crafts to be displayed. The Mudpuppy Gallery is one of the groups coming in, said O'Rourke.

"It will be a nice enhancement," she added.

The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival has also teamed with Transportation Options and the Cycling Tourism Expo. Free bicycle tours of the area will be provided with one being on Bob-Lo Island and the other being a culinary tour of the town. There will be valet bike parking Saturday and Sunday and bike rentals will also be available.

"They came to us and asked if they could promote cycling in southwestern Ontario," said O'Rourke "We thought it was a really good fit."

Registration is available online at http://www.soewinefestival.com/

Of course, what would the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival be without first-class entertainment?

"We're really excited about the entertainment this year," said O'Rourke.

Opening night features the return of the Sam Roberts Band, something which O'Rourke said is "by popular demand." The Sam Roberts Band was at the wine festival three years ago and returned after a number of people asked for their return.

Michou and Pat Robitaille open for the Sam Roberts Band with the latter having a special surprise guest, said O'Rourke.

Wine festival organizers are also excited for the Sunday performance of popular rocker Sarah Harmer. O'Rourke said Harmer may not have the name recognition in this area of Canada but Harmer is beloved in other parts of the country. O'Rourke said once she heard Harmer's music, she became a regular listener of Harmer on her iPod.

"I think people will embrace her. She fits Sunday quite nicely," said O'Rourke.

Friday night features April Wine, a band that people of all ages are showing an interest in, O'Rourke noted. Saturday night is sold out but those who have tickets will see the talents of jazz artists Kimmie Horne, "who is just awesome," said O'Rourke.

The vine pavilion will see some additions and enhancement this year with wine walking tours part of this year's festivals. The walks are free but the tastings along the route present a cost. Tours will also focus on winemaking techniques and what is different about each wine.

The tasting bar is expanded this year and there will also be guest speaker Konrad Ejbich Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Ejbich, a renowned wine correspondent and writer, is already drawing interest although seating is limited to 100 people. Pre-registration is available at http://www.soewinefestival.com/

A Reidel tasting seminar is Sunday at 3 p.m. with the discussion to centre on wine tasting and the impact a wine glass and the shape of the glass can have on wine.

"People are always in awe after that one," said O'Rourke. "They can't believe what a difference it makes."

People can also pre-arrange for a designated driver. O'Rourke said First Class Valet can be booked by calling ahead and arranging a time for people to be brought home safely from the festival. The person and their vehicle are arranged to be brought home in case someone is not in condition to drive after visiting the festival. Rides can be booked by phoning 519-250-7732 or 519-818-8887.

"It was very popular last year. Booking ahead is the key," said O'Rourke. "It's a great system. People used it like crazy last year."

The culinary pavilion returns again this year with people given the opportunity to taste food, but learn to make it themselves, she added.

Tickets are available for every day except Saturday and are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate for Thursday, $20 in advance and $25 at the gate for Friday and $15 in advance and $20 at the gate for Sunday. Tickets are available at ScotiaBank, CIBC, Windsor Family Credit Union branches in Windsor-Essex County as well as the wine festival office in the Gordon House, 268 Dalhousie St. Tickets can also be purchased through the wine festival's website.

Those seeking three-day passes should call or e-mail ahead for availability at 519-730-1001 or info@soewinefestival.com as passes are limited. Three-day passes are only available at the wine festival office.

In addition to getting information on the festival on the website, O'Rourke also encourages people to "like" the festival on Facebook. She said there are "constant updates" about the festival.

"It's really exciting." More..http://www.amherstburgecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3284313

Marty Lowman, David & Sharon Light join us August 7th in the Pavilion!

2011-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Join us August 7th

for

Marty Lowman

David & Sharon Light

in the Erie Shore Vineyard Pavilion!

Noon to 5pm.

Live Music from 2pm

Food--Music--Wine

Come Early!

Explore the Shore with Erie Shore Vineyard

2011-07-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday & Sunday July 23 & 24: Explore the Shore Weekend.

Lots of great music, food, and people! Please join us!

Saturday: Timmy McDonald in the pavilion-come early!
Sunday: Karen Morand & Marty Lowman in the Pavilion
Gourmet Appetizers by Jeff Wright of ToYourKitchen both days!
Cost $5/appetizer, and $5/glass of wine
Erie Shore Vineyard's wine by the glass.
Passports on site. Visit five participating businesses and enter to win a grand prize and over 25 individual prizes, products and gift certificates!

Also we wish to introduce the artists of Brushes‘nBottles ~ Enjoy some unserious art! Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, and purchase a second if you like and paint a picture along with a local artist. You'll be given easy step-by-step instructions to paint a beautiful work of art in 2-3 hours. Please book @ 519 738-4953 mailto:paintbrushesnbottles@gmail.com

Karen Morand joins us at the Pavilion- July 17th!

2011-07-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 17th

1 to 5 PM

The Erie Shore Vineyard Pavilion

is pleased to feature:
Karen Morand
Cost: $5/glass of Award Winning
Erie Shore Vineyard Wine
$5 cheese plates
Please plan to stop by!

ERIE SHORE VINEYARD
410 COUNTY ROAD 50 WEST, RR3
HARROW, ON N0R 1G0
http://www.erieshore.ca/
519-738-9858

Double Double - July 10th

2011-07-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Please join us on

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

1-5pm

for

Double-Double

Enjoy Erie Shore Vineyard's Award Winning Wine by the Glass.

$5 for an appetizer, $5 each glass of wine

ERIE SHORE VINEYARD

410 County Road 50 W., RR3, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0
erieshore.ca 519-738-9858

Canada Day / US Independence Day Celebrations

2011-06-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

Please join us on

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011,

1-5pm

for the

Canada Day / US Independence Day Holiday Celebrations!

Gourmet Appetizers by Chef Jeff Wright of ToYourKitchen Gourmet Cooking

Live Music – Marty Lowman

Erie Shore Vineyard's wine by the glass.

$5 for an appetizer, $5 each glass of wine

Wear RED and enter to win an Erie Shore Vineyard Wine Gift Basket!

ERIE SHORE VINEYARD

410 County Road 50 W., RR3, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0
erieshore.ca 519-738-9858

Pavilion Opening Weekend-May 28 &29

2011-05-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday & Sunday May 28th & 29th:

Please join us for Erie Shore Vineyard's

Pavilion Opening Weekend
1-5 pm.
Wine by the Glass and Hors D'oeuvres.

Music, 2-4 pm -May 28th- by Marty Lowman,

May 29th by Merrill Mills & Dan Thibideau.

Complimentary Guided Vineyard Walking Tours:
1 pm - 2 pm - 3pm

Enter to win an Erie Shore Vineyard Gift Basket.

Details:
http://www.erieshore.ca/Erie%20Shore%20Vineyard%20Pavilion%20Opening%20Weekend-May%2028%20&29.pdf

"Criminalizing Wine Traffickers"

2011-04-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

Criminalizing Wine “Traffickers”

By Robert Stephen

(WINDSOR, ON) – Pardon my ignorance but shouldn’t it be the position of a federal government and any provincial government to promote and see domestic industries grow and prosper? Should the Canadian and provincial governments encourage the growth of provincial wine producers through the removal of barriers to inter-provincial shipments of wine direct from wineries to consumers? Or should they be allowed to exercise ....more:

April's E-news now online

2011-04-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you not on our email list our most recent e-news in now online: http://www.erieshore.ca/ESVapr2011e-news.pdf

Have a great Easter Weekend!

Easter Store Hours

2011-04-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that we have Easter Weekend Store Hours:

We will be Closed Good Friday, April 22nd & Easter Sunday, April 24th .

We are open Easter Saturday, April 23rd: 10 am—6 pm & Easter Monday, April 25th: 1—6 pm and back to normal hours from Easter Monday onward.

“Ontario wine consumers need more access to Ontario wines,”

2011-04-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

Grape Growers call for more consumer access to Ontario wine
Media Release April 1, 2011

ST. CATHARINES (April 1, 2011) – Over the past year, the Ontario government has made changes that have put Ontario wines on a good foundation moving forward, but now we must embark on the next steps to ensure the domestic grape and wine industry will enjoy robust growth in the future, says the Grape Growers of Ontario.

“Ontario wine consumers need more access to Ontario wines,” says Grape Growers of Ontario Chair Bill George Jr. “We have put in place a varietal plan. We have made prices affordable. But there is only so much we can do if consumers can’t get access to the wines Ontario grape growers and wineries are producing.”

The Grape Growers of Ontario propose key stakeholders in the grape and wine industry meet with the provincial government to begin discussions on the existing wine distribution network in Ontario and how it can be improved to boost the sales of domestic wines.

“We’re going into this with an open mind,” says George Jr. “We would like the government to work with us to review the various options available to reshape the distribution of and access to Ontario wines.”

For the industry to reach its maximum potential in wine sales and Ontario wine market share, it needs better access to the marketplace, says Grape Growers of Ontario CEO Debbie Zimmerman.

"We need to shift our focus to the future so we can be sure the excellent products we are growing today have a place to be sold tomorrow,” Zimmerman says. “Increasing the access Ontario wines have to the market will help Ontario catch up to the rest of the wine-making world where domestic wines have a significant share of their own market.”

Ontario wines have 44% share of their domestic market, whereas most other wine-producing regions have a much larger domestic share:

◦Australia- 90%

◦California– 63% of the entire U.S. market

◦New Zealand– 57% (New Zealand does not import grapes for wine, whereas Ontario includes blended wines as Ontario wines)

Ontario’s grape growers are coming off a strong 2010 when a hot, dry summer and fall led to a 13% increase in tonnage harvested. Growers also agreed to a new pricing model, introduced a new wine label designating 100% Ontario-grown wine grapes, are anticipating the beginning of a four-year, $12-million Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs transition program and, as part of that transition program, developed a Varietal Plan to determine which grapes grow best in this cool climate, making the quality grapes grown in Ontario even better and improving the market for those grapes.

“We have completed the first phase of a Varietal Plan that will identify the cool climate varietals the industry grows best and have good market potential,” says George Jr. “This will help us best align the Ontario grape supply with the demand.”

At its Media Day April 1, the GGO also launched a redesigned website that will help it stay in better touch with not only its members, but also Ontario wine consumers.

“In our ongoing effort to remain in touch with the people who matter most to us, our new website will provide industry statistics, tourist information about our Ontario appellations and other reports for the general public,” Zimmerman says.

The Grape Growers of Ontario represents more than 500 grape growers in eastern, southern and southwestern Ontario who produce grapes for processing.

- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Debbie Zimmerman
CEO, Grape Growers of Ontario
905-401-2471

Bill George Jr.
Chair, Grape Growers of Ontario
905-984-0994
http://www.grapegrowersofontario.com/node/123

March Into Spring

2011-02-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

Saturday & Sunday, March 19th & 20th, 2011:

March Into Spring

GREEN OPEN HOUSE

Noon to 5 P.M.

In-Store Specials on all wines with Green Labels Wines,

Plus Vintage Tastings

Hors D’Ouevres.

**Wear green and enter to win an Erie Shore Vineyard Green Gift Basket!**

$5/person

Genetic Diversity in Wine Grapes

2011-02-19T17:20:00.000-08:00

...."75 percent of the varieties were as closely related as parent and child or brother and sister. “Previously people thought there were several different families of grape,” Dr. Myles said. “Now we’ve found that all those families are interconnected and in essence there’s just one large family.”

Thus merlot is intimately related to cabernet franc, which is a parent of cabernet sauvignon, whose other parent is sauvignon blanc, the daughter of traminer, which is also a progenitor of pinot noir, a parent of chardonnay. "....

A Wine Cellar for your Home-

2011-02-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Most wine cellars run between $6,000 and $12,000. No matter how much money you're spending on your cellar, there are certain precautions and considerations to factor in to ensure your vino keeps perfecto.

Keeping an optimum humidity level is integral to wine cellars because extreme high humidity of 70 per cent or more with no air movement can be a recipe for bacteria and mould.
It can also cause valuable wine labels to peel off, rendering expensive vintages worthless. Instead of spending thousands on a separate humidification system, most homeowners opt to invest in a climate-control system, says Arnel Marchand, owner of Koolspace Wine Cellars in Calgary.
"You want the humidity to be consistent," says Marchand. "Climate control systems work to raise humidity to 60 per cent, and gets rid of any humidity over 65 per cent. Climate control systems for cellars operate at a lower temperature and are designed to move the air a lot more. They run about 60 to 70 per cent of the time."
Insulation is another key factor. When you're building a wine cellar, you're essentially building a fridge. Therefore, the better insulation you have, the less temperature fluctuation will occur, in the cellar and the better your wine will keep.
Insulation requirements are determined by the outside wall area the cellar will occupy and the depth of the cellar below grade. The best type of insulation is sprayed-in-place two-pound polyurethane. However, this is a more costly option.
The second best option is insulation baths fitted into the stud cavities. This means the outside walls and ceiling joists, which can be difficult sometimes given the placement of plumbing pipes, ductwork, electrical wirings, etc.
And, of course, what's a cellar without storage?

"If possible, the racking design should be determined before cellar construction commences," says Durst. "The walls can then be proportioned to the exact size of your racking layout, thereby giving the racks the look of a true custom installation. This is for both walls and ceiling height.

"Racks should be chosen according to your collecting style. Depending upon your budget, design ideals and available cellar space, you can use a modular, premium, custom or vintageview racking/ storage systems."

T H I N G S T O REMEMBER

. Control humidity levels

. Have good air circulation

. Apply effective insulation
.-Try to implement good rack design
-Use nonaromatic wood like a hardwood such as mahogany or cherry

. Include inventory control system

Festival of Ice- February 12 & 13

2011-02-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

We invite you to join us for the:
Festival of Ice 2011 Open House

Saturday & Sunday, FEBRUARY 12TH & 13TH
FROM 1 – 5 PM

$5 admission gives you a choice of:

-One ounce of either:
2006 VQA Vidal Icewine
2008 VQA Cabernet Icewine
-2 ounces of either:
2008 Fire & Ice
2006 Vidal Winter Harvest

2006 Winter Harvest Cabernet

-5 oz Erie Shore Vineyard Table Wine
Also:
FESTIVAL OF ICE SPECIAL:
2008 VQA CABERNET ICEWINE WITH GIFT BOX

REGULAR $29.95 ON SPECIAL FOR $19.95

2 DAYS ONLY!

OTHER IN-STORE SPECIALS!

You can also enter to win an Erie Shore Vineyard Gift,

As well as a grand prize from all SWOVA wineries!

http://www.erieshore.ca/

The Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2011

2011-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Our area has made the top 7 Intelligent Communities (international) for 2011! I reprint part of the article, with a direct link at the very bottom of the post.

"ICF named the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2011 at a 19 January ceremony during PTC'11, the annual conference of the Pacific Telecommunications Council in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The following communities, drawn from the Smart21 of 2011, were named to the Top Seven based on analysis of their nominations by a team of independent academic analysts. Complete profiles of the communities will be available on ICF's Web site following publication of the white paper, Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2011, in February.
....
Windsor-Essex, Ontario, Canada

Located directly across the river from the US automotive capital of Detroit, Windsor shares its pain. Automobile assembly, research and technology contribute C$30bn to the local economy but are in structural decline greatly accelerated by the current recession. Working in partnership with Essex County government, Windsor is crafting a new, more robust economy to take its place. Assets include strong tourism and agriculture industries (which sometimes overlap, as in the case of the area’s many wineries), the presence of the University of Windsor and national and provincial government support. The university is using funding from the province to build an innovation center for engineering research as well as a virtual incubator serving the region. The Odette School of Business has restructured its many programs to deliver MBA-level education faster and mentor small manufacturers. A cooperative fiber network, WEDnet, meets the needs of governmental, institutional and educational facilities throughout the region and Windsor-Essex (a 2010 Smart21) is partnering with other communities to extend broadband to people in underserved rural areas. Government has collaborated with business to create a software technology alliance to attract entrepreneurs, mentor existing businesses and share resources for growth. A public-private business mentoring group is working to pool the resources of angel investors in order to increase the amount of seed capital available to start-ups."
www.windsor-essex.info
www.citywindsor.ca
www.countyofessex.on.ca
https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Top7_2011&link=Top7_2011

January 2011 E-News

2011-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

We reprint part of our January E-Newsletter:

Hello and Happy January!

We hope your winter is going well. We were happy to see so many at our 8th Annual Open House last Nov 28 & 29th. We received excellent reviews of the Hors D’oeuvres prepared by ToYourKitchen (Jeff Wright). Many of you also picked up personalized Harrow Fair Cookbooks from the authors and our special guests Lori and Moira during that event. We understand that this first printing of the Cookbook is sold out, but that a second printing is in the works.

We have always had a Holiday Open House on the USA Thanksgiving weekend, as it coincides with our winery’s opening. This event has now also become a canned food drive for the local food banks. It was heart warming to see our guests come in with arms full of canned goods. We were pleased to deliver over 400 cans collected here, to our local food bank for their Christmas needs! Apparently 80 families utilize the Harrow Food Bank. Thank you.

The other 10 SWOVA wineries now also hold Holiday Open Houses on that weekend, and the 11 of us collectively offer a Grand Prize Gift Basket. We were very pleased to have been the winery’s ballot selected as the SWOVA Grand prize winner for this event! Congratulations go to Linda Pataky, of South Woodslee, pictured above collecting her Grand Prize from us!

Currently we are working on a few new wines that will be released soon. Some of these will be released with new looks. We are also working with the 2010 vintages. The 2010 vintage will be outstanding! We are looking forward to their release as well.

Also we have recenetly introduced an online store with payments cleared through PayPal. Ontario residents can now order wine online through our website at: www.erieshore.ca/store.htm and expect 24-48hr delivery.

We hope you are enjoying the winter weather and again we hope you have a great 2011!
Harvey & Alma

Holiday Open House

2010-10-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
CELEBRATING 8 YEARS!

2002-2010

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28

TIME: 1-5 PM

WHERE: ERIE SHORE VINEYARD

COST: 4 CANS OF FOOD FOR DONATION TO LOCAL FOOD BANK (HARROW)

Meet our Special Guests Moira MacDonald Sanders &

Lori MacDonald Elstone

Authors of the popular Harrow Fair Cookbook.

Saturday, November 27th!

GIFT BASKETS ON DISPLAY AND FOR PURCHASE, HORS D’OEUVRES, WINE TASTING,

AND A BOOK SIGNING OF THE HARROW FAIR COOKBOOK BY BOTH AUTHORS!

ENTER TO WIN AN ERIE SHORE VINEYARD GIFT BASKET

& A GRAND PRIZE SWOVA BASKET FROM ALL 11 WINERIES!

Perfect pair: holiday feast, local wines

2010-10-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

Reprinted from today's Windsor Star!

By Ted Whipp, The Windsor Star October 6, 2010 Just in time for hosts arranging the Thanksgiving holiday dinner, husband and wife vintners Harvey and Alma Hollingshead of Erie Shore Vineyard near Colchester, offer tips to sip appropriate wines.

With turkey, they recommend Riesling as a white wine and Zweigelt or Cabernet as a red.

With ham, choose Riesling as a white, Baco Noir as a red.

And with beef, look for a favourite Chardonnay as a white and Cabernet or Zweigelt for red.
The couple also recommends a good guest bring a wine for dessert, say Erie Shore's own 2008 Fire & Ice, a fortified Cabernet late harvest icewine blend.

Hosts can keep an extra Riesling or favourite white wine on hand, or a red Cabernet or Baco Noir. The winery is located at 410 County Road 50 W., west of Colchester. Phone 519-738-9858. Now operating on its fall scheduled, it is open weekdays from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Holiday hosts better get shopping. LCBO stores will close Monday for Thanksgiving. Agency stores, locally owned retail stores that sell alcohol in communities too small to support LCBO stores, may remain open for their regular hours.

Beer stores also will close for the holiday.

The Unbelievable!

2010-09-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

True-who would have thought that harvest-grape crush would coincide with the Shores of Erie....
\n

and what great quality..\
we apologize for the lack of focus on the retail store this week. Harvest pllus the Shores.. makes for a big week.

Saturday, September 11th, 2010 from 2 to 5pm

2010-09-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 11th, 2010: Toast to the Shores of Erie:

Food-Music -Wine

Erie Shore Vineyard from 2-5pm

Live Entertainment
Marty Lowman & Linda Girard

-Erie Shore Vineyard Pavilion.

Cost: $10/p includes one glass of Erie Shore Vineyard wine & appetizer

Directions: http://www.erieshore.ca/directions.htm

Ice-tini Recipe

2010-08-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

While we prefer icewine straight and unmixed as a dessert, we’ve seen many icewine dessert cocktail recipes. This one is still our customer’s all time favourites:

1 ½ oz Erie Shore Vineyard Vidal Icewine

1 ½ oz Vodka

Pour ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cranberries for the Holidays, or seasonal fruit & berries through the summer and fall.

Wine of the Month!!

2010-08-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to be the August 2010 Wine of the Month as chosen by Essex Wine Review! Our Sellar Secret 2007 is the newest wine in our spotlight.

"Erie Shore vineyard is located in the heart of Essex County's cottage country and it is no surprise that local cottage residents have discoverd this wine to sip on while at their weekend home. It is so popular that the vineyard can't keep it in stock. On two recent visits to the winery I tried to buy more of this wine only to be told that it was temporarily sold out.

One sip and you will see why it is so popular. It's tropical, refreshing and a perfect match for a hot summer day in August. It's only available at the winery, so if you see it on the shelf, BUY IT before someone else does. It won't last long."

We are pleased to once again have it on our shelves!!

Just Released- Fire & Ice

2010-07-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

Just Released!--Fire & Ice--

Many of you were part of the taste sampling of this new product in February of this year. We are now pleased to officially release our newest vintage, a Fortified Cabernet Icewine/Premium Late Harvest blend.

2008 Erie Shore Vineyard Fire & Ice Cabernet/Fortified

Wine Notes: Cabernet Franc Icewine and Premium Late Harvest – Erie Shore Vineyard- Harrow, ON

Winemaker – Harvey Hollingshead

Vintage 2008 375 mL Retail $19.95

Aged in Stainless Steel. Sugar Code (11.5) Serve at 0-10 Degrees C (32-50F)

Alcohol: 21%

EXPLORE THE SHORE Discover Historic County Road 50

2010-07-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

JULY 24TH and JULY 25TH
11 AM - 5 PM
You are invited to join Erie Shore vineyard for a guided Vineyard Walking Tour starting at 11 am

See the Vineyard and grounds, enjoy the lake breeze and vineyard view from our pavilion and grounds while sipping a glass of wine, enjoying local food, music and the day.
Glass of wine and appetizer: $10/person
July 24th: Music by "Same Latitude as Rome"
July 25th: Music by "Merrill Mills and Dan Thibideau"

July 25th appetizers prepared and presented by Chef Jeff of ToYourKitchen

Erie Shore Sunday's

2010-06-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

Erie Shore Vineyard is pleased to announce

Erie Shore Sunday’s

Every Summer Sunday in our Pavilionduring July and August from

12-5 pm.

Enjoy talented local musicians

while enjoying the Erie Shore lake breezes,

Vineyard View and of course Wine by the Glass.

Time: 12-5pm Music from 2-4pm

The 2010 July Line-up

Sunday, July 11th – Marty Lowman and Karen Morand
Sunday, July 18th – Marty Lowman and Tara Watts
Saturday, July 24th- *Explore the Shore Weekend: “Same Latitude as Rome”
Sunday, July 25th- *Explore the Shore Weekend: Merrill Mills and Dan Thibideau

Also:
Extended Friday Night Hours
*During July and August our Retail store will be open Friday’s until 8 pm.
Summer Hours:
Weekday’s: 1 -6 pm
Friday*: 1-8 pm
Saturday: 10 - 6pm
Sunday: Noon to 5 pm

An Evening at Erie Shore Vineyard

2010-05-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 29, 2010

in Support of a Digital Ultrasound System for ICU, Windsor Regional Hospital.

5:00 - 9:00 pm

Dinner at 6:00 pm

Dinner by To Your Kitchen Gourmet Cuisine by Jeff Wright

Erie Shore Vineyard Pavilion

$25/person

BBQ Meal and 1 glass of Wine

Silent Auction

Entertainment by Victoriouss Productions DJ Service

Tickets available at Erie Shore Vineyard

Cary Bedard, ICU x52787 or

Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation Office x 52656

Our Next Event: Winemakers Spring Celebration Gala Dinner

2010-03-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

This event commenced in 2009 and set a new standard! Congratulations to the organizers!

This is Erie Shore Vineyard's first year with the Rotary's Winemakers' Gala. Harvey will be speaking about the wine matched with one of the five gourmet courses that will be served.

http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php?success=1#!/SpringWineGala?ref=mf

Wine of the Month!

2010-02-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

February's Wine of the month for us was the 2007 VQA Blanc de Blancs (0), at $10.95/bottle, we have been selling this one by the case to customers.

Our Red Wine of the Month was (0) was the 2008 VQA Baco Noir (0) at $16.95/bottle is also a great one!

Happy New Year -2010 Vintage Underway

2010-01-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is the before picture of the 2010 vintage as we starting the New Year with a new vintage.
As hard as it is to believe we are starting to prune the vineyard this week. This is necessary as we prepare the vineyard to nurture the 2010 vintage through this growing season for crush this Fall.
We wish you a Happy New Year and a great one, this Olympic Year.

Our LCBO Wines

2009-12-07T14:55:00.001-08:00

The following are the wines we now have available at the local LCBO stores. Local means the Essex County and City of Windsor stores. (Not all are available at all stores)

2006 VQA Vidal Icewine-it is packaged in a burgundy gift box,

the Wine of the Month: the 2006 VQA Unoaked Chardonnay,

the Staff picks: the 2007 VQA Cabernet, 2007 VQA Baco Noir,

and the 2008 VQA Summer Sun Cabernet.

These and our other 11 vintages are also available at the vineyard store.

Post-Taste of the Season Holiday Open House

2009-12-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

We wish to thank all of you who attended our Taste of the Season Holiday Open House last weekend, November 28th & 29th! What a fabulous turnout!

We think this will continue to be an annual event!

At left is the local Harrow News coverage. Thanks to all!

2002- 2009: Celebrating 7 !!

2009-11-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 6th and Sunday, December 13th, from 1-5 pm, we invite our customers to our winery to help us celebrate our seventh year in operation. We thank you for your suport during our past seven years in business and hope you will join us for Holiday Hors D'oeuvres and a tasting as we celebrate 7. Erie Shore Vineyard-(inside)

Taste of the Season Holiday Open House

2009-11-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Please join us as we present an interactive wine tasting with the Winemaker. Enjoy Holiday Treats, and a chance to win an Erie Shore Vineyard Gift, plus a chance to enter and win a regional wine gift.

Date: Saturday & Sunday, November 28 & 29th

Time: 12 pm - 5 pm

Admission: Non-perishable canned good for local food banks

We hope you will come out and join us--inside the winery. If the weather is good we will also open the pavilion for some outdoor cheer.

Many holiday gift idea's and 16 vintages of wine available. Please keep the date, we'd love to see you!

Free Run

2009-10-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Many people who have a lot of hands-on experience in a field can tell when something is ready, or a piece of equipment has a problem by sense-the sound or sometimes the smell-(bouquet), the feel, or the look of something.

Picking and pressing grapes into wine after many hours and after many years, can also be like that. After many years you can tell when grapes are ready to harvest. This same experience applied to crushing and pressing grapes. After many hours of pressing grapes we should be able to tell by the sound of the grape seeds inside the press, that there is no more free run, and it is time to start inflating to press the grapes to retrieve the remaining juice. While many have computerized presses and lab equipment these days, we like many wineries that still go by sense or experience, and confirm it up with lab tests or computer equipment. I reprint a section from The Wine Manual with respect to free run.

"Free Run is a substantial amount of the juice of the grapes, more than half, that pases through the tiny perforations in the stainless steel cage of the press. This naturally flowing juice is called the free-run. It is the sweetest, least astringent juice, considered to be of the highest quality.

Several types of presses are used in modern winemaking. Modern state-of-the-art wineries are equipped with computer-controlled presses which regulate the whole cycle. Some common presses include the basket press, the continuous press, and (the most gentle) the horizontal pneumatic membrane press.

This last type contains an airbag that runs the entire length of the press. While the must is pumped in, the airbage is collapsed. Once the press is loaded to capacity and the cage is closed, the airbag is inflated and the must is gently pressed through the perforations, and funnelled into fermentation tanks. Skins, stems, and seeds are retained inside the cage." The Wine Manual by J. Marie

Wine Pairings for (Canadian) Thanksgiving

2009-10-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Canadian Thanksgiving is coming up very soon: Monday, October 12th. Thansgiving always seems to be in the midst of harvest for us, and this year will be no different. Having grown up on a farm, Thansgiving was also a busy time usually with corn harvest.

Even though it was usually a busy time, we always kept the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. We try to do the same today. There should always be some time to reflect on what to be thankful for.

We suggest the following Erie Shore Vineyard vintage white and red pairings for your Thanksgiving Dinner:

with Turkey: Chardonnay, Summer Sun and Cabernet Franc

with Dinner Ham: Riesling, Baco Noir or Ridge Red.

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy it with family and friends!

Hawk Migration receives ideal weather conditions...

2009-09-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to a great migration this weekend. We reprint and link to Steve Pollock of the Toledo Blade for his article on this phenomenon, and a photo by Len Strahl:

Article published September 16, 2007:

Weather conditions ideal for annual hawk migration

..."The setup is about as good as it gets for the next several days, given the vagaries of nature, for a "big day" in the migration of hawks around the northwest corner of Lake Erie.
That corner marks a natural funnel for tens of thousands of hawks and other birds of prey in the annual autumn southbound migration to warmer climes. Traditionally major movements of birds of prey, or raptors, occur in mid September on the back side of a cold front, such as the region is experiencing this weekend.".....

On Sept. 17, 1998, a record of nearly 517,000 hawks soared past two sites, and on Sept. 18, 2004, nearly 131,000 hawks and other raptors glided overhead. Such noteworthy passages have put the region on the ornithological map."...

..."

See the entire article online:

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/COLUMNIST22/709160334/-1/SPORTS09

Shores of Erie International Wine Festival breaks their attendance record

2009-09-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo
Posted 11 hours ago
AMHERSTBURG – The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival has completed a highly successful fifth anniversary celebration.
The four-day festival wrapped up Sunday evening and when all was said and done, approximately 20,000 had passed through the gates of Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada. To say organizers were pleased, it was an understatement.
“We were hoping for that number and we are overjoyed with that number especially with the way the economy is,” said wine festival committee chair Karen Gyorgy. “We are very, very happy.”
Gyorgy attributed the success to the venue, the music, the volunteers and the sponsors. She said they offered something for everyone and that she received numerous compliments about how helpful volunteers were. Government grants were also a big part of their success as it allowed them to bring in top level entertainment.
“People know we’re trying to do a quality event,” said Gyorgy.
Limiting the number of tickets per night helped, she believed, as they tried to lessen the “shoulder to shoulder” type crowds that packed in the Fort, especially on Saturday night.
“It’s not about packing people in here,” said Gyorgy. “It’s about quality, not quantity. It’s about the quality of the event.”
The event featured such music as Bedouin Soundlash, Serena Ryder and Kathleen Edwards, just to name a few. Demo tents, a winemakers pavilion, 12 local wineries and 23 restaurants helped make the event the success that it was.
Gyorgy said the 20,000 people helps showcase the region as they also visit other establishments in the area. There were reports of people from Toronto, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, London, Chatham and Collingwood coming into Amherstburg and enjoying the festival.
“It brought 20,000 people to our region. It’s our mandate and I believe we accomplished it,” said Gyorgy.
The shuttle service worked well, she said, and the House of Shalom Youth Centre were an enormous help with maintenance and cleanup. The House of Shalom cashes in the empty wine bottles as a fundraiser.}

“I can’t give enough credit to the House of Shalom,” said Gyorgy. “They are beyond belief. They are great. I can’t say enough about the House of Shalom.”
Plans for 2010 will get underway very shortly, if not already, but Gyorgy said there are no plans for expansion. They may look to do new things within the festival and help keep it fresh and lively.
“It’s all about the wine,” she said.
Gordon Orr, managing director of the Windsor-Essex County & Pelee Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, noted that the wine festival is the “perfect blend” of the region’s wine and food.
“We’re really celebrating the bounty of the region,” he said during Thursday night’s opening ceremonies.
Mayor Wayne Hurst said that the event has evolved from being an event to a “happening.” He encouraged patrons to walk through the downtown and enjoy what Amherstburg has to offer. Town council voted Monday night to send a letter of congratulations to the wine festival committee for their work in staging a successful event.
Essex County Warden Nelson Santos offered his congratulations to the municipality and the organizing committee, as did Essex MP Jeff Watson and Essex MPP Bruce Crozier.
“This is one of the premier events in the Province of Ontario,” said Crozier. “That isn’t by accident. I’m proud when I go east of here to Toronto and talk about one of the greatest wine regions in the province right here in Essex County.”
Article ID# 1752556

More Shores media stories: CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/story/2009/09/14/amherstburg-winefest091409.html

WINDSOR STAR: http://www.windsorstar.com/life/Wine+fest+shines+flattering+light+burg/1990204/story.html

Shores of Erie International Wine Festival to celebrate their fifth anniversary

2009-09-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

we reprint this from the Amherstburg Echo:
Friday night fireworks added to this year's festival
Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo
AMHERSTBURG – The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival celebrates their fifth anniversary this weekend with a full slate of wine, food, entertainment and fun.
The festival opens Thursday, September 10 and following the opening ceremonies, the evening’s entertainment will be Justin Nozuka starting at 5:45 p.m. followed by The Stills at 7:15 p.m. with Bedouin Soundclash closing the evening out starting at 8:45 p.m. Festival administrator Kelly O’Rourke believes that night will appeal to people with different musical tastes.
“That will be a really cool night,” said O’Rourke.
O’Rourke noted that thanks to a grant from Celebrate Ontario, the wine festival has been able to secure more top flight entertainment. That includes Serena Ryder on Friday night and Kathleen Edwards on Sunday afternoon. All the featured entertainment will be on the main stage, but, like last year, there will be a second stage also located on the Fort Malden National Historic Site grounds.
As part of their fifth annual celebrations, there will be fireworks on Friday night at roughly 10 p.m. People and entire families are encouraged to enjoy them, and those with families who don’t or can’t access the Fort grounds invited to watch them from Navy Yard Park.
“Bring your family down to watch. Walk through the downtown when it’s vibrant and busy. It’s so cool,” said O’Rourke.
O’Rourke pointed out that once again this year there will be the cooking demonstrations put on by chefs and master chefs Saturday and Sunday with the demonstrations also including samples for the audience and the recipes so people can try them at home. Also on Saturday and Sunday, there will be “The Four Corners of the Wine World” which attempts to give people an appreciation of wine through education. Those interactive presentations will be ongoing for both days. Those presentations are free once inside the Fort grounds.
“If you are a novice, you will learn right away,” said O’Rourke. “If you are an experienced wine lover, you’ll pick up some tips.”
New this year is a shuttle service, which runs from the former General Chemical property on Sandwich St. North to Fort Malden. O’Rourke said the ride takes roughly 3 ½ minutes and runs throughout the festival, right up until 30 minutes after last call.
“We want to take the hassle out of finding a parking spot,” she said.
The House of Shalom Youth Centre will help by providing set up, maintenance and cleanup at Fort Malden.
Advertisement
Also this year, the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival teams with the Sir Winston Churchill Chapter IODE Antique Show with the antique show being held nearby in the General Amherst High School gymnasium. Admission to that is $5 and runs Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s a really good compliment to our festival,” said O’Rourke.
There are 12 local wineries and 24 area restaurants that will be participating in this year’s wine festival with some restaurants returning from last year and some new ones. O’Rourke said everyone will get a wine glass to use as they enter the grounds thanks to a TD Friends of the Environment grant. People are asked not to bring outside glass in.
Hours of the festival are 5-10 p.m. both Thursday and Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for Thursday night in advance and $15 in advance for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A three-day pass, available only at the wine festival office in the Gordon House, is $40 and good for Friday through Sunday. All tickets are $5 more at the gate. Tickets are available at the Gordon House, any United Communities Credit Union or ScotiaBank locations throughout Essex County. There were still tickets available for all nights, as of this past Thursday afternoon.

Festival of Hawks --September 12-26th, 2009

2009-08-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is not a wine event, but it is a significant local event.

It is the Fall Migration! Raptors, Monarchs, Dragonflies and more. Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Amherstburg, ON (*5 miles west of Erie Shore Vineyard), and Point Pelee National Park of Canada, Leamington, ON (*20 miles east of Erie Shore Vineyard) Details on: http://www.erca.org/ or download a complete brochure: http://www.erca.org/downloads/calendar_Hawk_Fest.pdf

/Photo courtesy of Len Strahl

New 2007 Sellar Secret, new Winter Harvest Cabernet

2009-08-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

We have released two more new vintages this week that we think you will love.

The ever popular Sellar Secret in the Blue Bottle, is made from Chambourcin grapes that are fermented away from the skins, resulting in a very pleasant, soft, cherry-pink colour with no tannins. Vibrant tropical and strawberry flavours. Serve chilled of course.

The Winter Harvest Cabernet is another great one! Great apple, strawberry flavours with a spine of acidity that cuts through the natural sweetness. It's dessert in a glass.

New! New, new...Sun '08, Cab Reserve, ...

2009-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Yes it's official, the new Summer Sun '08 is on the shelves! Also on the shelves is the 07 Cabernet Reserve. They just get better folks!

The Sun is also available on most of the LCBO shelves as well. Soon: 07 Sellar Secret, 07 Baco, and three icewines.

True Essex County Temperatures for the Vintage Tasting

2009-08-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

94 F /34C and hazy and humid. A fitting Essex Summer day for the 15th Annual Vintage Tasting. For a day like this our new 2008 Summer Sun poured well. We certainly had many visitors to our retail for it throughout the afternoon. It will officially be available tomorrow...

Thank you to everyone that attended the event, and especially to Jim & Judy who helped us pour today. We certainly are fortunate to have such great friends to help us out so professionally.

Veraison

2009-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today marked the first observed Veraison at Erie Shore Vineyard. Our earliest varieties started to change colour. Veraison is an intermediate stage in the grape's development, when they go from hard, green berries to soft and coloured grapes.

We use some of these developmental stages to guage crop development. Based on the timing of early veraison, we are exactly normal in fruit development. Based on this we will start harvest in mid to late September.

New Red Wine Released

2009-07-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

Every year we have received more requests for an "unoaked" red wine. Last year with our 2008 vintage we created this new vintage for us. It is a blend of three of our 2008 red vinages in a very fruit forward, unoaked style.

This is a low tannin red, done very fruit forward, but dry (0), and no oak. It is a deep red in colour and taste, very fruity. It matches well with most heavy foods, red meats, tomato sauce pasta's and cheeses. We are excited by the very early response to this new red, which offers the health benefits of a red while remaining low in tannins to those sensitive to them.

The 5th Annual Shores of Erie International Wine Festival

2009-07-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Please join us again on:
September 10th to 13th, 2009 for The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival! details online:

"The Shores of Erie International Wine Festival combines the perfect blend of regional wines, fine cuisine and live entertainment. Set along the magnificent, waterfront grounds of Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada, the festival has become a signature event, anticipated by many visitors in Southwestern Ontario and Michigan.Fort Malden provides a perfect outdoor atmosphere for wine and food lovers. Over 43 winery and culinary vendors provide the finest wines and cuisine along with live entertainment, historical re-enactments, and optional attendance at our Culinary Demo and Wine for Everyone Pavilions featuring interactive culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs and a speaker series from wine experts."
We will have our tent close to the main stage along the water. We hope you'll stop by!

15th Annual SWOVA (Southwestern Ontario Vintners Association) Vintage Tasting

2009-07-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Southwestern Ontario Vintners Association and Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery are proud to announce the 15th Annual Vintage Tasting to be held on August 9th 2009 from 1-5pm. This event rotates to a different winery each year and this year it will be held at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery. Sprucewood Shores is our nearest winery neighbour to our west and they will be hosting winemakers from all around the region to showcase and pour you their best vintage wines, along with providing unlimited delicious food and entertainment.

This highly anticipated event always sells out so please visit, call or email us to purchase your tickets soon. 519-738-9858 or Please let us know if you'd like to reserve your tickets.

Essex Wine Review's July Wine of the Month

2009-07-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you! Another great compliment to our Summer Sun Cabernet!

" Get this while you can! Stock of this "Wine of the Month" is running low and may be sold out by the end of the month, if not sooner!Having tasted all of the local rosé style wines this was by far our favourite summer time sipper. Just chill and serve this wine is perfect to sip on during one of those hot summer days. Made from Cabernet Franc grapes grown in the Lake Erie North Shore region this is one excellent local wine.Available directly from the winery and also at some LCBO locations in Windsor and Essex County." essexwinereview.com: http://www.essexwinereview.com/

100 Days

2009-06-13T15:24:00.001-07:00

We are now in bloom in our earliest varieties. This is a late spring, as anyone in Essex County will tell you. This is a significant stage in grape development-approximately 100 days from full-bloom we should be harvesting. Harvest is what it's all about.

(Photo's soon.)

More Staff Picks Erie Shore Summer Sun Cabernet!

2009-06-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

LCBO STAFF PICKS: 2007 VQA Summer Sun Cabernet!
We are excited to have our 2007 VQA Summer Sun Cabernet selected as the LCBO Staff Pick. The LCBO's local flagship store, the Roundhouse at 3165 Howard Ave., in Windsor (EC Row & Howard)selected this as their Staff Pick in late April, and now at the Amycroft, Tecumseh location and the Windsor Ottawa St & Walker locations have selected it as their Summer Sipper!

Thank you LCBO and to our Summer Sun Customers!!

Sip Into Summer! June 6 & 7

2009-05-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

We hope you can join us for our first public event of the season: Sip into Summer with a savory herb experience.

Sip Into Summer will be held on:

Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7, 2009: Noon to 5 pm.

We will be serving an hors d'oeuvre featuring our herbal theme, matched with our wine. Each customer also will receive their choice of either Thyme of Summer Savory to plant in their garden, or grow indoors (while quantities last)

Our Herbal Theme is Summer Savory & Thyme.
Happy Spring! We hope to see you then.

Stage- Inflorescence clearly Visible, 5-6 leaves unfolded

2009-05-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

This again is the stage of our Baco Noir, which is our earliest variety in grapes. If you look at the stem you can see the tiny grape cluster. We expect this to bloom in about 10 days, to 2 weeks. The other varieties are very close to this. Slightly small and fewer leaves, but inforescence's are visible.

The second photo shows this same variety from a distance.

2007 VQA Vidal Released

2009-05-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

This wine will be sure to please all our Vidal fans. Below is Ontario Wine Review's wine review of this ...

"Yippee Ki-Yi-Yah Mother … well any movie fan should know the rest of this one, so let’s move on from the cliché to something tangible. This is a great little Vidal – I know not the world’s most respectable grape, and saying that a winery makes the “Best Vidal”, to some is kind of a back handed compliment. But when you can take my mind away from the usual sweet syrupy sticky we call Icewine and get me to enjoy a tasty little table wine, you know you’re doing something right. Harvey Hollingshead, winemaker/owner, has made what he believes is his best Vidal since 2003 … the nose is a peach-apple combo, but in the mouth you’re going to have to delve little deeper, as it becomes all tropical with papaya, pineapple and mango … amazingly sippable, and great for entertaining. And what a great price. Price: $9.95 " http://www.ontariowinereview.com/

Early Varieties in Budbreak

2009-05-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!
At left is a photo of some of our earliest budbreak. Later this week we should see the tiny grape clusters. Have a great day all!

Spring Bud Break - It's Happening..

2009-04-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

In vineyard life there are some very key times. One of these is happening right now. In our earliest varieties we are now experiencing bud break. This is time when snall shoots emerge from the young buds. This also means that bloom is 8 weeks away. Bloom is the next significant stage.

We have had quite a lot of rain this week. This is normal for Spring-"April Showers bring May Flowers.." These large, penetrating rains encourage the plant into bud break. We should see a lot of development this week.

Our vineyard is on the shore of Lake Erie. The lake effect delays us in the Spring. We can be 10 days behind the City of Windsor at this time. Our earliest bulbs are just now blooming.

Happy Spring!

The photo shows the vineyard now, and if you look closely, you'll see how we are training new trunks beside the old ones.

Staff Pick! - 2007 VQA Summer Sun Cabernet

2009-04-22T06:39:00.001-07:00

We are pleased to have our 2007 VQA Summer Sun Cabernet selected by the LCBO Roundhouse Staff as their Staff Pick! All the staff must vote on the product they pick as their staff pick for promotion by the till. Thank you!

The "Roundhouse Centre" the LCBO Store at HOWARD & E.C. ROW EXPWY
3165 HOWARD AVENUE, WINDSOR, ON

Our Wine Notes:

Vintage: Cabernet Franc – Erie Shore Vineyard- Harrow, ON
Winemaker – Harvey Hollingshead
Vintage 2007 750 mL Retail $12.65
Aged in Stainless Steel. Sugar Code (1) Serve at 15-18 Degrees C (55-60 F)

The ever popular Summer Sun Cabernet is 100% Cabernet Franc grapes that are pressed immediately at harvest and fermented away from the skins and seeds. This results in a very pleasant, soft, salmon-pink coloured red wine, with litle to no tannins, while maintaining subtle Cabernet flavours. Serve slightly chilled. Vibrant citrus nose(lime, grapefruit) with a hint of sweetness. Dry finish. A wonderful match with seafood, cheese, grilled vegetables, appetizers, salads, wraps, summer or daytime foods.

Other Reviews of this wine include: Essex Wine Review & Ontario Wine Review

Photo courtesty of Essex Wine Review.

Essex County Local Food Map

2009-04-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Essex County Federation of Agriculture has been putting a map together of its membership and their produce. This ranges from Galati Cheese in Windsor, who produce cheese from 100% of the County produced milk, to Lamb from Ewe Dell, to honey, made and sold in Cottam, to of course estate grown and made wines.

The recent Essex County Local Food Map is now available in an online version, on Google Maps, by clicking this link: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?vps=1&jsv=154c&hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103436766376375721831.000467a077b00df57e3cf

The Essex County Federation site is at: http://www.ecfa.ca

A great resource!

Serving Temperatures of Wine

2009-04-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Probably the most asked question we receive in our retail store is about serving temperatures for wines. We reprint the following from our Spring 2008 Newsletter:

"Much more important than people realize is the temperatures at which wine is served. Cold temperatures tend to mute sweetness and flavour. In red wines, cold temperatures will emphasize tannin. Warm temperatures will emphasize sweetness and alcohol. We tend to serve our reds too warm and our white wines too cool.

A quick rule of thumb is to put red wine into the fridge for 15-20 minutes before serving and to take white wine out of the firdge 15-20 minutes before serving. Icewine and sweeter wines can be served directly from the fridge or from an icebucket."

Serving Temperatures:
White Wines at 10C/50F

Red Wines at 18-19C/65-68F

Light Reds such as Summer Sun 15C/ 55-60F

Icewine at Freezing 0C /32F

Meadows by the Lake

2009-03-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to let you know that the “Meadows” has re-opened after the heart-breaking kitchen fire last Fall. You’ll love it-it’s nicely renovated after the damage, but feels warm and friendly like it always did. We’re so glad to have Wayne & Neda & the staff of the Meadows back! It sure has been a long winter without them!

aside: To those of you that do not live or have a cottage, or summer home in the area, the Meadows was built some 87 years ago, we learned this weekend. As a note of trivia when we applied for our winery license in 2002 we learned that the township we are in was "dry" until 1983. The Meadows, while only 3 miles west of us, is across the township line, and that township was not dry since prohibition in 1920's. At any rate, the Meadows is a great neighborhood restaurant - roadhouse, with great character, and in my opinion, the best Lake Erie Perch anywehre although their menu has many, many more items. We are sure glad they have reopened!

Photos: 2007 Cabernet and 2007 Blanc de Blancs, Courtesy Essex Wine Review -both served at the Meadows.

Bald Eagles Return

2009-03-30T10:19:00.001-07:00

Yes! They’re back….the bald eagles have migrated and are back. Not only are the bald eagles the King of the Raptors, and a sign that the Lake and our environment are becoming healthy once again, they also are important to us in the vineyard. They are important as they are territorial. When our vineyard is part of their territory other birds are not allowed in. This is a huge help to us in August and September in protecting the grape crop from the starlings. While eagles normally are fish eaters, the other birds still respect their land territory-even hawks and falcons. Being just 600 meters(yards) from the lake shore, their preferred food is right here. They will go for other birds or small rodents, but only if they are very hungry.

We'll post a photo once we get one. They are very difficult to get a decent photo of as they fly very, very high above the vineyard.

Note: These pictures are just a few of many great ones I received from Len Strahl.

Just to show how difficult to get these photos- the photo below is the one I took of the Bald Eagles. Thank you Len, and thank you John!

Staff Pick!-2007 VQA Baco Noir

2009-03-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to have had our 2007 VQA Baco Noir wine selected by the Belle River LCBO store as their Staff Pick. As I understand it all the staff must vote on the product they pick as their staff pick for promotion by the till. Thank you!

Our Baco is a heavier red wine, with blackberry and currant flavours. It's a great wine with all the grilled red meats, tomato sauce pastas and lamb.

The wine writers and sommoliers are also putting it at the end of the meal with dessert--ie Dark Chocolate and richer desserts like Cherries Jubilee. This wine matching would be as an alternative to a dessert type wine like icewine.

Photo courtesty of Essex Wine Review.

VQA 2006 Duet the Favourite at the Wine & Cheese

2009-03-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time and great turnout to the recent Wine and Cheese event at the Harrow Agricultural Hall on March 6th. Many great people turned out. A great band-local too! Great food and 14 wineries!

We brought 7 wines, but by far the most popular was the new Duet! We brought twice what we thought we needed, and we ran out an hour before the end of the event. We hope you enjoyed the event as well.

Spring Budburst is still six weeks away

2009-03-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

With Spring seemingly just around the corner, we are in the vineyard preparing for budburst. Grapes are one of the last plants to bud-out in spring. Our earliest variety is Baco Noir. In an early spring, budburst on this variety would be the last week of April. In a late spring-year bud burst for our Baco Noir would be mid-May.
We remove 90% of last years growth before spring-or budburst. Only the canes (or shoots) developed from the previous year are fruitful, and we only need 10% of what a normal year grows to produce a normal crop. If we leave too many buds, the grape crop will not mature properly. If we leave too few, we will encourage too much vegetative growth on the vines, and the fruit will not mature properly as well. As in many aspects of winegrape growing and winemaking, assuming cleanliness and timeliness of practices, balance is the key.

Surely Spring is Here…

2009-03-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

We started pruning our Baco Noir this week. Normally when we start pruning it is quite cold with little sign of birds. This past week though , we noticed a number of birds. The Canada Geese were flying in formation North as were the elegant and pure white Trumpetor Swans. While these birds are great to watch, a sure sign of spring is when the red-winged black birds return to the creek that runs between our two vineyard blocks. The red-winged black birds are our early migratory birds and also resident birds. These particular birds are also beneficial to us as they eat many insects that could be pests to our grapes. We are pleased that they were back this week.
While these birds are familar to us here at the Lake Erie Shore and just inland, a great many birds migrate through this area via Holiday Beach and Point Pelee. Holiday Beach is only 5 miles west of us here at Erie Shore, and Point Pelee National Park only 21 miles east of us. These areas see many more birds than we do here and has been recogniced by Birder’s World Magazine as one of the “top 15 birding spots in North America” has also been dubbed the “Warbler Capital of Canada” .
If anyone has interest in following the bird migration, The Friends of Point Pelee and Point Pelee National Park welcome “birders” each spring to experience the avian migration phenomenon from Canada’s southernmost mainland. They offer to teach birding techniques and identification as well as interesting facts about the park. Anyone can take a guided bird hike, but registering for guided bird hikes at 8:30am, 1:00pm or the evening twilight hikes at the DeLaurier Homestead is recommended. Birders could also register online or by phone 888-707-3533 or 519 326-6173. There are maximum numbers for each hike, so advanced registration is recommended.

Also of note is the:

FESTIVAL OF BIRDS 2009 –May 2nd-18th, 2009, Point Pelee National Park of Canada
http://friendsofpointpelee.com/ecom.asp?pg=festivalofbirds

and the: Festival of Hawks this fall at Holiday Beach Conservation Area (5 Miles West of Erie Shore Vineyard) September 12th through September 26th from 9am to 3pm. See their Website: ERCA: Calendar of Events

16th Annual Wine & Cheese Hospitality Night

2009-02-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

Our next upcoming event in on Friday, March 6th, 2009. The 16th Annual Wine & Cheese Hospitality Night will be held in the Harrow Agricultural Building from 7-10pm. This event is a wine and food tasting event sponsored by the Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce and features all 14 wineries of this area. Area restaurants will also be featuring their cuisine. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario will once again have cheeses to compliment wine, music by Spencer for Hire.

We will have all three new red wines available to taste, plus a variety of other wines. We hope you will be able to attend.

All inclusive tickets $20.00 per person. Available prior to the event at The Harrow News, Baubles by Blue, Country Depot and Harrow Post Office. Please contact us for more information
519.738.9858 or info@erieshore.ca

Riesling Rules

2009-02-23T14:17:00.001-08:00

We would like to thank all of you who attended the Wine Festival this past weekend. We certainly appreciated it.

The popular wines for us were #1- 2006 VQA Riesling.

#2 & #3 (tied) two of our three new reds: 2006 VQA Duet, & 2007 VQA Cabernet.

These were followed by Baco Noir and Chardonnay.

We expect to release a new Riesling by Spring. We hope you will enjoy as much as all the previous vintages. Thank you again!

Photo coutesty of Essex Wine Review

Looking Forward to a Great Wine Festival!

2009-02-20T12:08:00.001-08:00

We are ready to go! The newest Wine and Food Festival in the area will open to the public today at 5pm. It promises to be a great time.

This festival, like many of the successful festivals of this area, boasts a great musical entertainment lineup, along with fabulous cuisine and of course wine.

The Festival is being held at the Windsor Expo Centre. The Centre provides Ample Free Parking immediately to the East of the building entrance off St. Luke St. This is off Seminole (at Walker Rd). We are told that additional parking will be made available off of Walker Road and to south of the Centre if necessary. There is also street parking to the East of main parking lot.

Erie Shore's booth is to the left as you enter the turnstyles of the main entrance of the Centre, and toward the stage. You can't miss it. We will have all three new red wines, three white wines, and both Summer Sun and Sellar Secret available.

There will be non-alcoholic beverage available as well in the T2B booth just south of us toward the stage. 100% of the proceeds of this booth will go to T2B.

We're excited about this festival, and its potential for a February Festival for the area. We think this area and this facility have great potential for the future.

For more info see the Southern Ontario Wine and Food Festival Website.

Hope to see you soon! H&A

!!Wine of the Month!!

2009-02-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

We are very pleased to have our 2006 VQA Unoaked Chardonnay selected as the wine of the month by Essex Wine Review! This wine continues to receive great reviews. Thank you Essex Wine Review!

We offer these wine notes for the 2006 Erie Shore Vineyard VQA Unoaked Chardonnay

Wine Notes: Chardonnay – Erie Shore Vineyard- Harrow, ON
Winemaker – Harvey Hollingshead
Vintage 2006 750 mL Retail $12.95
Aged in Stainless Steel. Sugar Code (0) Serve at 10 Degrees C (50-55F)

The 2006 VQA Chardonnay is a lovely, fruity, but dry mid-bodied white wine. Unoaked.
Nicely matched with most main courses including: chicken, beef, game, lamb, pork, vegetables, cream sauces, most cheeses, pizza, Thai and Chinese.

For more reviews of this and other wines, see essex wine review or our wine list online.

Good News for White Wine

2009-02-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

There have been a number of studies that have shown white wine has as many health benefits as red. Both red and white wines are rich in anti-oxidants, which prevent a huge variety of diseases. Recent research also shows incredible promise in resveratrol (from red wine grapes) as a new cancer treatment.

We reprint part of this new article on white wine benefits:

"When picking a wine to drink for health, opt for a glass of red over white, right? Wrong. New research shows white wine also has cardioprotective benefits.A study published in September in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared the antioxidant effects of resveratrol (from red) and tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol (from white) on rats. The results suggest that white wine is just as powerful as red in improving heart function and preventing artery blockage. “We tested a variety of wines,” says Dipak K. Das, a professor at the University of Connecticut school of medicine, who led the study. ..."

“We found that white wines are rich in a type of antioxidant composition that is similarly present in olive oil.”

One thing hasn’t changed: Stick to a glass a day. /from: http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/live/article/176003

The Winter Vineyard

2009-01-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

This winter has been one of the few winters where we have maintained snowcover on the ground. This is a good insulator for both the roots and the graft union of the plant.
Winter is an important season for grapevines. During the winter months, the grapevines are in a deep dormancy caused by internal factors and later environmental factors. Dormancy is basically a rest period for the plant following the work it has had to do to produce fruit during the growing season.
When we leave the fruit for icewine, the vine does not go into a true dormancy. It only goes into dormancy after the fruit has been removed.
We show a photo of our horses feeding on hay. We are finding that leftover alfalfa in the hay is consumed by rabbits. We don’t mind this as it keeps the rabbits from feeding on the tender bark of the grapevines.
Also shown is the vineyard in the background. The white covering on part of it is netting on the Cabernet icewine grapes. These were harvested this past December. The netting will be removed once the snow is melted.

Erie Shore Wine Moves to LCBO Shelves

2009-01-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

We reprint the following from
What's Cooking
by Ted Whipp, Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008.
“Just in time for its seventh anniversary, Erie Shore Vineyard recently released another vintage red wine, the first of five new vintages on their way.
The 2007 VQA Baco Noir has received early rave reviews, the winery reports, and this wine is now available for $12.95 at seven area LCBO stores. They are located at:

Roundhouse Centre, 3165 Howard Ave.; 1320 Walker Road at Ottawa; 7201 Tecumseh Rd. E. at Parkway Plaza; Belle River; Wheatley; Harrow and Amherstburg.
Erie Shore is among the few of the 13 area wineries with products available at LCBO stores.
Erie Shore started selling its first wine, a 2006 Cabernet Franc, in local LCBO stores a year ago and has up to four available in city and county stores, with several supplying its icewine….”

“They're only available at the winery store and LCBO stores in this area, not elsewhere in the retail chain. As for the new Baco, the wine ages well in a cellar and pairs well with grilled or roasted red meats, and pizza, tomato-based pastas, cheeses and dark chocolate. “

Icewine Harvest 2008

2009-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

We hope you enjoy this new blog from us at Erie Shore Vineyard. We hope to post updates on what's happening in the vineyard and the winery.

We finished our Icewine harvest right before Christmas 2008. It was on the two coldest days of December, and we were fortunate to have twelve who helped harvest our Cabernet icewine crop.
The temperature was on average -13 C (8.6F) and even colder with the good windchill. The Cabernet 2008 is of beautiful quality, and we can’t wait to release it when it’s ready.

Pictured are the 2008 Cabernet Ice wine grapes, immediately before picking. The nets in the background are required only to attempt to control bird damage. This variety must be snipped to harvest.
As a note, the weather was cold enough that we could pick during the day. The grapes can thaw on one side by the sun if it’s below –10 C (14F) . For this reason we most often harvest at night.