All summer long, wineries across Ontario are celebrating the coolest grape on earth… Chardonnay! From now until September 5th, pick up a chardonnay passport at coolchardonnay.org or at a participating winery, for access to a slew of complimentary events and tastings.
Did you know?
Chardonnay is the most widely planted vinifera in Ontario.
As an added bonus, this year is i4c+; look for the + symbol on all event listings to taste other incredible cool climate varieties like pinot noir, cab franc or gamay.
We’ve dug through the 60+ experiences offered and narrowed them down to a few favorites we can’t wait to explore. In short: our Perfect Weekend in chardonnay country!
The folks at Flat Rock Cellars are opening up their back-vintage catalogue of chardonnays to complimentary comparative tastings for passport holders. We’d definitely make time to taste our way through a decade of vintages and discover the impact a year can make.
Next, we’d head to Malivoire for a comparative tasting of single vineyard and multi-vineyard chards. We pit stop at The Cheese Guys cart for the perfect pairing enroute to the tasting bar too!
We’d then head on up to see Milton at Pearl Morissette Estate Winery for a vertical and horizontal tasting of their single vineyard chardonnay — a unique treat since the winery is not typically open to pop-in visits. Call ahead to ensure your spot. Saturdays only.
We couldn’t possibly leave the area without popping into Westcott Vineyards. All summer, they’re exploring chardonnay on The Vinemount Ridge with structured tastings from sub-appellation’s wineries. Sip away on the glorious outdoor patio.
After all that wine, we’d head to Backhouse in Niagara on the Lake for a wood-fired anything and a glass of Henry of Pelham chardonnay. This bright, aromatic version has notes of green apple and better yet, is available on tap!
There are over 60 experiences on offer with the Summer of Chardonnay passport. Find your favourite Chardonnay event? You�re welcome to return with your passport and experience it all over again! Passports are $25.00 each. Visit coolchardonnay.org for details.