The annual Ottawa Wine & Food Show takes place Friday to Sunday, and if you're interested in trying a great range of wines, plan to be there. This year's theme region is California, but you'll be able to taste wines from dozens of countries, including many wines not available at the LCBO.
Let's start with California, which turns out an impressive range of wines in many styles and all price levels. There are stunning Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs, Zinfandels and Chardonnays, not to mention many other varieties and some great blends.
The California pavilion looks pretty amazing on paper, and when you get there you'll find about 20 producers pouring some 80 different wines. Among them, check out the wines of Niebaum-Coppola, Rodney Strong, Ironstone, Bonterra and Sterling.
Elsewhere in the exhibition hall is Virgin Wines, the winery associated with the music company and the airline.
Another event highlight is the Ontario pavilion. This is the first time that many Ontario wineries have worked together, rather than each winery having its own booth. Countries such as Italy, Australia, Chile and South Africa and regions such as California have been doing this for years, and it's good to see Ontario finally on board.
Twenty Ontario wineries are in the pavilion and another dozen have their own booths, making for a very good representation of Ontario. Look for the Colio Merlot Reserve 2002, which won "Best Red" at the Cellars of the World competition and was runner-up at the recent Ottawa tasting of Bordeaux, Ontario and B.C. wines.
In fact, why not taste your way through Cab-Merlots and other Bordeaux blends from Ontario and other regions?
Can't get enough Australian wine? More than two dozen wineries are at the show, representing many Australian regions and styles. There are Madfish and Goundrey from Western Australia, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehmann from the Barossa Valley, and many more from smaller regions. Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand offers a good selection of Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs and other varieties.
South Africa looks good, too. Among the quality wines at the South Africa pavilion, check out the Lammershoek reds and whites. You'll also find quality from South Africa at booths such as MCO Wines. Other Southern Hemisphere producers, Chile and Argentina, offer very good selection.
As for the Old World, France is well represented, Italy has a bigger pavilion, and Germany and Spain offer a good range of wines in different styles.
One new feature at this year's show is consignment wines. These are not available through the LCBO or Vintages, but can be ordered by the case from importers. You'll find consignment wines at various booths, such as South Africa, and you can taste a good selection at the T.W.C. Wines booth.
And be sure to drop by Cantina Fratelli Moscone, an Italian winery making its first appearance in Canada. It'll be pouring a Barolo, a Nebbiolo, a Barbera and a Dolcetto.
It's impossible to do justice to the sheer range of wines available for tasting at the Wine & Food Show. Nor can anyone taste them all. But whether you taste haphazardly or systematically (some people taste all the Rieslings, then all the Pinot Noirs, for example), you're sure to have a great time.
As usual, be sensible. If you plan to taste a lot — even if you spit — take a bus or a cab home. The cab fare is nothing when you think of the potential consequences of drinking and driving. With the trip home taken care of, you can enjoy the show that much more.
This week's quartet is four California wines being poured at the Ottawa Wine & Food Show. In case you can't get to the show, you can share the spirit by buying them at the LCBO.