Vineland Estates is a picturesque large winery in the Escarpment area that houses not only the winery and shop but also a bed and breakfast and an AAA 4 diamond rated restaurant on the premises. They have a wide range of wine selections including a pricier Reserve and Specialty wine section.
The second story of their wine shop also houses a small cheese shop and they love pairing local artisan cheese samples with their wine samples at the tasting bar. As such, the TNs will make mention of these as well.
THE WINES AND CHEESES
2008 ST. URBAN RIESLING paired with Lemon Fetish Cheese – The St. Urban Riesling is made from vines planted in 1979. The wine has a nose of lemons, limes and peach. Tastes of lemons, lime and peaches in the mouth. Very bright acidity. The Lemon Fetish cheese was a soft sheep’s milk cheese infused with lemon zest. An excellent match, the wine actually tasted better after having some cheese to go with it.
2009 CABERNET MERLOT paired with Bresa (?) Blue Cheese (not sure I got the name right) – A new release separate from their 2007 Cabernet Merlot Reserve. Dark purple, light body, cherry and oak nose. Black cherry, a little orange flavor, and strong oak. Paired very well with the blue cheese but I think it’d be far better with a steak or lamb.
2008 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ICEWINE – Vineland is one of a handful of Niagara wineries making a Cab Sauv icewine, but that number is increasing as Cab Franc icewine appears to have been played out this spring. It’s also one of only two icewines they make (the other being a classic Vidal).
Nice light ruby red color, light body, nose of berries. Tastes of strawberries and pomengranate in the mouth. Sweet but a nice mellow acidity to balance it out, not as biting as the kind you’d find in a good Cab Franc icewine. RECOMMENDED.
OVERALL: Though they did not start out as a cooking school like Good Earth Food and Wine Company did, Vineland is the second winery we visited this trip that has a very strong association with food. They’ve had much more experience at winemaking, however, and so their wines have a bit more depth to them.
I don’t feel I can give an overall summary for Vineland that would give it its fair due, however, because of two important factors: its restaurant was closed at the time we visited (it will open for the summer season) and our group did not get a chance to try some of their higher-end reserve and specialty wines. I have high expectations for those now.
What we did sample, though, was enough to get me to purchase their Cab Sauvignon icewine and target them for a return visit when things are in full swing. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}