Tips for the visitor to the wine festival

There’s a big party underway in the Niagara peninsula tonight. The 63rd annual Niagara Wine Festival is a ten day bash at wineries from Grimsby, to St. Catharines and into Niagara-on-the-Lake. We talked to a sommelier today who’s offering some advice, especially for first-time festival goers.

Drive through Niagara wine country. There are so many wineries you need a map to keep track of them all.

Debbie Cooper, wine country visitor: “We always try a different winery every time we come.”

With hundreds of wines offered, which ones do you choose? Marcel Morgenstern, the Sommelier at Pondview Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the Lake has some advice: “The number one thing is don’t hold back. You’re here in wine country — that’s what we do every day. Ask all the questions you want to ask. You’ll find the hidden treasures that are not readily available in your local liquor store for example.”

At the winery, you find out how you can pair the wine with food.

Marcel: “The nice white crisp wine is great with a couple of these cheeses — the brie.”

With 17 thousand acres of vineyards and dozens of dozens of wineries, go off the beaten track and you might be surprised at what you find.”

Over the weekend you’ll probably end up taking a few bottles home. The best advice Marcel can give, is don’t put those bottles in a hot trunk without a cooler.

Marcel: “But you want to protect the wine from getting too hot. (Have you seen that a lot?) I’ve done it myself. That’s how I know.”