Local is the New Black

Every once in a while a great bottle comes around, and that wine changes your life.

But wine lovers are never monogamous.

For many who appreciate a great wine, it may be possible to go through commitment phases, or ‘love affairs’ with a certain varietal, but most wine lovers can’t stay with just one for long.

One might think that they belong with a Pinot Noir, but than along comes a slightly chilled Beaujolais one day and it’s true love at first sip.

An affair can start in all sorts of ways – a self-professed California Cab-only drinker may take a trip to Italy and get hit on by all kinds of similarly big reds – Chianti Classicos and Brunello, and resist. But later, this person, will be handed a bottle of the beguiling Ripasso di Valpolicella. And while they may have entertained the potential of other wines, that Ripasso’s got a leg up. And as the second bottle of Ripasso is passed around the table, out comes the cork.

While some say they only drink one varietal, when a compatible new wine comes around, wine lovers can’t keep their corkscrew in their pants.

However, in burgeoning wine regions, such as the one we have here in Ontario, extravarietal affairs take on a different shape – while some wine lovers are lured away by a different wine, others are by a new region. In fact, the Niagara Wine Region is like the ‘Most Eligible Bachelorette’ of the world’s wine regions – in relation to older, more familiar regions it’s fresh to the scene and thus more “It” worthy, it’s had won numerous international wine awards, and with the rising notoriety of it’s sister city Toronto in pop culture, Niagara wines have never been more dateable.

Think about it this way – your love for wine is a dating show and there are three contestant bottles vying for your attention. Gewurztraminer, one of the most successful and exciting new wines out of Niagara, is going up against two famous others – a Gewurztraminer from Alsace,France and one from the Alto Adige region of Italy.

Dating Show Host: Let’s meet our contestants. Bachelorette Number One from Alsace. She is a celebrated woman of contrast – with a dry taste, but a rich aroma of rose, lychee and peach stone, this classic beauty has been well loved and rightfully so. But since Alsace is known to produce some of the finest expressions of Gewurztraminer, you HAVE dated her before…and so have all your friends.

Alsace Gewurztraminer: Yes I’ve been around the block, but only because I’ve been around for years. I’ve got a big rep for being the most delicious…

Alsace Gewurztraminer reapplies her slightly smeared red lipstick and drops her ‘little black book,’ the size of a Bible, on the table.

Dating Show Host: Bachelorette Number Two from the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy. This Gewurztraminer is a whole lotta wine; with aromatic richness and strength, this full-bodied wine tastes of fine spices and cloves with a gorgeous nose reminiscent of a full bouquet of roses. This powerful wine may overpower your dish as she commands the attention of your senses, but who needs to eat when you have a wine like her?

Bachelorette Number Two: I am a big, delicious Italian wine. Need I say more? No. I can be your lover, you’re only friend and your mother. Date me.

Bachelorette Number Two blows you a big kiss, then pulls ten bulging bags of luggage out, presumably containing everything she owns, and taps her watch.

Dating Show Host: And finally here is Bachelorette Number Three from the burgeoning Niagara Wine Region. She is a fresh face to the scene but will wow your palette with her remarkable taste and flair. Niagara, a famous producer of sweet wines such as Riesling, Vidal and Icewines, is a natural for Gewurztraminer. Allow your socks to be knocked off by this youthful and talented lady.

Bachelorette Number Three: Gewurztraminer is new to my region and for those who can’t pronounce it, I say to call me G-Wine. Until everyone recognizes me, I’ve been used as the special ingredient in bottled wine blends, and my honey coloured self is like the golden touch – add Niagara G-Wine to a VQA blend and it sells like hot cakes! My region might be young, but it is an ideal place to grow my vines and cultivate my perfect grapes. People try me and they’re like “OMG-Wine!” So what will it be – what region for G-Wine hits your G-Spot?

Bachelorette Number Three does three backflips, spins around a pole and twirls towards you , fireworks erupting around her…

Regardless if you are attached or not, when a great wine comes around, no ball-and-chain favourite bottle is worth saying no for. So sow your wild grapes, because love for wine is best for the open-minded, the swingers, the cheaters, and the just plain open-hearted.

In this case (or case of an amazing new wine), it will always mean something – something delicious!