TasteCamp North, held on both sides of the Niagara river on May 13-15, was a lot of fun and very instructive for the thirty-some wine bloggers and writers present. Pursuing a tradition started by Lenn Thompson for the first two TasteCamps, held in Long Island (2009) and the Finger Lakes (2010), I asked bloggers from outside the region to answer a short series of questions detailing their impressions of the region.
The fifth spot in this series of interviews goes to Richard Auffrey, a Boston area blogger who writes the Passionate Foodie blog, and who is equally passionate about saké (he is a certified saké professional) than he is about wine and food. It’s always a great pleasure to see Richard in person – or to chat with him on Twitter – and he holds the distinction of bringing some of the most interesting wines served at the event’s BYO dinner, where TasteCampers share bottles they believe in: the 1964 Gonzales-Byass Oloroso he brought this year to Treadwell Restaurant was simply divine.
Was this your first visit to Niagara – in Canada and/or the US?
Basically yes, though I did briefly visit the U.S. side about 25 years ago for a weekend. During my prior visit, I did not investigate the vineyards, wineries or wines or even spend much time sightseeing. It was more of a quick business trip.
Had you ever had any Niagara wines before? If so, what was your impression of them?
I have tasted several Niagara wines before, including still wines and ice wines, but probably nothing within the last five years. On my prior visits to Nova Scotia, I occasionally bought a Niagara wine, if available, at the local Canadian liquor store. My favorites were the Inniskillin Ice Wines. As for the still wines, they generally seemed average to me, and nothing was particularly memorable.
After your visit to Niagara, how much has your impression changed?
My views on Niagara wines from Canada have dramatically changed, and Read More
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Post-TasteCamp North interviews: Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report
Was this your first visit to Niagara – in Canada and/or the US?
Yes to both.
Had you ever had any Niagara wines before? If so, what was your impression of them?
I’ve had several U.S.-side wines and some have been among the best pinot noirs and cabernet francs I’ve tasted from New York.
As for the Canadian side, I’ve only had a handful of wines — mostly wines that you, Remy, have shared either at TasteCamp or on other visits — but the cabernet franc and rieslings were standouts.
After your visit to Niagara, how much has your impression changed?
I didn’t have the “they only do ice wine, right?” opinion going in. As a strong believer in drinking local — no matter where local is for you — I went in with a hopeful, open mind.
And, after tasting a couple hundred wines over the course of the weekend, I certainly would not mind drinking local on either side of the border. In fact, I’d relish it. There is seemingly endless potential for a variety of grapes and styles. Not all of the styles being made today are to my liking, but there were plenty of wines that I’d be happy to drink any day of the week.
What did you appreciate the most?
We only visited and tasted Read More »