Canadian Winery featured in the world’s largest circulated wine publication’s Top 100 list of wines from across the Globe, Konzelmann Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario is home to a Canadian first.
Following a blind tasting of over 19,500 bottles of wine from around the world, the Wine Spectator – the world’s largest circulation wine publication – chose Konzelmann’s 2006 Vidal Icewine as part of their annual Top 100 list. Only 5,300 of the wines reviewed earned outstanding ratings (90 points or higher on a 100-point scale. Konzelmann’s 2006 Vidal Icewine earned an impressive 94-point score.
“We’re really proud of this accomplishment,” said Jansin Ozkur, Director of Marketing for Konzelmann Estate Winery. “This is a testament to the great wines produced in Niagara and Canada. Hopefully, this will help to educate people about the quality of wines that come out of our country,” he added.
From a field of 5,300 wines, the list was then narrowed down to 100 based on quality, value, availability and an x-factor, which Wine Spectator called ‘excitement’. Fourteen countries were represented in this year’s list, making it the most diverse group in the history of Wine Spectator’s Top 100. The magazine is highly regarded as the world’s premier wine publication, having more than 400,000 subscribers and two million readers per issue.
Konzelmann’s first Vidal Icewine was produced in 1987, and since then has received over 90 awards in competitions around the world. The wine itself can be described as a golden nectar dessert wine, with distinct aromas of dried apricot and honey.
“It’s no secret that Niagara produces excellent Icewines, but it’s reassuring that there is recognition on an international scale. This is the first, but definitely not the last time you’ll hear of a Canadian wine making the Wine Spectator’s Top 100. There are some fantastic wines in Niagara and across Canada that are comparable if not better than those in regions reaching as far as Europe and Australia,” added Ozkur.
Konzelmann Estate Winery is a family-owned and operated vineyard, located along the shores of Lake Ontario in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Herbert Konzelmann is the fourth generation winemaker in the family. Over 30 different VQA selections of wine are produced by the winery and they have received much praise for their nationally and internationally award-winning VQA wines and Icewines. The winery is well-known for its Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and Cabernet-Merlot blends. Housed inside a Germanic-style mansion, Konzelmann produces 40,000 cases of wine and has a storage capacity of 600,000 litres.
“As Canadians we have bragging rights on Icewine as no other country in the world can consistently produce award-winning Icewine like Canada and in particular Niagara. Winemakers Herbert Konzelmann and Eric Pearson are really proud of this Internationally recognized accomplishment,” added Ozkur.
A limited amount of Konzelmann’s Vidal Icewine is available, retailing for $65 at Konzelmann’s wine boutique and at LCBO outlets. Residents of Ontario can also purchase all of Konzelmann’s wines through their website at www.konzelmann.ca. Out-of-province residents can locate a dealer through the winery’s website, and US residents can order the wines through www.thecuvee.com
Visit www.konzelmann.ca for more information on Konzelmann Estate Winery
About Konzelmann Estate Winery
Konzelmann Estate Winery was established in Canada in 1984 by Herbert Konzelmann. The site, on the shores of Lake Ontario, was chosen due to the meso-climate, which is similar to the Alsace region in France. Niagara’s Exclusive Lakefront Winery is open all year round, offering over 30 different VQA selections of quality wine for tasting and purchase.
