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Raise your Glass to a Canadian First
Canadian Winery featured in 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 premiere 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 the 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 wining 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 are
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 for purchase. |
