Canadian golf icon Mike Weir at Château des Charmes.PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE WEIR WINE
Golfer Mike Weir spent a fair bit of his childhood in the Niagara region, and the first wine he tasted from the area came from his grandfather’s farm. So it’s not surprising that when the Master decided to take a swing at winemaking, Niagara was the region of choice. His winery is located on the Niagara Parks Whirlpool Golf Course. The wines, co-produced with Château des Charmes, are already winning awards, including a gold medal in 2009 from the Ontario Wine Awards for Best Chardonnay Under $20. Weir donates proceeds to charity: his cause supports kids in need.
Hockey and wine sound about as made-for-each-other as opera and beer — which is the point. Wayne Gretzky’s Niagara winery, Number 99, which is named for his jersey number, is designed to appeal to beer drinkers who think wine is for snobs. The most recent addition to the A-list of celebrity wineries, No. 99 is led by award-winning winemakers Craig McDonald and Rob Power of nearby Creekside Estate and entrepreneur Peter Jensen (also of the Mike Weir winery). The offerings are straight shooters, like a popular unoaked Chardonnay, an approachable Merlot and two icewines. Not only are they winning awards, but Gretzky is dedicating profits to help disadvantaged kids play hockey. Visitors can drop in at the Grille Patio — seasonal only.
Actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd has made a splash on the wine scene, first in Niagara and lately in California. His eponymous Niagara winery produces quaffable, affordable fare, distributed through Diamond Estate Wines. He’s lately added a new “Signature” series of reserve wines, a Vidal icewine and a Cabernet Sauvignon blend that are attracting critics’ raves. And now that he has an established name in the business, Aykroyd is teaming with DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma Valley and proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset on a series of Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons under the “Discovery” label.
Miles Ahead
Redeem your Aeroplan Miles for a personalized tour and tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake. You'll visit three of the region's best wineries — Jackson-Triggs, Lailey and Strewn — and enjoy a three-course French Provençal dinner at Terroir La Cachette. See aeroplan.com for more details.
