Celebration of cool climate Chardonnay a boon for wine enthusiasts and experts alike

Jill Toyer for Niagara Now

“Hundreds of people — winemakers, wine writers and just plain wine lovers — have sipped and savoured their way through the 15th annual Celebration of Cool Climate Chardonnay, also known as i4C.

“The three-day event kicked off with ‘School of Cool’ on July 17, a full day of structured tastings and panel discussions designed for true wine nerds. 

“A broader audience was drawn to ‘Friday Night Flights,’ which returned to the Niagara District Airport on July 18 this year, for a party atmosphere with wine, food and music. The grand finale was the vineyard tasting and dinner at Riverbend Inn.”

Jill’s article includes quotes from David Lawrason, writer at WineAlign. “Lawrason says the conviction that Niagara wines are world-class is expanding, and i4C has a role in that.

“‘There’s an overall sense, I feel it and I hear it in the speeches, particularly at the School of Cool this year. There’s this amazing confidence now that wineries have. There’s a real push for understanding of their region, and confidence in their region, and it just keeps growing, he says.

“’This event, i4C, gives them a chance to express that, and it lets consumers experience and build on it.’”

For the complete article, click here.