Sweet event that helps bridge the gap between all forms of media. Wine is a great social lubricant that aided in quite a few groups (including MeetUp and Yelp) to have a good time and learn about this ambrosial beverage.
The two ice wines offered at this event, a Riesling and Vidal, were exquisite. The Riesling was the softer and lighter of the two, while the Vidal was stronger in taste and aromatics. The lychee scent and flavor of the latter was prevalent as soon as it met with the senses. The viscosity had a similar thickness of a good balsamic vinegar, or syrup, which made me want to drizzle some on top of ice cream. This might be a good ice wine to experiment in making a sorbet. Time to bust out the ice cream maker. The mixed drink was heavy on the vodka and drowned out the flavor of the ice wine. The ratio of one ounce of wine to three parts vodka was uneven. The appetizers were a delicious pairing to our drinks. The duck spring rolls and lobster/crab cakes were generous on the protein. Not to forget about the phenomenal chocolate truffles that warranted multiple tries. By the end I had eaten three; the peanut butter and jelly, a salted caramel, and a ganache. Each of them were decadently superb and complimented the wines well.
If in the Niagara area, this vineyard is a must stop destination. It is no surprise that Donald Ziraldo is heralded as a king of ice wine. This man was very knowledgeable about the subject and is interested in imparting his knowledge upon others.
The staff were hospitable and did well with our swarming. The company of other Yelpers was fantastic. Now this is what sweet dreams are made of!