[Growwine] Coffin Ridge

[Larry Paterson]

New winery exceeds expectations
Posted By Darling, Shari
Posted 3 hours ago
Due to the increase in viticulture and winemaking in Canada, we are lucky to 
have many wineries opening up around our province. In the wine industry 
these areas are called the "outer limits," meaning located outside the 
Vintner Quality Alliance's designated wine regions of the Niagara Peninsula, 
Lake Erie North Shore, Pelee Island and Prince Edward County.

Many of these grape fermenting gems produce quality grape and fruit wines, 
and are worth visiting this summer.

I recently toured Coffin Ridge Vineyard and Winery (www.coffinridge.ca) in 
Grey County, Owen Sound, (519-371-9851).

This boutique winery opens its doors on June 1 for tourists and wine lovers. 
It's a stunning vineyard with the structure built in a clean, sleek and 
simple style. With large bay windows and an outside patio overlooking 
rolling vineyards and the crystal blues of Georgian Bay, Coffin Ridge is a 
fabulous spot to stop for lunch and a glass of wine.

Here you can savour an array of homemade artisan breads, the recipes 
specifically developed to pair with the Coffin Ridge wines, along with 
locally produced cheeses. And let's not forget the opportunity to enjoy a 
glass of wine in the sun.

The winery is situated on the side of a small valley or ridge called Coffin 
Ridge. Locals claim that the ridge obtained its name over 100 years ago. 
Apparently, a person was being buried on the ridge. The pallbearers dropped 
the coffin and the corpse rolled down the ridge. The ridge then acquired its 
name, Coffin Ridge.

My expectations are rather low when it comes to sampling products from new 
wineries. It often takes a year or two before a winemaker finds his/her own 
style. However, I was pleasantly surprised by winemaker Terry Rayner's 
identifiable style. The quality level of his wines exceeded my expectations.

Owner and surgeon Neil Lamont believed the terroir of Grey County could 
produce decent wines. He planted his grapes a decade ago on the property. He 
was right.

As I've said in the past, I'm a huge fan of the geizenheim grape. The 2007 
Coffin Ridge geizenheim, $16.95, is outstanding, offering juicy pink 
grapefruit and floral aromas. The palate offers full-bodied, sweet 
grapefruit flavours, good acidity, a refreshing sprits and a long, lingering 
finish.

Coffin Ridge 2007 geizenheim is the ideal companion for hot and spicy ethnic 
foods. I sampled this white with curried pumpkin and banana soup, along with 
a curried chicken salad sandwich.

Winemaker Rayner produces two interesting rieslings. The 2007 riesling 
sur-lie, $19.95, is bound to win many awards. The wine is fruity and yeasty 
on the nose. The palate offers full body, slight sprits, great acidity, 
complexity, good mid palate structure and a long finish. This is one of the 
most complex and interesting Ontario rieslings I've ever tasted.

Coffin Ridge suss-reserve riesling, $18.95, offers a completely different 
taste profile. This is a typical, yet delicious white with big, juicy kiwi 
and mandarin flavours on the nose and palate.

Rayner has developed a fun and easy drinking red blend called Back From the 
Dead Red, composed of a few hybrid varieties. Back From the Dead possesses a 
nose reminiscent of blackberries. Medium-bodied, the palate is velvety and 
pleasant with flavours of smoke and bacon. This red whispers to you, "find 
me some grilled baby-back ribs." The price of this quaffer will range from 
$15 to $16.

Other reds include a non-oaked baco noir and an oak age baco noir, both 
under $20 and worth trying.

Right now Coffin Ridge produces a limited supply of wines, available at the 
winery, not at the LCBO or through the Internet. I suggest you take a 
weekend afternoon to drive to Georgian Bay.

Shari Darling owns Orgasmic Culinary Creations (www. 
orgasmicculinarycreations.com), producing artisan foods for the wine lover. 
She can be reached at www.sophisticatedwino.com.

Lardy

Larry Paterson, lfw, rd, adcc
(Little Fat Wino, Roving Drunk, Alcohol Distribution Channels Critic)

http://www.littlefatwino.com/