Marlize Beyers
Saturday, November 25th: South African–born Marlize Beyers debuted the first wine under her own label, The Long Way Home 2022, at the Niagara Custom Crush Studio (formerly Stoney Ridge Winery’s facility).
Marlize made the wine from Felseck Vineyard fruit. Her running partner during COVID gave her a book, entitled Let’s Take the Long Way Home, about friendship. She told me it speaks to her winemaking journey, which has taken her from her native South Africa to Hidden Bench and Chile, currently consulting to Flat Rock Cellars. The label shows a path in the woods, and if you look closely at a middle tree on the right, you can see images of her husband Meiring, herself and their two children, Kate and David.
The wine is made from Chardonnay vines planted in 2016 and aged 10 months in French oak, 20% new. 60% was pressed whole bunch and 40% on the skins, to give added texture. (The 2023 vintage, currently in barrel, was made from fruit purchased from the Malivoire estate.)
Bright straw colour with a greenish tint; lightly floral nose of apple and pear with spicy, toasty oak notes; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted apple and pear flavours with lively acidity and a thread of minerality; beautifully balanced, Burgundian style, lovely creamy mouth feel. (93)
Hester Creek wines
I received the following wines from Hester Creek Winery: ‘The original winery built on this site in the early 1980s by BC wine pioneer, Joe Busnardo was named Divino Estate. The property was subsequently sold in 1996 and renamed Hester Creek after the creek that borders the south side of the land.
“Charmed by the scenic location and convinced of its potential, Prince George entrepreneur Curt Garland bought Hester Creek in 2004 — the dry grasslands, natural vegetation, orchards and vineyards of the Golden Mile Bench reminded him of the Mediterranean. New to the industry, he assembled an accomplished team, which included veteran Niagara winemaker Rob Summers.”
Hester Creek Character Red 2022 (Okanagan Valley)
A blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Deep purple in colour; toasty, cedary, spicy nose of blackberries with a white pepper note; medium- to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted black and red fruit flavours with lively acidity and well-integrated oak. (89)
Hester Creek Select Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2022
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, spicy nose of vanilla, blackcurrant and black plum; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackcurrant and black fruit flavours; well-integrated oak, well-balanced and lovely mouth feel. (90)
Hester Creek Select Vineyards Merlot 2022
Deep purple in colour; toasty, spicy, black cherry bouquet with oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, cherry and cranberry flavours carried on lively acidity and rounded out with oak. Lovely mouth feel. (90)
Hester Creek Old Vine Brut (100% Pinot Blanc)
Straw colour; active mousse of tiny bubbles. Peach pit and lemon zest nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, green peach and green apple flavours. Lovely mouth feel and good length. (90)
Wednesday, November 22nd: Took the GO train into Toronto from Burlington. Met a young Mexican guy who is a chemist living in Oregon. He said he came to Canada to see Niagara Falls on the American side. I asked him how he got to Burlington. He said by bus. Which bridge, I asked. Rainbow Bridge. He crossed about an hour before the car exploded and had no knowledge of what had happened. I showed him social media footage and he immediately started calling friends and family to say he was safe.
The reason for my trip to Toronto was to attend a Grapes for Humanity directors’ meeting. It was held in an apartment on the 68th floor of a building at College Park. This was our view.
Toronto from 78 floors up
All the directors were present, except for Geddy Lee, who was on a book tour. To include him in the photo we held up his book, My Effing Life.
Grapes for Humanity’s board of directors. The ladies, left to right: Cathy Martin, Liz Gallery, Helen Hatzis (president), Doris Miculan Bradley (president emeritus). The guys: Bernard Stramwasser, me, Steven Campbell, Hans Gerhardt, Garrett Herman.
Other wines tasted:
Little Engine Elevation Chardonnay 2022 (Naramata Bench, Okanagan)
Straw colour with a greenish tint; toasty nose of apple with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, apple and pear flavours, beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak; great length. (92)
