2016 Xerox Icewine Gala in the Grand Ballroom of the Fallsview Casino

Tony Aspler.com

Friday, January 15th At the Fallsview Casino thirty-five Niagara wineries were showing their Icewines and a couple of table wines with a series of food stations dotted around the ballroom offering bite-sized plates of amazing food and a spectacular series of sweet tables. Great band and great energy in the room. Michael and I divided up the tasting chores. I concentrated on the Riesling and Vidal while he tackled the red Icewines. My top scoring wines were:

 Ravine Vidal icewine 2013(93)

Trius Vidal Icewine 2012 (93),

Vieni Sparkling Vidal Icewine 2014 (92),

Riverview Cellars Vidal Icewine 2014(92),

Sue Ann Staff 2012 Vidal Icewine 2012 (92),

Jackson-Triggs Vidal Icewine 2013 (92)

 Tawse Chardonnay icewine 2013(92).

Saturday, January 16th: After breakfast Michael and I were ferried to Jordan Village for the Twenty Valley Icewine Festival. The wineries were set up in a series of tents. The weather was mercifully fine to be tasting outdoors. Braziers in the shape of pine cones had been placed around to help participants warm up.

Finished the afternoon by watching the ladies' barrel-rolling competition before heading home.

Sue-Ann Staff competing in the barrel rolling competition