Wine Highlight: 2016 Mabel's VCR, $28.95 - Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
January 12, 2021


September 2025

GRAPE AND WINE DISCOVERY PASS

When: September 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 11 am to 5 pm

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery and other participating Niagara wineries

What: The Niagara Wine Festival's annual Grape & Wine Discovery Pass returns. Buy your Discovery Pass online and visit up to six participating wineries for innovative and delicious wine and food pairings.

September is harvest and this Discovery Pass program is all about is winemakers' comfort food when they are up against a deadline -- what do winemakers eat when they're working all hours to get harvest in? In our case, get ready for:

SIZZLIN' WITH SAS" GOES TO THE DOGS!

Our winemaker loves cooking...until harvest when her signature “Sizzlin' with SAS” creations are simplified to HOT DOGS! As a “Fancy Farm Girl”, Sue-Ann's hot dogs are accessorized with Grilled Corn and Feta Salsa, zesty BBQ sauce, and gourmet wieners on a Cobb’s bun.

Why does winemaker Sue-Ann Staff love this wine? The pairing is rustic, charming and refreshing.

FEATURED WINE: Fancy Farm Girl Foxy Pink

FEATURED MOCKTAIL: Lemonade with a mint twist

FEATURED CULINARY CREATOR: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

Purchase your Discovery Pass online: https://niagarawinefestival.com/fall-discovery-pass-25

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

Nature Girl: Waterfalls, Yoga & Wine

When: Saturday, September 13

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Begin your day with a revitalizing yoga session on the serene grounds of Sue-Ann Staff Winery. Then, set out on a guided hike along the scenic Bruce Trail, where you’ll explore lush forests and take in the beauty of cascading waterfalls. After your adventure, return to the winery to unwind with a well-deserved flight of premium wines. A perfect blend of movement, nature, and indulgence!

$65 per person, find all the details at https://www.naturegirlexpeditions.com/product-page/hike-wine-sept-13

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

Run for the Grapes

When: Sunday, September 28

Race Times: Half-Marathon at 8:30 am, 5k at 8:45 am  

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Run a half marathon or 5k and support The Heart & Stroke Foundation! Find all the details you need and register at the Subaru Running Series website here: https://niagararunningseries.com/running-event/run-for-the-grapes-1-2-marathon-5k/

 

Harvest Sunday

When: Sunday, September 28, 1-4

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  September's the best in wine country! You're invited to visit the winery September 28 for an afternoon of live music by Michelle Hedley in Sue-Ann's front garden. Enjoy music and wine surrounded by lush vineyards. Wine flights, wine by the glass and wine-friendly snacks available for purchase. 

 

October 2025

ALS Revolution Ride

When: Sunday, October 5

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  The ALS Canada Revolution Ride is a volunteer-powered, fundraising event hosted in support of ALS Canada that encourages participants to do more for people and families living with ALS and in honour of the people we have loved and lost.

This premier cycling event takes place on Sunday, October 5 in Jordan, Ontario in the beautiful Niagara wine region. The roads surrounding the area offer a landscape that will take riders along a route, steeped in excitement and beauty, leaving participants with a sense of accomplishment and the reward of seeing their fundraising efforts go to help families affected by ALS. There are two awesome routes to choose from including 40km and 90km options. Choose the distance that suits your level!

Not only will the kilometres logged be worthwhile, but the start and finish lines are located in the heart of Ontario wine country at the stunning Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery. The day promises to be a memorable one.

Find out more and register to ride here: https://revolutionride.als.ca/revride/participate

November 2025

THE GREAT GRILLED CHEESE EXTRAVAGANZA

When: Saturday, November 1st 11-4:30, Sunday, November 2nd 11-4

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Experience the best grilled cheese sandwiches of your life, each one perfectly paired with our wines!

It’s a celebration of Sue-Ann’s long-time love affair with inventive grilled cheese sandwiches. “Why have tomato soup with your grilled cheese, when you could have wine?”

Ticket-holders are welcomed with a refreshing sip of our Fancy Farm Girl sparkling before setting off on a delicious cheese adventure. Four fabulous grilled cheese stations are set up throughout Sue-Ann’s home, each one offering delicious sandwich samples with our award-winning wines.

$48.53 per person ($42.95+HST). Gluten Friendly timeslots available! Find all the details and buy your tickets online here: https://www.sue-annstaff.com/collections/events/products/sue-anns-great-grilled-cheese-extravaganza-2025

 


Wine Highlight: 2016 Mabel's VCR, $28.95

In the spotlight for today's #winehighlight...the lovely and delicious 2016 Mabel's VCR!

 

A true SAS original, the 2016 Mabel's VCR is a blend of 43% Viognier (estate-grown), 33% Chardonnay (sourced from NOTL) and 24% Riesling (estate-grown).

All three wines were vinified and cellared separately, and then blended before bottling. The Viognier was barrel-fermented and aged in re-coopered/re-toasted French oak barriques for a total of 11 months. The Chard was fermented and aged on lees in a 5,000 litre French oak cask for 11 months. The Riesling was cool fermented and aged in stainless steel. 

The resulting wine is a multi-faceted delight!  This multiple-award winner features aromatics of lemon oil, white flowers and vanilla with an undertone of nuttiness.  The dry bright palate is medium bodied with buttered toast, tropical sensations of papaya, guava and citrus.  Clean, pretty, with a long finish, the 2016 Mabel's VCR will continue to evolve in the bottle for another three years for those with patience to cellar it. For the rest of us, enjoy this gorgeous wine with seafood, poultry, pasta carbonara, medium aged and hard cheeses, substantial appetizers and pork dishes!

$28.95/bottle

Available for curbside pick up or home delivery! Order now!

 

Spaghetti Carbonara

https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Spaghetti-alla-Carbonara/

Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

  • 10 oz. pancetta, cut into 1/2″-long x 1/4″-square strips

  • 23 cup white wine

  • 1 lb. dried spaghetti

  • 23 cup finely grated Parmesan

  • 14 cup finely grated pecorino Romano

  • 2 tbsp. finely chopped parsley

  • 2 eggs

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Remove and discard garlic. Add pancetta, and cook until edges are crisp, about 6 minutes. Add wine, and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

  2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain, reserving 14 cup pasta water. In a large bowl, whisk together Parmesan, pecorino, parsley, and eggs; while whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in reserved pasta water until smooth. Add spaghetti along with reserved pancetta mixture. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper. Toss to combine, and serve immediately.

 

 

 


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