Low Tar & Nicotine Ontario Amarone

The St Catherines Standard published on interesting article on the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program providing funding to Reif Estate Winery on three experimental projects.

Essentially tobacco drying kilns once used to dry out tobacco leaves will be used on wine grapes to make Amarula style wines, induce botrytis (noble rot) to produce sweet wines and to speed up and improve the quality of ice wine produced.

Its great to see innnovation so that Canadian wines can compete in special niche areas and create products of added value. I tried Ridgepoint Wines 2002 Nebbiolo  (Barolo style wine) and it was excellent in my view and was surprised that Canada could grow a grape that is normally associated with a warmer climate.
Having met Klaus Reif I found him to be a very down to earth gentleman. Now I can add the trait of innovator after reading this article.
Click the title of this entry to view the article