Gamay 2021
Red
VQA Creek Shores, Canada
Gamay
Accolades: 2024 – Silver – WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada; 2024 – Bronze – Decanter World Wine Awards
Sourced entirely from old estate vines planted in the mid-1990s. To add structure and depth, 23% whole clusters were included during fermentation, slowing juice release and enhancing both fruitiness and tannin integration. True to the "Wending Home way," the wine underwent a slow, purposeful aging process of 18 to 20 months in older, neutral French and American oak barrels.
Style: Bright ruby-coloured, fruit-forward, and spicy-peppery. Far from a quick-to-market style, this medium-bodied Gamay trades simple fruitiness for impressive varietal excellence, boasting a crisp acidity, soft tannins, and a cellaring potential of 5 or more years. (Residual sugar: < 2.0 g/L).
Pairings: Remarkably complimentary with savory vegetarian fare such as summer ratatouille, grilled root vegetables, beans and greens, as well as lighter meat dishes. A perfect addition to contemporary French bistros, wine bars, and gastronomy-focused lists looking to showcase the serious, complex side of Niagara Gamay.
Wending Home
Estate Vineyards & Winery
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Estate wines from old Niagara vines, crafted for complexity and longevity.
Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery is located in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, farming the Creek Shores and Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellations. Winemaker Ron Giesbrecht works with old estate vines planted in the mid-1990s alongside fruit sourced from the Cuesta vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench, farmed by the Wismer brothers. The estate's approach favours slow, purposeful ageing: the Chardonnay spends 18 months on lees in seasoned French oak; the Gamay is aged 18 to 20 months in older neutral barrels; the 'Up Above' Pinot Noir draws from 25-year-old vines. The wines have earned multiple Gold and Silver medals at the Ontario Wine Awards and WineAlign National Wine Awards.
