Lafontaine du Loup Brut is an exquisite sparkling wine from the Grange of Prince Edward Winery that pushes the boundaries of what Prince Edward County wineries can produce. It expresses the winery’s love for both Ontario wine country and for the Francophone town named Lafontaine in North Ontario, which has been the summer home to their proprietors and their families for generations.
This sparkling wine was crafted from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, using the traditional method with two fermentations in the bottle. Upon pouring, you see a luxurious, frothy mousse. The nose gives lovely brioche, apple, pear, grapefruit zest and almond aromas, which are repeated on the palate with a stronger note of apple. The apple aspect creates a particularly Canadian identity for this elegant sparkling wine!
I enjoyed the 2021 vintage paired with Truffo, a sensuous triple-cream cheese with a thick vein of truffle running through it, which I discovered at Grace in the Kitchen.
Dry • 12% • LCBO# 48424 • $65.45
The people of Lafontaine tell a legend about a lone wolf which for years, terrorized them and their livestock. The cultures in old Lafontaine were French settlers, English Loyalists, Voyageurs, and Aboriginal Peoples. The wolf exploited the isolation of this northern Ontario community. But the people bonded together through this common problem and banished the wolf to never return. To this day, the wolf symbolizes the common respect and connection between the cultures of Lafontaine, a place which remains one of the last Francophone communities in Ontario.
Established in 2002, The Grange of Prince Edward Winery is a thriving part of Ontario’s vibrant winemaking landscape. It spans 135 acres in Hillier, Ontario, with over 40 acres of vines planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Franc. The Grange’s plantings represent some of the oldest in the region.
It’s super-versatile due to its vibrant acidity. What is meant by acidity in a wine? Basically, (chemistry aside) it means that it has a mouth-watering quality on the tongue. A more acidic wine will feel refreshing as you taste it, so it has an appetizing effect and is a natural accompaniment to food. When you hear somebody say that a wine is crisp and refreshing, they are referring to the acidity level of the wine. Sparkling wine balances rich foods such as oysters or buttery lobster, greasy foods such as fried chicken, and even works with potato chips! It’s also fantastic paired with rich desserts such as chocolate mousse or a fruit flan. When paired with foods such as a mousse or creamy ripe cheeses, there is an interesting contrast of textures between the bubbles and the smooth, creamy food. Sparkling wine is always perfect for toasting, too.
Speaking about cheese…Grace in the Kitchen is a favourite destination for food lovers, with an exceptional in-house cheese department called Serious Cheese. Located at the back of the store, it carries a large variety of cheeses from all over the world and a great selection of local Canadian cheeses, too. They offer a selection of cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk cheeses of different types, from firm, blue, brie, washed-rind, cheddars and more. Their cheesemongers offer informed advice about the ideal selection of cheeses based on your specific tastes. When you’re planning a cheese or charcuterie platter, they have lots of ideas and recommendations.
Grace carries an excellent selection of additional products for cheeseboards. They carry a variety of sliced meats (prosciutto, fennel salami, etc.), cured sausages (genoa, ’nduja, etc.) and pâtes. They also have a great selection of olives, pickles and condiments to complement the richness of cheese, and there’s an extensive selection of jams, spreads and crackers that pair perfectly with it.
Grace in the Kitchen is located in Kanata Centrum.
“There can be no strangers when sharing a glass of bubbles”.
For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com
Header image: Courtesy Grange of Prince Edward County
