A Fruit Wines
No, I am not thinking about all of the rainwater we received, but the seductive aromas of juicy ripe fruit. Strawberries, peaches, apples, raspberries, cherries, you name it a surprising number of dedicated winemakers struggle trying to bottle the best. While most of us equate wine with grapes, it’s amazing to discover how many farm-based fruit wineries exist. They are spread across the province, from the Niagara Peninsula to the heart of Muskoka. It means that wherever you live, there’s bound to be a fruit winery worth exploring nearby. The challenge for fruit wine producers is reaching the public.
The selection at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is almost nonexistent. Unlike other provinces, in Ontario you can’t taste or buy them at local farmers’ markets. As for sales to restaurants, the provincial government imposes an extra provincial markup of approximately 40 per cent on fruit wine prices. This is in spite of the QC Quality Certified seal, which means that they have passed identical quality taste standards as VQA wines. Restaurants do not pay this higher markup on a VQA wine but do when it comes to fruit wines. Sadly, it means that it’s hard to find a fruit wine in a restaurant.
