The Weekend WINEdown - VQA White Wine

For all you Winos out there, this series is for you! After an amazing trip to Greece and Portugal, and experiencing some of the lesser known Wine Countries, I wanted to create somewhat of a Weekly Wine Series where I share with you mini reviews, where to buy the Wines, and The Weekend WINEdown 5 🍷 Rating of Approval. For the first post of The Weekend WINEdown, and in collaboration with Canada's 150th Birthday, I am focusing on VQA White Wines. Number #1: We need to know what VQA stands for and means? VQA stands for Vintners Quality Assurance and is an independent authority that creates and ensures a strict quality assurance program is followed. However, the main aspect for a wine to be considered a VQA is that the grapes must be 100% Ontario-grown.  Like a lot of different wine regions, the VQA helps define the best grape-growing regions and sets standards for the wines. Number #2: Where can I find Regions producing VQA Wines? Within Ontario there are 2 main Wine Regions, Niagara-On-The-Lake and Prince Edward County. Personally, I am a NOTL kind of girl, however PEC produces equally as good wines. With that being said, the 3 Bottles I'm going to share with you this week are all from the Niagara-On-The-Lake Region, 2 bottles from Konzelmann's and 1 from Flat Rock Cellars.
So pour yourself a glass of wine, or two, and enjoy!

Konzelmann 2015 Pinot Blanc🍷🍷🍷🍷($13.95) : This multi Award Winning Wine is a light, medium-dry wine, giving off notes of banana, pear, and a hint of citrus on the nose. While green apple, a subtle minerality, and a crisp acidity take over your palette. An ideal wine for hot summer days on a patio.
Key Pairings: Shellfish | White Meats | Light Cheeses
Flat Rock Cellars 2014 Twisted🍷🍷🍷($17): This trio of grapes, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer, creates an interesting blend of sweet and acidic with hints of apple, pear, lemon, honey, and spices on the nose.
Key Pairings: Spicy Asian Cuisine | Thai Cuisine | Indian Cuisine | Seafood
Konzelmann 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve🍷🍷🍷🍷($18.95): One of my favourite varietals of White Wine has been done to perfection by Herbert Konzelmann himself. This tasty creation has hints of gooseberry and grass on the nose, which transitions into spicy pear, white pepper, and lemon zest on the palette.
Key Pairings: Canapés | Fish | Goats Cheese