Konzelmann Estate Winery- Unique wine tasting experience

I had toured Konzelmann Estate Winery a few years ago with my mom and fell in love with the beautiful vineyard, architecture and of course their wines!

We got the privilege of going back this fall. We attended their junk food and wine tasting. It was such a unique experience. Most of us have done the typical wine and cheese tastings, I know they get a little old after a while. Konzelmann’s has stepped up the game! They pair their wines perfectly with the average snack foods we all have on hand!

At our tasting we had wines paired with plain chips, peanut butter cups and peppermint patties. It was amazing to learn about how the foods complimented the wines! The wines went from ones I enjoyed to completely elevated and the notes in the wines became more defined!

I have to say the staff truly know what they are doing! They paired the Pinot noir with the peanut butter cups and it became a classic peanut butter and jam sandwich in your mouth! The wine was elevated, the sweet notes hit home and the fruity taste became more forward. The sparking Riesling was paired with the plain chips and the oils from the chips calmed the bubbles down and really accentuated the wine notes. The Shiraz was paired with the peppermint patty and the little spicy notes of the wine were elevated and it gave a more refreshing feel as you sipped the wine. It was truly a great experience, learning about wines and how simple things can transform the flavours.

They work hard on their pairings and do switch up the wines and junk food every few months. I love that they do this so returning for this tasting will be a different and unique experience all over again!

I wanted to share a bit more details of the winery itself and some of the beauty of the landscape and some of my personal favourite wines!

Herbert Konzelmann in 1984 discovered the land which he felt was perfect and similar to back home (for growing purposes) for his wines. Konzelmann’s is one of the only wineries along the lakeshore and on a clear day has a stunning view of Toronto. You can see the famous CN Tower just across the water and it holds a beautiful setting for weddings. They often host wedding ceremonies and dinners at the winery. They have a beautiful gazebo out by the lakeshore, and inside have stunning rooms to host the dinners. The architecture of the building itself holds a very romantic yet castle like appearance. Getting married there would have you feeling like true royalty! So if you are searching for a venue for your wedding I highly recommend Konzelmann’s!

They have two locations for their vineyards. One at the main building. Which is featured, this is where the cooler climate grapes are grown and more inland is where the warmer climate ones are grown. There are lots of factors taken into consideration when producing wines and Konzelmann’s has taken them into account producing many favourites as well as continuing to create new releases!

I wanted to share a few of my favourite wines they have. First I’ll start with their peach wine! I’m not usually a “fruit” wine drinker. But their peach wine is so refreshing and just tastes like summer! It’s the perfect casual drinking wine and has the best peach notes! If you love a fresh niagara peach, this is your wine! For the red my favourite is their Shiraz, it’s got a little spicy notes but it hits every spot you want a red to hit. I love that it hits more in the back while sipping it. Their sparkling Riesling is a lovely light wine, has citrus notes but a hint of sweetness. I love a sparkling wine every once in a while and this one is lovely! My favourite white is their Pinot Grigio, it’s lovely light and pairs well with simple cheese and crackers. It gives me summer vibes while sipping on it. But it’s a classic go to especially when your bringing a wine to an event!

Some of their wines can be purchased directly from the LCBO which is perfect! Grab one on your next trip! But they also offer online ordering for the ones not sold at the LCBO and they are worth checking out! They have so many amazing wines to offer! This year I have been focusing on local events, travel and products to purchase. I have always supported Canadian companies, but I am so happy to be able to share this one with you as it has become a favourite over the years!

If you haven’t had the pleasure of touring or wine tasting at Konzelmann estate winery I highly recommend you book one in! They are so kind and welcoming! When you walk in they have a desk where they greet you and they have many very knowledgeable staff at hand to help you select wines if you are just coming to purchase. But if you are going to taste the staff are able to perfectly describe and pair the wines as needed! As I mentioned earlier we did the junk food and wine pairing tasting and it was a real treat! Very unique and eye opening experience. I am now so excited for Halloween as I can properly pair my wines with my kids candy I will sneak!