Ascari Enoteca is really excited about our next Up Close & Personal visitors, Carolyn Hurst and Grant Westcott, not only because their wines are a great representation of the exciting things happening in the Ontario winemaking scene but they have an amazing story and a genuine passion for what they do that resonates with us. Come and meet them and taste their wine on Wednesday, June 15, from 6PM onward. You can call for reservations, 416.792.4157, or book online with Opentable.
ABOUT WESTCOTT VINEYARDS
“Living the dream”
Westcott Vineyards is an artisanal 3,500 case winery owned and operated by the Westcott/Hurst family. Carolyn Hurst and her husband Grant Westcott started the adventure in 2006 acquiring the vineyards as a new chapter in their lives; a simple way to transition from very successful management consulting, senior civil servant and information technology backgrounds. Their original plan was to live in wine country and grow grapes – a modest thought.
They carefully selected their 40 acre vineyard and winery site located in the cool climate region of Niagara Ontario Canada. The vineyard consists of south facing clay loam slopes on the Niagara Escarpment, an ancient limestone coral formation which provides the ideal geological foundation (terroir) for growing their favorite classical Burgundian wine varietals – Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
The romance of wine making and the climate of the Vinemount VQA appellation overtook those early plans and more ambitious endeavors emerged. In 2012 the first vintage was harvested after an incredible growing season, and their first wines were crafted garagist fashion by Veteran winemaker Arthur Harder in a small equipment barn. Winemaking follows very traditional Burgundian patterns – hand harvesting followed by hand sorting every grape, fermentation and aging in french oak barrels for 12 to 24 months. Traditional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines are complemented with more contemporary “Delphine rose, Lillias Chardonnay, and Temperance red blend” wines. Sparkling “Violette” charmat and “Brilliant” traditional method wines were added with the abundant 2013 vintage.
In 2013, an authentic 200 year old Niagara fruit barn was relocated and modernized to become the winery and tasting room. Carolyn and Grant were the joined by Garett and Victoria Westcott in 2013 to look after vineyard operations and retail sales. Westcott Vineyards is a rich customer experience focused on beautiful wines that celebrate all that Canada has to offer; warm summers, lovely hospitality, lively conversation and great food.
ABOUT UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
At Ascari Enoteca we have been fortunate to meet many of the unique personalities behind the wines we pour. We would like you to meet them too. We consider our ‘Up Close & Personal’ wine series as the anti-formal wine dinner; a continuing series of commitment-free evenings, conceived of as an alternative to expensive, multi-course winemaker dinners. We will be welcoming winemakers from around the world and closer to home. In addition to our regular menu and wine list, we will be offering a selection of their wines by the glass or by the bottle. Our guests will be spending evenings with us pouring their wines at your table, chatting about anything you may find interesting, sharing their passion and having a glass and a plate of food themselves. If you enjoy hearing the winemakers tell you their stories and the stories of their wines, these are rare opportunities to personally meet the people behind the bottles and the labels. Ask them anything, or just relax and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
