The “Noble Rot” at Keint-he in Prince Edward County

Contributed by Karin Desveaux-Potters, Gastronomy Cluster, Economic Development Office, Prince Edward County

I received a message from Bryan Rogers at Keint-He this week that I knew would be of interest to many so I wanted to share with you all..

“We have received VQA status on our, Pineaux Sauvage (Botrytis Affected Pinot Noir).  This is really exciting news for the County, wine lovers and the Pinot Noir varietal. In fact, Botrytis Affected Pinot Noir has only been made commercially available roughly half a dozen times in the written history of wine.  So Prince Edward County is now producing something that is less common than rare.  Here is a short blurb explaining what can be expected from the wine.

PINEAUX SAUVAGE – Botrytis Affected Pinot Noir (2008)

Usually, grape growers do everything in their power to avoid getting mould on their fruit. So, you might be surprised to learn that in select wine regions, a type of mould known as Botrytis cinerea, when fortuitously paired with damp, misty mornings and warm, dry afternoons, yields a wine with beautifully concentrated sugars and acids. The result: a sweet mixture of flavours including dried apricot, orange marmalade, Earl Grey tea, and a trifle of truffle. Known to wine aficionados as “Noble Rot”, this phenomenon is rare and doesn’t happen every year. Once thought to occur only in Bordeaux and parts of Hungary and Germany, it can now be found at Keint-he Winery & Vineyards in Prince Edward County. An excellent match for fois gras, fine nuts and some rare cheeses, this nectar is sure to impress.”

Congratulations to Keint-he on the VQA status; I can’t wait to try the Pineaux Sauvage!

If you would like to invest in gastronomy in Prince Edward County, please contact me at 613.476.2148 x344 or email kdesveaux-potters@pecounty.on.ca