{"id":59329,"date":"2019-07-24T15:38:38","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T19:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=59329"},"modified":"2019-07-24T16:27:22","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T20:27:22","slug":"chardonnay-celebrated-at-coolest-summer-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2019\/07\/chardonnay-celebrated-at-coolest-summer-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Chardonnay celebrated at \u2018coolest\u2019 summer school"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winemakers, grape growers and sommeliers\u00a0<\/span>went back to school this past weekend during the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C).<\/p>\n

The educational session, titled ‘School of Cool’, gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the impact various viticulture and winemaking practices have on Chardonnay.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s part of the i4C\u2019s annual celebration that highlights the diversity of Chardonnay from Canada and around the world through a variety of food and wine events. Brock\u2019s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) is the education partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

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CCOVI continuing education instructor Christopher Water, of Vines Magazine, sat on an expert panel that examined how consumers\u2019 tastes and perceptions are changing around Chardonnay. (Photo courtesy of Steven Elphick for i4C)<\/p><\/div>\n

The School of Cool, held at White Oaks Resort, featured three expert panels that examined cool climate winemaking and viticulture, climate change and weather volatility, and how consumer\u2019s tastes and perceptions are changing around Chardonnay. The discussions featured grape growers, winemakers and industry professionals from across the globe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CCOVI Viticulturist Jim Willwerth moderated one of the sessions \u2014 \u2018It\u2019s not just the heat, it\u2019s the volatility\u2019 \u2014 and discussed how changing climates can impact Chardonnay grapes and the style of wine produced from them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a product that has a distinct characteristic from where it is grown and even subtle changes in climate can result in differences in the glass of wine itself,\u201d said Willwerth. \u201cSo, it really is a big indicator in terms of how climate change may have an impact on not only viticulture in our wine regions, but also agriculture as a whole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote speaker Julia Harding, a prominent wine writer and Master of Wine, was excited to learn about and taste Canadian wines, as it was her first visit to Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou may think all cool-climate Chardonnays are going to taste the same, but they are so different, even within one region if you are looking at wines from Ontario,\u201d Harding said. \u201cThen you are getting the contrast with wines from around the world. The vast range of flavours and styles is really impressive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

CCOVI also hosted a blind tasting called ‘What Kind of Cool Are You?’ at the i4C Cool World Tour Tasting, with a focus on helping guests discover their favourite style of Chardonnay.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe poured four different styles so guests could decide if they preferred a Chardonnay that fell in the category of crisp, fruity, smooth or rich,\u201d said CCOVI Outreach Manager Barb Tatarnic. \u201cThe blind tasting is designed to be a fun and interactive self-discovery type of session. Once people knew which style they preferred, it helped them to understand their own palate and, with that knowledge, to navigate through the Chardonnays from around the globe available at the tasting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Next year\u2019s School of Cool will coincide with the<\/span> International Cool Climate Wine Symposium (ICCWS)<\/span><\/a>. The prestigious wine conference is being held at Brock University <\/span>July 12 to 16, 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about the conference at <\/span>iccws2020.ca.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n