The Ontario Wine Society Presents The Niagara Chapter's Bordeaux vs. Ontario at Lakeview Cellars Winery, 4037 Cherry Ave., Vineland Date: Saturday January 27, 2007   Reception - 1:30pm, Tasting - 2:00pm Members: $35     Non-Members: $45

The Bordeaux region of France creates one of the great wine styles of history. With its blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, it is a full bodied and robust red. The Bordeaux style is often emulated throughout other wine regions of the world, but of course no one other than Bordeaux can label it as such. Many legal and commercial problems were solved when California decided to create a name to indicate to the consumer a "Bordeaux-styled" wine. The name "Meritage" was comprised of the words "Merit" and "Heritage" and has an American pronunciation to rhyme with the word "Heritage", as opposed to a French pronunciation like "Hermitage". Although "Meritage" is a Californian term, it has been adopted by many wineries in Ontario and other regions of Canada.

Join us for the first wine tasting event of 2007 and a memorable one it will be. Four Ontario Meritages will be tasted blind against three similarly priced Bordeaux wines. You will be scoring the wines and a consensus list of the ranking of the wines will be done after the tasting. Here's your chance to find out how Ontario ranks against the world benchmark of Cabernet / Merlot blends.

Former owner and winemaker of Lakeview, Ed Gurinskas will take us through this remarkable journey. Eddie and his wife Lorraine founded Lakeview in 1991, creating one of Niagara's first cottage wineries with a production of 2,300 cases. Eddie established a name for Lakeview by crafting big, bold reds and aromatic whites. In 2003, he retired and passed on the winemaking duties to his then apprentice, Thomas Green.

Carrying the Flag for Ontario will be the following wines:

• 2001 Maleta Meritage
• 2002 JT "Delaine" Cab Merlot
• 2002 Creekside Reserve Meritage
• 2002 Lakeview Meritage

Don't miss this unique opportunity to taste some of Ontario's best red wine and be the judge and jury on how we stack up with the French.

To register for this event, fill-out and mail-in the form provided.

Directions:
Lakeview Cellars (4037 Cherry Ave, Vineland) Take the QEW to the Victoria St. exit (Exit #57) in Vineland. Follow Victoria St (or Regional Road 24) south (towards the escarpment) until you get to the lights at King Street (Regional Road 81). Turn right and proceed west for approximately 2 kilometers. Turn left at Cherry Ave. and proceed south, up the escarpment. Lakeview Cellars is on the left. For local directions or a map, visit www.lakeviewcellars.on.ca.

For information call the Niagara Wine Line at 905-685-7623 or visit www.ontariowinesociety.com. Members $35, Non-Members $45. Members may bring one guest at member price. Your cheque must be received by Friday January 19, 2007. Cancellations will be accepted up to Friday January 19, 2007. Please do not mail cash. Seats will not be sold at the door. Although we appreciate knowing your intentions, receipt of your cheque is the only way to guarantee a reservation, so please be sure to mail in your registration forms early as reservations are not accepted by phone or email.

Please Note: In order that all of our members are fully able to appreciate the wines, we kindly request your cooperation in not wearing perfumes or scented after-shaves - Thank you.