Veteran winemaker Kathy Malone was pressed to respond when I asked which one wine best represents Hillside Winery. She selected the estate Gamay Noir for its history and pedigree. The Founders Block is considered the oldest planting (1983) of Gamay in Canada. The vineyard is own-rooted and resilient, having mostly survived the “Great Freeze” of January 2024.
This wine shows red to purple fruit, green pepper herbaceousness, and savory notes. This is an exceptionally well-structured wine and built to last. Drink now or hold for four to seven years.
Tonight’s pairing is pesto pasta topped with grilled dijonnaise chicken breasts and a garden salad. Voila!
Read Kathy’s Wine Characters interview, and the history of the founders and owners planting here.