Jump into a new year with Frogpond Farm Winery

Savvy Selections wine of the month club
Featuring Frogpond Farm Winery
Canada’s wineries delivered to your doorstep

With the increasing focus on fresh, local ingredients, the ‘100 Mile Diet’, and healthy food choices, what better way to launch into 2010 than with the wines of Frogpond Farm – Ontario’s only certified organic winery.  With a well-established reputation for well-made wines, Frogpond is leaping ahead with an expansion to their wine portfolio – new grape varieties from a newly purchased vineyard that has recently been certified organic.

Frogpond Farm is located on a quiet road near Niagara-on-the-Lake. Savvy Sommelier Susan Desjardins stopped in to visit with the enthusiastic owners, Jens Gemmrich and his wife Heike Koch. Heike recalls that she and Jens came to Niagara on a summer ‘holiday’ after Jen’s brother Martin bought property in Niagara to establish a grape nursery operation.  “I can remember helping graft grapevines in Martin’s basement”, recalls Heike.  Enchanted by Niagara, Jens came back for an extended stay to help his brother.  So began Jens’ dream of moving his family from Germany to Canada and establish his own winery.  Heike took some convincing but they eventually emigrated in 1994.

While working as a winemaker at a local winery, Jens kept his eye out for a farm that would suit his young family as well as fulfill his dream of his own vineyard and winery.  In 1997, he planted his first vines – Merlot and Cabernet Franc – on the 10-acre property. Soon afterwards, he planted Riesling – honouring his German roots.  With notions to break ground as a pioneer and commit his new business to both organic viticulture and viniculture is consistent with the couple’s commitment to their children, their terroir (property) and on a larger scale the environment.  With the release of their first vintage in 2001, they launched Frogpond Farm as a unique alternative for consumers seeking an organic choice among Canadian wines. We were proud to feature Frogpond Farm to Savvy Selections subscribers in 2006.

When Martin recently decided to stop farming, Jens and Heike had the opportunity to expand their business and production to include the new property named “Martin’s Vineyard”.  Since the land was already planted to vines, they began cultivating the property organically and in three years received organic certification. 

To get a taste of all of their hard work, we are delighted to feature wines from both properties:

·         2008 Vidal VQA

·         2007 Cabernet Franc VQA

·         2007 Cabernet/Merlot VQA

We hope you enjoy bringing in the New Year with these unique Savvy Selections.  Let us know how you enjoyed the Frogpond wines, as well as the recipes our Savvy Selections tasting panel picked to enjoy with the wines. 

Want more Frogpond wines? 
It is easy – simply call on us to arrange an order for you.
Heads up: the 2007 Cabernet/Merlot is in limited supply….it is anticipated to be gone by March.

Cheers & Enjoy!

- Debbie & Savvy Team

Frogpond Farm Winery
Presented by Sommelier Susan Desjardins

Jens and Heike are passionate and committed to their land as both grape growers and wine makers.  “As organic farmers, we’ve learned to move away from the approach of always being ‘in control’ of nature.  We consciously work on creating a healthy environment for the vines to flourish. With trust in nature and our patience, we have been awed by the ability of the natural environment to remedy imbalances and heal itself”, proudly explains Heike about their winery. 

At Frogpond Farms, they are pioneers and leaders of organic viticulture (winespeak: grape growing) and winemaking in Niagara. As their business has evolved over the years, they are pleasure to see other wineries in the region adopting organic practices.  Some wineries choose to proceed with certification while others simply use organic growing strategies to enhance the health of their vineyards.  Frogpond, however, is the only winery currently to vinify (winespeak: to make wine) its grapes organically.

What does being an organic winery mean?
There is a difference between wines made with organically grown grapes, and wine vinified organically with organically grown grapes.  The former wines are made with grapes grown following the principles of organic agriculture.  These include the use of only natural fertilizers (no synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals of any kind), more labor intensive management, often including hand harvesting, and lower crop yields so the vines are not stressed.  In addition to using only organically grown grapes, the wines are vinified following very specific requirements defined by Canadian Organic Standards regulations.  The critical aspects of organic winemaking are:

- no synthetic additives, for instance in fining

- no genetically modified yeast, bacteria or enzymes

- restrictions in the levels of sulfites used to preserve the wine and then found in the completed wine

- use of only certain permitted substances in the winemaking process or for cleaning the winemaking facilities. 

For individuals who feel they may have a sensitivity or allergy to sulfur or to synthetic chemicals, organic wines are a great choice.

Confused yet!?!  As more ‘organic’ wine and food labels appear on the market, it’s often difficult to know what you are actually buying.  Certification is a provincial responsibility, so standards are not necessarily consistent across the country.  In Ontario, you want to look for products “certified organic” by an agency such as the Organic Crop Producers & Processors (OCPP) – which certifies Frogpond wines.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has stepped into the breach to some degree, establishing standards and requirements for wines sold across Canada.  To concur, Frogpond will be adopting the new CFIA designation on their labels. Look for this identity: biologigueCanadaorganic.

Always up for a challenge, Heike and Jens have expanded their organic winery business by tripling the size of their acreage under vine.  This allows them to broaden their portfolio of wines and enables them the ability to craft quite different styles of wine arising from the different terroir of their properties.  For instance, “Martin’s vineyard” has two definite sections. One area is composed of heavy clay soils and is situated near some thick bush that shelters the land and traps the heat in the summer. The soil keeps the vines in check, but the additional heat allows the fruit to ripen more and may possibly extend hang time (winemaker speak: ripening time on vine). In comparison, the other section comprises of lighter, sandier soils.  Here, the vine roots reach grow deep, drawing minerals into the grapes which, when vinified, create a vibrant, fruity and more elegant style of wine.  When you visit Frogpond Farm, sample the Cabernet Franc from the original vineyard and compare it to the wine made from Cab Franc grapes on the new property – they are remarkably different, although grown in the same appellation.

Want to try something completely unique?  You can even drink it before lunch!  Enjoy the same health benefits of red wines in the non-alcoholic, pure grape juice produced by Jen’s brother Martin Gemmrich at Niagara Juice Company.  Aptly named – Gesundheit (meaning good health) – can be ordered directly from Savvy Company.

As they say in Germany…Prost (Cheers)!

 ~ Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes ~

Frogpond Farm Vidal VQA 2008, $12.00

Vidal is a grape varietal usually associated with Ontario’s famous ice wines.  This particular dry crisp white wine is produced from 5 year old vines grown on heavy clay in ‘Martin’s Vineyard’.  The soil structure helps keep the vines in check and fruit yields low and optimizing the fresh fruit flavors.  

This wine was just released in December – perfectly timed to be included in the Savvy Selections. Enjoy!

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes:  Pale gold, this bright wine has floral aromas and those of tree fruits (can you find yellow plums, peaches and ripe apple?). These fruit aromas carry through into the flavors, riding on a refreshing seam of acidity.  The finish is long, crisp and citrusy.

Suggested Food Pairing: This easy drinking wine will pair well with firm cheese, light appetizers, white fish, roast chicken or the Pork Chops with Herbes de Provence recipe Susan selected to enjoy with this wine.

Cellaring:  Made to enjoy now!

Frogpond Farm Cabernet Franc VQA 2007, $17.00

The grapes for this wine come from the lighter soils of Jens’ newly certified vineyard. Both this wine and the Cabernet/Merlot (the other Savvy Selections red wine) were aged in large oak casks, adding both body and flavor without overwhelming the aromas and flavour of the fruit. While visiting the winery, Susan found it interesting to compare the 2006 Cab Franc from Jens’ original vineyard side-by-side with a taste of this wine.  The 2006 vintage was more structured and robust, while Susan and the Savvy Selections tasting panel found the 2007 more fruity and delicate. 
Yin & Yang, perhaps!

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes:  A deep ruby red, the 2007 vintage beckons you with aromas of ripe berries, cherries, sweet spices and a hint of red licorice.  Medium-bodied, the wine balances sweet berries (raspberries and blackberries perhaps?) with fresh acidity and perceptible tannins.  It has a persistent finish with hints of toasty oak. Delicious! .  

Suggested Food Pairing:  This wine will pair well with chicken or veal dishes with a rich mushroom sauce or with roast salmon with autumn vegetables.

Cellaring: Drinking well now, the wine could cellar for a couple of years.

Frogpond Farm Cabernet Merlot VQA 2007 $16.00 (500ml)

From the outstanding 2007 vintage – considered by many winemakers as a Gift from Mother Nature – this red wine has been flying off the shelves at Frogpond Farm.  Susan wanted to make sure that there was enough of this wine for our Savvy Selections subscribers to enjoy!  Winning silver at the Royal Winter Fair, this blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Merlot is from Jen’s original vineyard, where the combination of sandy loam underlaid with heavy clay produces a wine of complexity and structure. 

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes:  Our Savvy Selections tasting panel loved everything about this wine – the structure and its balance.  It’s opaque and inky appearance, plush fruit aromas with subtle hints of leaf and vanilla.  The bold flavors engulf the palate with tastes of blackberry, blackcurrant, dark fruit cake and cracked black pepper.  It is full bodied and velvety, with all the components in harmony on the long warm finish.  This wine has limited availability…if you want more, be sure to call on us to help you stock up!

Suggested Food Pairing: Enjoy with grilled fillet mignon with pan-fried mushrooms, charcuterie, or the Beef Fondue recipe that we offer on the following pages.

Cellaring: You will definitely want to taste this wine now to determine if you want additional bottles to cellar for another 3-5 years.

~ Recipes to enjoy with your Savvy Selections ~

With Frogpond Farm Vidal…

Pork Chops with Herbes de Provence
From Call of the Flame, ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen
Serves 4

Ingredients
¼ C fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp finely chopped green onion or shallot
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
2 tbsp herbes de Provence, crumbled
¼ tsp salt
4 thick boneless pork loin chops

Method

1.      To prepare marinade, combine all ingredients except pork in a heavy zip-lock plastic bag.  Add pork and squeeze bag to coat pork with marinade; seal bag.  Let stand for 30 minutes.   

2.      Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade.  Grill pork over low heat on natural gas BBQ until done, about 20-25 minutes for ¾” thick chops.

3.      This recipe can also be made with pork tenderloin, which may be grilled or oven roasted.   

With Frogpond Farm Cabernet Franc….

Fragrant Chicken with Mushrooms
From The Globe and Mail, Lucy Waverman
Serves 4-6

Ingredients
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 Tbsp flour, seasoned with salt & pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
2-4 cloves garlic, peeled & chopped
½ C carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
½ tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf

1 1” piece of orange peel
1-2 C dry red wine
1 C chicken stock
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp brandy (optional)
1 8 oz. package cremini mushrooms, sliced and sautéed in butter or olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped parsley

Method

1.   Trim fat from chicken & coat lightly with seasoned flour.  Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat.  Add chicken & fry 3-5 minutes each side or until golden.  Remove from skillet.  

2.   Add onion, carrot & fry until onions begin to turn color, about 3 minutes.  Then add garlic, stir in thyme, bay leaf & orange peel.  

3.   Add wine, stock, tomato paste & brandy to skillet.  Bring to boil & cook 3 minutes.  Return chicken to skillet.  Cover & simmer gently 20 minutes.  Add mushrooms & cook 5-10 minutes longer, until juices run clear.

4.   Remove chicken & veggies.  Raise heat to high and reduce stock for 3-5 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Season as desired with salt & pepper & pour over chicken.  Garnish with parsley. (Depending upon how much wine used, you may not have to reduce the stock.)