Vintage & Viticulture

Andrea Kaiser, daughter to Canadian pioneering winemaker Karl J. Kaiser, recently released her first small batch rosé made from the rarely seen Dornfelder grape. Kaiser considered a number of grape varieties and settled on Dornfelder for her first rosé as it not only reminded her of her father who loved the variety for Ontario grape growing but was also intrigued by the idea of producing a rosé from a red grape with a bold colour and intense fruit flavours. She had to look no further than a local grower and was provided an ideal vintage for the production of fresh, bright, and food-friendly wines.

Winemaker’s Notes

Andrea (Drea) Kaiser has worked at Reif Estate Winery for almost twenty years as Director of Marketing and launched her own wine collection with the help of the Reif team, including owner Klaus W. Reif, Winemaker Roberto DiDomenico, and Assistant Winemaker Fernando Morales. In contemplating Dorenfleder for her rosé, it was apparent that the juice could only spend a moment or two on the skins for colour extraction so the Saignée method was used for production. Even this limited time on the skins brought a deep bright pink hue to the wine, the first and only Dornfelder rosé produced in Canada.

Tasting Notes

The wine was fermented bone dry and the pleasantly sour notes and backbone of acidity are refreshing on the palate. Tart raspberry aromas and flavours on the nose and palate will pair well with a turkey burger, grilled salmon and shrimp cocktail.