Tasting Note This is a lovely, calm and so well-balanced rose sparkler — what I am looking for emotionally from the genre. Not power or bombast, but freshness, structure yet charm, without being too fruity or sweet. This shows typically pale salmon pink colour. The nose is a gentle weave of strawberry/redcurrant fruit with some subtle pearl onion, herbs and crouton. It is light bodied (12% ABV) and exceedingly well balanced with crisp acidity and just-right dosage sweetening (which is barely evident). Very good length. We can discuss the County limestone terroir, but the equilibrium wrought by the winemaking here is its backbone. The length is excellent. Tasted December 2025.
Backgrounder Formerly a sommelier at the prestigious Scaramouche restaurant in Toronto, Jonas Newman was attracted to the County terroir and ethos in the first wave of pioneers before 2005. In 2007 he recognized the limestone-based soils and cool climate as being ideal for sparkling wine and made Hinterland Wine Company a sparkling-only pursuit, along with partner Vicky Samaras. With production still no larger than 1,200 cases they have built a business on personal relationships, a cool winery experience and cellar-door sales. They make a range of Charmat and traditional-method estate-grown sparklers including the vintage Blanc de Noirs Les Etoiles, vintage Blanc de Blancs, and several other creative Charmat iterations. Jonas’ early entry into the P.E.C. sparkling-wine scene, and subsequent support of others wanting to make sparkling wine, have made him a local legend. Since 2022 he has also been the winemaker at the adjacent Grange of Prince Edward, which has released a stunning new sparkler called Lafontaine Du Loup Brut 2021.
