Potter Settlement Artisan Winery in Tweed has won a major victory at an international event.
The winery was handed the “Winery of the Year” award from the New York International Wine Competition.
Owner Sandor Johnson says the win was due to a string of gold medals for the Marquette (red) and Sauvage (red blend) wines.
The Sauvage received the highest score of 95 points out of 1,400 red wine entries from 24 countries.
“Sauvage is my ‘revenge’ wine,” says owner/winemaker Johnson. “We overpaid for the finest Merlot from B.C. and the best Shiraz from Pelee Island, which we blended with our outstanding Cabernet Franc and Marquette from our farm in Tweed. Literally the very best of Canada in a bottle.”
Why revenge? Johnson was at the 3 Michelin Star Alain Ducasse restaurant in Monte Carlo, Monaco in 2007 and was met with derision and laughter from wine sommelier Gerard Margeon when Johnson asked if Alain Ducasse served Canadian wine.
“I was told that Canadian wine was garbage and must be fit for the savages,” Johnson said. “It was so embarrassing. The entire restaurant was laughing. So I set my mind to make the best of our country in a bottle and I called it Sauvage – French for savage.”
I will send the restaurant a bottle of this big award winner with a note reminding them of what their sommelier said to me and to educate them that we truly do make spectacular wines in Canada.”
“This is a big, prestigious win for my small family farm in Tweed,” Johnson continues. I’m actually thinking of sending it C.O.D.,” Johnson pauses with a smirk. “How savage is that?”
