The Foreign Affair Winery
1990 | Valpolicella, Veneto
Foreign Affair Winery founders Len and Marisa Crispino were living as expats in Italy when they discovered the wonders of Amarone, or 'Appassimento' wines.
The more they learned about this technique and grew to love these wines, the more excited they became at the prospect of bringing this incredible craftsmanship back with them to Ontario.
And so, they did.
2000 | Niagara, Ontario
In 2000, taking a leap of faith, Len and Marisa bought 40 acres of prime farmland in the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation of Niagara's Twenty Valley wine region, starting their journey to becoming trailblazers of Appassimento winemaking in Canada.
They sourced quality vinifera varietals from Europe, and after three years of carefully nurturing vines, 2004 became the inaugural vintage of Foreign Affair wines.
Today | Niagara, Ontario
While the first vintages had many challenges with this approach, the big, bold red wines they produced as a result spoke for themselves, and so Len and Marisa persisted and over the next few decades, these wines become the benchmark for Appassimento wines in Niagara, inspiring many other producers in the process.
Today, The Foreign Affair Winery offers a unique and diverse selection of award-winning wines, all touched by the Appassimento process in some way, and many stories to share about the journey.
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Niagara Peninsula |
From this Producer
An expressive and full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc re-passed over the skins of lees of their memorable, rich Appassimento wines, for added intensity.
10% appassimento from Sauvignon Blanc graps with 41 days of drying time, fermented in stainless steel.
Aromas of fresh peach, asian pair, apricot, lemon. Royal Gala apple, mandarin and floral honey. Vibrant flavours lead to a mouthwatering finish.
19% Appassimento with 37 days drying time. Aged and fermented in stainless steel
Small lot release; just 125 cases made!
A partial appassimento providing luscious richness! Blackcurrant, blueberry compote, violet, black cherry, cedar, and cigar. With elegant but firm tannings, nice acidity and a long, complex finish.
Aged 18 months in French and American oak barrels (35% new) and a blend of medium and medium plus toasts. Aroma: Lots of complexity on the nose. Aromas of ripe red fruit (ripe dark cherry, raspberry, currant), subtle black fruit (black cherry, blackberry, stewed mulberry) and hints of oak, lots of baking spice and notes of fresh sharpened graphite. Taste: A big, bold wine with lots of complexity! Flavours of ripe red fruit such as tart raspberries and cherries, supported by gentle notes of vanilla, cloves and baking spice.
Varietals:Cabernet Franc 61%, Cabernet Sauvignon 23%, Merlot 9%, Petit Verdot 2%, Malbec 5%
"This might well be the best appassimento-style red produced at the Foreign Affair winery"
John Szabo, Master Somellier
A celebration of Canadian excellence – the label on this wine reads “Sorry” on the front, and “Not Sorry” on the back. A statement which speaks to the quality of VQA wine being something Canadians should be wildly proud of, and unapologetic for.
Foreign Affair's flagship wine hand-crafted from the first vines ever planted at their Crispino Estate Vineyard. The name L'eredita means Legacy, in honour of their founders Len and Marisa Crispino. Expect a 'wow' wine experience with this 100% appassimento wine!