Not sure why I was so shocked and surprised by this wine, it’s not like the Niagara College Teaching Winery hasn’t been making award winning wines since their inception in 2002; I guess I just wasn’t expecting this tasty little number to be as good as it was when I walked in during the Taste the Season event in late November. I wasn’t prepared for the spicy black pepper and red fruit nose, nor was I ready for the red fruit loaded palate with plenty of strawberries and its peppery elegance in the mouth. It won my “best wine” honour for the Taste the Season event – and it had some very stiff competition. From a teaching winery, go figure – they’re teachin’ ‘em good stuff over there.