The Foreign Affair Winery
We were proud to feature The Foreign Affair Winery in December 2023.
Sitting on forty acres of Amarone-inspired vines, The Foreign Affair Winery is known for its bold, full-flavoured red wines and elegant white wines. Inspired by their love of amarone-style wines while living in Italy, proprietors, Len and Marisa Crispino, became the pioneers of making appassimento wines in Canada, spanning from old world to new. Their unique and diverse selection of award-winning wines are all touched by the Appassimento process in some way and are the result of patience, passion, care, and innovation.
Wines included in your package:
Enthusiast Red & White: 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Merlot
Enthusiast Red Only: 2021 Merlot, 2020 Dream
Enthusiast White Only: 2022 Sussreserve Riesling, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Expert Red & White: 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Merlot, 2020 Re-Passed Cabernet Sauvignon
Expert Red Only: 2021 Merlot, 2020 Dream, 2020 Re-Passed Cabernet Sauvignon
Expert White Only: 2022 Sussreserve Riesling, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Viognier
Master Red & White: 2022 Sussreserve Riesling, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Viognier, 2021 Merlot, 2020 Dream, 2020 Re-Passed Cabernet Sauvignon
Master Red Only: 2021 Merlot, 2020 Dream, 2020 Re-Passed Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020 Petit Verdot, 2022 Gamay Noir, 2020 Conspiracy
Tasting Notes
SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2021
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Crispino and GreenLane Vineyards
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Very pale in colour, almost water white.
Nose: Grassy, green plum bouquet with a green pepper note.
Palate: Light- to medium-bodied, crisply dry, lemon, lanolin and green plum flavours.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now.
Food Pairing: Shrimp ceviche, niçoise salad, pan-fried oysters, goat cheese tartlets with fig-balsamic compote, and spinach and artichoke chicken.
MERLOT, 2021
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 180
Appearance: Ruby-purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, plum bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, richly extracted red cherry and red plum flavours. Well-integrated oak and supple tannins. Engaging floral note on the back taste. Nicely balanced.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will reward cellaring for a year or two.
Food Pairing: Penne with sausage and fennel, pulled pork sandwiches, roasted chicken with rosemary and lemon potatoes, gnocchi tossed with asparagus, edamame, and parmesan, and beef wellington.
SUSSRESERVE RIESLING, 2022
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Vinemount Ridge
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 9%
Residual Sugar: 35.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Grapefruit zest nose with a light floral note.
Palate: Light-bodied, just off-dry with a honeyed grapefruit flavour, finishing on a note of lime and apple. Good length.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or through 2024-2025. Will develop more complexity with age.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Coconut chicken curry, pan-seared scallops with linguini, smoked salmon and potato gratin, spicy Thai beef salad, and cheesy zucchini quiche.
DREAM, 2020
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Merlot (52%), Cabernet Franc (37%), Cabernet Sauvignon (11%)
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,000
Appearance: Dense purple in colour.
Nose: Cedar, toasty, spicy nose of black fruits.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, richly extracted flavours of blackcurrant and plum backed by oak spice and carried on a lively finish of dark chocolate and a note of violets.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Barbecued chicken pizza, veal marsala, cheesy risotto-stuffed bell peppers, lamb chops with rosemary gravy, and fried halloumi cheese with honey.
VIOGNIER, 2022
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Martin’s Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.9%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Honeysuckle and white peach on the nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, aromatic, white peach and lemon flavours. Long fresh finish of lemony acidity. A well-balanced wine.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2024.
Food Pairing: Lobster bisque, duck a l’orange, bacon and cheddar perogies, chicken Kyiv, and Irish nachos.
RE-PASSED CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2020
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.4%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 175
Appearance: Deep purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy nose of blackcurrant and blackberry with oak notes.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, Christmas cake flavours of dried fruits carried on lively acidity and round with barrel-ageing. Lots of flavour in this well-balanced wine.
Quality: 89 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Can be opened now, but will soften its firm tannins with 1-2 years of cellaring.
Food Pairing: Beef teppanyaki, seared ahi tuna steaks, ratatouille, smoked tofu fried rice, and peppercorn-glazed pork cutlets with apple slaw.
PETIT VERDOT, 2020
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Petit Verdot
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.7%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 175
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: Vibrant aromas of violets, plum, cassis, licorice, and a hint of menthol.
Palate: Medium acid, medium+ tannin, medium body. Bold notes of dark cherry, blackberry, anise, baking spice, and a touch of fennel.
Quality: 90 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant well and drink now or hold 2-3 years.
Food Pairing: Grilled tri-tip steak with jalapeño butter, butternut squash and kale salad, hoisin pork with stir-fried greens, smoky chicken adobo, and foie gras.
GAMAY NOIR, 2022
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Foreign Affair On-Site Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 2.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 175
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby colour.
Nose: Jammy red berry fruit, savoury herbal note, and a hint of violets on the nose.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Flavours of sour cherry, black tea, savoury green herbs, and a hint of black pepper. Nicely structured.
Quality: 89 – 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Enjoy now or hold 1-2 years to further develop the nose and palate.
Food Pairing: Chicken tagine with apricots and olives, bahn mi sandwiches, grilled pork chops with Mediterranean quinoa salad, spinach and ricotta calzone, and crispy coconut kale with poached salmon.
CONSPIRACY, 2020
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (17%), Petit Verdot (14%), Cabernet Franc (9%)
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 3,250
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby colour.
Nose: A bouquet of violets, black cherry, licorice, and savoury green herbs.
Palate: Medium acid, medium+ tannin, medium body. Very dry. Black cherry, blackcurrant, black tea, savoury green herbs, and black pepper flavours. Great structure with firm tannins.
Quality: 90 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant well and drink now or hold 2-3 years to further integrate tannins.
Food Pairing: Beef brisket with wild mushrooms, oven-fired quatro-stagioni pizza, eggplant involtini (roll ups), fire-roasted tomato and basil penne, and short rib stew.
TEMPTRESS, 2020
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Vinemount Ridge
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (39%), Merlot (31%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Petit Verdot (7%)
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: Aromas of violets, black cherry, blackcurrant, green bell pepper, pepper spice, and a hint of menthol.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Savoury notes of dark cherry, cassis, green pepper, dark chocolate, and black pepper.
Quality: 90 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant well and drink now or hold 2-3 years.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked venison, prosciutto-wrapped figs, lentil Bolognese, cheeseburger with portobello mushrooms, and blackened Cajun chicken.
CHARDONNAY, 2022
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: GreenLane Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 1.29 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Bright. Straw colour.
Nose: Beautiful aromatics of white flowers, peach, green apple, orange, and a hint of oak spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Notes of green apple, lemon, pineapple, coconut, and baking spice. Good length with a pleasant finish.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Jerk-grilled lobster, eggs benedict on acorn squash medallions, grilled pork tenderloin, mussels and tomato chowder, and escargot in garlic and parsley butter.
SPARKLING ROSÉ, NV
The Foreign Affair Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietals: Riesling (82%), Malbec (7.5%), Sauvignon Blanc (7.3%), Chardonnay (3.3%)
Vineyard: Crispino Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 11.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Bright. Pale salmon colour with lively bubbles.
Nose: A delicate bouquet of cherry, red berry fruit, orange, and peach.
Palate: Medium acid, light body. Excellent balance with tantalizing notes of strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, lime, and sweet green herbs.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. A wonderful Charmat method bubbly to celebrate the holiday season.
Food Pairing: Chicken schnitzel, teriyaki salmon with baby bok choy, crispy herbed flatbread with spicy hummus, falafel wraps with tahini, and herb-crusted pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes.