‘Cork Screwed’ takes a deeper look at Niagara wines
Season 2 to air in September
Two Niagara personalities are continuing their deep dive into the region’s liquid bounty.
To be specific, it’s the bounty that comes via the fermented juice of grapes grown from Beamsville to Niagara-the-Lake. There’s a lot to know about Niagara’s wine industry — pairing tastes, the science that makes it happen — all of which will be examined in “Cork Screwed” Season 2 as hosts Patrick Gagliardi and Ralph deGroot continue their layman’s quest into understanding and, perhaps more importantly, enjoying Niagara’s vinicultural output.
“We have this beautiful playground of flavours and taste,” said Gagliardi, who just wrapped up shooting the second season of the Bell FibeTV1 show.
The season will continue much as the first, with the pair of everyday men exploring the depth and complexity of food and wine in Niagara from the viewpoint of the uninitiated. Both Gagliardi and deGroot conceptualized the show by drawing on their experience in the television arena. They wanted to do something at home, and while Niagara didn’t have tons of studio space, it did have a breadth of wine and food culture. The only thing was, the pair didn’t know much beyond the fact red wine goes with red meat and white with chicken.
“We came at it from zero,” said Gagliardi, explaining the show is a light-hearted exploration.
“It’s a fun way to learn about wine.”
Every episode, the two hosts team up with a winemaker and local chef or culinary expert to explore the tastes of various wines, and the food to match, before rounding it out with a brief explanation of the science — courtesy of the Brock University Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.
“You just have to explore and get out there,” said Gagliardi, noting that for season two the pair had a little more time to pull everything together.
This meant a deeper dive into the harvest process, including a frigid season opener looking at the ice wine harvest.
“It’s season one, amped up,” he said, adding season two also boasts examinations of less predominant wines, including Gamay and sparkling.
Pillitteri Estate Winery partnered for the icewine season opener while 13th Street Winery will offer an in-depth look at Gamay. Sparkling wine will be front and centre, with an episode focusing on Jackson Triggs’ Niagara Estate.
The season continues with an exploration of the Greenbelt, with the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. The first five episodes will wrap with an all-cab episode featuring Cabernet Sauvignon from Marynissen Estate Winery and Cabernet Franc from Pondview Estate Winery.
Season two of “Cork Screwed” will be available in September on Bell FibeTV1 and www.corkscrewedtv.com.