Never too cool for this school

For the past six years, top Chardonnay makers and connoisseurs have come together in Niagara to celebrate their love affair with the world’s most popular white wine.

The annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (dubbed i4c for short) was created by some of Ontario’s best winemakers who wanted to bring attention to the quality of the Chardonnays coming out of the province.

They wanted to host talented winemakers working in cool climate regions around the world and recognized international journalists in Niagara to showcase their efforts.

Modelled after the International Pinot Noir Celebration in Oregon each year, the weekend was developed to be educational and entertaining in equal measure.

Events range from classroomstyle tutored tastings (The School of Cool) to casual lunches amid the vines, featuring selections from the host of international wineries in attendance.

Napa-based wine educator and author of the bestselling The Wine Bible (Workman Publishing), Karen MacNeil will deliver the keynote address at the seventh annual celebration this July, which features select Canadian wineries joined by counterparts from Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Spain, New Zealand, Uruguay and the United States.

Fifty-nine wineries will showcase specially selected Chardonnays, as well as Cabernet Francs, Gamays and Pinot Noirs throughout the weekend.

Running July 21-23 at various locations in Niagara, the annual gathering of grape nuts begins July 21 with the daylong The School of Cool at White Oaks Conference Resort in Niagaraon-the-Lake before the party moves over to Niagara District Airport for the Flights of Chardonnay tasting.

Saturday’s major event is the evening World Tour & Tasting at Ridley College in St. Catharines, while Sunday sees Redstone Winery in Beamsville host Brunch on the Bench to close out the weekend.

Information and tickets are available at coolchardonnay.org.