# Estate Series White (2019)

- **Producer:** Wayne Gretzky Estates No. 99
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Viognier, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Muscat
- **Region:** Ontario, Canada
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.7%
- **Average price:** €17
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, melon, grapefruit, lemon, blossom, vanilla, toast, butter, honey, ginger

## About this wine

Wayne Gretzky Estates No. 99 was co-founded by Canada's most celebrated hockey icon, Wayne Gretzky, in partnership with John Peller of Andrew Peller Limited. The estate opened its state-of-the-art 23,000-square-foot destination winery and distillery in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2017. A defining aspect of this estate is its philanthropic mission: profits from the winery directly support the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, which funds minor youth hockey programs, purchases gear, and builds community rinks to give underprivileged children the opportunity to play the sport.

## Interesting facts

- Co-founded by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, with profits directly supporting his foundation for youth hockey.
- Combines a textured Rhône-style Viognier base with highly aromatic Alsatian varieties like Riesling and Muscat.
- Winemaker Craig McDonald was named Ontario Winemaker of the Year in both 2008 and 2016.

## Food pairing

This textured white blend balances rich, barrel-fermented components with crisp, aromatic stainless-steel fermented varieties. The moderate acidity and subtle off-dry sweetness make it highly versatile, cutting through creamy or herbal dishes while complementing mild spices and delicate seafood without overpowering them.

## Wine making process

Crafted under the direction of acclaimed winemaker Craig McDonald, this wine utilizes a dual-vinification strategy to balance rich texture with vibrant fruit. The Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay components (comprising 79% of the blend) underwent barrel fermentation and were aged for 6 months in 100% French oak barrels to build a luxurious mouthfeel. Conversely, the Riesling and Muscat components (21% of the blend) were cool-fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve their high aromatic intensity. The components were blended together just prior to bottling.