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RT -------- "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 21, 2000 - 9 Smith's Ocala winery collects four more awards By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star The wines of Scugog's Ocala Orchards are award winners again. Ocala, the winery operated near Utica by Irwin and Alyssa Smith, captured two gold and two bronze medals at the inau- gural Fruit Wines of Canada Association competition, held in Toronto earlier this month. In all, 36 wineries submitted 161 wines, with 61 medals awarded. Archibald Orchards and Estate Winery, another local operation, was awarded nine medals for its entries. Last week Mr. Smith was glowing with pride over the awards, which are among several his winery has won since opening in 1995. He was especially pleased about the top honours awarded to Ocala's black currant and raspberry wines. "Every medal is worth a lot, but if you can win a gold medal, that's really worth a lot," he said. Two dessert wines entered by Ocala, its iced apple and iced pear varieties, won bronze medals. Awards are important to vintners for two reasons, said Mr. Smith: First, they're terrific for publicity. But perhaps more important, they indicate to a wine maker if the recipes and methods being employed are creating better wine. "If | know it's moving up medal-wise, then | know it's going in the right direc- tion," said Mr. Smith. "Whether you get (the award) with one wine or another, or all the time with the same wine... | know | shouldn't change things too much." Factors including changing methods and recipes and even climactic condi- tions and their affect on the fruit used in July 6-9 /2000 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The Scugog Chamber of Commerce is actively seeking volunteers to help with Summerfest at the Port Perry Fairgrounds production have an effect on the final outcome, said Mr. Smith. "The hardest thing I've found in this business is being consistent, because Mother Nature dishes out a different weather pattern each year," he said. "You have one chance a year to make this wine and the decisions you make, you don't know how it's going to work out until you taste the wine." Most successful over the years have been the sweet dessert wines from Ocala: "Right from day one, those have taken anywhere from bronze to gold in compe- titions in Canada and the U.S." said Mr. Smith, who enters three or four competi- tions a year. Ocala is a charter member of the new Fruit Wines of Canada Association, formed by industry members to create standards by which their wines and pro- duction facilities can be measured and accredited. The winery was also recently named an associate member of the Vintner's Quality Association, which gives its stamp of approval to finer domestic wines. Ocala, situated in the rolling country- side south of Utica in the township's southwestern corner has earned a solid reputation as a producer of fruit wines, and is also establishing a reputation for grape wines. Mr. Smith has been carefully adding to his growing vineyards over the years, con- centrating on French hybrid plants. He's also introducing French vinifera, full- blooded French grapes, grafted to root stocks that will take best to the soil in the area. The grapes are presenting a challenge, but will pay off with fine wine in the Irwin Smith's Ocala Orchards winery, near Utica, was awarded four more medals in a recent competition. The winery has collected several honours since opening in the mid-90s. future, he said. "It's the hardest to grow," he said of the French vinifera. "But what we've found is that the harder it is to grow, the better the grape at the end." Varieties now in production or planned at Ocala include Pinot Gris, THERAPY & COUNSELLING Dr. Bill Eull, Ph.D..C Psych Psychologist Joyce Eull RN Psychotherapist have family or. : relationship issues, stress, anxiety, depression or are in crisis because of trauma or abuse. Scugog Chamber of Commerce FIRST ANNUAL RAFFLE Reisling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. . "We'll have 15 acres planted by this spring," said Mr. Smith. The winery has plans to increase pro- duction of non-alcoholic sparkling juices to 20,000 bottles this year. First Prize - $10,000 25 Prizes of $100 , Proceeds for Canada, Festival Days and Santa Claus Parade 2000 Winning ticket wil be drawn under the supenvasion of Roger B. Moase, Chartered Accountant Number of Tickets: 600 © Tickets $60.00 Tickets available at the Port Perry Star License #M144038 Please call 985-4971 to volunteer Together, we can make it happen! 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