Marynissen Estate Winery – 2021 HERITAGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
What do the Edmonton Oilers, the greatest hockey player of all-time Wayne Gretzky, and the founder of Marynissen Estate winery have in common?
Let’s look at the time line:
In 1978, during his first pro season in the World Hockey Association and after playing 8 games, Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Indianapolis Racers to the Edmonton Oilers. The World Hockey Association would cease to exist as an organization the following year and the Oilers are amalgamated into the NHL.
Also in 1978, John Marynissen, against the wisdom of grape growers, plants the first ever Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Canada at his estate in Niagara. The belief at the time was that the Canadian winters were too cold and the growing season too short for this grape varietal to succeed in the Niagara area. For the next 12 years the grapes being grown by John Marynissen would continue to be for making wine for family and friends.
Fast forward to 1990, with the Niagara region wine market expanding, Marynissen Estate Winery gets approval to make and sell their first commercial vintage to the general public leading to the construction of their first bricks and mortar shop opening in 1991.
The year 1990 is an important one for the Edmonton Oilers as well, after winning 4 Stanley Cups and Wayne Gretzky no longer on the team, Captain Mark Messier leads the franchise to their 5th Stanley Cup victory. This year is an important one for Marynissen Estate Winery as the winery officially starts selling to the public.
The first NHL Heritage Classic outdoor hockey game was in 2003. This year the NHL and the Oilers are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the outdoor game on October 29, 2023 when the Oilers take on their rivals the Calgary Flames. Be sure to have the Marynissen Estate WInery 2021 Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon swirling in your glass so that you can reflect on the incredible paralleled histories of the Edmonton Oilers and Marynissen Estate Winery.
Purchase the Hockey WineUp 6 Pack or Individual Bottles Online @ Marynissen
Wine Description
A beautiful representation of what old vines have to offer. Super fruit driven, with dehydrated strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and oak.
Winemaker Mitchell McCurdy is in charge of ensuring that the fruit from these old vines transforms into the wine you will experience while watching the Edmonton Oilers this year. A graduate from Brock University, Mitchell is a founding member of the Collab Wine and Beverage group, an online platform promoting some of Ontario’s must try wine, cider, and beer.
The Heritage Classic game will be a great chance to make a nice autumn stew with gamey meats complement the rounded fruit taste of the 2021 Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine stats ie. alcohol/sugar
- Vintage: 2021
- Variety or Blend: 100% Estate Grown Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
- Region: Niagara VQA, 4 Mile Creek
- Vine Age: 43 years
- Alcohol Content: 12.5%
- RS: 3 g/L
Hockey WineUp Viewing Schedule
Sunday October 29 2023 *Heritage Classic*
Calgary at Edmonton 7:00 pm
Wednesday Feb. 28 2024
St. Louis at Edmonton 8:30 pm
© 2025 Nicholas Shalagan and Hockey WineUp. All rights reserved. Hockey WineUp is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHL or its teams.
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