The Weir team has been working with Project 10 Productions creating a moving documentary on Mike’s journey: 4 Days in April The Mike Weir Story. The documentary will air on TSN and Global the week of the Masters this coming April.

Global with be airing the documentary on Saturday, April 13th at 2:00 pm leading into their Masters pre-game show and on Sunday, April 14th at 12:30 pm leading into the pre-game show (except British Columbia where it’ll run immediately following the Masters). TSN broadcast times are not confirmed at this time.

4 Days in April : The Mike Weir Story – Trailer from Project10 on Vimeo.

Mike Weir Underdog Red 2009 ($14, LCBO, 87 points) — Mike Weir has joined the growing crowd of wineries making a “second label.” This one is called Underdog, appropriate, we assume, considering the slump Weir is in on the PGA tour. This value, four-variety red is pretty good for the price with wild berries, violets, savoury spice and kirsch on the nose. It’s a mid-weight wine with juicy fruits that show cherry, bramble, licorice and spice in the mouth.

The Underdog White 2009
LCBO No. 248476; $13.95

Mike Weir Wine recently purchased the former EastDell Winery with plans to extensively renovate and re-open as his own Niagara winery. Meanwhile he’s launched the charming Underdog wines, produced for him by Chateau des Charmes. This blend of sauvignon blanc, riesling, auxerrois and gewürztraminer is just off-dry with a fruity, peachy flavour and good grip. It’s a fun, flavourful sipper.

“Believe it or not, Canadians share an indelible spirit and commonality — we are hard working, nose to the grindstone underdogs that stop at nothing to get the job done. Despite our modest stature, conservative stiff lips and ever apologetic disposition, we rise to the top when the game bell rings.

Mike Weir embodies this spirit and among his Canadian sport icon peers, stands out as the true Underdog. In sport as in wine, Canadians continue to stand up to the challenges, capitalize on timing and execute on hard work as did Mike Weir leading up to his win of the 2003 PGA Masters.

Mike Weir’s Underdog Wine Co. celebrates all of our achievements as Canadians — you, me, wine, design, sport, innovation — Canada is right there leading the way. Congrats to Mike Weir, Ontario wine and all Canadians.

The Underdog Wine is an extension to Mike Weir’s established and very successful wines of which Insite assisted in the brand creation and package back in 2004. We are particularly excited to have been invited to assist once again to produce the package for Mike Weir Wines.”

About Underdog Wine Packaging:

“Insite worked with the Weir team from the naming stage through print. We believed strongly that there was current equity both in the established branding of Mike Weir Wine but also in the branding of the figure himself including the iconic black attire Weir is known for wearing on the big day of PGA tournaments.

Stylistically we focused heavily on classic type usage to assist in asserting personality while telling the Underdog story on the label. Textural elements as well as embossing reflect the tactile quality of materials that celebrate sport history such as trophies, patches and awards. The result is what we hope to be a sparky and somewhat sporty option for appreciators of Canadian wine.”

Canada’s Great Green Hope turned winemaker, Mike W is now offering a new release called, wait for it! – The Underdog, a fresh lively dry white made from Sauvignon, Riesling, Auxerrois and Gewurztraminer (88), and a spicy crowdpleasing dry red blend of Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Gamay (90). Priced at $13.95, they’re a sporty addition to the competitive world of wine and food. Earlier, Mike Weir Wines released its first estate-grown Riesling, a soft, off-dry crowdpleaser with Anjou pear, lime zest, nectarine and apple pie aromas/flavors (87) – easy drinking and pleasant (v) 229286, $14.95. Stainless-steel fermented and bottled for Mike by Chateau des Charmes.

Golf pro Mike Weir has won plenty of trophies and prizes, not to mention a buttload of cash. So it’s kind of touching that he would choose to brand his new wines “The Underdog”. But The Underdog Wine Co. is secretly about winning: the winery director suggests it’s a good name because “everyone cheers for the underdog”.

Mike Weir has been involved in producing and marketing his Niagara wines for a number of years and he’s put out some good ones (like an excellent riesling also out now, see below). His own brand is usually priced in the mid- to upper-teens, so now, working with Chateau des Charmes winery, Weir is releasing a second label, Underdog.

The other thing to know about Underdog is that although Mike doesn’t make the wine or blend it, he does get the final say on which of the short-listed blends they go with for any Mike Weir wines – so Mike likes these ones.

The Underdog Wine Co. 2009 White
Mildly aromatic nose with stone fruit and lemon notes. Fairly full for a white. Sweet note but good acidity to balance. Smooth, with some lime and an OK finish with another hint of sweetness. The blend here includes riesling, sauvignon blanc, gewürztraminer and auxerrois – rather more flavourful than a typical chardonnay or pinot grigio. LCBO 248476 | $13.95

The Underdog Wine Co. 2009 Red
It’s another hot summer, but that was not the case in cool and wet 2009, when this wine was made. Reds can still be good, but it’s not reasonable to expect “big”. You won’t get big here, but in the heat of 2011, this works quite well as a light red sipper. Tested on a stifling evening, it was great chilled (not usually a good idea for reds).

Nicely integrated nose with a bit of a caramel note under ripe strawberries, maybe cherries, and a smoky/woody edge. Smooth on the palate but there’s enough tannin, wood and spice so it feels a little more serious. The red fruit tones are fresh and light, acidity is good. Chill it and think of it as a darker, more manly rosé … LCBO 248484 | $13.95

Meanwhile, down in America it’s the Summer of Riesling. More than a hundred top US restaurants have signed up, including The French Laundry in Napa, Spago in Beverly Hills and Daniel and Bar Boulud in NYC. They’ve all pledged to offer at least three different rieslings by the glass for the 94 days of summer (June 21 – September 21) . You can make it a summer of riesling for less than the price of an appetizer…

Mike Weir Wine 2008 Riesling
If proof were needed that Mike Weir is really more comfortable on top, leading the pack, try this riesling. It’s not only great value, it won Best White Wine of the Year at the All Canadian Wine Championships for 2011.

Austere and not too aromatic nose with grapefruit and a mineral hint. Rich surprise on the palate, which is quite unctuous. A high line of acidity keeps things fresh over a honeyed note, a bit of floral and lots of lemon-lime. This is off-dry but the acidity keeps it fresh right through the finish. Good stuff, and I for one would love to see what this winemaker could do with this quality of riesling if he went for a bone-dry style. Vintages 229286 | $14.95

Oh, and the profits from all Mike Weir wines goes to the Mike Weir Foundation, which helps support Canadian children in need.

There’s a gruelling international sport that involves coaxing complex character into a grape. In our 100% VQA Ontario division, grapefruit and peach aromas combine with lush tropical flavours to make their way up our vines to an ultimate finish within this bottle of wine. It’s called winemaking and Canadians are really good at it.

For team Weir we recruited a unique all-star blend; Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Riesling, Auxerrois and the MVP Gewurztraminer to bring it home.

750ml  $13.95  - SKU# 248476

Imagine you were a sports star at a dinner and your rider was to have a VQA bottle of wine with aromas of strawberry, cherry jam and a hint of spice. People would serve you this wine. Really. Your manager must have called some friends to make it happen.

100% Ontario grapes; Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Gamay Noir pulled this blend together.

750ml  $13.95  - SKU# 248484

To see what some had to say, read Rubentein’s article in the Globe or follow the words on Twitter by searching @UnderdogWine OR #UnderdogWine.

“I’m no Beppi Crosariol, the Globe’s erudite wine and spirits critic, but I thought the 2009 Underdog Red VQA that I enjoyed had a lot going for it.”

Rubentein’s article in the Globe