Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release August 4, 2018: Eco-Friendly + Puglia + Campania

The upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on August 4, 2018 takes a look at Eco-Friendly Wines in its main theme, while the mini-theme compares the southern Italian wine regions of Puglia and Campania. All of these wines be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario beginning this Saturday. We'll begin with the main theme that lists sixteen wines that are Eco-Friendly, including wines...

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Joseph's Estate Proprietor's Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc 2004 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is from Joseph's Estate Wines, a family owned and operated winery whose history goes back even further than when it first opened its doors in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1996. Dr. Joseph Pohorly was born in Vineland, Ontario, to a farmer's son and learned how to grow grapes and other fruit crops. With time, he gained knowledge of the land, geography, and...

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Wine Reviews - June 24 Birthday Party

On Sunday, June 24, we threw a birthday party at Bombay Touch in Thornhill for my son who just turned a year old. I brought in my own wines for the occasion, spanning a fairly wide range of categories so that each guest could find at least one wine that would appeal to their palate. Wines styles included a dry rosé, a dry white wine, a sweet white wine, and a variety of...

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Backyard Vineyards Nosey Neighbour Cabernet Franc 2015 & EastDell Pinot Noir 2016 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of wines produced by Lakeview Wine Co., a division of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. Based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, this large wine producer has many brands within their portfolio, including EastDell, 20 Bees, FRESH Wines, McMichael Collection, Dan Aykroyd, Lakeview Cellars, and more recently, Backyard Vineyards. The Backyard...

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Cantalici (Tuscany) Winemaker's Dinner at Mangia et Bevi

Last Fall, I had the pleasure of tasting the wines from Tuscany's Cantalici Winery with Winemaker Carlo Cantalici and Export Manager Angela Butini at Mangia et Bevi in the eastern end of downtown Toronto. After everyone arrived, we sat down at the long, communal-style dinner table and Angela and Carlo began telling us about their winery and taking us through the wines...

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J. Lohr October Night Chardonnay 2015 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a frequent visitor to the LCBO, and mostly recently arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on May 12th. You can still find this yummy white wine in the VINTAGES section at your local LCBO. Produced by a well-known Californian winery, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines was formed in the early 1970's when founder Jerry Lohr chose Monterey County's Arroyo Seco district for its...

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Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release July 21, 2018: BBQ Wines + Lodi

The upcoming July 21, 2018 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on BBQ wines as its main theme, while the mini-theme highlights wines from Lodi, California. All of these wines, plus other goodies throughout the Release will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario this coming Saturday. We'll begin with the main theme that highlights 18 wines for pairing with grilled items off...

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Pierre Amadieu Les Hautes Rives Cairanne 2015 (Rhône) - Wine Review

To celebrate France's World Cup win, tonight's red wine is from the fantastic 2015 Rhône vintage that will be arriving in LCBO VINTAGES on July 21. It is produced by Pierre Amadieu, a winery that was established in 1929 with 7 hectares of vineyards in Gigondas that was passed on from generation to generation. Continued success allowed Pierre to grow and expand, eventually...

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2016 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a sneak preview of a white wine that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 21. I liked the 2015 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie when it showed up in LCBO VINTAGES in March 2017 and am pleased to see this wine return at the same price point. Produced by Domaine la Haute Févrie in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine protected...

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Mont Gravet Colombard 2017 (Southwest) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a white wine made using Colombard, a French white wine grape variety that is the offspring of Chenin Blanc and Gouais Blanc. Traditionally, this grape was grown in France for distilling into Cognac and Armagnac. Today, it is grown in South West France, Bordeaux, and in a few other wine regions around the world. It is produced by Mont Gravet and hails...

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Niagara Grape & Wine Festival 2017 - Day 2 of 2

Last September, I visited Niagara twice over the course of the month to partake in the 66th Annual Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. You can read all about the first day's activities here. The fun-filled second day began at Vineland Estates Winery where we were given a guided tour of the property and facilities by David Hulley. The tour began on the patio over looking the...

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