July 19, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: BBQ Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the July 19, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, where BBQ Wines is the feature story of the release. The mini-theme highlights a trio of wines from Nova Scotia, while also included in this release is a new selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). There are 102 products offered in this release, and all should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not earlier.

We'll begin with the feature story on Wines for the BBQ. The printed catalogue (and digital edition) offer good pairing ideas for these wines, as well as serving temperatures. Of the twenty-two wines included as part of the theme, seven are among my recommended wine picks. Quality white wines for BBQ fare include the Assyrtiko from Greece, the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the Grillo from Sicily. Among the reds, the only blend is the Chianti Classico, which is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Mono-varietals reds are the Gamay Noir from Niagara, the Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and the outstanding Cabernet Franc from Niagara.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Tuscany with a Super Tuscan that is crafted with 57% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Other blends include the Rasteau, which is composed of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan, the $14 Portuguese red that is a blend of 40% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Aragonez (Tempranillo), and 30% Trincadeira, and the Gemstone from Niagara that is 57.1% Cabernet Franc and 42.9% Merlot. We also travel the globe for mono-varietal red wines, beginning with a Tempranillo from Spain, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Pinot Noir from South Africa.

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay lead the pack among my white picks from the main release. For Sauvignon Blanc wine lovers, there are four wines in total representing Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre in Loire, Argentina, and Australia. For fans of Chardonnay, the local hit parade from the last release continues in this release with wines by Huff Estates in Prince Edward County, and Inniskillin in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Other white wines include a skin-contact Pinot Grigio from Friuli, and the only white wine blend - a Sicilian white composed of 38% Catarratto, 28% Inzolia, 21% Grecanico, 7% Grillo, and 6% Chardonnay.

My lone sparkling wine recommendation from this release comes from South Africa, and it is primarily Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and Pinotage playing complementary roles.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CARMIM TERRA LENTA PREMIUM 2023 - DOC Alentejo, Portugal (#646083) (XD) - $13.95
• FEATHERSTONE GEMSTONE 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#46055) (XD) - $17.95  review coming soon...
• VILLA TRASQUA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#121160) (XD) - $19.95
• BURGO VIEJO RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#168823) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• RHONÉA TRADITION RASTEAU 2021 - AP, Rhône, France (#998716) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• FABRE MONTMAYOU BARREL SELECTION MALBEC 2022 - Patagonia, Argentina (#42115) (XD) - $19.95
• THELEMA MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS SUTHERLAND PINOT NOIR 2021 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#624924) (XD) - $23.95  OFE
• JULES TAYLOR PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#329805) (XD) - $25.95
• BACHELDER WILLMS LES NATURISTES GAMAY NOIR CRU 2020 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45883) (XD) - $29.95
• BLACK BANK HILL CABERNET FRANC 2022 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#46056) (XD) - $39.95
• TENUTA DI TRINORO LE CUPOLE TRINORO 2022 - IGT Rosso Toscana, Italy (#30361) (XD) - $53.95  OFE

White Wine:

• FEUDO MACCARI OLLI GRILLO 2024 - DOP Sicilia, Italy (#477877) (XD) - $16.95
• BIRD IN HAND SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#41875) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• HUMBERTO CANALE ESTATE 1909 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Patagonia, Argentina (#42735) (XD) - $17.95
• TASCA D'ALMERITA REGALEALI BIANCO 2024 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#531780) (XD) - $17.95
• ATTEMS RAMATO PINOT GRIGIO 2024 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#111732) (XD) - $19.95
• SPY VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#686675) (XD) - $19.95
• MEGA SPILEO ASSYRTIKO 2023 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#31680) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• CHATELAIN LES VIGNES DE SAINT-LAURENT L'ABBAYE POUILLY-FUMÉ 2023 - Sustainable, AC, Loire, France (#958801) (XD) - $29.45  OFE
• INNISKILLIN MONTAGUE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#238642) (XD) - $32.95  OFE  90 pts  wine review
• HUFF CATHERINE'S CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#88955) (XD) - $34.00  91+ pts  wine review
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2023 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BOSCHENDAL CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Disgorged July 2024, Traditional Method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#34127) (D) - $29.95  OFE  90+ pts  wine review