Dionysos Wines (Greece) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's post features a trio of lovely wines from Greece. All three wines are new arrivals as Destination Collection products at the LCBO and can be purchased online or by visiting the LCBO Destination Collection stores on Danforth (Toronto) or Erin Mills Parkway (Mississauga).All three of these wines are produced by Dionysos Winery S.A., a wine producer that was founded...

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Samos Vin Doux White Muscat (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delectably sweet fortified wine from the Island of Samos in Greece that made its inaugural arrival at the LCBO in last weekend's March 2 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos (UWC Samos), one of the oldest cooperative wineries in Greece as it was founded in 1934. UWC Samos is also...

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Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch (Jan. 2024)

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive media preview of the Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch event that is taking place on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Inniskillin Estate winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.The event begins with a welcoming cup of Icewine Hot Chocolate, followed by an opportunity to mingle and get warmed...

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Lakeview Cellars Riesling Icewine 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Continuing the recent trend of enjoying fine Icewines, which included the 2017 Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine last month, tonight's Icewine review is a lovely, vegan Riesling Icewine from Niagara that returned to the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Lakeview Cellars, a brand that was established in 1991 by Eddy...

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Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an excellent Icewine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on November 19 and is featured in the Local Talent column in the release.Lakeview Cellars is the oldest of several wine brands owned by Diamond Estates. Their winery is located at Lakeview Wine Co. on Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Established...

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Mike Weir Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review takes me back to 6 years ago when I first tasted this lovely Icewine at Mike Weir Winery in January 2016 while attending the annual Icewine Festival.Unfortunately, their wines are no longer available as the winery closed its doors sometime in Spring 2018, and I still have their 2010 Meritage that I should crack open soon. On the bright side, the winery...

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Rosewood Legacy Cyser Apple Honey Wine 2017 (Ontario) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an interesting and delicious apple honey wine made locally in Niagara by a family of beekeepers that also make mead and wine using traditional vitis vinifera varieties. Although this unique apple honey wine is available direct from the winery, it is also featured in this weekend's Sept. 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release and should be on shelves across the...

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Southbrook Organic Vidal Icewine 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Review (Dec. 2020)

To celebrate the holiday season, tonight's wine review is this gorgeous organic Vidal Icewine from Niagara that showed up in LCBO VINTAGES on November 10, 2018. While the 2014 is mostly sold out - six bottles actually still remain at LCBO locations - the 2015 vintage is available through the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake and online through their web store.It is produced by...

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Wines from Santorini Volcanic Terroir

In late February, I was invited to a media luncheon featuring the wines of Santorini, Greece. The luncheon and tasting was hosted and led by Steve Kriaris, owner of Kolonaki Group, and Elias Karkabasis, owner and Sommelier of Pane Vino Trattoria & Wine Bar in Lindsay, Ontario. The venue was VOLOS, a fine Greek restaurant in the heart of downtown Toronto, and a place...

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Pillitteri 25th Anniversary Select Late Harvest Cabernet 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I picked up tonight's sweet dessert wine while visiting the winery last month during the annual Days of Wine & Chocolate Event in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With this wine, Pillitteri Estates Winery is celebrating 25 years of family, quality and tradition. This family winery opened its doors in June of 1993. Pillitteri has successfully grown with 3 generations working in the...

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Rockway Vineyards Riesling Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Icewine that I picked up while visiting the winery in Niagara last month during the Icewine Festival. This wine continues the string of wines I've enjoyed recently from Rockway Vineyards. This delicious Icewine is produced by Rockway Vineyards and is a wine I've tasted (and enjoyed) on a number of occasions, including back in January 2017....

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Niagara Icewine Festival Review 2018 - Day 1 of 2

On Saturday, January 20, I visited Niagara to taste a few food & Icewine pairings as part of the Discover Pass Experience that was available at participating wineries throughout Niagara during the annual Icewine Festival. The weather turned out to be great on this day - mostly sunny, albeit a little on the chilly side. In all, we visited four wineries across the region...

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Rancourt Gewürztraminer Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

At my wife's request, I opened up this delicious Icewine Sunday night after dinner to cap off the weekend. I tasted this yummy Icewine numerous times over the years, including in June 2015 and January 2016. This bottle was purchased when I visited the winery in September 2015 and noticed that it was on promotion for the hard-to-resist price of $25 for the 200 mL bottle. It's...

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Legends Estates Vidal Icewine 2006 (Ontario) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine was opened upon the insistence of my wife, as she wanted to enjoy some Icewine in celebration of the holidays. This Icewine was purchased at the winery in January earlier this year when we visited Niagara to partake in Icewine Festivities. It's rare to see older vintages still available for purchase, so I was surprised when we were offered a tasting of this...

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Taste of Greece - Top Greek Wines, May 2016

On Sunday, May 15th, I was very pleased to attend the Taste of Greece grand wine tasting held at the Royal Ontario Museum, where nearly 50 of Greece's most popular wineries poured well over 200 wines. I had the pleasure of tasting many delicious wines at this tasting, and many offered very good QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). I attended the media session just after lunch,...

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