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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Queenston Mile Pinot Noir 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I first tasted this lovely 2017 Queenston Mile Pinot Noir back in June 2019 and for tonight's red wine review I'm delighted to see it return to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release as an Online and Flagship Exclusive.It is produced by Queenston Mile Vineyard, a 50-acre vineyard and winery that launched as a brand in early 2019. Queenston...

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Dam Chardonnay 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay from Niagara that was quietly released last fall without much of the usual fanfare, and I had the pleasure of tasting last night in a virtual tasting with one of the partners at 80x Wine Company, André Proulx.It is produced by 80x Wine Company, a virtual winery that started as an idea in 2015 when Vadim Chelekhov and André...

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Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For tonight's red wine review, I am sipping local with this lovely Niagara Syrah that arrived at the LCBO a couple of months ago as part of the October 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Founded in 1997 by Laura McCain in Jordan, Ontario, and acquired by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. last August, Creekside Estate Winery has been a leader in producing premium wines of distinctive,...

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Niagara College Les Marmitons Gastronomy Chardonnay 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely barrel-fermented Chardonnay from Niagara College Teaching Winery that I purchased at the winery during my visit to Niagara for the Icewine Festival in January 2020.The Les Marmitons range of wines were created by Niagara College after being approached by members of Les Marmitons Niagara - the local chapter of an international gastronomic and...

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Red Tractor Wines (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of new wines that were recently launched at Creekside last month. Established in 2011 by Creekside Estate Winery, Red Tractor Wines are new world wines that celebrate the past, present, and future of farming in Ontario. At Creekside, they have an old Massey Harris tractor that serves as a symbol of the hard work that is required to farm...

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Queenston Mile Vineyard Portfolio Tasting (Spring 2019)

In the Spring, I had the pleasure of tasting through the wines of one of Niagara's newest and hottest wineries - Queenston Mile Vineyard. The 50-acre vineyard and winery are located in St. David's Bench in Niagara-on-the-Lake, just 10 kilometres south of the shores of Lake Ontario. This area was formed when glaciers carved out the Niagara Escarpment and arose from the historic...

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Sip and Sizzle in Niagara-on-the-Lake 2018

I had a great time attending Sip and Sizzle in Niagara-on-the-Lake last year, and this annual event is taking place again this May. Sip and Sizzle features over 20 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake, each offering a unique grilled food item and VQA wine pairing. It is a fun, relaxing, and a great way to discover the Wines of Niagara-on-the-Lake. In order to attend Sip and Sizzle,...

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Taste the Season in Niagara-on-the-Lake - November 2018

Last November, I had the pleasure of attending Taste the Season in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This annual Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake event celebrates the season’s bounty with exceptional VQA wines and locally inspired food pairings at participating member wineries. The event ran every weekend (Friday to Sunday) in November from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Touring Passes costed $55 and...

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Wines for Christmas 2018

To celebrate Christmas, tonight's wine is a Champagne that is widely available at the LCBO. It is produced by a house that has been producing champagne for two centuries and has only seen seven Cellar Masters since its founding. Tonight's after-dinner drink is an Icewine that is a VINTAGES Essentials listing at the LCBO and always available. This 2012 vintage Icewine was...

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Pillitteri Cabernet Franc 2015 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice local red wine from Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Having enjoyed the 2012 Pillitteri Cabernet Franc a couple of times in the recent past, I am delighted to try this latest vintage that is currently available for purchase at the winery only (and through their online web store). This red wine is from Pillitteri's Carretto...

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Palatine Hills Riesling 2016 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of a lovely Niagara Riesling. The 2015 vintage of this white wine came through LCBO VINTAGES in November of last year, so I wouldn't be surprised if this latest vintage also arrives on shelves in the near future. Nevertheless, the wine is available at Palatine Hills Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake and through their website and...

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Palatine Hills Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a Niagara Chardonnay that was recently released into LCBO VINTAGES on November 24th. Palatine Hills Estate Winery has some of the area's oldest vineyards which are nestled among the historic hills of beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake. The property has been carefully cultivated over the past 40 years by John and Barbara Neufeld. In the early years, they...

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