April 25, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fresh Faces + Langhe

Here are my top wine picks from the April 25, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), in which "Fresh Faces" is the main feature story of the release, while the mini-thematic highlights a trio of wines from Langhe. While this is a fairly good-sized release with 99 products offered, 22 of these products are included as Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE), which translates to availability of modest quantities available, and only at select locations in-store. However, quality is high in this release, along with a relatively large number of my picks available as OFEs, everything should be readily available for purchase.

We'll begin with the feature story titled "Fresh Faces", and it consists of seventeen wines that are making their debut at the LCBO. Of the sixteen wines included as part of the thematic, five are among my top recommendations. We'll start with the three white wines - a Grüner Veltliner from Wagram, a Pecorino from Abruzzo, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. There's also a dry rosé crafted with Pinot Noir from Australia, while the only red wine is a blend of 50% Syrah with about equal parts Touriga Franca and Alicante Bouschet from Portugal.

Most of my top red wine recommendations are mono-varietal wines, with the only blends being a South African wine that is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec, while the Rhône red is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault. Among the mono-varietal reds, both Gran Selezione Chianti Classico wines are 100% Sangiovese, a fine Bonarda from Argentina, and a pair of lovely Pinot Noirs, one each from Niagara and Alto Adige.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, Canada leads the way with a pair of top Chardonnays from the Twenty Mile Bench from Niagara, as well as a dry Riesling from Niagara. From Austria there is a Grüner Veltliner from Leithaberg, along with a dry Riesling from Kamptal. Other wines include a 60/40 blend of Viognier and Marsanne from Australia, a Moschofilero from Arkadia (Greece), and an off-dry Gewurztraminer from Alsace.

As the weather warms, we tend to see rosé wines on shelves, and in addition to the rosé mentioned above, there is one more rosé worth your attention - a dry rosé from Niagara-on-the-Lake that is crafted with 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Among my top sparkling wine picks, both the Cuvée Catharine and the Italian bubbly are made with 100% Chardonnay, while the Kew Sparkling is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Meunier, and 6% Pinot Blanc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• RAVASQUEIRA ENCANTADO TINTO 2024 - Sustainable, Vinho Regional Alentejo, Portugal (#49910) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• LAGAR DE ROBLA COLECCIÓN 4 HERMANOS MENCÍA 2023 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León, Spain (#50391) (XD) - $18.00
• ANDRÉ BRUNEL CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2024 - AOC, France (#538496) (XD) - $18.95
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2023 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• ANDES PLATEAU COTA 500 CONCRETE CABERNET FRANC 2023 - Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#48240) (XD) - $24.95  OFE
• EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2022 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review

 

• ANTHONIJ RUPERT OPTIMA 2021 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#455915) (XD) - $34.95  OFE
• RIOJA VEGA CON GRACIA GRACIANO 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#42117) (XD) - $40.95  OFE
• PETER ZEMMER RISERVA PINOT NOIR 2022 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#48425) (XD) - $48.95  OFE  91+ pts  wine review
• RICASOLI CASTELLO DI BROLIO GRAN SELEZIONE GAIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#942607) (XD) - $49.95  OFE
• TOLAINI MONTEBELLO SETTE GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#466607) (XD) - $52.95  OFE
• BACHELDER WISMER-PARKE SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520379) (XD) - $65.00  OFE

White Wine:

• CREMASCHI FURLOTTI RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#48162) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• JASCI & MARCHESANI TERRE DI CHIETI PECORINO 2024 - IGT, Abruzzo, Italy (#49217) (XD) - $16.95
• D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER / MARSANNE 2025 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#662775) (XD) - $17.95
• JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER 2024 - AOC Alsace, France (#224626) (D) - $18.95
• URBANIHOF 4U GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Fels, Wagram, Austria (#49424) (XD) - $21.95  review coming soon...
• SOMMER SCHIEFER LEITHABERG GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Leithaberg, Burgenland, Austria (#43507) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review

 

• KTIMA TSELEPOS BLANC DE GRIS 2024 - Vegan, Perpatiara, PGI Arkadia, Greece (#49463) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING CSV CAVE SPRING VINEYARD ESTATE GROWN RIESLING 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (XD) - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
• CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95  92+ pts  wine review
• WALDSCHÜTZ RIED GAISBERG 1ÖTW RIESLING KAMPTAL 2022 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#48258) (XD) - $58.95  OFE
• BACHELDER WISMER-WINGFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#345819) (XD) - $60.00  OFE  94 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• WAKEFIELD ESTATE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2025 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#49376) (XD) - $19.95
• TWO SISTERS VINEYARDS MARGO ROSÉ 2024 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#22484) (XD) - $38.00

Sparkling Wine:

• ROTARI ARTE ITALIANA BRUT SPARKLING - Sustainable, Metodo Classico, DOC Trento, Italy (#708495) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• KEW TRADITION SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#491092) (XD) - $32.95  review coming soon...
• HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANCS 2018 - Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95

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April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: New Zealand

Here are my top wine picks from the April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where the feature story of the release looks at Wine Wonders of New Zealand. This is a smallish release with only 85 products offered, and the average price per bottle comes in at just over $25, with just over half coming in at under $23. This is not a top release, but there are some fine wines to be enjoyed, with everything readily available for purchase both online and in-stores at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature on Wine Wonders of New Zealand wines, with fourteen wines featured in the thematic, of which four are included among my top wine picks. Of the five NZ Sauvignon Blanc wines featured, two are among my recommended buys, with one from Marlborough and the other from a Māori-owned winery in North Canterbury. There's also a dry Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley, while the only red is a Pinot Noir from Wairarapa on the North Island.

My top red wine picks from the main release begin in Greece with a single vineyard Xinomavro from Naoussa, followed by a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Xinomavro from Macedonia. There are quite a few blends among my red wine recommendations, including a couple from Veneto, where the IGT Veronese is a blend of 40% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella, while the Valpolicella is composed of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% other traditional varieties. The red from South Africa is composed of 44% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec, while the Portuguese red is a blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. From France, the Rhône red is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Carignan, while the red from Roussillon is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah.

Among the white wines from the main release, there are a couple of blends, with the Rhône white crafted with 60% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 10% Roussanne, and 5% Viognier, while the Tuscan white is composed of primarily Vernaccia di San Gimignano with 5% Incrocio Manzoni completing the blend. The rest of the whites are mono-varietal wines, with locally crafted wines from Niagara leading the way once again with a couple of Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a pair of lovely Rieslings. Lastly, but definitely not the least, there is the perennial favourite Marsanne from Victoria, Australia, and a fine Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux.

Other wines include a dry rosé from South Africa that is crafted with Cinsault, while the Crémant de Loire sparkling wine is a blend of 70% Chenin, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• COUTADA VELHA SIGNATURE RED 2022 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#11152) (XD) - $14.95  90+ pts  wine review
• BOLGRAD SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2024 - Ukraine (#48357) (XD) - $17.95  86 pts  wine review
• MONTES LIMITED SELECTION CARMENÈRE 2022 - DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#256685) (XD) - $17.95
  
• TEDESCHI NICALÒ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2023 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#984997) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2022 - AOP, Midi, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• DOMAINE LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2023 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95
  
• MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2023 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#922443) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AOC, France (#51799) (XD) - $20.95

• KECHRIS GENESIS XINOMAVRO / MERLOT 2022 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#30613) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
• PADDY BORTHWICK PAPER ROAD PINOT NOIR 2023 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#179770) (XD) - $24.95  91+ pts  wine review
• ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE 2022 - Sustainable, IGT Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#672931) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• RICASOLI BROLIO BETTINO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#630939) (XD) - $28.95
• HIDDEN BENCH GAMAY 2023 - Sustainable, Uunfiltered, VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20422) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review
• SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#716266) (XD) - $29.95
• KIR-YIANNI RAMNISTA SINGLE VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2020 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#178020) (XD) - $39.95  92+ pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT LES ROCHES BLANCHES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - AOC Bordeaux, France (#35860) (XD) - $15.95  90 pts  wine review
• BOLGRAD SELECT CHARDONNAY 2024 - Odesa, Ukraine (#48301) (XD) - $17.95  87+ pts  wine review
• TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES HÉRITAGE BLANC COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2023 - AOC, Rhône, France (#48332) (XD) - $19.95
• TAHBILK MARSANNE 2024 - Sustainable, Estate Grown and Bottled, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#117945) (XD) - $19.95
• TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO 2024 - PDO Mantinia, Greece (#724583) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• PENINSULA RIDGE WISMER VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#155580) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review

• LOVEBLOCK ORGANIC PINOT GRIS 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#47914) (XD) - $23.95  92 pts  wine review
• LAWSON'S DRY HILLS RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, Carbon Zero, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#47921) (XD) - $24.95
• TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH RIESLING 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $24.95
• PANIZZI VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO 2024 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36446) (XD) - $25.95
• HIDDEN BENCH RIESLING 2022 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $26.95  92+ pts  wine review
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95
• BACHELDER WERNER-YORK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45136) (XD) - $45.00

Rosé Wine:

• LUBANZI CINSAULT ROSÉ 2025 - Fair Trade, Climate Neutral, WO Swartland, South Africa (#49070) (XD) - $18.95

Sparkling Wine:

• ACKERMAN BULLE ROYALE CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional Method, AOP, Loire, France (#42057) (D) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review

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March 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Wines for Easter

Here are my top wine picks from the March 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where Wines & Recipes for Easter is the feature story of the release. In all, there are nearly 100 products offered in this release, with about 60% priced less than $25. While just over half the wines are red, I am a bit surprised that there were no rosés included in this release. Overall, I am satisfied with this release as there are a wide range of wines at various price points. Please also note that the next release is three weeks away on April 11th.

We'll begin with the feature on Excellent Wines & Recipes for Easter, and with twenty-two wines included as part of the thematic — nine are among my top wine recommendations. Among the whites, we go to the Southern Hemisphere with a Chardonnay from Australia, followed by the Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. From the Northern Hemisphere, there's an Assyrtiko from Greece, as well as the Soave from Italy, which is crafted with Garganega. Among the red wines, the only blend is Portuguese wine that is crafted with Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. The mono-varietal wines for Easter pairings include a Gamay Noir from Niagara, a Malbec from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and a Tempranillo from Spain.

At the top of the list among my red wine recommendations is the Rioja, which is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo, followed by the Pauillac from Bordeaux that is 50/50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. For Syrah wine lovers, the Syrah from Chile includes a dollop of Viognier, while the Vinsobres is a blend of Syrah and Grenache, while the South African version is 100% Syrah. Other blends include the wine from Greece that is crafted with 40% Mavrodaphne, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Agiorgitiko, and the Cabernet from Australia that is actually a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Tempranillo. And lastly, the Bistro Rouge is crafted with 100% Grenache.

White wine picks from the main release begin in Austria with a fine Grüner Veltliner from Austria, followed by the Bellone from Lazio, Italy. There's also a trio of Sauvignon Blanc wines, with a couple from Marlborough in New Zealand, and one from Margaret River in Australia. White wine blends include the wine from Languedoc, which is a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Viognier, while the off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) wine by Featherstone is a blend of 60.1% Riesling, 18.2% Pinot Grigio, 12.6% Chardonnay, and 9.1% Gewurztraminer.

There are also a couple of traditional method sparkling wines that are worth seeking out. The Champagne is crafted with approximately 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Meunier, while the bubbly from Nova Scotia is made with Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• PRAISE BISTRO ROUGE 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46339) (D) - $18.95  87+ pts  wine review
• GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13316) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN ORGANIC PINOT NOIR 2022 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#325670) (XD) - $18.95
• EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN ORGANIC SYRAH 2022 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#212407) (XD) - $18.95
• ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP BLACKBERRY PATCH CABERNET 2021 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#353193) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review

 

• CREMASCHI FURLOTTI GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2021 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Valle del Loncomilla, Valle del Maule, Chile (#549741) (XD) - $19.95
• LICENCIADO RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#370023) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BENGUELA COVE ESTATE SYRAH 2021 - Sustainable, WO Walker Bay, South Africa (#48604) (XD) - $19.95
• MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III RED 2023 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#25708) (D) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• CHURCHILL'S GRAFITE DOURO RED 2021 - DOP, Portugal (#45407) (XD) - $21.95
• FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES 2022 - AOC, Rhône, France (#566844) (XD) - $21.95

 

• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2023 - Sustainable, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $25.95
• BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT SINGLE VINEYARD 32% WHOLE-CLUSTER GAMAY NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#33994) (XD) - $33.00
• WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $33.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU PLANTEY PAUILLAC 2020 - Sustainable, AOC, Bordeaux, France (#38192) (XD) - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
• MUGA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#472902) (XD) - $56.95

White Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE FOUR FEATHERS 2024 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#341586) (D) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• PRAISE BISTRO BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46876) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• CASALE DEL GIGLIO BELLONE 2023 - IGT Lazio Bianco, Italy (#45845) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447425) (XD) - $19.95
• EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $21.95
• AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $21.95
• INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#949768) (XD) - $23.95
• URBANIHOF CLASSIC GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Wagram, Austria (#49425) (D) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU JULIA ASSYRTIKO 2024 - Vegan, PGI Drama, Greece (#30608) (XD) - $29.95
• GIANT STEPS YARRA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2024 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#243154) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LIGHTFOOT AND WOLFVILLE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada (#16075) (D) - $51.95
• PALMER LA RÉSERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#39865) (XD) - $87.95  93 pts  wine review

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March 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Women in Wine

Here are my top wine picks from the March 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where Women in Wine is the feature story of the release. With 103 products on offer, this is a relatively large and very good release with some fine wines at various price points. Also included in this release are a relatively high number of quality Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines, with everything readily available for purchase both online and in-store.

We'll begin with the feature story on Women in Wine, an annual thematic that shows up every year in March to coincide with Women's History Month. In this release there are seventeen wines featured as part of the thematic, of which seven wines are among my top wine picks. Both sparkling wine recommendations are from the thematic, with the vintage bubbly from Niagara crafted with Chardonnay, while the Cava from Spain is composed of 59% Parellada, 33% Macabeu, and 8% Xarel·lo. Among the white wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, as well as a Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Red wine recommendations from the thematic begin in Rasteau, with a lovely blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault, followed by a red from Swartland, South Africa, which consists of 75% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 8% Tinta Barocca, and 2% Grenache. And lastly, there is a Shiraz from the Barossa in Australia.

My top red wine picks from the main release begins in Veneto with a top Amarone della Valpolicella that is crafted with 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, and 5% Oseleta. Other blends include the Chianti Classico Riserva, which is composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Rioja is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, and 5% Mazuelo. The rest of my red wine recommendations are mono-varietal wines, including a trio of wines from Greece – one Xinomavro and two Agiorgitikos.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, we'll begin with the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, which is principally Grenache Blanc with Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul, and Picardin in support. Other blends include the wine from Croatia, which is a blend of 70% Posip, 20% Vugava, and 10% Chardonnay, while the white wine from Bordeaux is equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Mono-varietal dry white wines include a Chardonnay from South Africa, a Carricante from Etna in Sicily, and a partial-skin contact Sémillon from Chile. For wine lovers who enjoy some sweetness to their wines, there are a pair of lovely Rieslings from the Benchlands area in Niagara. The last wine is a bone-dry Sherry from Spain, which is crafted with 100% Palomino.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHAKANA NUNA VINEYARD MALBEC 2022 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#46401) (XD) - $16.95
• DOMAINE GIOULIS AGIA PARASKEVI VINEYARD AGIORGITIKO 2023 - PGI Korinthia, Greece (#48276) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• YALUMBA GALWAY VINTAGE SHIRAZ 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Barossa, South Australia (#41311) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• KIR-YIANNI CUVÉE VILLAGES XINOMAVRO 2022 - Vegan, PDO Naoussa, Greece (#14151) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• PERICA VIÑA OLAGOSA RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#37634) (XD) - $23.95
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SHIRAZ 2023 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#13990) (XD) - $24.95
• MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET SWARTLAND ROUGE 2023 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#460964) (XD) - $24.95
• DOMAINE LES EVIGNEAUX CUVÉE BELLE DAME RASTEAU 2022 - AOP, Rhône, France (#47575) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
• KTIMA PAPAIOANNOU OLD VINES SINGLE VINEYARD AGIORGITIKO 2015 - PDO Nemea, Greece (#30615) (XD) - $46.95  91+ pts  wine review
• TENUTA DI ARCENO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47677) (XD) - $49.95  OFE  92+ pts  wine review
• ILATIUM MORINI CAMPO LEÒN AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2018 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#334300) (D) - $59.95  94 pts  wine review
• TESSELAARSDAL PINOT NOIR 2024 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (#32934) (XD) - $68.95  OFE

White Wine:

• LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2024 - Vegan, AOC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) (XD) - $19.95
• STINA CUVÉE WHITE 2024 - PDO Central and South Dalmatia, Croatia (#32035) (XD) - $21.95
• MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC 2023 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21111) (XD) - $21.95
• THREE DOG FOXCROFT RIESLING 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#50119) (D) - $23.95
• MATURANA PARELLON NATURAL SEMILLON 2024 - DO Valle de Colchagua Costa, Chile (#15745) (XD) - $28.95  OFE  90+ pts  wine review
• THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT WOOD POST VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359760) (D) - $28.95  OFE  94 pts  wine review
• TORNATORE PIETRARIZZO ETNA BIANCO 2023 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#632489) (XD) - $39.95
• TESSELAARSDAL CHARDONNAY 2024 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (#32933) (XD) - $49.95  OFE
• E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2023 - AOC, Rhône, France (#28618) (XD) - $82.95  OFE

Sparkling Wine:

• PARÉS BALTÀ V BRUT CAVA 2023 - Vegan, Traditional Method, DO, Spain (#650648) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• TAWSE SPARK QUARRY ROAD BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional Method, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#48055) (XD) - $39.95

Fortified Wine:

• HIDALGO LA GITANA EN RAMA MANZANILLA - DO, Spain (#47038) (D) - $34.95  OFE

Dessert Wine:

• INNISKILLIN RIESLING ICEWINE 2024 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#50313, 200 mL) (S) - $43.95

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