Lakeview Cellars Viognier 2016 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a locally made white wine made with Viognier, a varietal not commonly grown here in Ontario. It is produced by Lakeview Wine Co., a division of Diamond Estates Wine & Spirits Ltd., a large winery based in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This particular wine was sourced from high quality Niagara vineyards and gently pressed in pneumatic bladder...

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Pure Chablis Escape Room Experience - May 2018

Earlier this spring, I was invited to a very interesting Escape Room Experience that was all about Chablis. The event was held on a fine spring day at Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge in the King West neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, and our team consisted of approximately a dozen members from the local wine community. After a brief introduction and going over the rules...

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Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Sept. 15, 2018: Bringing Local Home

The upcoming September 15, 2018 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on the local scene here in Ontario and is the only theme of the release. All of these wines, plus many more, will be available on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario this coming Saturday. In all, there are 21 wines featured in the "Bring Local Home" theme that looks at the people, places, and passion from wineries...

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Marqués de Caceres Rosado 2017 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice rosado (a.k.a. rosé) from Spain that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on September 15th. The story of Marqués de Cáceres begins its roots in 1920, when Enrique Forner's grandfather and father founded Vinícola Forner - a small family business devoted to producing wine. Enrique worked in the wine trade as a boy and, after being exiled to France...

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Carpineta Fontalpino Riserva Chianti Classico 2012 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

A recent arrival to the LCBO, tonight's red wine review was released into LCBO VINTAGES on July 7th. This organic wine is produced by Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino, an organic winery in Tuscany that traces its past back to the 1800's. It is located in the heart of Tuscany, very close to Siena and in the historical commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, at the bottom of the hill...

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Wine Reviews from August 5, 2018 Birthday Party

Last month, we held a birthday party for my toddler daughter and a few of her close friends. And for the adults - there was wine! The dry rosé was easily the most popular wine at the party, while the Riesling and Shiraz were a close second. All three wines are fairly recent releases to VINTAGES, so you should be able to pick up a bottle at your local LCBO. Full wine reviews...

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McMichael Collection Group of Seven Cabernet Merlot 2015 (Niagara) - Wine Review

National Cabernet Day is celebrated every August 30th, so I'm a couple of days late in celebrating with tonight's wine review of a locally-made Cabernet-Merlot blend from Niagara that honours our Canadian Artists. Produced by Niagara's Lakeview Wine Co. (a division of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.), the McMichael Collection of wines were created in celebration...

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