Greek Food and Wine Pairings

September 13, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Greek food is very diverse but generally pairs well with crisp white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc or a Greek Assyrtiko, which is a very dry, high acid wine. Light-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir or Sangiovese, as well as sparkling wines like Prosecco also work well.

For heartier dishes with lamb or beef, a hardy Greek red such as Xinomavro or Agiorgitiko will pair well.

As with any wine pairing, consider the dominant flavours of the dish. Pair light-bodied wines with lighter dishes and bolder wines with richer dishes. The wine’s acidity can complement the flavours of many Greek selections, especially those with lemon or tomato.

Here are some specific pairing suggestions from a variety of wine experts.

Avgolemono (Lemon Chicken soup): Medium-bodied white such as a Greek Moschofilero
Grilled chicken: Chardonnay or a Greek white Savatiano or Assyrtiko.
Chicken or pork Gyros: Riesling, Gewürztraminer or a light, chilled red Baco Noir or Greek Agiorgitiko.
Fish or seafood: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rosé or Assyrtiko.
Greek Salad: Sauvignon Blanc or an Orange wine.
Lamb or beef dishes: Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Agiorgitiko, or Xinomavro.
Lamb Gyros: A lighter, chilled red, such as Pinot Noir, Syrah or Agiorgitiko.
Mezze Platter (dips, pita, salads): Light red wines like Pinot Noir or Sangiovese, crisp whites like Sauvignon Blanc or an Orange wine.
Moussaka: A light-bodied red like Baco Noir or Agiorgitiko.
Pastitsio: Italian Nebbiolo or Greek Xinomavro.
Grilled octopus: Greek Assyrtiko.
Red sauce dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
Saganaki: A citrusy white like Trebbiano.
Spanakopita: Pinot Grigio, Vermentino or Moschofilero.

As always, don’t be afraid to experiment with different pairings to find your favourites.

Sláinte mhaith

Buying Wine Online

September 6, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

I have previously shared my experiences on purchasing wine from a winery in a foreign country and shipping it home. Today I look at another purchase option, buying wine online.

The online sources vary from individual wineries to liquor stores to wine brokerage houses to wine clubs and even auction houses. Online searches will help you find rare wines and older vintages. It also makes it easy to search where a specific wine is sold and allows you to compare prices. These sites will often provide additional information about the wine you are interested in, such as the vintner’s notes, wine critic reviews, a link to winery websites and other technical information.

However, before you begin scrolling through the wide assortment of online vendors, there are some things you need to be aware of. First, if you are purchasing wine or any other alcohol from a website outside your country or province there will be a number of taxes and charges. For example, alcohol being imported from outside Canada to Ontario will have a levy of 102.2% for wine, 143.7% for spirits and $1.70 per litre for beer.

In addition, there will most likely be a shipping fee, which will be a significant percentage of the per bottle price. The only exception I am aware of is when I purchase alcohol online from my liquor store (the LCBO); the price I pay is the same price as it would be in the bricks and mortar store. The only difference is my purchase is shipped to the local liquor store where I then go to pick it up. It enables me to purchase wines and spirits that I would otherwise not have access to, living in an area where there is a limited variety of selections.

The number of retailers able to ship to you may be restricted by shipping regulations in the vendor’s location. Thus, your online wine purchase options may not be as lucrative as it may seem.

Sláinte mhaith

Wine with Fast-Food

August 30, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Serving wine with your fast-food meal is a great way to enhance your dining experience. A little planning when it comes to your wine pairing can be very rewarding, so don’t just grab any bottle of wine off the shelf or from the fridge. Generally, wines with higher levels of acidity work well with fattier, greasy foods. Also, don’t forget to consider any side dishes you are having with your fast food. The wine should complement all the elements of your dinner. Robust, bold-flavoured dishes need to be paired with an equally powerful wine. Sweeter wines, like Riesling, will counterbalance hot or spicy dishes.

If in doubt, sparkling wines are generally a safe bet when it comes to fast food.

Burgers

Since burgers usually have a high fat content, more acidic wines pair well. Beef and medium-bodied red wines, such as Malbec or Syrah are a great match while chicken, turkey and veggie burgers go best with lighter-bodied white wines. Sauvignon Banc, Pinot Gris or Chenin Blanc are all good options.

If having cheeseburgers, a light-bodied Pinot Noir or a fruity Grenache is a good choice. Bacon cheeseburgers are complimented by a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.

Curry

When matching wine with curry there are a couple of considerations: texture and the spice level. High alcohol wines intensify the heat from curries, so these are best avoided with spicy curries. Crisp, cold white wines are a good match at offsetting the curry’s heat. Sparkling wines are best avoided as they can leave an unpleasant metallic aftertaste.

An off-dry Riesling or Pinot Gris works well, as does a light or medium-bodied red wine such as a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir.

Fish and Chips

When it comes to light, white fish such as cod or haddock, white wine is the recommended option. Lean, flaky fish pairs well with a light and zesty Sauvignon Blanc. Meatier fish-like halibut goes well with a medium-bodied Chardonnay. Sparkling wines are also a good choice as they offset the salt and their acidity helps to balance the oil.

Fried Chicken

The wine needs to complement the mild flavour of the chicken while cutting through the salty, crispy deep-fried coating. Medium-bodied white wines with higher acidity levels work best at accomplishing this. Options include Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or sparkling wine such as Champagne or Prosecco.

Chicken Nuggets

Whether from your grocer’s freezer section or your local McDonalds, chicken nuggets or chicken fingers pair well with Rosé.

French Fries

Good old fashion French fries go well with Cava, Champagne or any other sparkling wine.

Kebobs

Rich reds with fruity flavours are the best choice as lighter wines may be overpowered by the flavours of the meat. A Merlot or Cabernet Franc are good possibilities. White wines with higher acidity and apple notes can be a good option as well. A Pinot Gris or Riesling could be considered.

Pizza

For pizza and wine pairings see my post from either January 28, 2023, or March 9, 2024.

Tacos

Tacos will be complemented by Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris.

Bon appetite!

Sláinte mhaith

The Best Wine for Your Sign

August 23, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / 1 Comment

When I recently came across a post on social media suggesting that the wines best suited for you to drink are those that compliment your zodiac sign, I was shocked to learn that there have been quite a few articles, including some from renowned wine authorities, written on the subject.

It was interesting to see that the various writers generally agreed on what types of wines are best suited to each zodiac sign.

♈ Aries (March 21 — April 19): Bold and Adventurous

Aries are said to be confident, competitive and direct. Bold mouth-zapping whites such as Grüner Veltliner or reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or Barbera are thought to be a good match. These wines contain a higher alcohol content that compliments Aries fiery spirit. The spicy, robust and full-bodied wine flavours compliment Aries zest for life and passion for taking on new challenges.

♉ Taurus (April 20 — May 20): Sensual and Indulgent

Taurus are thought to be down-to-earth, strong, ambitious, and lovers of creature comforts. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blends from the Rhone, or a Châteauneuf-du-Pape would suit very well. Cabernet Sauvignon is also suggested as another choice. White wine, such as Viognier would be equally as suitable.

♊ Gemini (May 21 — June 20): Versatile and Social

Gemini are said to be lively, versatile and expressive. This personality should be well-suited to aromatic New World Sauvignon Blanc, Champagne, Vinho Verde or Grüner Veltliner.

♋ Cancer (June 21 — July 22): Nurturing and Intuitive

Cancers are often family-oriented foodies who adore sharing a table with others. A Merlot, Cabernet Franc or a Bordeaux blend is a good choice, although Riesling may be as equally appealing.

♌ Leo (July 23 — August 22): Regal and Dramatic

Leos are optimistic, flamboyant and larger than life. This is said to be a good match for a New World Shiraz or an Amarone della Valpolicella. Citrusy, bright and zippy Sauvignon Blancs are also a good choice, as well as Prosecco, Cava, Crémant, Sparkling Rosé, Sekt and Lambrusco.

♍ Virgo (August 23 — September 22): Practical and Sophisticated

Virgos are loving and gentle, yet practical. Their personality pairs well with the delicate flavours of a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir.

♎ Libra (September 23 — October 22): Balanced and Charming

Libras are said to be fair, suave and indulgent. Their social nature means that they seek out foods and drinks that are all about harmony, approachability and lightness. A Riesling or a decadent bottle of Sherry is said to be a good choice. Medium-bodied French Rosé is also a good option.

♍ Scorpio (October 23 — November 21): Intense and Mysterious

Scorpios are said to be intense and persistent but guarded. These traits pair well with the vivid boldness of a Barolo, a savory, spicy Syrah, or the smoky intensity of a Spanish Tempranillo.

♐ Sagittarius (November 22 — December 21): Adventurous and Free-Spirited

Flexible, intellectual, and given to wanderlust, Sagittarius is a match for the complex notes of Cabernet Franc, Spanish Grenache, Malbec or Sangiovese.

♑ Capricorn (December 22 — January 19): Ambitious and Disciplined

Pragmatic, ambitious and serious individuals, Capricorn are a perfect fit for the rich but straightforward flavours of a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, or the bold, elevated alcohol content of a Primitivo, a Merlot or Cabernet Franc.

♒ Aquarius (January 20 — February 18): Innovative and Eccentric

Aquarius is said to be logical, eccentric, and witty, a good combination with Petit Verdot or Chablis. Orange wines are also said to be a great option as Aquarius are said to veer towards exotic scents and tastes that might be surprising to others.

♓ Pisces (February 19 — March 20): Dreamy and Compassionate

Pisces are compassionate, romantic and quirky. Their personality is well suited for the rich, full flavours of an Argentinian Malbec, a sparkling Rosé or even a Brut Rosé Champagne.

I admit that I am not a follower of the zodiac and that I was at first very quick to dismiss the wine suggestions, particularly because I am an enthusiastic fan of red wines, and there was not a single red option suggested for my sign. However, after thinking about it, I remembered a winery visit I made in Prince Edward County several years ago, where I purchased a particular orange wine solely because I was intrigued by its unique flavour. It will never be a ‘go to’ wine for me but its distinctiveness enticed me to purchase it. Maybe there is something to this wine for my sign.

Sláinte mhaith

A lesson Learned

August 16, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

Earlier this year I had my first experience purchasing a case of wine in a foreign country and having it shipped home. In the past I have often taken advantage of the duty-free laws and brought home a bottle of wine or whisky, but this was the first time I purchased a quantity of wine.

The purchase of the wine was made at the time I visited a winery in Bordeaux, France. The six bottles of wine I purchased cost 315 euros plus a shipping fee of 99 euros for a total of 414 euros. Once the exchange rate was applied my total came to $660 CDN.

After my return home I received an email from the shipper advising that they required a copy of the transaction receipt and/or credit card payment confirmation statement verifying the purchase. This information was then forwarded to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) for valuation purposes prior to the delivery of my wine. I was also advised that there would be additional costs associated with importing alcohol that had to be paid prior to the release of my shipment.

The additional costs included a levy of 102.2% which was applied to the total value of the shipment. There was also a brokerage fee of $49.17+HST, duties, taxes and a government filing fee of $12.50 as well. The total import fees ended up being $605. The result was that a bottle of wine sold at a Bordeaux winery with a price tag of $52.50 euros or $83 ended up costing me $184! Lesson learned.

Sláinte mhaith

The 2025 National Wine Awards

August 9, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

This year Penticton, British Columbia hosted the 25^th anniversary of the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC). The NWAC is the country’s largest competition, involving only 100 percent Canadian-grown and produced wines.

This year a new category was introduced – Library Wines. This classification includes wines that are 5 years or older. These aged wines were not compared against each other but instead, each wine was independently assessed as to where it was in its lifecycle and how well it was ageing and tasting.

The Replacement wines or Crafted in B.C. wines were not included as part of The WineAlign National Wine Awards.

Winery of the Year

The 2025 Winery of the Year is Penticton, British Columbia’s Mission Hill Family Estate. This is the sixth time Anthony von Mandl has been awarded this prestigious honour.

This year, Mission Hill entered 11 top-tier wines, earning two Platinum medals, five Golds and one Silver medal.

The balance of the top 10 wineries are:

Laughing Stock Vineyards, Penticton, British Columbia
Meyer Family Vineyards, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead Winery, Kelowna, British Columbia
The Organized Crime Winery, Beamsville, Ontario
Quails’ Gate Winery, Kelowna, British Columbia
Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Fielding Estate Winery, Lincoln, Ontario
Trius Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Tantalus Vineyards, Kelowna, British Columbia

Best Performing Small Winery

This year’s Best Performing Small Winery is Penticton, British Columbia’s Laughing Stock Vineyards. Laughing Stock earned eight medals at this year’s event: two Platinum, three Gold, one Silver, and two Bronze.

When the winery was acquired by Arterra Wines in 2017, some experts had concerns as to whether Laughing Stock would maintain its boutique identity under its new corporate umbrella. However, the winery continues to operate with a small, focused team and remains fully independent in its winemaking approach.

The balance of the top 10 small wineries are:

Meyer Family Vineyards, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead Winery, Kelowna, British Columbia
The Organized Crime Winery, Beamsville, Ontario
Tantalus Vineyards, Kelowna, British Columbia
Township 7 Vineyards and Winery, Penticton, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow Winery, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia
Moon Cruiser Vineyards, Osoyoos, British Columbia
Orofino Vineyards, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Beamsville, Ontario

Platinum Awards

A Platinum medal is the highest award possible. Less than 2% of the 1,700 wines and ciders entered received this award.

The award process involves a minimum of eight judges, three or four in the first round, and five or six in the second round. Each wine must have achieved an aggregate score of 93 points by five of those judges. 93 points or better is considered entering the realm of “outstanding.” Thus, not every judging category had a Platinum recipient.

This year’s Platinum Award winners are listed below:

Library Wines

Moon Curser 2020 Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Red Blends

Black Hills 2023 Bona Fide, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Laughing Stock 2022 Blind Trust Red, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nomad at Hinterbrook Winery 2021 Wanderlust, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Palatine Hills Ramblers 2024 Schmoozer Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The Organized Crime 2022 The Download, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Trius 2022 Grand Red, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Pinot Noir

1 Mill Road 2022 Pinot Noir Home Block, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lightning Rock Winery 2022 Pinot Noir Canyonview Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2022 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2022 Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Chardonnay

1 Mill Road 2023 Chardonnay, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2022 Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mission Hill Family Estate 2022 Perpetua, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate Winery 2022 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Syrah

Laughing Stock 2022 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Sandhill 2022 Syrah Terroir Driven Wine, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Riesling

CedarCreek 2022 Aspect Collection Riesling, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Peller Estates 2023 Signature Series Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Thirty Bench 2022 Small Lot Riesling, Triangle Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Trius 2023 Showcase Riesling, Ghost Creek, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Icewine and Late Harvest

Inniskillin 2023 Riesling Icewine Niagara Estate, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Byland 2023 Riesling Icewine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Cabernet Franc

Black Bank Hill 2022 Cabernet Franc, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2023 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kismet 2022 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mission Hill Family Estate 2022 Terroir Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2022 Dean’s List Cabernet Franc, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tinhorn Creek 2022 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Merlot

The complete list of award winners can be found at www.winealign/awards.

Sláinte mhaith

Food and Wine Pairings – Yes or No?

July 26, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

I have written my share of posts over the years suggesting certain wines be served with specific foods as the wine will highlight and compliment the flavours and characteristics of a particular food. However, I recently read an article that suggested that too much focus is placed on paring wine with specific foods. The author made several thought-provoking points as to why the practice is not always useful.

For one thing, everyone’s palate is not the same. Some people have a more sensitive palate than others. What one person finds to be a good pairing; another person may not. Taste is a very personal thing. What one individual enjoys another may not. For example, not everyone enjoys spicy food.

People’s ability to taste and smell varies for a wide assortment of reasons. The tongue has taste receptors that enable us to identify saltiness, sweetness, sourness, bitterness and umami, which is a savory, rich taste that is often described as “meaty” or “brothy”. In addition to the approximate 35 receptors on the tongue, it has been discovered that there are additional receptors in the brain, stomach, and even in the muscles.

For the sense of taste to be totally effective, an individual must also have a good sense of smell. This requires good use of about 400 aroma receptors.

Emotions can play a big part in what tastes good and what does not. When depressed, angry, or in pain, chances are that your wine will taste rather off, being much less enjoyable than it otherwise would. The atmosphere and surroundings can have a significant psychological impact on how you feel about the wine and the food you are eating.

What all this illustrates is that the sense of taste is very complex, leaving each of us with varying degrees of flavour interpretation that can fluctuate greatly depending on our mood and circumstances. Thus, there are not only many opinions on what wine and food combinations go well together, but also that what pairs well may be based on a multitude of unidentified external factors. We humans can be very complicated beings and thus, we may have wide ranging opinions as to what wine and food combinations go well together.

Wine and food pairings are standards and suggestions but not a hard and fast rule. The bottom line is, you should match your food and wine in a manner that is most pleasurable to you and makes your meal enjoyable. I will continue to periodically write about suggested wine and food pairings but remember, these are only recommendations, not hard and fast rules.

Sláinte mhaith

Wine with BBQ

July 19, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

The standard guidelines for pairing wine with food will apply when searching for the ideal wine to enjoy with your barbeque creations. When considering the wine options, consider the type of meat and veggies you are grilling, as well as any sauce or marinade you are going to apply.

As a general guideline, when serving red meats like steak or hamburgers, a full-bodied red wine goes well. Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or Malbec would all be good choices. For meats like chicken or pork, lighter reds such as Pinot Noir or Gamay, Rosé or a crisp white such as Sauvignon Blanc will make a good pairing. A sweet or spicy sauce or marinade can be balanced by a slightly sweet wine like Riesling or Zinfandel.

For more specific pairings here are some suggestions:

For Poultry

Grilled Chicken – Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé
Lightly Seasoned Chicken – Sauvignon Blanc
Chicken with Creamy Sauces – Chardonnay

For Beef or Pork

Steak – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec or Shiraz
Hamburgers– Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, lighter-bodied Merlot or Grenache blends such as a French Côtes du Rhône
Ribs – Zinfandel, Merlot or Syrah
Beef Brisket – Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz
Sausages – Tempranillo, Gamay or Pinot Noir
Roast Pork – Pinot Noir, Valpolicella or Riesling
Pork chops – Valpolicella, Barbera, Riesling dry Rosé
Lamb – Syrah, Grenache or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Other BBQ Dishes

Grilled Vegetables: Pinot Noir, Rosé, or a crisp white like Sauvignon Blanc
Salmon: Rosé Champagne, Pinot Gris or chilled Pinot Noir

Most importantly, having a barbecue should be fun so don’t get stressed out over trying to match the meat, sauce and sides to the perfect wine. Whatever wine you decide on will work fine.

Sláinte mhaith

The 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships

July 12, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

The All Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC) is open to all Canadian licensed wineries, cideries and meaderies and content must normally be grown and made in Canada. However, for this year, a new section was added, the international “Cellared in Canada” segment. These wines contain imported grapes or juice. The “Cellared in Canada” program was introduced in 2024 in response to the environmental disasters that severely impacted many British Columbia vineyards. No trophies were awarded for this special category.

As with previous years, the judges come from across Canada and include wine writers, sommeliers, and professional wine judges from the Wine Judges of Ontario. Some judges have been with the competition for more than twenty years.

Awards are presented for Gold, Silver and Bronze winners but the top scoring wine in each category is awarded Double Gold.

This year there were a total of 911 wines entered from 163 wineries.

The Trophy and Double Gold winners for grape wines are presented below. For the complete listing of award winners, visit the ACWC website at www.allcanadianwinechampionships.com/acwc-2025-results/. All prices are expressed in Canadian dollars.

The 2025 Trophy Awards were presented to:

Best Sparkling Wine of the Year

Time Family of Wines, British Columbia – 2018 Evolve Brut Nature – $49.99

Best Red Wine of the Year

Creekside Estate Winery (Diamond Estate Wines and Spirits), Ontario – 2020 Shiraz – $15.95

Best White Wine of the Year

Solvero Wines, British Columbia – 2022 Chardonnay – $40.25

Best Dessert Wine of the Year

Pillitteri Estates Winery Inc., Ontario – 2019 Racina Riesling Icewine – $40.00

Best Rosé Wine of the Year

Keint-he Winery and Vineyards Ltd., Ontario – 2023 Portage Rosé – $24.80

Best Fruit Wine of the Year

Maan Farms Estate Winery, British Columbia – N/V Strawberry Dessert – $29.41

Best Cider of the Year

Archibald Orchards & Winery, Ontario – N/V Hard Ginger – $13.80

Best Mead of the Year

Miel Nature Inc., Quebec – N/V Pomme et miel – $20.00

The 2025 Double Gold medal winners were the following:

Sparkling Wine-Traditional Method

Time Family of Wines, British Columbia – 2018 Evolve Brut Rosé – $49.99

Sparkling Wine–Charmat Method

Monte Creek Winery, British Columbia – 2022 Living Land Sparkling – $27.59

Sparkling Wine–Frizzante Method

Cherry Point Estate Wines, British Columbia – 2024 Spritzy Rosé – $33.40

Chardonnay, Unoaked

Strewn, Ontario – 2023 Distinctive Small Lot Chardonnay Musque – $24.92

Chardonnay Under $35.00

Deep Roots Winery, British Columbia – 2023 Reserve Chardonnay – $34.90

Chardonnay Over $35.00

Solvero Wines, British Columbia – 2022 Chardonnay – $40.25 “Best White Wine of the Year”

Riesling Dry

Three Sisters Winery, British Columbia – 2023 Riesling – $28.75

Riesling Off Dry

Huff Estates Winery, Ontario – 2023 Day Tripping Riesling – $20.00

Sauvignon Blanc

Featherstone Winery, Ontario – 2024 Sauvignon Blanc – $17.95

Gewürztraminer

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2023 Gewürztraminer – $26.00

Pinot Gris Style

Alderlea Vineyards, British Columbia – 2024 Pinot Gris – $26.45

Pinot Grigio Style

Volcanic Hills Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2024 Pinot Gris – $28.74

Viognier

Rainmaker Wines, British Columbia – 2022 Viognier Rainmaker – $30.00

Other Single Vitis Vinifera Whites

Chaberton Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2024 Estate Grown Siegerrebe – $19.95

White Vitis Vinifera Blends

Alderlea Vineyards, British Columbia – 2024 Valerie – $26.45

Single White Hybrids

Magnetic Hill Winery, New Brunswick – 2024 The OC Osceola by the Sea – $20.00

White Hybrid Blends

Bear River Vineyards, Nova Scotia – 2024 Greater Yellowlegs – $25.00

Orange Wines

The Good Earth Food and Wine Co., Ontario – 2023 Chardonnay Musque Orange – $23.80

Rosé Dry

Keint-he Winery and Vineyards Ltd., Ontario – 2023 Portage Rosé – $24.80 “Best Rosé of the Year”

Rosé Off Dry

Kismet Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2024 Phulkari Rosé – $29.89

Cabernet Sauvignon $35 and Under

Black Sage Vineyard, British Columbia – 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – $32.99

Cabernet Sauvignon Over $35.00

Laughing Stock Vineyards, British Columbia – 2022 Market Darling – $60.00

Merlot $35 and Under

Bordertown Vineyard & Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2020 Merlot – $25.00

Merlot Over $35.00

Pillitteri Estates Winery Inc., Ontario – 2020 Exclamation Merlot – $60.00

Pinot Noir $35 and Under

Keint-he Winery and Vineyards Ltd., Ontario – 2022 Portage Pinot Noir – $24.80

Pinot Noir Over $35.00

16 Mile Cellar, Ontario – 2022 Tenacity Pinot Noir – $59.80

Cabernet Franc $35 and Under

Pillitteri Estates Winery Inc., Ontario – 2020 Carretto Cabernet Franc – $28.00

Cabernet Franc Over $35.00

Bella Terra Vineyards, Ontario – 2022 Cabernet Franc – $49.72

Bordeaux Blends $35 and Under

Magnotta Winery, Ontario – 2019 Magnotta Meritage Gran Riserva VQA – $31.95

Bordeaux Blends Over $35.00

Dirty Laundry Winery, British Columbia – 2020 Bordello – $44.99

Syrah/Shiraz $35 and Under

Creekside Estate Winery (Diamond Estate Wines and Spirits), Ontario – 2020 Shiraz – $15.95 “Best Red Wine of the Year”

Syrah/Shiraz Over $35.00

Moraine Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2022 Syrah – $39.00

Single Red Hybrids

Magnetic Hill Winery, New Brunswick, – N/V Terroir Generator New World Cali Style – $30.00

Red Hybrid Blends

Planters Ridge Winery, Nova Scotia – 2022 Quintessence Red – $25.36

Other Single Red Vitis Vinifera

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, Ontario – 2022 Petit Verdot – $39.95

Other Red Vitis Vinifera Blends

Nk’Mip Cellars British Columbia, – 2022 Winemakers Talon – $32.99

Marechal Foch

Alderlea Vineyards, British Columbia – 2023 Clarinet – $27.60

Malbec

Rainmaker Wines, British Columbia – 2022 Malbec – $40.00

Gamay

Hillside Winery & Bistro, British Columbia – 2021 Founder’s Block Gamay Noir – $45.00

Appassimento Style

Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Ontario – 2023 Appassimento Cabernet Franc Hawks Flight Reserve – $44.80

NEW SEGMENT FOR 2025 – INTERNATIONAL “CELLARED IN CANADA”

Single Red Vitus Vinifera

Devonian Coast Wineries, Nova Scotia – N/V Ducks Crossing Cabernet Sauvignon – $13.67

Sparkling

Moraine Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2024 Shipuchka Frizzante – $28.00

Single White Vitus Vinifera

See ya Later Ranch, British Columbia – 2024 Pinot Gris – $19.99

White Vitus Vinifera Blends

Sunnybrae Vineyards & Winery, British Columbia – 2024 Twisted Path Washington – $24.73

Rosé

Arterra Wines Canada, British Columbia – 2024 Saintly Rosé – $20.99

DESSERT WINES

Late Harvests

Vignoble Rivière du Chêne, Quebec – 2024 Cuvée Glacée des Laurentides – $28.05

White Icewines (Riesling, Vidal, Other)

Pillitteri Estates Winery Inc., Ontario – 2019 Racina Riesling Icewine – $40.00 “Best Dessert Wine of the Year”

Red Icewines

Magnotta Winery, Ontario – 2019 Magnotta Cabernet Franc Icewine Limited Edition VQA – $44.95

Grape Fortifieds

Moraine Estate Winery, British Columbia – 2022 O’port – $47.00

Next up on the championship list will be the National Wine Awards. The results should be released around mid-July.

Sláinte mhaith

Bordeaux’s Sauternes Region

June 28, 2025 / A Layman's Wine Musings / Leave a comment

The final Bordeaux winery visit on our recent trip to France was to Château La Tour Blanche in the Sauternes region. The Sauternes Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée covers approximately 2,000 hectares and includes five communes: Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes.

La Tour Blanche estate, like most of the Crus Classés of the appellation, is located on a ridge elevating It 60 meters above sea level. This provides good exposure of the vines and better drainage of the land. The terroir provides a gravelly surface and a clay-limestone subsoil, which give a particular character to the wines produced.

The three traditional white grape varieties of the Sauternes Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée vineyard are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Château La Tour Blanche grows 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle.

The Sémillon grapes provide the structure, give the wine its beautiful Golden colour and its aromas of dried fruits, candied fruits and honey. Sauvignon Blanc produces a very fine, full-bodied, and aromatic wine and creates the beautiful freshness in the blend. The Muscadelle adds to the unique style of the wines, bringing additional aromatic complexity thanks to its delicate scent of muscat grain and its spicy notes.

Like many of the wineries in Bordeaux, Château La Tour Blanche has already taken numerous steps to improve its environmental performance. They have imposed demanding specifications on sustainable development. In recent years, they have introduced waste reprocessing and confined spraying. Château La Tour Blanche is HVE 3 certified (High Environmental Values) and is a member of the first association for the Environmental Management System (EMS) of Bordeaux Wine certified ISO 14001.

The grapes arriving at the winery are botrytized (see my post, Dessert Wines from April 18, 2020), full of sugar. Once selected on the sorting table and pressed, the grapes produce musts in which the action of Noble Rot will have produced a reduction in acidity as well as an increase in sugar content. The average yield does not exceed 10 to 15 hectoliters per hectare at the La Tour Blanche estate, due to strict selection.

Only musts reaching an average of between 20 and 22 degrees of potential alcohol are selected for the 1er Cru Classé. The slightly less concentrated juices will be used to produce the second or third wines.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend and sample any of the wines that day because of an unexpected visit to see a Bordeaux ophthalmologist as a result of a torn retina, which is now repaired. I may have to make a return trip to the region to experience what I missed.

Sláinte mhaith