Author Archives: Twilight Wines

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

19 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

NC best Dean’s List Chardonnay to date featuring a balance between the oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, green apples, butterscotch, ginger, dill & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “This Chardonnay for the St. David’s Bench was aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak to balance the freshness of the fruit and the softness of the barrel.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 18, 2026

RAIMAT ABADIA TEMPRANILLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ 2024, DO Costers Del Segre, Spain

12 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Organic/Sustainability, Recommended, Rosés, Vegan Friendly

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Cost: $22.50
Grape: Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: The Small Wine Makers Collection
Country: Spain
Region: Costers Del Segre
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Raimat
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Dry, versatile, pleasant drinking rosé. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, strawberries, pink grapefruit,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan & Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “Abadía represents the essence of Raimat and is the oldest wine brand in the Costers del Segre Designation of Origin.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with a variety of Tapas.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 11, 2026

RIDGE ROAD ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY 2024, VQA Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Ridge Road Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, easy to drink, nice citric & tropical notes while not being overtly oaked. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, low to medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Pitahaya, cantaloupe, Fuji apples, ginger & light oak spice.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Fermented in stainless steel and 50% was aged with French oak.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chicken breast.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 6, 2026

HÃHÃ HAWKE’S BAY CHARDONNAY 2024, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

30 Saturday May 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Format: 750 ml
Producer: HãHã
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking, smooth, creamy with tropical fruits. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, lemon meringue, peach, pear, kumquat, golden apple, ginger, honeycomb & light oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill it.

Winemaker’s Note: “Following harvest the grapes were gently pressed on
arrival to the winery. The juice was cold settled before being inoculated with selected yeast for fermentation. The wine was aged on full lees and French oak and went through 50% malolactic fermentation in spring prior to blending, filtering and bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with creamy seafood pasta dishes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: May 27, 2026

LCBO: 10020

GRAY MONK ODYSSEY TRADITIONAL BRUT 2021, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

24 Sunday May 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Gray Monk Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: 34% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 32% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Gray Monk Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Best valued vintage Champagne style wine that I have tasted to date. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, lemon, Anjou pear, green & red apples, peach & buttered toast.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with ocean East Coast Oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 24, 2026

RABBIT RANCH CHARDONNAY SUR LIE 2023, Central Otago, New Zealand

17 Sunday May 2026

Posted by in On The Fence, Vegan Friendly, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rabbit Ranch
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Light and crisp with minimal oak intervention. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear & pitahaya

Negatives: Price

Interesting Point: Vegan

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 5 years on its own or pair it with BBQ chicken thighs.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: May 15, 2026

LCBO: 48077

COUNTRY VINE WINERY, Richmond BC, Canada

16 Saturday May 2026

Posted by in Country Vine Winery, Winery Review Series

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I was staying in Richmond BC and noticed an interesting family-owned winery. The building was not conspicuous, and they had a large outdoor seating. There’s a pet farm beside them with three cows, two of which (milk cows) are huge.

On May 11, 2026, Lisa and I decided to explore the winery. We were greeted by Louis, a beautiful, friendly, black lab that belongs to Emi, the staff member that was giving us wine tastings and we also had some wine in the outdoor area.

The house is the original home of Suzie who grew up there. The Estate wines all come from the vineyards in the back, and their other wines come from the Okanagan Valley.

Lisa’s two favourite wines were their Estate Siegerrebe 2024, and “Suzie-O” Riesling from Okanagan Valley, while I chose their smoky “Hot Pursuit” Merlot 2021 from Okanagan Valley. Why the smoky notes? It was as a result from the fires that engulfed the Valley that year.

Unfortunately, I was not able to meet the wineries Wine Ambassador Tonya Karmin, but hoping to visit the winery sometime soon.

GRAY MONK WINERY, LAKE COUNTRY, OKANAGAN VALLEY, BC

12 Tuesday May 2026

Posted by in Gray Monk Winery, Winery Review Series

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On visiting Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, BC, I fell in love with Gray Monk Winery, so much that I signed myself up for their Club Membership. They ship four times a year, and yes to Ontario for $25 shipping, but if you buy an addition 6, the shipping is free. What I really like about their membership is that you have options on what wines you want versus what the winery wants to get rid of. In addition, you get 15% of wines, merchandise and at the restaurant. Rob (retired from Ontario and moved to BC) was great in serving Lisa and myself wines. Thanks also to Tony for hooking us up with Rob.

The record-breaking “polar vortex” of January 2024 was devastating for the entire Okanagan region, and Gray Monk Estate Winery was not immune. They lost their entire Pinot Gris vines, which now they import from Washington State. Winemaker Jen Oishi has done an excellent job producing a quality Pinot Gris wine.

An interesting wine, in a good way, even Lisa liked that, and that’s saying a lot, is Siegerrebe. Siegerrebe is a white grape variety that originated in Germany in 1929 through the crossing of Gewürztraminer and Madeleine Angevine. Known for its early ripening nature, Siegerrebe is among the first grape varieties to be harvested during the season.

d’ARENBERG THE OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY 2024, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Australia

11 Saturday Apr 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 ml
Producer: d’Arenberg
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice balanced Chard between fruits, spiciness & oak. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, ginger, pitahaya, honey & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Small batches of grapes are gently crushed, chilled and then basket pressed. To add complexity and mouthfeel the wine is fermented and matured in French oak for seven months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Salt n Pepper wings.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 10, 2026

LCBO: 702845

MISSION HILL FAMILY RESERVE MERITAGE 2021 VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $32.95
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, BC
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The high alcohol overwhelms any fruit. Score: 85/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, bramble fruit, spinach, Allspice, pencil shavings & wet stone.

Negatives: High alcohol

Interesting Point: If you leave your glass with the wine open for an hour, the fruit starts to come out.

Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with smoked pork back ribs.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: April 8, 2026

LCBO: 633628