Category Archives: Canadian Wines

PELEE ISLAND WINERY BACO NOIR NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

10 Tuesday Mar 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95 (Sale price until March 29, 2026: $12.95)
Grape: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy & spicy Baco that’s nicely priced for the quality. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackcurrants, sour cherry, rhubarb, plum, clove, Allspice & peat moss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sustainable & Vegan

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 9, 2026

LCBO: 485128

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR ESTATE BOTTLED 2020, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Burgundian style Pinot with sour fruit, earthiness & smokiness. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rhubarb, sour cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pickled beets, oyster mushrooms, peat moss & smoked ambers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lightly chill to 15C and use a balloon style glassware.

Winemaker’s Note: “Fruit was cold soaked for 3 days, followed by small batch fermentation & 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels & puncheons.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with escargot.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 8, 2026

QUEEN BEE BLANC DE NOIRS, 2018, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Monday Feb 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $34.95 LCBO, $32.98 Costco, $30.95 Winery
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages, Costco, Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Lakeview Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality dry, traditional method sparkling wine at a good price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, MacIntosh apples, white cranberry, blackberry, fennel, roasted almonds & orange zest.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Add a blackberry to your glass with the sparkling wine. You hopefully will enjoy how it taste.

Winemaker’s Note: “Gently whole bunch pressed to avoid colour and tannin extraction. Primary fermentation in stainless steel at relatively cool temperatures, and then triaged six months later for second fermentation in bottle. On lees for over 48 months before being disgorged.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Duck Risotto.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 22, 2026

LCBO: 45580

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD 2018 BLANC DE BLANC, Traditional Method, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

28 Sunday Dec 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body with elegance. So far, the best Canadian vintage Blanc de Blanc I’ve tasted. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, lemon meringue, green apples, Quince, clementine, toasted almonds, buttered toast, honeycomb & yellow flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “100% chardonnay harvested from the Estate vineyard September 9, 2018. Primary fermentation was conducted at cooler temperatures in stainless steel to preserve delicate fruit flavours. Triage bottling for secondary fermentation on March 14, 2019, then left for on the lees in bottle for over 50 months to create complexity and luxurious character.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 8 years on its own or pair it with brunch.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 28, 2025

NIAGARA TEACHING WINERY COMMENCEMENT BRUT SPARKLING WINE, NV, Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada

27 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Vidal
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not worth it.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear & orange pith.

Negatives: Plain with slight bitterness

Interesting Point: Taste was very plain with a slight bitterness. Only way this wine is palatable is in a mimosa. However, there are a lot better sparkling wines at a better price to do that.

Winemaker’s Note: “The wine was produced using Cuve Closed Method, completing its secondary fermentation in tank, then bottled under pressure to maintain the natural effervescence.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years and mix it with orange juice or any other juice.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: December 20, 2025

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE PINOT NOIR 2021, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Organic/Sustainability, Red Wines, Vegan Friendly

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant, juicy Pinot that pairs well with food or on its own. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, fine tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Organic & vegan

Winemaker’s Note: “Hand-harvested clusters were destemmed prior to undergoing a wild ferment in open-top oak fermenter. After pressing, the wine was transferred to second-fill and neutral French oak barrels to preserve freshness and then aged eight months before bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with duck breast.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2025

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Tuesday Nov 2025

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rose Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean rosé with a nice flavour profile. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright copper in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot noir, immediately pressed, left on the grape skins for 3.5 hours, fermented in stainless steel.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chili.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 24, 2025

QUEENSTON MILE SPARKLING PINOT NOIR, Pétillant Naturel – Ancestral Method, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Nov 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting, but in a good way. A rustic style sparkling. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Cloudy bloody Mary in colour with good acidity, low intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, rhubarb, Fuji apple, strawberry, Oyster mushrooms

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t disturb the sediment in the bottle before opening as if you do (and I did), it will uncontrollably bubble over.

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot noir harvested September 22nd 2020 from Estate Vineyard. Bottled during wild fermentation on October 14th 2020. This wine was left unfiltered on its lees for extended ageing in bottle.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Escargot.

My Opinion: Recommended

November 16, 2025

KIN VINEYARDS CARP RIDGE CHARDONNAY 2020, VQA Ontario, Canada

16 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kin Vineyards, Non LCBO Wine, Organic/Sustainability, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $32.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Cap Ridge, Ottawa, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kin Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Versatile Chard made mostly in neutral oak. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Kumquat, golden apples, pineapple, pear, peach, dill & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Taste better in the oak style chard glass vs the Chablis style ones.

Winemaker’s Note: “Carp Ridge Chardonnay grapes, grown organically as well as biodynamically, were harvested with rigorous selection and sorting, over three days. After gentle pressing and cool settling, the juice was transferred to French Oak Burgundy format cooperage for indigenous fermentation and malolactic conversion over 5 months. Oak profile is 3% New Oak, 85% Neutral Oak and 12% Stainless Steel. Total elevage of 9 months with biweekly battonage for 4 months. Following barrel blending, light bentonite fining and cold stabilization, the wine was bottled with minimal filtration.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles Saint-Jacques.

My Opinion: Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 15, 2025

KIN VINEYARDS TRAVELER’S CHARDONNAY 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Kin Vineyards, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $25.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kin Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For those Chard lovers that don’t like heavy oak, as this one is unoaked, but still have a full body, tropical fruits & creamy but fresh finish. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Ligh gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, apple, pear, peach, banana & cantaloupe.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Kin Vineyards is located in the Ottawa Valley, but the grapes in this wine come from Niagara Peninsula.

Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes were machine picked, destemmed and sorted by harvester before being pressed to extract the juice. Following cold settling, the clear juice was racked to stainless steel fermenter for inoculation with cultured yeast. After 10 days, the fermentation was halted to block the malolactic conversion of acids, bentonite fined and cold settled for 16 days prior to racking to tank for 5 months of tank ageing. Sterile filtration proceeded bottling.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Japanese food.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2025

LCBO: 17199