Cost: $22.95 Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Rosé Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A nice sour base rosé. Score: 89/100.
Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb & cranberry.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Chinese food.
Cost: $69.95 Grape: 39.6% Syrah, 30.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30.2% Cabernet Franc Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Kacaba Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
High end Ontario red that will show its true caliber in years to come. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raspberry, mulberry, plum, cassis, Star Anise, white pepper, Radicchio & arugula.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 16 months in French & American oak.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 6 – 8 years on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.
One of the best rosés without the high cost. This delicious off-dry rosé is full flavoured & juicy. Score: 94/100.
Tasting Note: Rosé red in colour with good acidity, a medium intense+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing Cherries, Fuji Apples & strawberries.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: The use of 50% Pinot Meunier, a grape used in Champagne.
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken wings
Tasting Note: Medium yellow in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, yellow plum, golden apples & marzipan.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: I bought the last bottle at the winery (sorry).
Winemaker’s Note: “Fermented & aged in French Oak with 100% malolactic fermentation at the end.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Chicken Satay.
Quality made Gamay with tart fruit & spice. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry, black pepper, cloves & cassis.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with panzerotti.
Cost: $47.75 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Southbrook Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
High end Ontario Chard that can compete with the best Chards in the world. Score: 97/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon rind, quince, white cranberry, yellow & green apples, ginger, dill, cloves, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic & Biodynamic
Winemaker’s Note: “Whole bunch pressed to cold settle in tank. Racked to ferment wild in barrel and receiving full malolactic conversion. After ten months elevage in French oak barrels (30% new).
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Steamed Lobster & drawn butter.
A refreshing off-dry sparkling rosé perfect for the patio. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Pink in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, Bing cherries, rhubarb & MacIntosh apples
Negatives: On the pricy side.
Interesting Point: Make sure the wine is very cold to bring out the freshness of the fruit.
Winemaker’s Note: Charmat method
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ chicken wings.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, dark chocolate, cassis, anise, pencil shavings & baby spinach leaves.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Aged in French & American oak for 16 months.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with flank steak.
Cost: $21.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
My new Ontario best Chard at under $30. Beautifully made, elegant, creamy with vibrant tropical fruits & some spice. Score: 95/100.
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, green & golden apples, mango, ginger, oak spice & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes for our Chardonnay 2023 come from select vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula appellation. They were harvested in late September and early October and fermented and aged in French oak and acacia barrels of a variety of sizes (228L, 400L, and 500L). There were 100% malolactic fermentations. After rigorous tasting, winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas decided on the final blend and bottled the wine in January 2025, following light fining and filtration.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Fogo Island cod, soy ginger glaze, charred shitake mushrooms & green garlic.
Full body rosé that has vibrant flavours. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Burnt cooper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, Rainer cherries,
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot Noir grown & picked specifically for rosé. Macerated for only a few hours, one week on lees, fermented cold with select yeast”.
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Greek Pork Kabobs
Twilight Wines 