Category Archives: White Wines

GRAY MONK PINOT GRIS ODYSSEY SERIES 2024, VQA Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

04 Saturday Jul 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Gray Monk Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $33.00
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, BC
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Gray Monk Winery
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean wine that is an excellent substitute for a high-end Sauvignon Blanc. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, pear, dragon fruit, wet stone

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Pinot Gris grapes were hand-picked from our Estate Vineyard (Block 8) from some of the oldest vines in British Columbia (approximately 40 years old). The grapes were gently pressed, then the juice fermented in stainless steel tanks for pure fruit expression, and aged in 2,000L French oak foudre for 6 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with lightly breaded pan-fried fresh-water fish with buttered new potatoes.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 3, 2026

GRAY MONK ODYSSEY CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA British Columbia, Canada

24 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Gray Monk Winery, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $33.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: British Columbia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Gray Monk Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Top tier Chard that is exquisite, elegant & complexed. Wine features nice balance between oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 98/100.

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

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In order to bring out everything this wine has to offer, don’t overchill and use the larger Chard style glassware.

Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes come from select vineyards in Kelowna and Osoyoos regions of the Okanagan Valley, and from the Similkameen Valley, allowing for unique Chardonnay characteristics from each terroir. 50% of the wine was fermented and aged in new French oak barrels for 3 months, with battonage (lees stirring), and underwent a full malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity. 50% of the wine was aged in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation for a more refreshing fruit forward style. This first vintage of the Odyssey Chardonnay was blended, allowed to rest, then bottled in small production of 524 cases.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass in butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

MATISCO VIRÉ-CLESSÉ 2023, AOC Viré-Clessé

09 Thursday Apr 2026

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Organic/Sustainability, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $28.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison Matisco
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Complex Chard, well balanced with juicy fruits, good acidity & spicy notes. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light clear gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, kumquat, dill, ginger, honeycomb, oak spice & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Organic

Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 7, 2026

LCBO: 43890

KIM CRAWFORD CHARDONNAY, 2024 New Zealand

07 Tuesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $20.95 (sale price until April 7, 2026: $16.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region:
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kim Crawford
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Always reliable, good value Chard, light crisp & always reliable to give a nice balance. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light clear gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, yellow cranberry, pear, ginger & dill.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Great price with $4 off

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with General Taos Chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 6, 2026

LCBO: 991950

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2020, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Friday Mar 2026

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

I think the technical term is: “Yummy”. Best Canadian Viognier that I have tasted. Full body, rich, oily, expressive, juicy & spicy. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Bright deep gold in colour with low acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Peach, peach pit, apricot, ginger, Chinese 5 Spice, vanilla & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Harvested October 9th 2020 from the estate vineyard. Fermented and aged in neutral in French Oak barrels for 9 months before a careful barrel selection determined this final blend of 180 cases.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Dungeness Crab.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 19, 2026