Wine of the Week: Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2020

I randomly picked up the Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2020 on a weekend trip to the LCBO. I was looking for a Pinot Noir for my dinner that night and was immediately attracted to this bottle! The Flat Rock Pinot Noir comes from Flat Rock Cellars located on the Twenty Mile Bench in the Niagara Ontario region. The beautiful new labels are inspired by Flat Rock’s 80 acres of unique terroir. The designs are rock formations of limestone samples from their vineyards! The wine itself also speaks to the uniqueness of the Flat Rock soil. The Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2020 is a beautifully structured, complex and elegant red wine. It’s medium-bodied and on the bold side for a Pinot Noir with flavours of red berries and herbs. I paired this wine with a mushroom lasagna and it was perfection! It will also pair really nicely with rack of lamb, grilled salmon and roasted chicken. Perfect for all the upcoming spring holiday meals! You can find the Flat Rock Pinot Noir 2020 at the LCBO for $22.95, or through the winery’s online shop.

Cheers!

Advertisement

Wine of the Week: Konzelmann Sparkling Rosé

While the fall season is my favourite, I’m not giving up on summer just yet! I think that summer 2021 deserves one last celebration. And there is no better way to celebrate than with a bottle of pink bubbly! I tried the Konzelmann Sparkling Rosé last month and it is the perfect wine to cheers farewell to summer. It’s bursting with big bubbles filled with juicy flavours of cherry, raspberry and strawberry. This wine is made using the charmed method from 100% VQA Ontario grapes from the beautiful lakefront Konzelmann vineyards. The Konzelmann Sparkling Rosé is the prettiest pink salmon colour and, trust me, is super easy drinking! Enjoy outside in the sun with friends alongside your favourite summer appetizers. You can find the Konzelmann Sparkling Rosé through the Konzelmann online store on sale right now for only $17.95. If you happen to order a few bottles, this wine can also be enjoyed well into autumn. But for now, lets pop a bottle of the Konzelmann Sparkling Rosé and toast to the summer season!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Foreign Affair Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2020

The Foreign Affair Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2020 is the perfect summer food wine. It pairs so well with a wide variety of foods from your lighter summer fare to your big barbeque dinners. Forget red wine with your steak this summer, it’s all about the big bold Rosé! The Foreign Affair Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé is a full-bodied dry wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with a small amount (12%) of Appassimento Sauvignon Blanc grapes blended in. The result is a big juicy Rosé with bright flavours of strawberries, raspberries, cranberries and cherries. Enjoy the Foreign Affair Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé with your favourite barbequed meats like steak, brisket and burgers. It will also pair well with lighter foods like seafood, salads and cheese and charcuterie. The Foreign Affair Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé is exclusively available online through the winery for $21.95. If you’re interested in this delicious Rosé make sure to purchase your bottles now, because there are only 154 cases available of this small lot wine!

Cheers!~GDW

5 Ontario Wines Perfect for Easter Weekend

We’re all likely having smaller Easter celebrations this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be festive! I’m going to be enjoying fish on Friday, rack of lamb on Saturday and ham for Sunday brunch. And, of course, all will be paired with delicious Ontario VQA wines! I’ve discovered some great “Easter” themed Ontario wines, with fun bunnies and blooms on the bottles. These 5 Ontario wines are absolutely perfect for Easter weekend!

The Hare Wine Company Jack Rabbit Red

Waupoos White Rabbit VQA

Foreign Affair Sparkling Rosé 2019

Pelee Island LOLA Pinot Grigio

The Grange Gamay Pinot ‘Bunny Wine’

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Redtail 2020 Gamay Rosé

I am so excited for the Redtail 2020 Gamay Rosé! The 2019 Rosé was my favourite pink drink last year. As was it many others, because it sold out in record speed! The Redtail 2020 Gamay Rosé is just as delicious as last years vintage. This Ontario Rosé has big juicy flavours of strawberry, watermelon and maraschino cherry. Pair the Redtail 2020 Gamay Rosé with chicken tacos, shrimp vermicelli and spicy curry dishes. Or, as the winery suggests, enjoy this wine chilled at your favourite beach! Order the Gamay Rosé through the Redtail online wine shop for $17. And order now before it sells out again!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: 2019 Inniskillin Niagara Estates Series Pinot Noir

I love drinking Pinot Noir in the early spring. Rainy days, the smell of wet earth and nature beginning to blossom match so well with a glass of Pinot Noir. The 2019 Inniskillin Niagara Estate Series Pinot Noir is one of my favourite spring sippers. This Ontario VQA wine is medium-bodied and dry with flavours of earthiness, black cherry and a hint of spice. The Inniskillin Pinot Noir pairs really well with mushroom dishes, roasted vegetables and cheeseboards. You can find the Inniskillin Pinot Noir at the winery online shop, the LCBO and the Wine Rack for a great value price of $15.95. It’s currently on sale at the Wine Rack for only $14.95. The Inniskillin Pinot Noir is the perfect wine to welcome in the start of spring this weekend!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Konzelmann Pinot Noir

The Konzelmann Pinot Noir is one of those wines that checks all the boxes for me. Local, well priced and pairs with a wide variety of foods – check, check, check! And of course, tastes amazing! Konzelmann Estate Winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, along a gorgeous stretch of Lake Ontario. The Konzelmann family has been making wine in Ontario since the 1980’s and their experience shows! The Konzelmann Pinot Noir is a light-bodied dry red wine with flavours of cherry, earth, pepper and a hint of smokiness. Pair this wine with a wide variety foods like mushroom wellington, chicken alfredo or cheese and charcuterie. You can find the Konzelmann Pinot Noir for the great value price of $14.95 at most LCBO locations or the winery’s online store. Supporting local, well priced, pairs with lots of different foods and tastes great – the Konzelmann Pinot Noir is the perfect red wine to have on hand for the holiday season, no matter how you are celebrating!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Cave Spring Rosé

Over the past month, the Cave Spring Rosé has quickly found it’s way into my weekly wine rotation! It checks on my wine boxes – local, tasty, budget-friendly and pairs well with seasonal foods. Cave Spring Vineyard is a local Ontario winery located in the Beamsville Bench, Niagara. They have a reputation for crafting elegant wines and their Rosé is no exception! The Cave Spring Rosé is a medium-bodied dry wine bursting with red berry flavours. And can we talk about the beautiful deep pink colour?! So gorgeous for fall. The Cave Spring Rosé has a lively acidity that allows it to pair well with a variety of foods. I think it pairs particularly well with fall fare like stuffed acorn squash, bacon wrapped pork and fall charcuterie boards. And best part? This wine is great value and budget friendly at only $13.95 a bottle. You can purchase the Cave Spring Rosé at the LCBO or through the winery’s online shop.

By Courtney Evans

Wine of the Week: Wayne Gretzky Estates Rosé 2019

The Wayne Gretzky Estates Rosé is the perfect bottle of wine to end the summer with. It’s seriously like an Ontario August summer day in a glass! Lets start with the beautiful light coral colour that reminds me of those pink summer sunsets. On the nose you’ll smell everything that’s wonderful about Ontario in August – sweet peach, yellow apple and wild flowers. And then you’ll taste it with beautiful flavours of fresh raspberries, nectarine, field strawberries and currant. Could you bottle August in Ontario more perfectly?! Made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Gamay from Niagara Ontario, the Wayne Gretzky Estates Rosé is a dry, light-bodied and fruity wine. Purchase at the Wayne Gretzky Winery or online through The Wine Shop for $16.95. Drink in those last days of summer!

Cheers!~GDW

Girl on a Budget: 14 Ontario Wines Under $14

It’s more important than ever to support local wineries right now. With so many options here in Ontario, buying and drinking local wine is not difficult! But sometimes the price tag on local wines can be a bit too much for a girl on a budget. Trust me, I hear you! So I’ve compiled a list of my favourite 14 Ontario wines under $14.00. Shop local and stay on budget!

Rosé

1. Sandbanks Rosé

2. Girls’ Night Out Rosé

3. Cave Spring Rosé

4. Colio Unwind Smooth Rosé

White

5. Peninsula Ridge Semi-Dry Riesling

6. Three Dog Winery White

7. Colchester Ridge Unoaked Chardonnay

8. Angels Gate Riesling

9. Frisky Beaver White

Red

10. Pelee Island Merlot

11. Henry of Pelham House Wine Co. Red

12. Fielding Long Weekend Cabernet

13. Konzelmann Canada Red

14. Twenty Bees Baco Noir

Cheers!~GDW