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!

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Wine of the Week: JP Azeitão Syrah Rosé Bacalhoa

The JP Azeitão Syrah Rosé is hands down the BEST budget friendly rosé! I’ve loved this wine for years and am so happy it’s now almost always available at the LCBO. The JP Rosé comes for Portugal and is made with Syrah grapes. It’s a light-bodied dry wine with pretty flavours of red berries. And the best part? It’s amazing value at only $9.45 a bottle! Great taste and value make the JP Rosé perfect for parties and get togethers – it’s always a crowd pleaser! Enjoy the JP Rosé on it’s own (I often do!) or try pairing with foods like spring salads, roasted chicken and seafood linguini. Pick up a few bottle online or at your local LCBO store.

Cheers!

Wine of the Week: Malivoire Bisous Rosé

It’s officially summer time! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a bottle of local pink bubbles. I recently tried the Malivoire Bisous Rosé and it is so perfect for the summer season! Located on the Beamsville Bench in the Niagara Ontario Peninsula, Malivoire Vineyards is known for it’s sustainable and eco-centric approach to wine growing…as well as delicious Rosé wines. The Malivoire Bisous Rosé is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method from handpicked, estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes. It has big bright flavours of raspberry, strawberry and green apples. I enjoyed the Malivoire Bisous Rosé as an aperitif with sea salt chips and it was the perfect pairing! But it would also be really nice with fish tacos, chicken and veg skewers or creamy asparagus risotto. A very versatile wine for all your summer celebrations! You can purchase the Malivoire Bisous Rosé for $29.95 though the winery’s online shop. If you’d like to add on some additional Malivoire wines, I suggest the Vivant Rosé, Rosé Moira and Lady Bug. All the most perfectly pink wines for the summer season!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Spade & Sparrows Rosé

Kaitlyn Bristowe’s line of wine, Spade & Sparrows, is finally available in Ontario! Of course I had to try the Rosé first and it was definitely worth the wait! The Spade & Sparrows Rosé is an extra-dry light-bodied wine that is very easy drinking. Made from California grapes, this Rosé has bright flavours of strawberry, nectarine and rose petals. I also have to mention the beautiful rose gold label and prettiest pink colour of the wine! The Spade & Sparrows Rosé can be enjoyed all on it’s own, but will pair perfectly with sushi, summer salads or seafood linguini. If you want to try this Rosé (and I highly recommend that you do!), get it while you can! You can find the Spade and Sparrows Rosé at the LCBO for $22.95, but it’s only available at a select few locations. And the bottles they have is it for the year. So stock up and get ready to Rosé the days away with the beautiful Spade and Sparrows!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Huff 2019 Getaway Rosé

This time of year I’m usually lounging on a beach somewhere warm. But I think it’s safe to say that no one will be vacationing this winter. So lets bring the getaway to us! Throw your feet up, pump the heat, put on some relaxing music and grab a bottle of the Huff Getaway Rosé. Take a sip and be whisked away to your favourite warm getaway destination. I will personally be taking myself back to Rosé filled beach days in Jamaica! The Huff Getaway Rosé is the perfect wine to enjoy with a deep breath and relaxation. This VQA Ontario Rosé is very easy-drinking with tart flavours of strawberry, raspberry and cranberry. It’s high acidity makes it so easy to pair with all your favourite vacation foods like grilled seafood, tacos and charcuterie boards. The Huff Getaway Rosé is available through the winery’s online store or the LCBO for $20.00.

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Redtail County Crush

Let’s start 2021 off with the fun new wine from Redtail Vineyards, the County Crush! Made with a blend of Hubbs Creek field fruit, this wine is made naturally with nothing added or taken away. The County Crush may be tiny but it packs a big punch of juicy flavours like raspberry, strawberry and cherry. And don’t let that candied pink colour fool you, the County Crush is extra dry with a crisp light fizziness. It comes in a totally crushable (and fun!) tiny bottle that I recommend enjoying on a winter walk, around the campfire or in the hot tub. The County Crush is already 50% sold out, so get your hands on some bottles soon! You can purchase for $8 a bottle, or $96 for a 12-pack, through the Redtail bottle shop or online store. It’s also available at several restaurant bottle shops in PEC, Ottawa and Toronto. Here’s a full list of retailers where you can find the County Crush!

Prince Edward County – Bermuda, The Brake Room, The County Emporium, The Lark, and Stella’s Eatery.

Toronto – Boxcar Social, Happy Coffee and Wine, and GDL Brasserie.

Ottawa – Cantina GIA, Corner Peach, Dominion City, Gitanes Burger, North Market Almonte, and Red Apron.

Collingwood – Low Down Bar.

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: Coffin Ridge Back from the Dead Red

The Coffin Ridge Back From the Dead Red is my go-to Halloween wine. And it’s likely soon to be yours too! Located in northern Ontario’s Grey County, Coffin Ridge Winery specializes in bringing back to life grapes suited to a cool climate geography. Like the Maréchel Foch and Baco Noir grapes in their devilishly delicious Back From the Dead Red. Flavours of dark berries, spices and earth will come to life as you sip on this full-bodied wine. Pair Back from the Dead Red with all your favourite cold weather dishes like pot roasts, beef wellington and mushroom stew. Get your paws on a bottle of the Coffin Ridge Back from the Dead Red at the LCBO or the winery online shop for $19.95. I guarantee you a hell of a ghoul time!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé

The Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé is another one of my favourite Rosés for fall. This wine is just as beautiful as the gorgeous Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery that sits beneath the Niagara Peninsula in the Beamsville Bench. Made with Cabernet Franc grapes, the Peninsula Ridge Rosé is a medium-bodied dry wine. It’s bursting with juicy flavours of rhubarb, red currant and raspberry with a crisp herbaceous finish. You can definitely enjoy this wine on it’s own, but it will also pair perfectly with a wide variety of foods. Try it with turkey or roast dinners, savoury harvest salads or cheese and charcuteries platters. You can find the Peninsula Ridge Rosé at the LCBO or the winery online shop for $14.95 – amazing value!

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