A number of spectacular wines from British Columbia hit LCBO store shelves recently. Several of them below hosted their own Twitter tasting. They chose the hashtag #ONtastesBC so you can join them. I’ve been reviewing these wines for several years now, and it’s interesting to track their progress to the most recent vintage. As well, [...]

My story about Steve Robinson was originally published in Ottawa Magazine, the sister publication of Toronto Life Magazine. Ottawa sommeliers are proving to be among the best in the province. Steve Robinson placed second in this year’s Ontario’s Best Sommelier Competition, and was named one of the top 30 under 30 in the province’s hospitality [...]

Frida and Diego, poinsettias and tequila, corn, salsa and home to many a winter vacation, these things may have you thinking of Mexico, but did you know that Mexico is also the birthplace of winemaking in the Americas?  In 1597 the first winery of the New World was established in Parras – which is in [...]

Here are my top wine picks from the February 2 Vintages Release. You can also get all 91 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. I’ve also posted my picks for the February 16 Vintages Release. You [...]

In this chat below with CBC Fresh Air host Mary Ito, we discuss how to choose a great wine as a gift for someone depending on their taste and style preferences, or when you don’t know those details. (Hint: Try wrapping a story around the bottle.)Wine is the ultimate gift: doubles are okay, one size [...]

Although the holidays have passed, the wines recommended in my column for Active Adult Magazine still serve us well through these chilly winter months. Let me know if you’ve discovered a favourite wine lately that you’d add to the list.     Silvano Piacentini Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2009 Veneto, Italy Full-bodied and juicy with dark [...]

By Gaby Israel This is the release for the Spanish wine lovers (like me). Spain has been one of my favorite wine regions for many years now. They consistently produce great wines for the right price. You can enjoy 8-12 years old wines for $20 to $30, and their quality is absolutely stunning. Here are [...]

Much as I try, I can’t get stuffy about wine. Anyone can match an expensive Bordeaux with filet mignon, but which wine do you drink when you’ve been on hold with customer service for an hour? There’s the rub. Here are my top wine picks for the most commonly terrible customer service experiences from my [...]

  Rene Wallis, sommelier at the Brookstreet Hotel’s restaurant Perspectives, in Kanata shares, his tips on choosing from a wine list, unusual food pairings and favourite holiday wines. Where did you grow up? My mother raised my older sister, Angela, and I on her own in Ottawa’s French village of Vanier, a bilingual community where [...]

Here are my top wine picks from the January 19 Vintages Release. You can also get all 60 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking [...]