650 Ontario VQA Wines in the LCBO This Fall: Fine a New Wine to Love

Forget pumpkin spice—fall’s real MVP is in your wine glass. Ontario VQA wines that don’t just taste great, they absolutely “crush” it this season. Who better to help us pick the best than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com.

Welcome, Natalie.

Great to be back with you! You know, when people say sweater weather, I hear cellar weather. With more than 650 Ontario VQA wines hitting LCBO shelves, the biggest selection ever, so there’s something for everyone’s taste and budget. Supporting local has never been easier or tasted this good… One glass at a time, of course, mindfully in moderation.

Tell us about the first wine.

Pelee Island Pinot Noir
Pelee Island VQA, Ontario

Feel free to smell or taste this Pinot Noir from Canada’s southernmost winery, Pelee Island, one of the rare island vineyards in the world. In fact, they’ve just updated their labels to feature their gorgeous island.

This Pinot has a lovely silky texture with flavours of ripe cherry, earthy mushroom, and a whisper of spice. I’d pair this with island harvest stew slow-simmered with root vegetables, crispy duck breast with orange glaze, seared salmon with wild rice pilaf, roasted beet salad topped with tangy chèvre, and maple-glazed pork tenderloin that caramelizes in the oven.

I also have their Pinot Grigio here that’s crisp and refreshing. This Pinot Grigio is like a breath of fresh lake air with bright citrus and green apple notes dancing on a mineral backbone. It’s crisp, clean, and refreshing with hints of white peach and a zippy finish.

Pelee Island Pinot Grigio
Pelee Island VQA, Ontario

So now we’re going to play a little trivia game as we sample. So true or false: The oldest winery in Canada is 75 years old.

True or false: Is the oldest winery in Canada is 75 years old?

That’s false! The oldest winery in Canada is actually 150 years old and it’s the one you just tasted, Pelee Island, where wine has been made since the 1860s. Winemaking in Ontario has a long, rich history.

What’s next?

Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Reserve
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Feel free to smell or taste the Inniskillin Cabernet Franc, one of the cool climate grapes that is a star in Ontario. This full-bodied red shows dark plum and raspberry with a velvet backbone. I’d pair this with ember-grilled lamb chops scented with rosemary, charred peppers stuffed with herbed couscous, mushroom risotto stirred to creamy perfection, beef bourguignon bubbling with red wine and thyme, and baked eggplant parm layered with molten mozzarella.

I also have their Late Harvest Riesling, which tastes like fall peaches in a glass. This is off-dry, with juicy peach, ripe pear, and a zesty lime finish. I’d pair this with caramelized onion tart with puff pastry, Thai green curry with coconut and lemongrass, butter chicken simmered to velvety richness, apple strudel dusted with cinnamon sugar, and spicy jerk shrimp straight off the grill.

Inniskillin Late Harvest Riesling
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Trivia time! True or false: In 2005, for the first time, a Canadian wine won the Grand Prix d’Honneur in Bordeaux, France, the highest international award that judges hundreds of wines from around the world.

In 2005, did a Canadian wine won the Grand Prix d’Honneur in Bordeaux, France?

That’s false! It was actually back in 1991, 34 years ago, that Inniskillin’s Vidal Icewine won this prestigious award, establishing the world-class potential of both this winery and Canadian wines more broadly, all of whom have gone on to win thousands of international awards for their quality.

What are we tasting next?

Château des Charmes Barrel Aged Chardonnay
VQA St. Davids Bench, Ontario

Feel free to smell or taste this opulent Chardonnay from Château des Charmes with its creamy texture and aromas of baked apple, lemon zest, and a hint of oak spice. I’d pair this with Caesar salad topped with crisp Pingue prosciutto, roasted chicken glazed with lemon and thyme, lobster mac and cheese bubbling from the oven, wild mushroom quiche with flaky pastry, and scalloped potatoes layered with cream and nutmeg.

I also have the Chateau des Charmes Gamay Noir, a smooth, medium-bodied red that has notes of juicy cherries, red berries, and a smooth finish. It’s the golden retriever of red wines—friendly, approachable, and impossible not to love. I’d pair this with duck magret with roasted figs in red wine, thin-crust margherita pizza bubbling with mozzarella, grilled sausages on a smoky BBQ, cranberry-glazed turkey sliders, and lentil stew rich with spices.

Château des Charmes Gamay Noir
VQA St. Davids Bench, Ontario

Your trivia question: Does VQA stand for Vintners Quality Alliance and not Vineyard Quality Assurance?

Does VQA stand for Vintners Quality Alliance?

That’s true! The VQA symbol stands for Vintners Quality Alliance, which you can see on the new labels of the Chateau des Charmes and all the wines today means that they’re made from 100% Ontario-grown grapes, meeting strict quality standards to give you confidence in the wine’s quality and local roots. It’s the blue checkmark of Ontario wine – verified delicious!

Love the fun label of the next one – what is it?

Palatine Hills Oh Goody! Rosé
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Feel free to smell or taste the Palatine Hills Oh Goody! Rosé bursting with strawberries, cherries, and a crisp citrus lift. I’d pair this with strawberry and goat cheese crostini, spicy tuna sushi roll with wasabi, watermelon feta salad with mint, grilled shrimp skewers brushed with garlic butter, and prosciutto-wrapped melon slices.

I also have the Palatine Hills Ramblers ‘Schmoozer’ Cabernet Merlot, VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, a platinum medal-winner, with blackberries, plums, and baking spice. I’d pair this with sticky BBQ ribs lacquered in sauce, flame-grilled burger with smoked cheddar, campfire nachos dripping with chipotle crema, braised short ribs falling off the bone, and wood-fired pizza with caramelized onions and gorgonzola.

Palatine Hills Ramblers ‘Schmoozer’ Cabernet Merlot
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Ontario has more than 180 VQA wineries. True or false: the majority are family-owned.

True! The majority of Ontario’s VQA wineries are family-owned. Palantine Hills is a great example, started by John Neufeld and now his two sons, John Junior and Charles carry on his tradition.

Let’s wrap with something bold.

Henry of Pelham Family Tree Bin 106 Lost Boys Baco Noir
VQA Ontario

Feel free to smell or taste the Henry of Pelham Family “Lost Boys” Baco Noir from vines that the Speck brothers, Dan, Paul and Matt, planted as teenagers in the summer of 1984. Thus “lost boys” as they lost or spent their summers working on the farm. It’s dark and smoky with blackberries, cloves, and a savoury finish. I’d pair this with smoked beef brisket slow cooked until tender, roasted vegetables glazed in balsamic, garlic parmesan frites hot and crisp, shepherd’s pie with buttery mash, and portobello mushrooms stuffed with herbs and breadcrumbs.

I also have the Henry of Pelham Family Tree The Glass Eye Pinot Grigio, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, a crisp, refreshing white with citrus, green apple, and mineral notes. I’d pair this with ceviche kissed with lime, chicken curry with ginger and turmeric, samosa chaat with chickpeas and tamarind chutney, pear walnut and goat cheese salad drizzled with honey, and steamed mussels in a white wine broth.

Henry of Pelham Family Tree The Glass Eye Pinot Grigio
VQA Ontario

Ontario wine country stretches from Pelee Island up to Prince Edward County and wines from all of these regions can be found at the LCBO. True or false: It’s roughly the same latitude as Tuscany, Italy.

Is Ontario wine country roughly the same latitude as Tuscany, Italy?

True! Southern Ontario shares similar latitude with Tuscany, Bordeaux and Rioja, Spain. Ontario is not only on the same latitude as the world’s most renowned wine regions, but it’s also on the same level quality-wise.

And the amazing thing is that you don’t have to travel far to find these wines. They’re all at your closest LCBO and I encourage you to ask the staff about these wines as you’ll find they’re very knowledgeable and they have a real passion for supporting Ontario, just as we do now because it’s never been more important, so cheers to that!