Mother’s Day is just around the corner. This year, we’re celebrating her with Canadian wines and craft beer from coast to coast.
Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com.
Welcome, Natalie.
Great to be back with you! Today we’re toasting mom with drinks from coast to coast in honour of all that she’s poured into us for years. Some of it is emotional support, some of it is orange juice we didn’t ask for but drank anyway.
Where are we starting today?
JoieFarm En Famille Chardonnay
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
We’re starting on the west coast with JoieFarm’s En Famille Chardonnay. You’ll always remember where you were the first time you tasted it. “En Famille” is French for “with family,” which makes it a beautiful Mother’s Day pour.
The fruit comes from the Con Vida and Secrest Mountain vineyards. Con Vida sits in the Skaha Bench, one of BC’s newest sub-appellations on the wine map.
Winemaker Richard Charnock uses ambient ferments from natural airborne yeast, which means no commercial yeast and no shortcuts. He lets the land and the grapes do the work, the opposite of helicopter parenting. The 2022 vintage took silver at Chardonnay du Monde, the world’s largest Chardonnay competition. Richard’s mom is so proud of him.
This wine and the Pinot are available in the LCBO. Of course, you can also order them directly from the winery and they’ll ship right to your doorstep. It’s a great way to support small Canadian producers and family farms.
Feel free to try the JoieFarm En Famille Chardonnay.
On the nose, you get baked pecans, meringue, vanilla bean, and fresh white flowers. I love when my tasting notes start to smell like a bakery. There are layers of orchard fruit, sage, tarragon, and a touch of cinnamon add depth. The finish is long, elegant, and built to age.
On the palate, there are subtle mineral notes of wet rock and granite bring structure, while hints of cherry blossom and baked pine needle evoke the warmth of the valley. The palate is effortlessly creamy yet lifted by mouthwatering acidity. Bright citrus, lemon curd, and crisp apple meet delicate French herbs, apple cinnamon, and the earthy warmth of sunlit pine trees, finishing with a whisper of straw and spice.
This is the Chardonnay that converts the Anything But Chardonnay crowd. Wouldn’t this be heavenly with pan-seared scallops in a brown-butter lemon sauce?
More Pairings
- Mother of pearl scallops, pan-seared until their edges turn a glossy caramel, finished with foaming brown butter, fresh lemon, and a whisper of thyme served on warm plates.
- Sunday lemon risotto stirred slow and silky, ribboned with parmesan and crowned with charred asparagus tips, the smoky char giving way to a tender green snap.
What’s next on our Mother’s Day lineup?
JoieFarm En Famille Pinot Noir
Okanagan Falls, British Columbia
Staying with JoieFarm, we’re moving to their Pinot Noir. It’s generous and fruit-forward, with a round, silky texture. This is the wine you want to open tonight, even before dinner is on the table. Maybe even before you’ve decided what dinner is, or before you decide to skip dinner and just drink the wine. It’s the kind of bottle that doesn’t require an occasion. It is the occasion.
Feel free to try the JoieFarm En Famille Pinot Noir.
It opens with bright cherry, raspberry jam, and a touch of cinnamon, lifted by notes of small violets. It’s like a forest floor that went to finishing school. The palate carries that signature Pinot silkiness right through the long, gentle finish. Can you imagine this with cedar-plank salmon?
More Pairings
- Mama bear cedar-plank salmon, its skin crisped and smoky, the rosy flesh flaking under a maple-mustard glaze, served on a warm bed of wild rice and sweet roasted carrots.
- Wild mushroom and thyme tart with a buttery, flaky crust, the earthy mushrooms caramelized to deep mahogany and crowned with a soft, oozing sheep’s milk cheese.
Now let’s head east. Tell us about Nova Scotia.
Sea Level Brewing Millstone Harvest Pale Ale
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Here’s something worth toasting. On March 2nd, Ontario and Nova Scotia signed an agreement that allows small wineries, breweries, and distilleries in both provinces to ship drinks straight to your door across provincial lines. There has never been an easier moment to support a small Canadian producer and delight mom’s taste buds at the same time. It’s almost like the government actually wants us to be happy.
Sea Level Brewing at Millstone Harvest Brewhouse and Farm is nestled in the heart of Annapolis Valley. They’re the only estate brewery in Nova Scotia, which means they grow most of their ingredients on their family farm, including the hops, barley, and fruit. They’ve also won gold at the Atlantic Canadian Brewing Awards for their Blue Heron Extra Special Bitter.
Sea Level was one of only 10 craft breweries in Nova Scotia when they opened back in 2007. Now there are more than 50 in the province.
Feel free to try the Millstone Harvest Pale Ale.
This is their bestseller, brewed with one hundred percent farm-grown malting barley and a blend of Glacier, Cashmere, and Cascade hops. You’ll taste honey, light malt, lemon, and a touch of melon, with a refreshing lemongrass lift on the finish. Wouldn’t this go beautifully with golden Atlantic haddock fish and chips?
More Pairings
- Annapolis Valley haddock fish and chips, the batter golden and shatter-crisp, the fish flaking white and steamy inside, served with a cool, herby tartar sauce and thick-cut lemon wedges.
- A grilled cheddar sandwich on sourdough with apple slices tucked between the cheese, the bread buttery and toasted, the cheddar oozing into the warm tart fruit.
What about something for mom who loves a fruity sip?
Sea Level Brewing Raspberry Blossom Cider
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Next up is the Raspberry Blossom Cider. They start with their crisp, dry Valley Blossom cider made from apples sourced across the Annapolis Valley, then blend in fresh-pressed juice from raspberries grown right on their own farm.
Feel free to try the Raspberry Blossom Cider.
It’s crisp and dry with a subtle sweetness, balanced by light tartness and juicy raspberry that lingers on the finish. Picture pink sunshine in a glass. Wouldn’t this sing alongside a fresh fruit salad with honey citrus dressing?
More Pairings
- A Mother’s Day fruit salad with strawberries, ripe melon, and crisp apple slices, tossed in a honey citrus vinaigrette that glistens over every bite, bright and cold from the fridge.
- Goat cheese and beet tartines on toasted baguette, the beets jewel-bright and earthy-sweet, the goat cheese cool and tangy, finished with a drizzle of honey and a few toasted pistachios.
And the third from Sea Level?
Sea Level Brewing Blueberry Pale Ale
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Last from Sea Level is the Blueberry Pale Ale. They blend pressed wild blueberry juice from Van Dyk’s farm, a beloved Nova Scotia institution, into the Millstone Harvest Pale Ale base.
Feel free to try the Blueberry Pale Ale.
You’ll taste wild blueberry, blueberry jam, honey, and a hit of lemon zest, all over that gentle Pale Ale base. It’s like dessert in a pint glass without being sweet. Two of the four tasting notes are blueberry, which is the level of conviction I respect. Wouldn’t this be wonderful with warm blueberry grunt, that classic Atlantic Canada cobbler dessert?
More Pairings
- Wild blueberry grunt bubbling in a cast-iron pot, the berries collapsing into a deep purple syrup under tender pillowy dumplings, finished with a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Lemon ricotta pancakes stacked tall on a Sunday morning plate, the edges golden and crisp, the centres soft and steamy, drowning in maple syrup and topped with fresh blueberries.
Now we’re coming home to Ontario.
The Good Earth Rosé
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The Good Earth Food and Wine Company in Niagara was one of the first farm-to-table wineries in Niagara. OpenTable has named it one of Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants overall, and for both brunch and lunch specifically.
When you take mom for a visit, you can treat her to dinner where she can indulge in Ricotta Gnocchi or Wellington County Prime Sirloin, and then enjoy wine on the patio with live music.
For weddings, the winery offers a beautiful backdrop of the vineyard. Mom’s been wondering when you’re going to pop the question, so get moving so she doesn’t have to keep nudging you on that.
Feel free to try The Good Earth Rosé.
This Rosé is a juicy blend of Cabernet Franc and Gamay grapes that burst with aromas of fresh strawberry and watermelon. It has a refreshing racy acidity then a lingering finish of sun-warmed herbs and wildflowers. It wakes up your senses like a splash of cold water on your face, but way more delicious and socially acceptable.
This is a beautiful Niagara expression that holds its own next to European classics. Wouldn’t this be lovely with a fragrant Thai green curry?
More Pairings
- A fragrant Thai green curry rich with coconut milk, lemongrass, and tender chicken, the heat building slowly, the basil leaves wilted just so over a steaming mound of jasmine rice.
- Mom’s favourite ploughman’s plate of aged Ontario cheddar, sticky pear chutney, and warm sourdough, the cheese sharp and crumbly, the chutney sweet and warmly spiced.
Side Launch Spirits Lemon Berry Mist
Ontario
Side Launch Northbound Lager
Ontario
Side Launch Brewing Company, in Collingwood, Ontario, is named for the town’s proud shipbuilding history where they side-launched ships due to the narrow harbor.
Side Launch has built a loyal following with its Northbound Lager.
Now they’ve launched ready-to-drink cocktails, including the Lemon Berry Mist sparkling cocktail made with real lemon and raspberry juice and 100% Canadian gin.
It’s gluten-free, not too sweet and has only 5% alcohol, so it’s very refreshing.
Feel free to try the Lemon Berry Mist.
Pour this over ice to enjoy the bright lemon zest and fresh raspberry flavours.
It’s light, flavourful, and the kind of summer sipper that makes a Tuesday feel like a long weekend.
Mom will love this one on a sunny patio!
You and she can see how many Canadian icons you can spot on the new labels.
Side Launch Spirits is bringing summer to life with their newest launch, Lemon Berry Mist!
Crafted with real raspberry and lemon juice, this bright and refreshing RTD cocktail is gluten-free, not too sweet, and proudly made in Ontario with Canadian gin. Best enjoyed poured over ice in a highball or stemless wine glass.
Available now at the LCBO and in local bars and restaurants across Ontario.
Catch them at these upcoming events:
- Toronto Union Station Sampling – May 8 and June 25
- Subaru Triathlon Series – sponsoring 5 events this summer including stops in Niagara, Milton, Guelph, and Owen Sound
Limited-time offer: Starting May 25, earn 10 bonus Aeroplan points with every purchase at the LCBO!
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
Here’s to mom, who poured everything into us and now deserves a glass or two to celebrate her. And maybe a quiet room where no one asks her where their socks are.
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines and beers online?
On Instagram, you can find me posting wine reviews and tips at:
Come for the wine, stay for the brunch.
Posted with permission of CHCH. Please drink responsibly.
