Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages February 21

You can access the 160 wines that I reviewed for February 21 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for February 7. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or […]

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New Wine from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have just launched their first wine, a lovely, pink petal, bone-dry rose from Provence called Miraval Rosé. The wine is being released in the LCBO Saturday. The couple owns the winery and estate Château Miraval, even though you’ll find no reference to them on the label. This wine doesn’t need to ride on the back of their celebrity: it stands alone as a terrific, refreshing rose with aromas of small field strawberries, orange zest and light spices. Should I add though that there’s a hint of drama on the nose, with a surprise twist finish? […]

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Chocolate and Wine Pairings for Valentine’s Day

  In this short video, we pair wine and chocolate for Valentine’s Day … and every day in the year. Who needs a special occasion? You can find more tips on pairing chocolate and wine here. Explore delicious new matches that will surprise you with their flavour combinations. Here are my favourite wines for chocolate in stores now. This video is part of an ongoing wine series with Canadian Press and is posted with permission.    

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The App that no Wine Connoisseur should be without

In Friday’s edition of the St. Catharine’s Standard, tech columnist Syd Boyd has written a helpful guide on using apps to plan your dinner party. We were delighted that he recommended our app for selecting your wines: “Of course you might want to add some wine to that party of yours and the Canadian made “Wine Reviews & Ratings: Natalie MacLean” is the app that no wine connoisseur should be without, especially as it will help you find the closest store with the best price for the perfect pairing to the food you picked above. “If you are at the […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages February 7

    You can access the 90 wines that I reviewed for February 7 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for January 24. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a […]

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Magic Cream Cheese Macaroons Recipe Paired with Riesling

Magic Cream Cheese Macaroons Fall in Love with these Valentine’s Day Delights Love is in the air, and delicious treats are in the kitchen. If you’re looking for something to make for the one you love, or just some treats to bring into the office, I highly recommend these Magic Cream Cheese Macaroons. They’re a no-bake recipe, made with soft Canadian Cream Cheese and coconut (a delicious combination that go together as well as you and your Valentine… awwww!). Ok, so if you don’t have a Valentine, well these are the next best thing. Whether you’re coupled off or spending […]

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Super-Tasting Sunday: Wines to Get Your Game On

While millions watched the Superbowl yesterday, our crack team of Sommeliers gathered for a Super-Sunday Tasting of more than 70 wines, quarterbacking hundreds of wine reviews posted live on the site as well as shares on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. You can get the complete shopping list of these wines showing how many bottles are in stock at your closest liquor stores. Our next team tasting will be April 12. In the video above, Kristin Perrin, a Certified Sommelier who judges the Algonquin College Sommelier Program Service Exam, talks about her favourite wine of the tasting: Benjamin Bridge […]

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LCBO Wines on Sale: February 2015 Bargains and Best Buys

Sponsored Post by Philippe Dandurand Wine Agency You can get the complete shopping list of these wines in your closest liquor stores here.   Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2013  Argentina Regular Price: $11.95   Sale Price: $10.95  February 1 to February 28       [yellow tail] Shiraz 2013 New South Wales, Australia Regular Price: $23.75   Sale Price: $21.75  February 1 to February 28         HobNob Wine Company George Duboeuf Pinot Noir 2009 Languedoc, France Regular Price: $12.95   Sale Price: $11.95  February 1 to February 28       Yellow Tail Bubbles Sparkling Wine 2010 South Eastern Australia Regular […]

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Barbecue Bruschetta Cheddar Recipe

Balderson Cheddar Cheese and tomatoes are naturally made for each other. Their combined acidity accented with fresh herbs is a great base for the following appetizer. Salsa Ingredients: 2½ cups Roma tomatoes, seeded & diced    625 mL ½ cup red onion, minced    125 mL ¼ cup cilantro, minced    50 mL 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded & minced    1 1 garlic clove, minced    1 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil    30 mL 2 tsp fresh lime juice    10 mL ½ tsp salt     2 mL ¼ tsp Ground black pepper    1 mL 1 baguette (approx. 18-inches/45 cm)    1 2 Tbsp extra virgin […]

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Finding Your Sole-mate: Pairing Sparkling Wine and Seafood

By Melissa Pulvermacher The Vino Enthusiasts wine club is a gathering for people who appreciate wine and want to learn more about it. The group gets together to taste, pair and learn on a monthly basis. At the most recent wine club, the group drank sparkling wine paired with seafood to discover the array of types and how they all pair differently with food. The goal was to compare and contrast the most popular sparkling styles with local, Ontario options that are made and accessible in our own backyards. The food pairings included crab and goat-cheese crostini, lemon-butter calamari, salted […]

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