The glass looks half empty for lovers of California wine, as many wineries are expected to raise prices in the coming years. But experts say consumers can still hunt down a wide variety of cheap bottles. Although consumers have been drinking more wine, California wineries — which produce 90% the country’s wine — haven’t ramped up production, an imbalance that is starting to push up prices. The cost of Napa Cabernet grapes rose 35% last year, even as the region’s total grape supply fell 8% short, according to a report from Silicon Valley Bank. “We went from a glut situation […]
Best Wines
Vinho Verde, Portugal: White Wine for Summer Refreshment
By Holly Bruns Every year, sometime between the moderate temperatures of spring and the humid heat of summer, I begin to develop a crush on the white Vinho Verde wines from the Minho region of Portugal. Their easy-going qualities and low alcohol make them perfect for alleviating the heat on those hazy, lazy afternoons. Vinho Verde means green wine, named thusly not because the wine is green, but because it is made to be enjoyed while young. It’s possible however, that the lush, fertile countryside where the vines grow is inspiration for the colourful moniker. Minho is in the north […]
Sol de Andes Syrah, Chateau Fourcas Dumont, Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling: Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release June 9
By Gaby Israel Here are my best cellar wines for this release as a shopping list that you can print and these are my recommendations in order of preference for an up-to $100 release budget: Great wines under $20 Chile – Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Syrah 2008 – $19.95 Maycas has a few wines in this release. According to the producer, in the last decade, the Limarí Valley has experienced an explosive growth, from 93 hectares of vineyards planted in 1995 to 1,667 today. The Limari Valley is sitting at a latitude of 30 degrees south at the north […]
La Vieille Ferme Rose, France: there’s no arguing with it
By Travis Oke I argued like a Frenchman this week and I liked it. A friend of mine (Rugby guy) started quizzing me about the “stupid” offside rule in soccer. He started by asking questions, then ran through some scenarios, and ended off with a firm declarative statement that “soccer would be better without an offside.” He looked at me for a response. I drew a small breath, glanced sideways towards him, and in a superior manner said, “No, you’re wrong.” End of argument. The French are like that. They like their rules and they like to keep them. I […]
Simi Chardonnay, Gerard Bertrand Syrah, Fonseca Port: Best LCBO Wines Vintages Release June 9
Here are my top picks from the June 9 Vintages Release. You can also get all 64 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 everyday good value wines from the regular list of wines. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of […]
BC and Niagara Wine Regions Excel on World Stage – Bill Good Talk Show
Bill Good is one of my favourite radio talk show hosts. We discussed various wine regions around the world, such as Portgual, Germany, Argentina and Canada’s own Niagara and the Okanagan in BC. We also chatted about how more and more people are learning about wine online and via mobile apps. Pairings also came up … always a subject of interest I am delighted to say! You can listen to our chat below:
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Liberty School Syrah, Cave Spring Riesling: Best LCBO Wines Vintages Release May 26
Here are my top picks from the May 12 Vintages Release. You can also get all 73 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 already posted my picks for June 9 Vintages Release. You can also add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews. 2010 Lingenfelder […]
Lealtanza Reserva, Di Majo Norante Ramitello, Ridge Lytton Springs Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release May 26
By Gaby Israel This is an extremely challenging release – what do you do when most of the wines offered in this release are rated “outstanding to classic” (90+) by wine critics but you’ve already taken a second mortgage? Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print and these are my recommendations in order of preference for an up-to $100 release budget: Top recommendation for up to $20: Italy – Di Majo Norante Ramitello 2009 $15.95 Named after the region’s largest river. Biferno is situated in the small wine region […]
Wine Pairing Column in Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Sun
In the new year, I signed on to do a weekly syndicated wine pairing column in the Postmedia newspapers across the country, including the Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Regina Leader-Post and Montreal Gazette. The reader response has been phenomenal, with lots of tweets and comments coming in over the wire. You’ll find the sauvignon blanc below here with wine and recipe pairings. Got a wine to suggest that I feature in an upcoming column? Please e-mail me at [email protected].
Heredad de Baroja, Bellaria Assunto, Clos de Gat Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release May 12
By Gaby Israel The repeating question is what to do with so many wines and a limited budget. Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print and these are my recommendations in order of preference for an up-to $100 release budget: Spain – 2001 Heredad de Baroja Gran Reserva – $21.95 Bodegas Heredad de Barojas (named after a famous Spanish writer) started to produce wines in 1964. For me, nothing beats an 11 year old Gran Reserva wine from the spectacular 2001 vintage for $22.00. With the given budget, if you […]
