Which wine to buy as a gift when you want to impress someone, but don’t know their tastes? With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and weddings coming up this spring and summer, you’ll want to have some ideas in mind before you go to the liquor store. Here are three terrific bottles guaranteed to garner a big thank-you. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir Niagara, Twenty Mile Bench This is my favourite wine from this winery, year after year. Its exuberant energy and power come from a complex weave of nuances: truffles, black cherry, violets, cedar box and dark […]
Wine Picks
Stratus Gewurztraminer, Tarima Monastrell, Le Ferme Du Mont: Best LCBO Wines March 2
Here are my top wine picks from the March 2 Vintages Release. You can also get all 75 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Winesfor 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 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. Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2011, W.O., Western Cape, South Africa Herbal and […]
The Little Grape That Could: Wine to Toast the Good Life
In our second conversation with Brett Preston and Matt MacPherson, creators of The Little Grape That Could, we talk about the inspiring stories that people have sent in to the web site, including everything from a kind taxi driver and a brave shelter dog to newly weds and a couple married 80 years who celebrated with the wine at their receptions. You discovered some interesting research about how the act of giving can make wine taste better? Why have you had such success with this concept? Let’s taste the wines … what would they pair best with? […]
Which Wine Pairs with Kindness, Idealism & a Big Heart?
Last year, Brett Preston and Matt MacPherson launched The Little Grape That Could. The twist? All profits from the wine sales go to charities, from the Heart & Stroke Association to Toronto Cat Rescue. In the video below, they talk about how they came up with the idea and how wine lovers can do good by drinking well. What was your motivation for this project? Why did you pick wines from Argentina? How much of the wine’s price goes toward charity and what sales have you achieved? How does it work? I buy the wine, then what? How […]
Good Wine & Laughs for Girlfriend Get-Togethers
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to three women who blend friendship and fun in their approach to wine: Lynne Everatt, Deb Mangolt and Julie Smethurst. The three met when they worked at the same multinational company in Canada years ago, and all decided to pursue their passions instead. In the meantime, they’ve written a book together that has lots of ideas for girlfriend get-togethers, always of course, involving wine. You can buy their book in print or the the electronic edition on their web site Drink Wine and Giggle or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Indigo/Chapters. Here are […]
Wine Scores and Ontario Wines Videos
Which wine at the LCBO today? Do I follow the reviews? vine.co/v/b6wmE1Ag6Z5 — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 20, 2013 I’m having a blast with the hottest new Twitter Video app called Vine. Here’s my tongue-in-cheek shopping trip based on wine scores, and below my favourite Ontario wines. Ontario wines Video of favs in stores now vine.co/v/brVDKYXJw1Q — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 17, 2013 Here are my first videos with the Vine Twitter App, plus video picks for Family Day wines.
Family Day Wine: Video Pick
Which of these 3 wines (all appropriately named) do you think pairs best with Family Day dinner? Video: which of these wines pairs best with Family Day? vine.co/v/b6z3OItKpAi — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 18, 2013 Family Tree White Henry Of Pelham, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina Famiglia Bianchi Malbec, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina Roux Père & Fils, A.C., Côte De Nuits-Villages, Burgundy, France More picks from shopping at the LCBO Vintages Release for February 16 … Ontario wines Video of favs in stores now vine.co/v/brVDKYXJw1Q — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 17, […]
Hogue Cellars Genesis Riesling, Altesino Brunello Di Montalcino: Best LCBO Wines Feb 16
Here are my top wine picks from the February 16 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. 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 the reviews. Sols & Sens Laudun Blanc Les Vignerons Des 4 Chemins 2011, A.C., Côtes-Du-Rhônes-Villages, […]
Top BC Wines in the LCBO
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, you can find my Top 25 BC Wine List as well as all other wines reviewed from the province. You may find this directory of BC wineries helpful in planning your next trip there. It’s a gorgeous region with plenty of activities aside […]
Pairing Wine and Molecular Gastronomy: Steve Robinson
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 industry by the Ontario Hostelry Institute. Robinson studied chemistry at the University of Ottawa, then completed the sommelier fast-track program at Algonquin College and finally became certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2011. The 26-year-old’s passion for science and wine pair perfectly for […]
