Volta Estate Winery Amphora Ramirez Vineyard Chardonnay 2023, Prince Edward County, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Volta Amphora Ramirez Vineyard Chardonnay presents an alluring bouquet of Asian pear, apple blossom, and candied lemon, with whispers of oyster shell and wet limestone. This elegant, medium-bodied white is bone dry, featuring a silky, almost tactile mouthfeel that comes from its eight-month maturation in sandstone amphora while resting on the lees. Serve it well chilled alongside seared scallops with brown butter as the wine's mineral backbone and subtle textural richness will complement the caramelization, or cellar it for 3 to 5 years. Winemaker Chris Thompson, formerly of Lighthall Vineyards, crafts wines for this exciting new Prince Edward County estate whose state-of-the-art winery designed by Giannone Petricone Associates won a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence and is set to open in 2028. The wine's briny finish and orchard fruit character echo the limestone-rich terroir of Hillier's sandy loam soils while the ancient amphora aging technique adds a distinctive Old World elegance to this quintessentially Ontario Chardonnay. Drink: 2026-2031. 48951 13% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 94/100. January 10, 2026 Top Rated White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

Spy Valley E Block Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Waihopai, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Spy Valley’s E Block Sauvignon Blanc from the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough is a sleek, vibrant white that captures the region’s electric energy with aromas of freshly squeezed grapefruit, snow pea, passion fruit pulp and wet river stone. It’s extra-dry, light- to medium-bodied with a feather-light weight and a piercing line of acidity, and at just 12.5% alcohol it feels especially refreshing and precise. Serve it well chilled to highlight its snap and enjoy it over the next two to three years while its brightness and purity are at their peak. Crafted by acclaimed winemaker Wendy Stuckey from organically grown, vegan-friendly fruit, this wine comes from the estate’s tiny E Block, a parcel of only a handful of Sauvignon Blanc rows that consistently produces some of Spy Valley’s most expressive bottlings. Pair it with grilled shrimp drizzled with lemon and olive oil, where the wine’s citrus drive mirrors the dish, or with fish tacos topped with cabbage slaw and a squeeze of lime, as the wine’s herbal lift and saline edge cut through every bite. Drink: 2026-2027. 36874 12.50% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 91/100. January 10, 2026 Top Rated White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review

Spoke Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Awatere, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Spoke Awatere Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is a dry, medium-bodied white wine revealing a pristine, fabulously lifted bouquet of crisp pear, lemon verbena, Meyer lemon and subtle stone fruit aromas, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that's energetic, zesty and intensely expressed. Serve it chilled with grilled snapper with lime and cilantro, where the wine's Meyer lemon and lemon verbena notes echo the fresh aromatics while its energetic acidity complements the delicate fish, or pair it with fresh goat cheese and arugula salad as the wine's upfront expression and zesty character cut through the tangy cheese while harmonizing with the peppery greens. Winemaker Jen Parr oversees production at Spoke, a Marlborough estate that sources fruit from the cooler, windswept Awatere Valley where stony soils and intense sunshine create Sauvignon Blancs with exceptional intensity and lifted aromatics. This wine offers excellent drinking and can be enjoyed now through 2028. Drink: 2025-2028. 41799 13.20% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 93/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated White Wine. Splendid Salad Wine Full Review