MEET THE SOMM: James Peden, BlueBlood Steakhouse
Living through the pandemic as a member of the Ontario restaurant industry has not been a pleasant experience. And those on the management side have...
TAKING YOU TO SCHOOL: La Escuela is a Worthy Malbec
Tinto Negro Finca La Escuela La Grava 2017 Malbec — Mendoza, Argentina ($24.95) (Releasing May 1) Tinto Negro has an intriguing line of five Malbecs...
THINK PINK: A Bang-for-the-Buck Argentinian Rosé
I’m trying to stay positive during this latest Ontario COVID-19 lockdown, knowing that spring will have eventually sprung and we’ll be sharing wine with friends...
VINTAGE ACHIEVEMENTS: The Decorated Past and Daunting Present of Donald Ziraldo
“It was the only time I remember getting drunk,” Donald Ziraldo recalls. The owner of Ziraldo Estate Wines is speaking of an exclusive reception at...
Tempranillo Time: Lealtanza Reserva 2015
Located on a beautiful 740-acre estate (including 220 acres of vineyards and a huge olive grove) in the township of Fuenmayor in northern Spain, Bodegas Altanza...
HOT CHILE: Laura Hartwig Offers a Spicy Carménère with Canadian Content
There’s a Canadian connection to this newly released Carménère, with the Hartwig family having lived in Toronto and Montreal throughout most of the 1970s. Alejandro...
An Organic Red? For $10? That’s Actually Good?
Here’s another winner if the $10 realm. I’m not the biggest fan of Fantini’s regular Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, but this organic version is quite well balanced...
A Bang-for-the-Buck White: Cavallina Grillo/Pinot Grigio
Yes, there are indeed quaffable white wines around the $10 mark, including this Italian blend. Pellegrino Cavallina Grillo/Pinot Grigio 2018—Marsala, Italy ($10.15) A surprisingly, pleasingly smooth texture shoves...
Finding Value Under $15: Negrar Appassimento
Here’s a good pick at the LCBO for red wine lovers on a budget, especially this week. Negrar Appassimento 2019 — Veneto, Italy (on sale...
A VINTAGE EXCHANGE: WineAlign Founder Pulls No Punches
I’m a big fan of WineAlign—it’s the only app I rely upon when poring through potential purchases at the LCBO. You’re not going to find...
