Category: VQA

Inniskillin Wines near Niagara-on-the-Lake holds a significant place in Canadian wine history as the country’s first estate winery since Prohibition. The granting of their license on July 31, 1975, was a historic event, as it was the first winery license issued by the LCBO since 1929. The founders, Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, are credited with starting the winery. Inniskillin began…

Top Drop Canada is a premier wine festival held annually in Vancouver, showcasing a curated selection of terroir-driven wines from around the globe. The event brings together over 40 international producers, including renowned estates from regions such as Piedmont, Champagne, and the Okanagan Valley. 50+ wineries in total.  None from the USA this year.  Attendees have the unique opportunity to…

My next pair of Ontario Cabernet Franc wines in my research goes to Konzelmann Estate Winery and Reif Estate Winery which are located west and south of Niagara-on-the-Lake respectively.  Konzelmann has lake influence, while Rief has the Niagara River influence.  Both wines are Reserve level and both from the 2020 vintage, which was viewed as a fantastic vintage, so both…

Here are two Ontario Cabernet Franc wines from Flat Rock Cellars and Featherstone Estate Winery & Vineyard coming from the Niagara region.  The two wineries are separate entities, but it worked out to have single bottles of their single varietal Cabernet Franc wines to be tasted and discussed together.  Flat Rock Cellars is solely owned by Ed Madronich, while Featherstone…

I received two Cabernet Franc wines from Pillitteri Estates Winery as part of my discovery and discussion about how this grape expresses itself in the Niagara region of southern Ontario.  These two wines are from the 2020 vintage, with one, the Exclamation Cellar Series, being the top tier, which is only made in exceptional years.  It should be interesting to…

Enjoying a bottle of wine from a specific date tells you about that time in harvest and the growing season.  But what is even more interesting is if you have a vertical of the same wine so that you can taste beyond the growing season to see what unique qualities there are for that grape growing in a specific vineyard…

As I mentioned in a recent Instagram post, with inter-trade barriers coming to a close in Canada by Canada Day and Canadians wanting to support Canadians, I contacted some Ontario wineries about sending me samples of their Cabernet Franc wines to review. Cabernet Franc has found a remarkable home in the diverse terroirs of Ontario, producing wines that are both…

Easter dinner is a time for togetherness and tradition, often centred around comforting dishes like roast turkey, baked ham, or perhaps even baked salmon. No matter what ends up on your plate, choosing the right wine can elevate the meal from simply delicious to truly memorable. Below are some wine pairings, including suggestions from our local BC wineries, that will…

Sunny springtime weather will soon be upon us.  Daffodils are already blooming, as well as cherry blossoms in the Vancouver lower mainland.  So it is time to think about enjoying white wines on your patio or a restaurant patio.  I have two terrific white wines from the Okanagan’s Township 7 Winery for you.  I have the Township 7 Benchmark Series…

When you pick up a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine, you may notice that some have a vintage year on the label, while others do not. The presence or absence of a vintage date can have a significant impact on the wine inside. But what exactly does it mean, and how does it affect the taste, aging potential, and…