Great Wines Under $25

Fresh & Juicy

The Cortonesi family has owned the La Mannella farm in Montalcino for decades and are devoted to the production of Brunello di Montalcino. This wine, Lèonus, is a humble but mighty Toscana IGT made from grapes that are in fact grapes cultivated to be Brunello, from vineyards in Montalcino.

It is one of the best value wines from the area. ​This Rosso Toscano is juicy and fresh. Full of red cherries and dark berries on the nose, with a delicate astringency on the palate. It has such a great balance and it drinks so well that it's the perfect everyday wine.

This wine pairs brilliantly with dishes prepared with tomato sauce and herbs, such as lasagna or pizza. It's also great with antipasti (olives, cured meats, pecorino cheese), and simply roasted meats or chicken.

Fresh & Crisp

Located on the hills that rise from the Adriatic Sea and neighbouring the coastal town of Vasto in Abruzzo, the Jasci family has been growing grapes and producing wine for three generations.

This vegan-certified wine made from Pecorino grapes is elegant and delicate, and shows aromas of grapefruit, apricots and nectarines. On the palate is pleasant, fresh and light-bodied. This Pecorino wine has a special saltiness and an aftertaste of bitter almonds.

Wines made from Pecorino pair extremely well with Pecorino cheeses drizzled with a bit of honey as well as vegetables, fish and white meats.

Floral & Fruity

A collaboration between Nicholas Pearce and Will Predhomme to create wines from their favourite regions. This Cinsault/Syrah is made from bush vines planted in Koffieklip soils in the Southwestern of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

It has a brilliant medium purple colour in the glass. On the nose, it's all about fresh ripe red & black fruit: cherry, strawberry, wild raspberry; with hints of intense spice, it also has a granite minerality. On the palate it is light-bodied, with a vibrant acid and grippy though delicate tannins. It intermingles with surprisingly powerful fruit & spice; punching above its weight in flavour. It is very balanced with low alcohol.

This light red pairs with all manner of dishes: from barbecue meats to grilled salmon and veggies, to spicy dishes.

Elegant & Crisp

Château Haut Grelot is located near the Gironde Estuaire, north of the town of Bordeaux. Haut Grelot has been making wine and taking great care of their vineyards since its establishment in 1920!

This is a classic Bordeaux blend: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon & 5% Muscadelle. It's a floral, crisp and elegant wine that offers exotic fruit aromas: grapefruit, gooseberry and wild herbs that intermingle with ample citrus fruit on the palate. It has a generous weight, roundness and a perfect balance that let's you savour every drop.

Perfect to drink by itself or pair with seafood, chicken, fresh salads and cheese boards.

Light & Bright

Stéphane Aviron is considered a pioneer is his approach to winemaking in Beaujolais, however he would just tell you that he’s simply returning to the traditional practices that have always made fantastic Gamay wines. Sustainable viticulture, extremely old vines and classic Burgundian techniques.

This Gamay is made from 50+ year old vines which give it an extraordinary concentration of fruit and a true essence of the terroir of the region. The wine shows itself to be full of complexity and charm at the same time. It is so full of freshness and easy-drinking with fruity and floral notes of strawberry and spice.

Pair with just about anything or enjoy on its on as an aperitif.

Bright & Fruity

Conti Riccati vineyards are planted in the rolling hills of Castelfranco, a village located in the Veneto. The winery has been managed by the same family since the 14th century! Conti Riccati has been practicing a sustainable viticulture for many years, and is currently in organic conversion.

This Prosecco has enticing scents of ripe orchard fruit, aromatic herb and fragrant white spring flower. The generous palate doles out juicy white peach, ripe Granny Smith apple and tangerine zest. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy flavours while an elegant mousse imparts finesse.

This wine is very food-friendly. It goes beautifully with antipasto and spicy Asian foods. In the Veneto region, Prosecco is usually paired with cured meats, which makes it the perfect wine to accompany a cheese and charcuterie board.

Zesty & Mineral

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara. 

The 2019 Riesling is the epitome of what makes bench Riesling great. The nose explodes with beautiful lemon-rind, lime-leaf, nectarine, nutmeg, and honeysuckle aromas. Those flavours continue on the palate while adding green apple, honeycomb, cumin, white lilac and the distinctive chalky minerality of the Twenty Mile Bench. There is unusual weight and texture here, with a mouth-filling sensation that is not very common in Riesling. As the wine sweeps across the palate towards the finish, a bright green leafiness and flinty/gravelly appear in waves, leading to an amazing, crunchy finish. The wine will age well for the next decade.

Rieslings are great to pair with spicy Indian and Asian cuisines and do excellently alongside duck, pork, bacon, shrimp and crab.

Floral & Juicy

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The 2022 vintage offered low cropping yields which give us the opportunity to craft a rose from numerous different vineyards across the Niagara region. Over a five-week period, 3 different vineyards were harvested for this rose starting on September 21st with Pinot Noir, October 12 was Gamay and finally on October 24 th the Cabernet Franc was harvested. The three red varieties were left on skins over night to extra their beautiful colour, then were direct pressed into stainless steel tanks where the juice was allowed to settle. All grape varieties were fermented separately at cool temperatures to preserve aromatics and fresh fruit. This wine was bottled in March 2023. 

Our house style of rose is bright and refreshing with the most beautiful colour and great fruit. The nose is so vibrant the red fruits such as raspberry, strawberry and watermelon with savoury notes of white pepper, lemon basil and hints of orange blossom. The palate reflexes the nose with rich texture and a delicate finish. This bright, refreshing Rose was built for warm summer days and good company!

Juicy & Spiced

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

Strawberry, raspberry and red cherry aromas lead the way on the nose, with hints of sweet spice and tomato leaf in the background. Freshly crushed ripe berries continue on the palate, with dried leaf, minerality and spice in the background. The mouthfeel is lean and silky smooth, with very fine tannin and great County acidity.

This Pinot Noir is a very versatile wine given it’s acidity and low tannin. Pinot Noir pairs particularly well with duck, chicken, pork, and mushrooms.

Juicy & Fresh

Keint-He Winery & Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Prince Edward County. The winery has a strong focus on varietals that are typically grown in Burgundy, specifically Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; through which they truly express the best of the County with wonderful individual expressions. Keint-He’s approach to winemaking is as down-to-earth as it gets and their quality is second to none.

This delicate, dry rose is bursting with fruit, both on the nose and palate. Vibrant cherry and strawberry are immediately present on the nose, transitioning to strawberry and fresh watermelon at the forefront of the palate. Nuttiness and ripe raspberry are followed by a finish of refreshing acidity. A wonderful choice for holiday meals, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.

Food and patio friendly - enjoy with summer salads, grilled chicken and salmon.

Fresh & Balanced

Emblematically Niagara, this vibrant Chardonnay is made with organic, biodynamic and sustainably-farmed grapes from the Niagara Peninsula. The 2021 Crew Sauvage a blockbuster; 100% Tawse Estate fruit, mainly from the Robyn's Block young vines (2 Cadus puncheons, 4 barrels) which were showing best in the initial tastings with Moray and Jessica. This created the baseline for cuvée which was then blended with 3 beautifully balanced barrels from the Tawse Hillside vineyard and 2 immensely structured barrels from the Robyn's Block Old Vines parcel; the oldest Chard on the property. Et voila, another star is born.

Expect straw gold in the glass with gorgeous orchard fruits, apple and peach on the nose with notes of marine, hazelnut, lemon custard, and blonde caramel essence. This elegant wine offers a lovely texture on the palate, rich and round with biscuits and cream, while boasting a lip-smacking acidity with an herbal tea tannin.

This world class Niagara Chardonnay is ready to pair with just about anything, but we are thinking white fish in beurre blanc, cream based pastas or fresh salads garnished with lots of cheese.

Bright & Creamy

Our favourite bubbly wine is back for its 10th vintage and as always, made in partnership with Lighthall Vineyards in Prince Edward County. This is a small batch “Brut Blanc” Cuvée, made using the Charmat method bottled as VQA Ontario.

We had an instant crush on this new vintage: the beautiful bubbles are so nicely integrated and complement the wild floral and orchard fruit aromas, all backed by the bracing acidity of the Vidal grape when grown in our cool climate. Dangerously delicious in the glass, this wine is built for both celebration and gastronomy.

The Ward 5 Brut Blanc’s very well balanced acidity makes it perfect to pair with oily and fatty foods, such as cheese boards, salmon, roasted chicken or even fish and chips!

Spicy & Smooth

“The Farm” is a 10-acre vineyard in Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench, planted to Pinot Noir. The property is rooted in traditions of gathering family & friends, and where Peter and Dora Neudorf call home.

Made from a blend of Pinot Noir from select vineyards across Niagara. After fermentation, the wine was aged in French Oak Burgundy barrels (228L) for 14 months. This particular vintage we were given ideal weather conditions during ripening and at harvest with warm sunny days and cool nights.

This is translated through the glass as we find our Black Label has firm structured tannins with notes of dark cherries and earthy undertones. Blended and bottled unfiltered in The Farm cellar. 

Enjoy this Pinot with grilled salmon or other fatty fish. It would also be ideal with duck and other game birds.

Earthy & Floral

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

A blend of fruit from 4 different Vineyards from 4 different sub-appellations, this wine explodes out of the glass with wonderful mulberry, cherry kirsch, pomegranate, and raspberry followed closely by dried basil and tarragon, layered over mushroom and tobacco leaf. It shows up with some air, with more fullness and roundness than some previous vintages. The palate in particular shows good fullness in the mouth with glace cherry married to sugar beet, followed closely by damp leaves and dirt mixed with wet stone with traces of spice lingering on the wonderfully long finish. Balanced acidity follows a soft and supple mouthfeel that will age for 3-4 years but can certainly be enjoyed now.

Pair this Pinot Noir with smoky glazed ham or grilled salmon.

Aromatic & Fresh

The vineyards of Fattoria di Sammontana are located along the hills that border the Arno River, 20km to the south west of Florence. Today, the family - now in its fourth generation - runs the farm according to organic and biodynamic practices, with the intent to fully preserve and sustain the traditions and winemaking history of the land.

Prunecchio is the name of an old vineyard plot on the Fattoria di Sammontana estate planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano and Malvasia. It is has aromas of yellow plums, quince, gooseberries, and acacia flowers on the nose. On the palate, it's fresh and well balanced. 

This wine is perfect as an aperitif, or with fish dishes, pasta and all kinds of salads and green veggies. A must try with shrimp scampi!

Waxy & Floral

Lighthall Vineyards is a small, proud, low volume and high quality winery located in enchanting Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. All their wines are produced in a non-interventionist manner and fuelled by passion as hearty as our vines. They also make cheese, designed to pair with their wines.

One of Lighthall's most aromatic wines, this off-dry Riesling is bursting with kiwi, starfruit, nectarine, and a lovely bouquet of white flowers. The classic Jolly-Rancher and crisp green apple punch follows through on the palate with vivacious acidity. Pairs
excellently with spicy south-Asian cuisine, curries, and tacos.

With the little touch of residual sugar in the wine, it makes a great match for foods
with a bit of heat. Spicy curries, Guaitiao (Thai noodle soup), Shrimp with noodles,
or Chicken Masala with mango chutney for example. Leaner white fish like bass,
pickerel, red snapper served with a fresh salad of greens with citrus segments makes a
great summertime match. Creamy fresh cheeses like Brie, Camembert, or Crottin all
are great, while classic Germanic foods like weisswurst, pretzels, and spaetzle also
work well.