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.

Zesty & Mineral

Gilvesy winery is located in the outskirts of Lake Balaton, near an ancient dormant volcano, in Hungary. Hungarian expat Robert Gilvesy moved back to his homeland from Canada to start this exciting project involving native grape varieties and volcanic soils.

This blend is light and fresh. On the nose, it's all about hints of mint, lemon and fresh cucumber, while on the palate it's zesty, with notes of green apple and citrus fruit.

It's delicious when paired with summer meals: fresh salads dressed with dried fruits such as cranberries and walnuts, grilled fish with potatoes and zesty ceviches.

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.

Textured & Mineral

When Michel Muré settled in Rouffach and planted his vineyard in the 17th century, he surely had little conception of the beautiful adventure that he was setting in motion for his descendants. In 1935, Alfred Muré extended the property with the addition of the 12-hectare (25-acre) wholly owned Clos Saint Landelin, foreseeing already its potential for exceptional quality. He replanted the terraces, ideally situated with their sunny exposure and shelter from the rain.

Nowadays it is Alfred’s grandson René, together with his children Véronique and Thomas, the 11th and 12th generations of the family, who are responsible for running this exceptional, wholly-owned vineyard and its neighbouring terroirs, using biodynamic methods.

Muré's Sylvaner is a lovely wine.  On the nose, it delivers delicate aromas and flavours of quince, green apple and mineral. On the palate, it finishes long and clean with a soft refined perfume. 

Lovely as an aperitif; a must with shellfish and asparagus dishes.

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.

Fresh & Balanced

A true Niagara Villages wine focused on a blend of organic, biodynamic and uncertified sustainably farmed vineyards throughout the Peninsula with a focus on Quarry Road (Vinemount Ridge), Cherry Road (Twenty Mile Bench) & the Tintern Vineyard. The grapes are harvested, destemmed, wild fermented "whole berry" for 18 days, before gravity flow takes them into French barrels. This fresh Pinot Noir was then left to age for 16 months in barrel before bottling.

The 2021 vintage is marked by elegance over power, brimming with brightness and approachability straight out of the gate, with not hard edges. Light ruby-red in the glass, high toned aromas of cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, backed by roasted herbs, spice and pepper. Great weight and poise for Ontario, but still the light to medium bodied Pinot Spectrum with balanced tannins and acids holding on to fine and lengthy finish.

Certainly a vintage on the edge, marked by many cold and wet days. However, as every mother does, mother (nature) kicked in and saved the day with a gloriously warm and dry finally to the cooler growing season.

Bright & Creamy

Our favourite bubbly wine is back for its 9th 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. This vintage shows a blend based on early pick Niagara Peninsula Vidal from Wismer, and 25% Prince Edward County Riesling from South Bay.

We had an instant crush on this new vintage: the beautiful bubbles are so nicely integrated and complement the wild floral aromas of the Vidal, all backed by the bracing acidity and orchard fruit of the South Bay, Prince Edward County Riesling. 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!

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. The warmth of the 2020 vintage starts to show 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.

Fruity & Mineral

Built in the 15th century, the Château de la Grange-Barbastre belonged to the Barbastre family, Lord of the Grange, until the end of the 16th century. The property passed to the de Goulaine family in 1777.

Planted on slopes facing south and southeast, this Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu sur Lie is cultivated on the best soils of the estate and from vines that are over 40 years old.

Aged on its fine lees for 11 months, the nose is elegant with hints of white flowers, lemon zest, ginger and salty minerality. The contact with the lees for an extended period of time to develop a beautiful creamy texture balanced out by bracing acidity. 

Muscadet Sur Lie is an exquisite pairing with oysters or any other type of shellfish. A true classic pairing would be 'moules frites' - mussels tossed in shallots, white wine and herbs with a side of french fries!

Fresh & Zesty

Nestled in the heart of Empordà, La Vinyeta is a small production winery and olive grower driven by a young spirit of hard work and big dreams. The project’s origins can be found in two old Carignan and Grenache vineyards which Josep and Marta bought from an old winemaker from the town. They started producing their first bottles of wine in 2006. Today, La Vinyeta is one of the most highly regarded projects in the area, not just for the quality and diversity of the wines but also for their dynamism, humility, and commitment.

This is a white blend made from old vines of Macabeo (60%), Grenache Blanc (30%), and Malvasia (10%). The vineyards are organically farmed, without artificial irrigation.

On the glass, it has a yellow colour with green tones, sign of its youthfulness. On the nose, it has a high aromatic intensity, combining fruity notes of pineapple and stone fruit, with a final persistence of citric aromas. The palate is fresh, with a vibrant acidity and a salty hint of the calcareous soils.

Pair this wine with roast fish with cannellini beans and green olives