Long Weekend Wines

Fresh & Mineral - The Pinot Grigio Killer

Wines from Soave are made with the local grape Garganega. Cantina Tessari has its vineyards in the volcanic hills above il Castello di Soave, which is the original - or 'Classico' - wine growing area in Soave, the best vines are located here. 

Tessari’s golden straw coloured Grisela is the backbone of the vineyard; a delicious entry level wine that is meant to be enjoyed on any occasion. Melba toast, elderflower and chamomile aromatics fill the glass with a notable mineral quality. The taste of crushed seashells dance on your tongue with a fun duo of stone fruit and citrus. The finish is refreshing with balanced acidity.

Grisela is excellent as an aperitif and for accompanying rich Italian seafood recipes and risottos.

Bright & Creamy

The Baud estate dates back to 1742, today the 9th generation manages the winery. Siblings Clementine and Bastien, both under 30, are making some of the best-value wines in the area. Jura is that narrow valley in the remote hills between Burgundy and Switzerland, which millions of years ago was covered by an Ocean and today still bares many of the fossils from that time. If you kick a stone in a Jura vineyard, it will probably be a fossil!

This sparkler, or Crémant, is made in the traditional Champagne style, where the second fermentation happens inside the bottle. Expect rich aromatics of apple fruit with citrus, toasted brioche and a striking minerality. It sparks a great balance between creaminess and vivacity.  If you like Champagne, but not the price tag, then this is the wine of choice for you. 

It is very versatile at the table and you can drink this with almost any dish: try it with all types of classic cuisine or even spicy Asian dishes.

Rich & Bold

Finca Aylés is located in the northeast of Spain, near the city of Zaragoza, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.  The wine project of the Ramón Reula family began its journey in the 1980s and ended with the reunification of various properties that had belonged to the Finca Aylés since the Middle Ages. Today, Aylés is one of the largest private historical farms in Aragón.  

Attractive deep cherry red in colour. The wine displays a pronounced intensity on the nose, well defined, with an extraordinarily complex and wide range of aromas; think dark red fruits, ink, and spices.  On the palate the wine is clearly defined by its elegance and ripe fruit intensity. It's harmonious and well balanced leading to a rich finish. 

It's the perfect wine to pair with rich meats and anything on the BBQ.

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.

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

Citrusy & 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.

The intense aromatics of this wine leap from the glass, lifted by beautiful, creamy bubbles. Explosive aromas of fresh mandarin orange, Meyer lemon, fresh ginger, and notions of nutmeg and honeysuckle immediately engage the olfactory senses. The palate echoes the nose, but also brings in mango, lychee and rose-petal with the light citrus and floral components wiping through the background. A rich mouthfeel is brought on with this warmer vintage as well as the lees in bottle. Serve well chilled. Pour immediately.

Ripe & Fruity

Pardevalles is recognized for being one of the driving forces behind the D.O Tierra de León, betting on the development of the indigenous grape varieties Prieto Picudo and Albarín Blanco.

This 100% Prieto Picudo rosé is intense and fresh on the nose.  Rich and hypnotizing aromas of raspberry, strawberry, herbs, citrus and red rose petals jump out of the glass.  These flavours follow through on the palate, which is both powerful and flavourful, while maintaining great freshness.

Enjoy this one on its own while basking in the sun.

Fresh & Zesty

The Vitas Winery has been in the family since 1937, for four generations. Despite its French origin, Pinot Grigio has been cultivated in Friuli since the 18th century, where it has found an ideal habitat to produce wines of exceptional quality.

This dry-farmed Friulian Pinot Grigio is different in style than its counterpart from Veneto. The wine wears a straw yellow robe with elegant copper-gold overtones. Its bouquet is elegant and intense, with hints of acacia flowers, dry hay, walnut kernel, yellow peach and golden apple, intertwined with fresh and mineral notes. On the palate, it promises a concentrated palate full of fragrant white peaches, tangerines, and a lively minerality.

A perfect casual sipper, or to complement antipasti, fried fish or vegetables and light pasta dishes.

Tropical & Mineral

This is by far one of the coolest Sauvignon Blanc wines we have ever tasted. This white wine is made next door to Auxerre, in the region of Chablis. It's kind of a unicorn wine: in Burgundy, Chardonnay and Aligoté are generally the only white varieties allowed to be grown. However, St Bris is the exception!

This white Burgundy is made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The Saint Bris has aromas of citrus fruits like grapefruit and mandarin orange that jump out of the glass, this is followed by peach, and crushed blackcurrant leaves with light exotic scents like lychee. This complexity on the nose follows through on the palate which is textured, soft and floral, with a distinct minerality on the finish.

Saint Bris calls for oysters! It's also a wonderful choice with herb-driven sauces over chicken and fish dishes. We also love pairing it with Vietnamese and Thai meals with lots of lemon-grass, and fresh cheeses.

Mineral & Zesty

From a new family (relatively speaking) in Chablis, the estate belongs to Marie-Noëlle & Laurent Ternynck. They have deep roots in the surrounding area of AOC Burgundy, farming for multiple generations. 

This old vines Chardonnay is wild fermented fermented in stainless steel tanks, then ages “Sur Lee” for 12 months after malolactic fermentation is complete. The fruit is gathered from vineyards in Fleys and this area sits at a higher altitude on a windswept plateau, which helps maintain the acidity in the wine.  Fresh, floral and mineral on the nose. There are notes of fresh almond, hazelnut, citrus and white flowers on the palate. It is balanced, structured and texture example of classic favourite. 

Keep it chilled in the fridge, uncork it at the end of the day and pour yourself a glass! Also pairs well with oysters, all kinds of fish dishes, and roasted chicken.

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.

Juicy & Fresh

While the vineyards that form Punset have been farmed by the Marcarino family for generations, it is truly thanks to Marina and her incredible energy that the estate is how it is nowadays. Her passion for the soil and the environment led her to embrace biodynamics and the agronomic philosophy of Manasobu Fukuoka. From one of the healthiest vineyards in Italy, Marina crafts wines that brim with life, energy, and pure terroir.

This red is called 'Neh! after a popular Piedmontese slang used to finish a sentence, similar to  'eh. It is a blend of Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo, the local red grapes in Piedmont.  This wine has deep fruity aromas with red summer fruits, like black cherry, strawberries and raspberries. The colour is dark ruby and the wine shows good structure, acidity and medium body with a distinct earthiness.

Punset Neh! is an everyday wine, perfect with all kinds of food and even by itself. Uncork this bottle any time and enjoy it!

Full & Fresh

Mas Carlot is situated in Costières de Nîmes, a beautiful pebbly land around Nîmes and Arles in the Southern Rhône, and makes some of the very best value wines in the whole of France. This blend of 60% Roussanne, 30% Marsanne and 10% Viognier is outstanding.

An elegant white that offers up notes of peach marmalade, apricots, honeyed pears, candle wax and a touch of buttered brioche. With a good fresh acidity as well as abundant fruit and flavour, this attractive, medium-bodied wine overdelivers.

Pair this rich white well with shellfish, chicken, veal, pork and vegetables prepared with savoury butter, cream or mild cheese-based sauces.

These Crew Sauvage have a remarkable balance of concentration and weight, while remaining fresh and lifted in their youth.

This mixed case includes 6 bottles of 2021 Crew Sauvage Chardonnay and 6 bottles of 2023 Crew Sauvage Pinot Noir.

Nicholas Pearce Crew Sauvage Chardonnay VQA Niagara Peninsula 2021. 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.

Nicholas Pearce Crew Sauvage Pinot Noir VQA Niagara Peninsula 2023. The 2023 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 & Juicy

At the very heart of the Rhône Valley, at the northerly tip of the Southern Rhône, lie the vineyards of Grignan-Les-Adhémar.

Le Devoy checks in as a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. It has terrific notes of forest floor, cracked pepper, flowers and darker berry fruits as well as medium-bodied richness, an elegant, supple texture and notable purity of fruit. This wine has considerable charm and appeal and makes for a great everyday bottle.

Pair this wine with just about anything!

Earthy & Juicy

The French have a very beautiful expression for wines like this, they call it “vin de soif”, which essentially means a wine that is measured by the purity, honesty and, especially, by the joy and refreshment it provides. “La Pinada” is just that kind of wine, it showcases the fruit, freshness and balance of a genuine single varietal Bobal. The grapes are exclusively sourced from a single parcel called La Pinada planted in 1958, growing on alluvial and clay soils.

With a fresh and fruit-forward nose, the wine displays aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, blossom, and a hint of earthy minerality. On the palate it is juicy, focused and well balanced, with a crunchy acidity and some light drying tannins.

Enjoy this vin de soif with just about any dish. 

Fresh & Balanced

A true Niagara Village wine focused on a blend of organic, biodynamic and uncertified sustainably farmed vineyards throughout the West Niagara appellation 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 French Oak barrel before bottling.

After a challenging 2022 harvest, the 2023 vintage is marked by both elegance and power, brimming with fruit purity and structure straight out of the gate. 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 in the medium bodied Pinot Spectrum with balanced tannins and acids holding on to a finessed and lengthy finish.

Situated west of St. Catharines and the Welland Canal, the unique terroir of the West Niagara appellation encompasses six sub-appellations: Beamsville Bench, Twenty Mile Bench, Short Hills Bench, Lincoln Lakeshore, Creek Shores, and Vinemount Ridge.

Spiced & Round

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.

This blended wine (61% Merlot, 39& Cabernet Franc) always over-delivers massively for the price. Blackberry, cassis, raspberry and mulberry instantly appear on the nose, with lilac, cracked white pepper, licorice and pancetta following closely behind. On the palate, it has a very broad and weighty mid-palate featuring plum, wild-blueberry, and strawberry layered over dark- chocolate and graphite with wisps of herbs-de-provence and black olive fading in and out.

The powerful but soft tannins make it satisfying to drink now with a good decant, but it will certainly age well over the next 5-8 years. Great with burgers, cured meat, and hard cheese.

Floral & Fruity

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration between Nicholas Pearce and Will Predhomme focusing on terroir driven wines from old vine vineyards in Stellenbosch, SA & Willamette Valley, US. 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.

Spiced & Round

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.

Cuvée Heritage is the third vintage of our flagship red blend, but the first called Heritage – in homage to Ilya & Nadia’s Ukrainian heritage, and with an intention of building a heritage of tremendous red blends at Leaning Post. 

Spiced & Round

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.

This is our first (and possibly only!?) vintage of Petit Verdot, with the majority of the fruit coming from Grimsby Hillside Vineyard. What an amazing cacophony of fruit and floral on the nose! Mulberry, plum and blackberry hit your senses immediately, followed quickly by lilac, lavender, violet and sage. The palate brings in blueberry and raspberry, with anise seed, sweet basil, cured meat, cocoa, cumin a mossy/brambly character the underpins the whole wine. It is medium bodied, with present acidity and tannins that are full but soft. This wine is perfectly balanced for warmer days and lighter fair in the summer, and yet full enough to match richer foods and cooler evenings. To drink now, either decant or enjoy slowly and allow the wine to unfold for you.