Sustainable

Spicy & Volcanic

Juan Jesús, who is a 4th generation winemaker, founded Viñátigo in 1990 and has worked tirelessly since then identifying, recuperating the native grapes of the Canary Islands.

Listán Negro is a grape that Viñátigo cultivates in the mid-lands, in the north-west of Tenerife. This grape is a native grape variety of the Canary Islands, as it originated from a natural crossing between the grapes Listán Blanco and Negramoll, both brought by Portuguese and Andalusian settlers between the 15th and 18th centuries.The grapes are hand-harvested by mid- September and the wine ages in old barrels for three months. It’s a delightful and juicy red, with aromas of black pepper, dark fruits, and a strong mineral, volcanic character.

It's the perfect 'chatting' wine: gather with friends and uncork this juicy beauty. A good conversation with friends and a charcuterie board is the best pairing. It matches very well with traditional cuisine from the Canaries: fried rabbit marinated in spicy 'mojo rojo' sauce; or beef stew with boiled potatoes.

Crisp & Salty

Juan Jesús, who is a 4th generation winemaker, founded Viñátigo in 1990 and has worked tirelessly since then identifying, recuperating the native grapes of the Canary Islands. The grape Listán Blanco de Canarias was brought to the Canary Islands in the 18th century by the Andalusian conquers. Viñátigo cultivates it in the high-lands that sit at 500 meters of altitude.

The vines are trained in ‘parrales’, a training method inherited by the Portuguese community that settled on the northern part of the island back in the 15th century. These vertical structures adapt to the hills and ravines created by the last eruptions of Teide volcano towards the north of the island. This wine is very fresh and has a vibrant acidity. On the nose, it has fragrant aromas of fennel, dried fruits and fig tree leaves; as well as a distinct mineral quality that is a result of the volcanic soils.

This crisp white calls for grilled fish, potatoes and 'mojo verde', a typical sauce from the Islands made of garlic, cilantro and olive oil.

Spicy & 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 Merlot is part of Leaning Post's 'Freaks & Geek' collection, their Natural Wines series. The Merlot Vin Nature 2019 is a truly deep and fascinating wine, it reminds us of walking through the pine and mossy dampness of a forest path by a lake in the Canadian Shield on a cool autumn evening, stopping to pick some wild-blueberries and noticing in the background a roaring fire.

Pair this natural Merlot with roasted white meat or sautéed vegetables.   

Bright & Creamy

Our favourite bubbly wine is, 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. The blend has Riesling (20%) and Pinot Gris (20%). 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!

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!

Creamy & 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 “Geekiness” continues to rise in this wine. An experiment in lees aging, this Riesling ages 22 months on all the lees collected from all the white wine fermentations since vintage 2014.   Reductive notes of flint and mineral frame all the beautiful stone fruit and classic Riesling notes.   It has a wonderfully rich and creamy texture balanced by a distinct freshness. It is practically immortal and should age beautifully for the next decade and well beyond.

Drink with freshly shucked oysters, sushi, and the geek you love the most.

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. 

This Riesling shows why we get so excited about Riesling from Lincoln Lakeshore! The nose explodes with beautiful apricot-pith, peach-cobbler, lime-leaf, cardamom, and honey aromas. Those flavours continue on the palate while adding lemon-rind, honeycomb, elderflower and the distinctive stony minerality. This is a classically mid-weight Riesling but has lovely full texture, coming both from the vineyards and the lees aging. As the wine sweeps across the palate towards the finish, the balance of sweet and salty is sublime, with a bright green leafiness and flinty/minerally sensation appearing in waves, leading to an amazing, crunchy finish. The wine will age well for the next decade.

The best pairings for this Riesling include poached salmon, roasted chicken, ham, and veal or pork scallopini.

Mature & Rich

Ca del Monte is situated on the hillsides overlooking the village of Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella. Ca’ Del Monte’s Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico’s is a dark angel of sorts.

Expect stewed fruit, over-ripened plums, clove and baking spice, there is also pronounced vanilla and toasted notes. The palate is concentrated, with notes of prune, raisin, chocolate, rich fruit and warm spices. To sum up, full bodied, lifting acidity, smooth tannins and a rich finish.

Like the wine, big and strong foods pair best. Try it with stufato (meat and vegetable stew) or a beef tenderloin with a truffle butter sauce. Or keep it simple with seasoned cheeses.

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!

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. 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.

Light & Bright

Stéphane Aviron is considered a pioneer in 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. 

Intense & Rich

Established in 2001 by Julien Montagné and his family. Clos del Rey is located in the heart of the Maury appellation in the Roussillon. Although Maury is best known for its sweet, port-like wines, Clos del Rey only produces dry red wines now produced as AOC Maury Sec.

Le Sabina is an old bush vine cuvée of grenache, carignan and syrah grown on very stony, black schist soils. This engaging red is a concentrated, aromatic, flavourful wine, with a pure essence of blackberry and blueberry fruit, sweet and resinous wild herbs, scorched earth and liquorice. A highly satisfying and bold ensemble. Tannins are abundant but coated and softened by highly intense fruit extract. Great length as noted by Master Sommelier John Szabo.

This wine is great with BBQ meats, lamb, beef, you name it.

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.

Tropical & Mineral

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. The Albarín grape is an indigenous variety from the south of the province of León. This grape variety had almost disappeared until Pardevalles recovered it. 

This expressive Albarín Blanco shows fresh aromas of herbs and citrus, notes of white fruit and some earthy and mineral qualities.  Lively and crisp, this wine is quite original. Good acidity, with flavours of herbs and citrus on the palate and a smooth finish.  

This Spanish white goes perfectly with pasta dishes, seafood and fish. If you are feeling adventurous in the kitchen, make a paella with some mussels and shrimps!