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Photo: Mayhem winemaker Ajay Chavan (courtesy of the winery Mayhem Wines portfolio of reserve wines, which are labelled Anarchy, has now expanded to four with the release of the inaugural Anarchy Pinot Gris from the 2023 vintage. The name, Anarchy, seems to have been inspired by the Anarchist Mountain Vineyard, the home of Terry Meyer…

By Rick VanSickle In a rather startling letter to the LCBO, the provincial government has clearly expressed that it wants the Ontario booze monopoly to fix the historically low market share for VQA wines on their shelves. Ontario finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, below, sent a detailed letter to Carmine Nigro, chair of the LCBO, listing…

2021 Pinot Gris (Switchback Vineyard) Haywire Winery Summerland, BC $29.99 100% organically grown Pinot Gris, whole cluster pressed and naturally fermented before aging in concrete tanks all of which helps to ensure that the terroir shines through.  You’re not going to mistake this distinctive wine for another Pinot Gris.  Very food friendly.  Straw coloured with…

The Oxley Public House is a must-visit place where fine dining and casual comfort coexist in harmony While Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood is merely a small slice of what the city has to offer, it’s flaunted as being one of the most desirable postal codes to live in – known for its Victorian-era homes, cobblestone…

Tonight’s rosé wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Greece that arrived at the LCBO as part of last weekend’s July 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. Like the lovely 2022 Skouras Moscofilero I enjoyed a few months ago, this rosé is also produced by the well-known and highly-regarded Domaine Skouras. The winery was…

By Rick VanSickle It’s been whispered about in Niagara wine circles for years, but now the first sparkling wines from York Vineyards are about to make a very loud debut this August. York Vineyards is the pride and joy of Martin and Rachael Werner (below), a 20-acre site nestled against the Niagara Escarpment in St.…

In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am including a new one that will appear from time to time.  I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’. It will be much like the wine reviews, except that it will feature wines that have…

After enjoying the excellent 2022 Zacharias Assyrtiko last month, tonight’s white wine review is another lovely wine from the same producer that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the July 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. While stores may be closed due to the strike, this can be ordered online from lcbo.com. Like…

Here are my top wine picks from the July 6, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is titled Fine White Wine for Summer Sunshine as the theme of the release. All the wines are already on shelves. However, since stores are closed during the strike, the LCBO is currently offering free home delivery with…

By Rick VanSickle Well, now that the LCBO union, for the first time in its history, has gone on strike, it’s time for consumers to map out their booze-buying for the foreseeable future. The LCBO has announced that no wine, cider, liquor, coolers or beer will be available at its stores for at least two…