Category: Uncategorized


  • Urbanihof Classic Grüner Veltliner 2024 (Austria) – Wine Review

    Tonight’s white wine review is a lovely, organic Grüner Veltliner from Austria that made its debut at the LCBO in the recent March 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is produced by Weingut Urbanihof, an organic winery that has been run as a family business for over 400 years, passing down from one generation…

  • Meet The Makers Wine Panel

    Yesterday I attended a trade event in Victoria titled Vintage 2025 in B.C. – Bounce Back / Rebuild that was hosted by Way West Wines and moderated by Treve Ring. The wineries and their representatives in attendance were: Charlie Baessler, Corcelettes Winery Richard Charnock, JoieFarm Winery Max Legris, Sage Hayward Wines Alison Moyes, Solvero Vineyards…

  • Canadian wine community gives From the Heart for charity wine auction

    By Rick VanSickle By any measure, the 2026 Grapes for Humanity Benefit Wine Auction features the most donated Canadian VQA wines ever to come up for bids. Sprinkled among the 3,500 bottles of the world’s finest wines and spirits, including an exceptional selection of rare bottles and unforgettable experiences, there are 131 lots of the…

  • A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1015: Magnetic Hill and Grapes for Humanity Auction

    Magnetic Hill white wines Monday, April 6th: Tasted the following wines from Magnetic Hill Winery in Moncton, New Brunswick. They have a second label, Loose Wire. Magnetic Hill Terroir Generator Osceola Brut Sparkling 2022 (Osceola Muscat, also known as Muscat de Swenson, is a versatile and hardy grape variety bred by renowned grape breeder Elmer…

  • Noble Ridge releases exceptional 2025s

    Photo: Winemaker Benoit Gauthier Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery at Okanagan Falls is another producer celebrating the nearly miraculous vintage in 2025. The winery credits its sustainable farming practices for the resilience of the vineyard. “Following the devastating January 2024 cold snap that resulted in a complete crop loss,” the winery reports, “the 2025 season…

  • April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: New Zealand

    Here are my top wine picks from the April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where the feature story of the release looks at Wine Wonders of New Zealand. This is a smallish release with only 85 products offered, and the average price per bottle comes in at just over $25,…

  • Hester Creek 2025: A Standout Vintage from the Golden Mile Bench

    Reading Time: 4 minutes After two challenging seasons, the 2025 vintage at Hester Creek Estate Winery is shaping up as one of the strongest recent releases from the South Okanagan, defined by early ripening, excellent fruit quality, and standout consistency across the lineup. Early tastings point to a vintage marked by ripeness, balance, and impressive…

  • Red Rooster Winery Celebrates the Return of the Rooster

    Red Rooster Winery Unveils New Label Celebrating the Return of Its Iconic Rooster After more than 25 years of crafting expressive wines on the Naramata Bench, Red Rooster Winery is proud to unveil a refreshed label design that brings back the brand’s iconic rooster. The relaunch celebrates the winery’s history while signaling a confident new…

  • 5 warm-weather cocktails worth shaking up, courtesy of Dillon’s

    Fresh, vibrant and easy to make at home, these seasonal cocktails from Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers are perfect for spring and summer sipping As the days grow longer and the weather begins to warm, cocktail season shifts into something lighter, brighter, and more refreshing. Enter Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, whose latest lineup of spring and…

  • Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation.

    Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation. Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together! In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more…