‘CEV’ Lily Sparkling Wine, Pelee Island, Ontario

LCBO Vintages $14.95
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When in doubt…serve a sparkling wine!  There are only a handful of sparkling wines made by Canadian wineries.  This one is terrific to have on hand.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Dry, crisp with lively acidity, this sparkling has aromas of apple, citrus & toasted almond with a zesty finish.  Simply, chill, pop & enjoy!

Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco, Italy

LCBO $15.10
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Various styles of sparkling wines are made throughout Italy.  Prosecco is typically made in Northeastern Italy in the Veneto region in (north of Venice). 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This is a delicate, refreshing light wine with citrus aromas and an equally refreshing light finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This light sparkling wine is perfect to serve when guests arrive for a dinner party.  See how the flavours change while eating potato chips & salted nuts…Sounds weird?  Don’t knock it until you try it!

Segura Viudas Brut Cava, Spain

LCBO $14.95
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Cava wines are the traditional Spanish sparkling wine and it considered the second largest sparkling wine in the world after Champagne.  Cava is the generic name for bottle fermented sparkling wines.  In Spanish, it simply translates to ‘cellar’. Although made throughout Spain, most are made in Penedès (in Catalunya region) on the northwest coast along the Mediterranean Sea located south of Barcelona.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This cava is made with Paraellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo white grapes.  The result is a full bodied, golden wine with aromas of almonds, toast, pears & apples. 

Food Pairing Suggestion: The Spaniards consider Cava as the ideal wine with seafood dishes, with tapas or simply chill & enjoy.

Terra Sparkling Malbec, Argentina

LCBO Vintages $13.85
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Malbec has become Argentina’s signature grape variety producing big, bold, full bodied red wines. 
It is not very often that you can find a sparkling wine from Argentina & more unique is RED wine made with Malbec!

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Very dry, with loads of red fruit flavours (strawberry, raspberry & cherry), this is indeed a full bodied sparkling wine.

Food Pairing suggestions: Make a striking statement by serving this unique sparkling red wine. Serve chilled before a meal, with shrimp, sushi or even during dinner with pork tenderloin or lamb. It is certainly a fun wine!

Bonterra Chardonnay, California

LCBO Vintages $17.95
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Bonterra Ranch is located in the Russian River area of Mendocino county in California.  They use only organically grown grapes in all their wines.  The estate is continually expanding their use of organic viticulture (in the vineyard) techniques. 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Rich aromas of honey & toasted almond with hints of tropical fruit & citrus.  The wine is packed with fruit flavours, rich but refreshing on the palate with the zesty lemon finish. 

Food Pairing Suggestions: A natural with stuffed red peppers or eggplant dishes.

Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc, Chile

LCBO Vintages $13.95
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Here is a refreshing wine from a well established winery in Chile.  Casa Lapostolle winery is owned by the Marnier-Lapostelle family of Grand Marnier liqueur fame.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Refreshing with aromas & flavours of melon (cantaloupe perhaps?), pear & a hint of acidity that you expect from a Sauvignon Blanc wine to give you a crisp & dry wine with a fresh finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy the last of the summer days sipping on this wine before a meal, with light fare of fish, shrimp or fresh salad.  An easy drinking wine.

Caymus Vineyards Conundrum, California

LCBO Vintages $26.95
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This wine has everything including the Kitchen Sink!  The winemaker has blended in all of the California’s best grape varieties to create this amazing wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Viognier & Muscat Canelli. 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Vibrant & intense aromas of citrus, pear, cantaloupe melon, even green grass (that is a typical characteristic of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes).  These aromas continue into the taste giving you a rich well-balanced experience of taste & flavours.

Food Pairing Suggestions: A perfect match with sushi.  Also try with spicy Indian or Asian foods…or simply chill & sip on its own.  Cheers!

Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal

(pronounced VEE-nyoh VEHR-deh)
LCBO $8.40
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Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Extremely light with an elegant mousse & delicate bubbles, there are aromas of green apple, cucumber & lime.  These aromas continue into the taste with a hint of mineral & a fresh acidity that seems to linger forever! 

Food Pairing Suggestions: Chill & serve as a summer patio sipper, with appetizers, salads, or with brunch.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

LCBO Vintages $19.95
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Sauvignon Blanc is considered as New Zealand’s signature wine. 
The Malborough area (the north end of the South Island) is the most popular grape growing region for Sauvignon Blanc.  It is easy to imagine the vines growing on the lush picturesque landscape.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Delightfully dry wine with classic Sauvignon Blanc aromas and flavours of lemon, gooseberry, passion fruit and herbs (tarragon or thyme perhaps?). This is a medium-bodied wine with a lingering lemon and mineral finish. 

Food Pairing Suggestions: A classic match with asparagus.  Also enjoy with lemon buttered fish, mussels and shrimp.

Ligenfelder ‘Bird Label’ Riesling, Germany

$14.95 LCBO Vintages
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German wines can be difficult to understand by all of the information on its label.  Don’t shy away, because you will be missing some delicious wines.  This one is easy to spot with the artistic label, screwcap….and a delicious Riesling awaiting you inside the bottle. 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Pale straw in colour, this wine has floral & citrus aromas (a little lime perhaps?) with crisp tastes of minerals & a lingering refreshing citrus finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This is an easy drinking wine. Chill & serve with appetizers, sushi, or fish with a lemon butter sauce.

Lurton Pinot Gris, Argentina

LCBO $10.95
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Perfect to serve at a party –at a great price too!

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This dry white wine has dominant floral notes with apple & pear aromas.  The crisp acidity offers citrus flavours with a lingering refreshing finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Served slightly chilled, this wine can easily be enjoyed on its own, served with chicken, shellfish & seafood.

Martin Códax Albariño, Spain

(pronounced al-bah-REE-nyoh)
LCBO Vintages $17.95
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I was introduced to this grape variety last year at a wine conference. The signature white wine of southern Spain, Albariño grapes are considered high premium quality grapes.  They are thick skinned, so only a small amount of juice is extracted creating an intensely flavoured, medium to full bodied white wine.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: The colour ranges from pale yellow to golden.  Medium bodied, dry & crisp, this wine has complex aromas & tastes of pineapple, peach & pear with a zesty citrus finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Great to sip on its own, with seafood, shellfish & BBQed pork.

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Italy

LCBO Vintages $18.95
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Pinot Grigio has become a popular white wine, ideal for sipping on its own.  Italy is traditionally known for its red wines, yet they grew white grapes to blend into the red wines to add a bit of sweetness.  The story goes that in the 1960s, the Santa Margherita winemaker had a brilliant idea. He secretly kept some Pinot Grigio grapes aside and fermented them to make a white wine.  The result was a refreshing wine with citrus aromas and flavours.  This innovative wine created a new fashion in white wine drinking in Italy that quickly spread abroad.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This is one of my favorite Italian white wines.  This pale coloured wine is light to medium bodied.  It’s citrus & floral aromas continue through into the flavours leaving a refreshing taste that lingers. 

Food Pairing Suggestions: Pinot Grigio is a wine that is perfect for sipping while preparing a meal, or serving with appetizers, salads or seafood & shellfish.

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

LCBO $16.15
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Until the mid 80’s, not many people had tried New Zealand wine.  Now it is well known with Sauvignon Blanc being the country’s signature grape variety.  In France, where Sauvignon Blanc has been grown for years, it is typically blended with Semillon to create a product that is more honeyed flavour.  In New Zealand, however, it is produced as a single varietal with crisp, fruit flavours & refreshing aromas.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: A classic with lots of citrus & fresh cut grass aromas.  There are flavours of citrus (can you find lemon or lime?), melon & minerals combine with this wine’s refreshing acidity. 

Food Pairing Suggestions: Seafood, grilled prawns, asparagus, goat’s cheese.

Flatrock Cellars Pinot Noir Rosé 2007 VQA, Niagara, Canada

LCBO Vintages $14.95
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Since it started in 1999, Flatrock has had a strong commitment to quality & environmental responsibility.  While not a certified organic winery, this estate, they work hard to maintain a natural environment for the vines & to minimize interference in the winemaking process. 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Pink-orange in color, this wine has aromas of strawberry, cherry with hints of rhubarb (can you smell it?).  It is dry & refreshing, with vibrant fruit flavours, racy acidity & a long crisp finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: An ideal summer sipper, or a terrific match for grilled salmon.

Chapoutier Côtes du Rhone Villages Rasteau, France

LCBO $17.20
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This wine is 100% Grenache grapes, which is the backbone of the infamous Châteauneuf du Pape wines.  Look for the wine label with Brail… HYPERLINK “mailto:events@thesavvygrapes.com” contact Debbie & we will tell you the interesting story about Chapoutier’s use of Brail on all of their wine labels & business cards.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Deep purple in colour with aromas & flavours of blackberry jam, spice & plums. 

Food Pairing Suggestion: This wine is a great match with lamb, grilled meat & grilled veggies. 

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Brouilly, France

LCBO Vintages $16.90
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Beaujolais wine is a light bodied red wine made with Gamay grapes.  This wine was selected as it would not overpower the exotic ingredients of the Asian cuisine.  Gamay wines are gaining popularity & sometimes styled to make a medium bodied wine, often labeled as Gamay Noir.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: A ruby red colour with aromas & taste of strawberry, red cherry & raspberry with a hint of floral (do you smell violets or roses?).

Food Pairing Suggestions: Great to serve with fish, chicken, turkey, grilled eggplant or beef.

Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, California

LCBO Vintages $19.95
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Made in Napa, this wine was awarded Critics Gold at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition 2006.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This is a big wine.  Dark garnet in colour with rich aromas & tastes of black plum, spicy & vanilla (wine tip: vanilla is the flavour that comes from aging in oak barrels) with a velvety texture as it finishes.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Truly a delicious wine! Enjoy with BBQ meats, roast beef and mushroom dishes.

Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon, California

LCBO Vintages $19.95
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This is one of the top selling California Cabernet Sauvignons at the LCBO.



Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This wine defines red - deep red colour, intense aromas of red fruit (cherry, raspberry & red plum) that continue into the flavour...leaving you with a red-hot heat in the finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This wine is waiting for you to fire up your BBQ!

Los Molinos Gran Reserva, Spain

LCBO $15.00
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Rioja wines are made primarily with Tempranillo grapes. The word ‘Tempranillo’ translates in Spanish to temprano meaning ‘early’, reflecting the fact that the grapes ripen earlier than other varieties. To ensure premium quality, Spain has established wine laws stating the length of time each of the different styles of wine must be aged:
Crianza - 24 months (of which at least 6 months are in oak)
Reserva - 36 months (at least 12 months are in oak)
Gran Reserva - 60 months (at least 18 months are in oak)

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Deep garnet in colour, this wine has smooth, velvety tannins with just enough acidity.  Intense aromas of dried fruit (plum, fig & prune), blueberry jam & black olive that continue into the taste with black berry, coffee & spice.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This intense wine is a good match with heavy cheese, steak, roast beef & classic Spanish dish of paella.

Perez Cruz Reserva Carmenère, Chile

(pronounced car-men-EHR)
LCBO Vintages $24.94
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Carmenère wines are not often exported, so be on the lookout!  Until recently, Chileans thought this grape was Merlot.  After clinical testing it was found to be a native grape of Chile and now they are celebrating this unique grape & its flavours

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Intense garnet colour with aromas and flavours of black cherries, plums, smoke & a nice heat.  This wine finishes with a sweet & velvety taste.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy on its own, with lamb, pork tenderloin, beef and roasted vegetables. 

Ravenswood Vintner’s Zinfandel, California

LCBO Vintages $19.95
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Not to be mistaken for a pink Zinfandel wines, this ‘Zin’ is made with the same grapes, yet during the winemaking process, the skins are left with the grape juice in the tanks to extract the deep colour & delicious flavours.  Red Zinfandels have become California’s trademark wine.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This full bodied wine has rich aromas of raspberry, coffee, spice, dark chocolate & a velvety finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This wine will enhance the flavours of BBQ steak, rosemary encrusted lamb, grilled mushrooms….or a piece of rich chocolate cake!

Santa Margherita Laudato Malbech, Italy

LCBO Vintages $18.05
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Be on the lookout for more Italian wines made with ‘Malbech’.  This is grape is Malbec, now a popular variety in Argentina.  There are only a handful of vineyards in Italy experimenting with this grape.  Santa Margherita may be familiar winery to you for its popular refreshing Pinot Grigio white wine.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Ruby in colour, this medium bodied wine has aromas & flavours of red fruit (cherry, plum, cranberry), ground pepper & light tannins that will subside with the food.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Roast beef, hearty stew, pasta with a meat sauce & heavy cheese would pair nicely with this unique wine.

Torres Gran Corona Cabernet Sauvignon, Spain

LCBO Vintages $18.95
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Debbie’s Tasting Notes: This full bodied wine is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Spain’s signature and national red grape - Tempranillo – to create a deep red wine with intense aromas of blackberry, peppers, licorice & vanilla & well-structured tannins.

Food Pairing Suggestions: A great food wine - serve with any grilled meat, from steak to game, or with a traditional Spanish dish of paella. Olé!

Croft Original Fine Pale Cream Sherry, Spain

$15.25 at LCBO Vintages
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Sherry is gaining in popularity as an after dinner drink.  Try it…you might find a new favorite!

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Refreshing with almond, lemon curd & yeast (imagine bread rising) aromas with a lingering sweetness.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Lemon dessert such as lemon meringue pie, almond tart & fresh fruit

Henry of Pelham Cabernet Franc Icewine VQA, Niagara, Canada

LCBO Vintages, $39.95
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Red ice wine is an emerging style of wine that is receiving rave reviews.  This dessert wine is made with Cabernet Franc grapes that were picked when the temperature was -8 C or colder. 

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Garnet red in colour, this wine reminds me of wild strawberry jam in the aromas & taste. What aromas & flavours do you get from this wine?  Do you enjoy it?

Food Pairing Suggestions: Lightly chilled on its own, with fresh fruit, chocolate or blue cheese, this delicate wine is a refreshing alternative to port or classic white ice wine.

Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny Port, Portugal

LCBO $22.85
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Warre’s was established in 1670 and has a tradition of making fine Port wines from the Douro Valley. Produced from native varietals: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz or Touriga Franca grape varieties, all with dark, thick skins that adds to the flavour & intense colour.

Tawny port is a particular style of port that is aged in barrels and begins to lighten in its colour while increasing in its flavour intensity. This port is named ’10 year old’ referring to the oldest port wine blended into the final product has been barrel aged for 10 years.

Debbie’s Tasting Notes: Not too sweet, this wine has fig, raisin flavours with a hint of toasted nut (almond perhaps?). Warm, creamy, honeyed texture with a long finish of dried fruit & roasted nuts.

Food Pairing Suggestions: chocolate desserts, dried apricots & fruit, creamy cheese (classic match is bleu veined or Stilton cheese), roasted nuts…and a fireplace!