If I had a dollar for every single person that tells me they are wine collectors/lovers in Toronto who know NOTHING about the Niagara wine region that is a mere hour south of them, I’d be a rich, very rich man. Instead I am simply a very disappointed person living in Toronto…
So let’s start with some good to great wines everyone should try before spending a random $45-$60 on a Burgundy or overpriced Napa at the LCBO simply to say they are drinking a wine from one of those regions. All of these wines should still be around somewhere; I removed the vintage year as it is easy to say get a XXXX but if they are no longer selling it then it is useless. As well, you may see some repeats of vineyards, it happens as we have some tremendous wineries that simply do quite a few things very well.
Bordeaux Style Blends:
Chateau des Charmes Equuleus
Trius Grand Red
Trius Red
Fielding Estates Meritage
Stratus Red
Calamus Meritage
Henry of Pelham Cabernet-Merlot
Pinot Noirs:
Hidden Bench (Estate/Felseck/Locust Lane, it does not matter)
Tawse (like Hidden Bench, does not matter)
Lailey Vineyard (Brickyard or Old Vines)
Malivoire
Coyote’s Run
Thirty Bench
Other Reds:
Peller Estates Andrew Peller Signature Series Merlot
Tawse Cabernet Franc
Chateau des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon (St David’s Bench)
Kacaba Proprieter’s Syrah
Fielding Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve
Ravine Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnays:
Tawse (all their Chards are outstanding, but Robyn’s Block is unbelievable)
Hidden Bench
Lailey
Coyote’s Run
Hillebrand Showcase Series
Ravine Vineyards
Chateau des Charmes
Clos Jordanne
Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve
Other Whites:
Thirty Bench Rieslings (single vineyard)
Hidden Bench Rieslings
Tawse Rieslings
Trius Brut (hard pressed to beat the value this classic method wine holds)
Stratus White
Cave Spring Rieslings
Now go off, try some, immerse yourself in a wine region that takes less time to get to than your cottage, weekend rental in the Kawarthas or the Richmond Hill, you will not regret it.
