Canada: land of moose, manners and seriously good wine. While Ontario may dominate shelf space at the LCBO, great bottles are made from coast to coast. To celebrate our fine nation, here’s a roundup of best buys — from Nova Scotia to B.C. — including four local gems. Each one is paired with a distinctly Canadian bite to set you up for the weekend.
2024 Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 Sparkling Rosé, Nova Scotia
(Vintages Essential 256289, $24.95)
This pale pink blend of Muscat, Ortega, Riesling, Geisenheim, L’Acadie and Vidal comes together beautifully. Each sip sings. It opens with star-bright scents of orange and lychee, with a whisper of rosewater somewhere. That fetching fragrance leads to a tinglingly fresh attack, as flavours spiral in with vibrant energy. Sweet-tart grapefruit, glazed pear and chin-drip peach saturate the palate, while the low alcohol and delicate effervescence make it supremely gulpable. Pair it with grilled, maple-glazed Atlantic salmon for a little piece of perfection. (6.5% alc., 71g/L sugar)
NV Jackson-Triggs Reserve Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon, VQA Ontario
This might be one of the best red wine bargains from Ontario. It opens with aromas of wild blueberries, toast, dark chocolate and cherries before crashing in with a wave of flavour. Lively yet smooth, refreshing and just bold enough, this mid-weight red is tailor-made for summer sipping. Rushing black-forest fruit gives way to roasted almonds dusted with cocoa powder. Easy-drinking and juicy, it’s the bottle to keep on hand all season long. Excellent with a bowl of poutine or just a handful of squeaky cheese curds. (12.8% alc., 5g/L sugar)
2023 Creekside Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Summer and sassy Sauvignon Blanc go together like peas in a pod. So grab a bottle of this version. It’s affordable and never disappoints. Comparable to Chilean and Marlborough styles, this fruit-forward white tastes like biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple. Then come notes of gooseberry and lemon-lime, kiwi and pineapple. Cool, vivid and easy to splash in your glass when the temperature spikes, it’s perfect for carefree sipping — whether solo or paired with peameal bacon piled high on a kaiser for a laid-back supper or midday picnic. (12.7% alc., 4g/L sugar)
2020 Leaning Post Cuvée Winona VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Named after Winona, Ont. — where the winery is located — this unfiltered Merlot–Cabernet Franc blend delivers serious thrills. It opens with a coy perfume that hints at black cherry, pumpernickel toast, cinnamon and allspice. The entry is firm yet magnetic — an iron fist in a velvet glove. Beguiling. Quietly mysterious. At its core, dark fruit is layered with black earth, spice box, bitter chocolate and a touch of smouldering charcoal. Serious stuff at a bargain price. Serve with Ontario beef tenderloin with mushrooms. (14% alc., 2g/L sugar)
2020 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
(Vintages Essential 626325, $60.95)
The price has jumped four dollars since this column last recommended it in March. Still, it remains the only widely available wine from British Columbia at the LCBO right now — and it’s very good. As a Vintages Essential, it’s reliably in stock. A Merlot–Cabernet Sauvignon blend seasoned with Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, it’s heady, robust and complex with a brawny underpinning. Expect notes of cassis and cherry, fruitcake and tobacco, a touch of spice and lovely persistence. Just the thing with bison burgers for that high-low pairing. (14.5% alc., 3g/L sugar)
2022 Pelee Island Lola Cabernet Franc Rosé, VQA South Islands, Ontario
(Vintages 552497, $18.95)
From its shy fragrance of peaches and cream to the bright, sweet-fruited entry, this wine is summertime in a glass. The flavours feel lit — almost opalescent — calling to mind sliced orchard fruit, patch-plucked strawberry and a faint salty edge that’s both balancing and mouth-watering. Easy to enjoy and inexpensive, this is the door-of-the-fridge wine for those impromptu parties, handy hostess gifts or afternoon happy hours. Goes especially well with good Canadian cheddar. But feel free to serve it with just a sunset. (12.5% alc., 7g/L sugar)
