L’Acadie Vineyards: An East Coast Sparkling Pioneer

Ah, Nova Scotia. As one of Canada’s maritime provinces, this part of the country conjures up images of cool sea breezes, high tides, salt water taffy and delicious, buttery lobster rolls. For us, however, first and foremost are… drumroll, please… the amazing sparkling wines! 😍🍾 Today’s COVID reality has prevented us from visiting and enjoying Canada’s Atlantic Coast (which is under a sensible but taxing two week minimum quarantine for Ontario residents). Thankfully, we have some great bubbles from L’Acadie’s latest release to enjoy (more on those in a moment!), and tide us over until it’s safe to visit (or …

Rotari: Exceptional Value Bubbles from Northern Italy (…that are not Prosecco!)

⁣⁣Rotari hails from Trentodoc, a Northern Italian appellation centred around the City of Trento and known for its Traditional Method white and rosé sparkling wines.  Fizz Fact: the appellation was the second of if it’s kind (after the Champagne) to be created to ensure quality and distinction in its sparkling wines! 🥂 ⁣Early founders of what is now Trendodoc wanted to distinguish themselves from Prosecco, which is produced not too far away. And so, no Charmat Tanks nor Glera grapes are used in the making of Rotari Brut and Rotari Brut Rosé – as only the Tradtional Method and Chardonnay, …

Cave Spring’s New Digs

This week we had the pleasure of attending an intimate, and physically distanced, winery tour and dinner at Cave Spring Vineyard’s new digs in charming Beamsville, Ontario. Over the past few years, one of Ontario’s most prolific and well loved wineries has worked diligently to move their tasting room from Jordan Village to where the magic happens… their vineyard and farm! Located at 4043 Cave Spring Rd, Beamsville, the new Cave Spring Vineyard tasting room is framed by the idea that the consumer’s experience is equally as important as the wines. We couldn’t agree more! To taste the wines in the …

A Sparkling Tasting of the World’s Finest with Cru Wine Merchants

This summer, we had the pleasure of tasting through the bounty of Wine Country Ontario and we zeroed in on Niagara-on-the-Lake. From exceptional fruit, to farm fresh vegetables and, of course, incredible wine, there is plenty to taste… and write about! However, on a warm Friday afternoon with our feet firmly planted at Stratus Vineyards, we turned our minds and palates to more global flavours. With Melissa Pulvermacher and Cru Wine Merchants, we were able to travel to Valdobiaddene, the Rheingau, Barcelona’s hilly outskirts, and the Champagne. Travel with our glasses, that is, as we tasted through their diverse and exceptional portfolio of high …

Shop Our Sparkling Collection at Galleon Wines!

Galleon Launches in Ontario Galleon has arrived on the shores of Lake Ontario, and guess what? It’s full of precious cargo: some of the finest wines in the world! There are no ancient sailboats parked on Toronto’s doorstep. Rather, Galleon – a luxury wine importer supported by Philippe Dandurand Wines – recently launched in Ontario.  It’s time to celebrate, and break out some sparkling, right? With Galleon, you can shop the world one glass at a time, and they offer their customers access to exceptional wines with the promise of enjoyment and new discoveries. The Sparkling Winos Collection We couldn’t be …

Ontario Wine Country is OPEN!

The summer is here, and many experiences in Wine Country Ontario – whether in the Lake Erie North Shore, Prince Edward County or the Niagara Peninsula – are just a short drive away from the Greater Toronto Area.  With tourism greatly restricted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic (and rightfully so), a more “local” vacation in Ontario has never seemed better, even if we’re intimately familiar with the beauty of the great province and the bounty of Wine Country! On that topic, we couldn’t be happier that Wine Country Ontario is slowly and safely opening up again. Yes, Wine Country is …

Quarantine Talk with Thomas Bachelder

We interrupt your daily sparkling wine browsing with a special announcement: today, we’re going in depth on some exceptional still wines. That’s right: still wines. 😱 No effervescence, not a bubble in sight… unless you take into account the sparkling storyteller and prolific winemaker that is Thomas Bachelder. Last month, we sat down on Zoom with Thomas as part of a virtual tasting, and we discussed his latest release – “La Violette” – only the second release since being granted a retail license in 2019. Though we endured some technical difficulties which precluded us from creating a video of the experience, …

Cava 101: What is Cava?

Maybe you’re familiar with the term “Cava”, or maybe you’re not. But y’know that iconic black and gold bottle of bubbly that you’ve seen at every New Years Party? Surely you’ve had a glass of it at some point right? Well, that’s Cava. So what is Cava exactly? And what makes it different from Champagne or Prosecco?

How to Order Ontario Wine to your Doorstep During COVID-19

It’s been a difficult few weeks for all of us, but we are trying to look on the bright side while raising a glass of wine and supporting our local wine industry! ❤️🍷🇨🇦 Local wineries, retailers, and restaurants offer many online ordering and delivery options, allowing us to #StayHome and enjoy VQA Ontario wine while helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. So, while you self-isolate, be sure to continue supporting our local wine industry from home via one of the many convenient options available… Option #1: Order Direct from Ontario Wineries Ontario VQA wineries are doing their part to …

What is Lambrusco?

As you know from our post on the Sparkling Wines of Italy, like Champagne in France, Italian sparkling wine has become synonymous with Prosecco – but that’s not all that the country has to offer when it comes to bubbly! That’s right… we’re shining a spotlight on Italy’s sparkling red superstar, Lambrusco! Italy’s Red Sparkler As the world’s best sparkling wines are typically produced in cooler climates, it should come as no surprise that there are considerably less amounts of it being produced as you travel further south in Italy. However, the central part of the country is known for the distinct Lambrusco style, which …