A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1007: A Great Dinner Party and a Music Trivia Night

Sunday, January 25th: A dinner party for our friends Shannon and Craig. Deborah made Bœuf Bourguignon and I served the following wines:

  • Flat Rock The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2016 (with salmon poke on baby lettuce)
  • Dagon Clearstone Feteasca Alba Reserve 2020 (that I brought back from Bucharest)
  • Vieux Télégraphe La Grau Châteauneuf du Pape 2009
  • Torres Mas la Plana 2015
  • Zyme Passito Bianco del Veneto 2012 (with blueberry pie and ice cream)

A memorable meal.

Monday, January 26th: Finished off the Bœuf Bourguignon with a bottle of Wolf Blass Shiraz 2025. Continue reading

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1006: Dr. Lippold Wines, Ontario Wine Awards

Tawse winemaker Jessica Otting pouring Spark 2022

Monday, January 19th: Last Wednesday I visited Tawse with Dr. Enno Lippold to taste their Rieslings with winemaker Jessica Otting: Tawse Spark 2022, Limestone Riesling 2022, Quarry Road Riesling 2013, Limestone Riesling 2016, Quarry Road Riesling 2016, Karly’s Block Riesling 2016. (Enno was impressed.)

Limestone Riesling 2016, Quarry Road Riesling and Karly’s Block Riesling 2016

Tawse 2016 Rieslings

He brought along his Dr. Lippold wines, which we also tasted. He left me the bottles so that I could retaste them at my leisure. Here are my notes:

Dr. Lippold Rieslings

Continue reading

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Taste of Bordeaux with John Nadeau

Plan A Vacation Presents

Taste of Bordeaux

with wine host

John Nadeau

April 1st to 8th, 2027

Travel to France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux, on an enhanced epicurean experience. Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful on this wine-themed journey. Attend an exclusive wine festival in Bourg, sample Grand Cru Classé wines and experience the wonderful world of viticulture with all your senses at the immersive Cité du Vin museum in Bordeaux. Hosted by dedicated wine expert John Nadeau, who leads tastings and a specially curated food and wine pairing dinner on board, this journey is a must for anyone interested in the best of French wine and cuisine.

COUNTRIES: France

RIVERS: Garonne, Dordogne

Contact Steve and Karen Gill to learn more

1-289-273-5900 or toll free 1-877-894-7526 Ext 101

Email: info@planavacation.ca

or

contact your Plan A Vacation Travel Curator

Please note in the subject line the river cruise you are inquiring about

Read the full itinerary and details at planavacation.ca

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“Lawrason’s Guide to Canada’s Best Wines” Uncorks in 2026

Fans of Canadian wine have a new website to connect them to the highest quality wines being made coast to coast.

Lawrason’s Guide to Canada’s Best Wines will present 40 posts per year, with each including a themed article and ten reviews based on new and current releases.

“Canada has arrived at an important place in terms of the depth and breadth of its wine quality, with a Canadian style and certain strengths now crystal clear,” says David Lawrason. “I am launching this site at a crucial moment as Canadians support local in growing numbers, and as interprovincial trade barriers begin to loosen, hopefully in mid-2026.”

David Lawrason has been writing about wine in Canada for 40 years, first for the Globe and Mail, then Toronto Life magazine, and now with WineAlign, a wine editorial and review website that also owns the National Wine Awards of Canada, the country’s leading wine competition.

Canada’s Best Wines expands the story behind the medal winners, as well as others that winemakers may not have chosen to enter. Each review provides background on the grape varieties, appellations/regions, production methods and the winemakers and winery owners.

Canada’s Best Wines will focus on current and new releases, linking readers to winery websites to follow up on purchase. Most wineries are now shipping direct to consumer across the country, which is expected to be formally approved with the revision of interprovincial trade barriers this year.

“Canada’s Best Wines is a 100% reader-supported site,” said Lawrason. “There is no winery advertising; there are no tasting fees to wineries; no commissions for winery sales.”

A one-year, 40-post subscription is $90. A six-month 20-post subscription is $50. Three introductory posts published in December – on pinot noir, expensive Bordeaux blend reds, and Canada’s sparkling specialists – are available now for all viewers. The first subscription-only post comes January 15 with a retrospective on Ontario’s Prince Edward County and its classic chardonnays and pinot noirs.
Subscribers will also receive a monthly newsletter featuring new wineries and wines, upcoming events and news relevant to the production, availability and enjoyment of top-quality wines.

Canada’s Best Wines also publishes reviews from Janet Dorozysnki PhD, an Ottawa-based writer with a strong background in promoting Canadian wine internationally to growing markets in Europe and Asia. The website has been designed by Kelowna’s Tammy Tomiye, publisher of Wine Tour Hub and the BC Wine Tour Handbook.

MEDIA CONTACT
David Lawrason
david@canadasbestwines.ca
canadasbestwines.ca

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1005: Riesling’s Return and a Michelin Meal

Tawse winemaker Jessica Otting pouring Spark 2022

Monday, January 12th: Deborah’s birthday. I prepared dinner. A glass of Perelada Cava while I was cooking sautéed Argentinian prawns in a cream sauce, on a bed of rice, with braised bok choy. The wine, Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2024 from Marlborough. Dessert: Blueberry crumble with ice cream (and a single candle). Continue reading

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