Author Archives: tonyaspler

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 879: Niagara’s Riesling Queen

Emma Garner, winemaker at Thirty Bench invited me for a tasting of her Rieslings and reds. She is regarded in the region as the consummate Riesling producer. Thirty Bench Small Lot Steel Post Riesling 2020 Bright straw in colour with … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Lover's Diary | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 878: The Sagrantino Experience

“ANTEPRIMA SAGRANTINO” 19-20 APRIL IN MONTEFALCO: PRESENTING THE NEW VINTAGE OF DOC AND DOCG WINES OF MONTEFALCO AND SPOLETO TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS Sunday, April 16th: I flew from Toronto to Rome on American Airlines, routed through Charlotte, North … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Lover's Diary | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 877: Taste Ontario! Toronto

Took the train into Toronto from Burlington to attend this first major tasting of Ontario wines since the pandemic. It was great to see a lot of old friends and fellow wine writers. We were privileged to have two rooms … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Lover's Diary | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 876: 50th Birthday Bash

Saturday, April 1st: Deborah and I were invited to celebrate Meg McGrath’s 50th birthday at a lunch at Erik Peacock’s Wellington Court Restaurant. Meg’s partner, Phil Dowell, winemaker at both Angels Gate and Kew Vineyard, had made special bottlings for … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Lover's Diary | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 875: Château des Charmes Reds

(And one from Malivoire.) Château des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon St David’s Bench Vineyard 2020 (St. David’s Bench, Niagara) Deep purple in colour; cedary, blueberry nose with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, savoury plum, blueberry and currant flavours with an engaging … Continue reading

Posted in Wine Lover's Diary | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment