Charles Baker Picone Riesling
$56.99
First Canadian wine chosen for the Masters of Wine Blind Examination, Runner-up Canadian Wine of the Year at Gold Medal Plates, and part of Ontario's Stratus winery. Located in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Stratus Vineyards (Charles Baker is part of the Stratus winery) is a gravity-flow winery, distinguished by its LEED-certified facility, its commitment to sustainability and wines of outstanding quality. Bob Nedelko's beautiful vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench was a result of enthusiastic yields. The vines did not hold back despite their best efforts. The result? Nervy, electric, complex, fruity, steely, seamless, delicious Riesling.
Soufrandiere Macon Vinzelles
$74.99
There is no better producer in the Mâconnais than La Soufrandière, a family domaine owned by the Bret Brothers. The brothers also buy grapes from neighbors and other growers who have the same meticulous philosophy as they and bottle them as a négociant under the label, Bret Brothers. Those wines are also a safe bet a well, delivering more than you would expect from the price. This Pouilly-Vinzelles could be considered their flagship. Planted by their grandparents, it is a 10-acre limestone rich plot with perfect exposure in mid-slope facing east. Jean-Philippe explains that most of the vines are 70 years old, but there are some young vines — only 40 years old! The spectacular 2022 Pouilly-Vinzelles Les Quarts delivers a dazzling array of subtle fruitiness, firm minerality in a tightly wound body. You realize its stature and power when it explodes in the finish. La Soufrandière’s wines develop magnificently — if you can keep the corkscrew away from them.
Fielding Estate Riesling
$23.99
Ken and Marg Fielding, along with their son Curtis and his wife Heidi, opened the winery doors in 2005. Fielding Estate Winery quickly established its place alongside Niagara wineries as a warm, inviting place to relax and enjoy award-winning, small lot VQA wines.
The architecture of the winery is influenced by the Fielding’s northern Ontario roots in the Haliburton Highlands. Designed by renowned architect Andre D’Elia of Superkül, the contemporary Canadian design is inspired by elements only be found in nature – wood, stone and sunlight. With the natural finishes and earthy tones, the design allows all the facets of nature to become one.
Tetramythos Sideritis Nature Organic
$40.99
This is a unique, minimal-intervention orange wine from Greece, made from the rare Sideritis grape, known for its distinctive wild herb/floral notes (like mountain tea), citrus, minerality, and slightly tannic, complex profile, reflecting its high-altitude, organic origins with skin contact for a coppery hue and natural fermentation. It's a "natural" wine, meaning minimal intervention, no filtering, and often minimal or no added sulphites, showcasing the grape and terroir.
Raventos Negra
$184.99
The Raventós family, a leading, world-renowned winegrowing dynasty, has lived on this estate since 1497 at the very least. Twenty-one generations have worked this land, 90 hectares of vines, forest and lake, with a specific microclimate influenced by the river, a lake, two streams and a hill known as the Turó del Serral. Their soils were formed over 16 million years ago. They are calcareous with marine fossils, and this provides the ideal conditions for producing wines with a potent mineral expression. The wines from this estate rank among the very best sparkling wines in the world.
Gini Soava Classico
$41.99
The Gini family has roots in the Soave Classico region dating from the seventh century, and owns 25 hectares of vineyards situated on the very best hillside position of the appellation. Extremely low yields, low-interference viticulture, and devoted attention to expressing the unique character of each cru results in wines that are not only among the greatest Soaves but also among the great white wines of Italy. Olinto Gini and sons Sandro and Claudio have now finally completed their beautiful new cellar, which extends deep into the rocky and tufaceous hillside of Monteforte d’Alpone, thus providing optimal natural temperature and humidity control.
Notes of fresh citrus, lemon peel, white peach, white flowers, and a distinct flinty mineral finish.
Bret Bros Macon-Ige Vernayes
$57.99
Bret Brothers set up in 2001, with the commitment to buying standing grapes (picked by the La Soufrandière team) from plots with old vines only and in the best terroirs in the Mâcon wine-growing region. Since then they have acquired more vineyards in the region and have become certified biodynamic, producing some of the most expressive wines in southern Burgundy.
La Soufrandiere 'Les Quarts
$123.99
La Soufrandière was an old property located in Vinzelles, in the southern part of the Mâcon wine-producing region (in Southern Burgundy), initially purchased by Jules Bret, a Professor of Medicine. At that point, the vineyards covered an area of only one hectare, grown in Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts” appellation d’origine contrôlée. The only sign remaining of its past wine-growing activity was a “tinailler” (a building typical of the Mâcon region, used to house vats), complete with an old-fashioned wine press. Jules Bret and his wife Louise (who came from Vinzelles) set about expanding the La Soufrandière vineyard by acquiring plots of vines adjoining their existing ones. At that time, all the vines were entrusted to sharecroppers (shared costs and production), while the grapes harvested were vinified and sold through the Vinzelles Wine Co-operative. La Soufrandière withdrew from the Vinzelles Wine Co-operative in anticipation of the arrival of Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume, who bottled their first vintage in 2000. Since then they have acquired more vineyards in the region and have become certified biodynamic, producing some of the most expressive wines in southern Burgundy.
Giant Steps Yarra Chard
$39.99
Giant Steps was founded by wine industry pioneer Phil Sexton, who ventured from Margaret River to Yarra Valley to find the ideal site to cultivate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. Phil found his holy grail near Gruyere in the Sexton vineyard, which he planted in 1997 on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges. A mad jazz fan, Phil named the winery after John Coltrane’s album and fitting metaphor, “Giant Steps.” In 2003, Winemaker Steve Flamsteed came aboard, and the two set about producing a range of iconic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that express a profound sense of place from six finite sites in Yarra Valley.