• The following six wines may be purchased online from this link Casa-Dea Estates Winery. For a limited time only: Buy 6 bottles or more and get FREE shipping in Ontario.
• The following 2019 Casa-Dea Estates ‘Embrace’ Sparkling Riesling is vintage dated and was fashioned utilising the Charmat method, a process that produces fewer bubbles than the Méthode Traditionnelle used in the production of Champagne. This was sourced from 100%, estate grown riesling grapes grown on the vineyard in front of the winery.
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Casa-Dea Estates ‘Embrace’ Sparkling Riesling 2019
VQA Ontario $19.95 (20516) 11.7% alcohol
Aromas of yeasty and floral notes precede a palate wash of flavours with ripe red apple and Meyer lemon adorned with good tang and acidity. There’s good frothy mousse when poured and textured, creamy-smooth mouthfeel on the palate and tangy dry finish and aftertaste. You can greet guests with this and continue to serve with the welcoming hors d’oeuvres. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Casa-Dea Estates ‘Dea’s Cuvée’ Sparkling was sourced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Casa-Dea’s Estate’s Cold Creek Vineyard. It was fashioned in the Charmat method with the 2nd alcoholic fermentation taking place in an enclosed tank.
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Casa-Dea Estates ‘Dea’s Cuvée’ Sparkling 2018
VQA Ontario $20.95 12.6% alcohol
It’s light-yellow hued when poured and dishes up aromas of baking brioche, binned apple and notions of rose petals. It shows little mousse when poured, but certainly is there when you have it on your palate. It’s sweet-tinged with palate flavours of lemon-lime cordial and wisps of maraschino cherries. Palate flavours replay on the mid-length finish and aftertaste. Pour for company when they arrive and serve with all manner of hors d’oeuvres and/or canapés. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Casa-Dea Estates Pinot Grigio was barrel-fermented and aged in older, pre-loved oak barrels.
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Casa-Dea Estates Pinot Grigio 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $19.95 12.3% alcohol
This bronze-gold hued wine dishes up a nose of nutty and floral notes decorated with wisps of ripe apricot. It envelops the palate with a unique surge of pure ambrosia expressed as tang-laden lemon curd infused with ripe yellow peach and hints of rosewater. This is medium bodied with excellent mouthfeel, persistent purity of fruit and balanced on a pin. It finishes clean and refreshing with a lengthy lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Sip on its own or pour with a deli platter, soft cheese or a creamy spinach salad. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 Casa-Dea Estates Unoaked Chardonnay was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County chardonnay that saw not a splinter of oak.
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Casa-Dea Estates Unoaked Chardonnay 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $16.95 12.4% alcohol
Aromas of lanolin, binned apple and straw provide segue to a mouthful of flavour with tang-infused flavours of Key lime, pomelo and lemon pastille to the fore. This is medium weight with persistent tang-infused flavours throughout. Give this a go with home oven-grilled chicken wings or chicken salad. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Casa-Dea Estates ‘Rosato’ Rosé was sourced from 100% County fruit made up of 85% gamay and 15% pinot noir that cold soaked for 24 hours on its skins.
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Casa-Dea Estates ‘Rosato’ Rosé 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $18.95 12.4% alcohol
An alluring purple-pink hue in the glass, it captures the palate with a medium-bodied, nicely textured mouthful of candy floss, balancing pie cherry and hints of maraschino cherry on the front and mid palate. It finishes with oodles of tang and pizzazz on a lingering crisp and refreshing finish and aftertaste. Give this a go on its own or pour with spicy red pizza. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 Casa-Dea Estates Cabernet Franc was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County fruit that was matured 12 months in oak barrels.
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Casa-Dea Estates Cabernet Franc 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $19.95 12.6% alcohol
Lifted aromas of dark cherry/berry fruit mingle with hints of earthiness and cedar. It blankets the palate with piquant spice, rich ripe black currant and notions of savoury herbs. It’s medium-plus bodied with textured mouthfeel that’s silky smooth from twist top to last drop. There’s considerable tang and pizazz on the mid-palate while persisting through the finish and aftertaste. Pour with backyard burgers, beer-can grilled chicken or beef fajitas. (Vic Harradine)
• This Château des Charmes vintage-dated méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine is available at the winery and online at Château des Charmes for shipping to your home, office or restaurant. This is a blend of chardonnay with a small portion of pinot noir used for liqueur de dosage. It matured on its lees for at least 18 months and was disgorged recently, just before release.
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Château des Charmes Sparkling Rosé 2016
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $34.95 11.5% alcohol
A festive mousse rises above a wild-salmon shaded liquid releasing aromas of peach, strawberry, red cherry, yeasty buns and a whiff of white mushroom. The first sip will fill your palate with an expansive and tightly knit froth carrying delicious flavours of field strawberry, red apple, pie cherry and vivid zesty character leaving you wanting more. This thirst quenching, well crafted, crisp, bubbly rosé will pair well with just about everything. Try smoked salmon, sun-dried tomato crostini or sip on its own with friends. (Louise Boutin)
• Order the following wines by the case for daily home or office directly online from Kacaba Vineyards with FREE shipping in Ontario on orders of six bottles or more, by phone at 1 866 522-2228 or 1 905 562-5625, or pick up a bottle or case from the winery (curbside pick-up or shop in the boutique it’s open 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week) at 3550 King Street in Vineland ON. For various wine shopping options during COVID-19, click here.
• The following 2020 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Summer Series – Jennifer’s’ Pinot Gris was sourced from a select single vineyard of 100% pinot gris in the VQA sub-appellation of Lincoln Lakeshore that was harvested at optimum sugar and acid levels. At the winery it was immediately gently destemmed and cold-soaked overnight. After pressing, the clean juice was racked into stainless steel tanks where it fermented for several weeks at a controlled temperature of 17 °C until dryness.
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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Summer Series – Jennifer’s’ Pinot Gris 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of pear, white floral notes and lemon zest abound. It dazzles the palate with piquant flavours of grapefruit and pineapple balanced with lime cordial and ripe pear. This is medium bodied with creamy-smooth mouthfeel and showcases excellent balance and persistent purity of fruit throughout. It’s crisp and refreshing with a flavourful mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside pan-seared or grilled fish or seafood, or chicken or pork in a vegetable stir fry. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Vegan Friendly - Sustainable – Unoaked’ Chardonnay was fashioned without any oak influence in order to capture the true nature of the chardonnay grape in the bottling of this wine.
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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Vegan Friendly - Sustainable – Unoaked’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (326975) 13.0% alcohol
Granny Smith apple, honeydew melon and lemony aromas waft easily after a gentle swirl or two. Flavours of blood orange, lemon-lime and pineapple mingle with nuances of saline minerality and ripe pear on the palate persisting through the clean and refreshing finish and aftertaste. This is balanced on a pin with good mouthfeel, medium weight and plenty of tangy pizzazz. Pour alongside Classic Chicken a la King. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable’ Pinot Noir was sourced from grapes harvested at peak ripeness then sorted before being processed. Following a gentle destemming the fruit was divided into several small fermentation vessels for manual punch-downs then inoculated with RB2 yeast strains. After fermentation was completed, grapes were gently pressed and rested in tanks for a short time. Once settled, wine was racked into barrels for 14 months in a combination of new and old French oak barrels (88%) and Acacia barrels (12%). The wine was then racked and bottled April, 2020.
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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $32.95 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of cedar, earthy notes and mixed spice interlace with wisps of red cherry/berry and cigar box. This is elegant, sensuous and spreads over the palate with a mélange of flavour—cherry and kirsch liqueur with blueberry and hints of black currant underpinned by toasty oak and hints of vanilla. This is medium weight with a firm mouthfeel, good depth and deft balance. A doff of the cap to Kacaba winemaker extraordinaire, Vadim Chelekov, and his entire team. You could happily sip it now on its own or pour with coq au vin. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable – Vegan Friendly’ Cabernet was sourced from 71% cabernet franc and 29% cabernet sauvignon. Kacaba is well known for its value and quality-packed wines.
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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable – Vegan Friendly’ Cabernet 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula (499384) $15.95 13.0% alcohol
Sexy aromas of rose petals, exotic spice and rich, ripe dark cherry/berry fruit abound on the nose of this gem. It blankets the palate with a gorgeous surge of ripe blackberry fruit, raspberry and dark Rainier cherry robed in excellent balancing crunchy red fruit tang and acidity. It’s medium-bodied with deft balance, persistent purity of fruit, lengthy lip-smacking aftertaste and has great versatility at the table. Incredibly enjoyable on its own, it’s also wonderful with barbecued beef or lamb tagine or crown roast of pork. (Vic Harradine)
• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following two wines order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with FREE shipping on orders of $99 or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays and noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays, and noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are guidelines due to COVID-19 that change often, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email).
• The following 2019 Malivoire ‘Courtney’ Gamay was sourced from 100% gamay fruit grown on the estates Courtney Block that was hand-harvested in late October when grapes averaged 22.4 ° Brix. After being destemmed and crushed, fruit was barrel-fermented in large-format oak cuves. The greater portion of 93% of the wine matured in neutral barrels while 7% aged first in new oak for 10 months before transferring to neutral oak. In all, wine aged 16 months in barrel before being bottled in February 2021.
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Malivoire ‘Courtney’ Gamay 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $29.95 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of dark bramble berry, cherry and blueberry interwoven with piquant spice and savory herbs abound on the nose. It’s balanced, bountiful and beautiful on the palate with flavours of Ribena ©, pie cherry and hints of cassis. It’s medium weight with good mouthfeel and plenty of tang and acidity that persist through finish and aftertaste. There’s an underpinning of tannin that’s still evolving. Enjoy now poured alongside a mixed deli platter or try this summer pasta. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 Malivoire ‘Wismer’ Cabernet Franc was sourced from 100% cabernet franc grown on the Wismer Vineyard in the VQA sub-appellation of Twenty Mile Bench where the soils and subsoils are well-drained and rich in limestone and shale. Freshly picked fruit was destemmed and divided in two—one to ferment in large oak cuve, and the other in stainless steel tank. Following alcoholic fermentation, 13% of the wine spent seven months in new oak barriques before blending to age in a mature oak tank, After 16 months in oak the wine was bottled in February 2021.
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Malivoire ‘Wismer’ Cabernet Franc 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $26.95 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas leap from the glass after a simple swirl—dark cherry/berry, graphite and grilled savoury herbs to the fore. It envelops the palate with a surge of tangy fruit flavours including ripe juicy black and red cherry, bramble berry and passionfruit decorated with baking spice and sprigs of herbs and underpinned by firm tannin. This is balanced on a pin with acid, tannin and fruit flavour all in sync with each other as well as cabernet franc typicity. It’s medium-plus bodied with good mouthfeel and a lengthy, lip-smacking, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)
• The following two Marynissen Estates Wines are available for purchase and delivery to your home, office or restaurant online with FREE shipping in Ontario with a minimum order of six bottles or for curbside pick-up at the winery - order ahead online, here’s a map.
• The following 2020 Marynissen Estates Rosé was sourced from an eclectic blend of 35% pinot noir/25% riesling/20% pinot gris/11% cabernet franc/9% muscat sourced from select plots in the VQA Niagara Peninsula appellation. The pinot noir was harvested and cold soaked for six hours prior to being pressed and fermented cool in stainless steel tank while the cabernet franc juice was bled off the skins after three hours in tank and fermented warm in stainless steel while the pinot noir and riesling fermentations were arrested to provide aromatic intensity and to preserve a portion of the residual sugar for balance in the finished wine. Pinot gris and cabernet franc were both fermented to dryness with the final proportions of the blend decided based on aromatic intensity, flavour, and texture. This wine is yet another stellar example of the dazzling 2020 vintage for Ontario wines and is splendidly priced. Pick up a few, you won’t be disappointed.
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Marynissen Estates Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (16454) 11.5% alcohol
A psychedelic pink in the glass, aromas of strawberry and cherry abound on the nose. It blankets the palate balanced on a pin with plenty of ripe red apple and ripe red cherry adorned with oodles of tangy passionfruit and hints of pie cherry that start on entry, expand at mid-palate and persist with purity of fruit through the lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Delicious on its own, it really sings out when poured with chèvre crumbled on olive-oiled mesclun salad or pan-seared calamari or steamed mussels. This is also available at the LCBO. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 Marynissen Estates ‘Lokaal - White’. Lokaal (pronounced local) is the Dutch word for "local", a nod to the pioneering founders of Marynissen Estates. It’s an inspired blend of 48% vidal/37% gewürztraminer/15% chardonnay. This wine showcases the unique profile of local hybrid and vinifera grapes and dazzles the palate paying homage to the fabulous 2020 Ontario wine vintage. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up an armful at this price.
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Marynissen Estates ‘Lokaal - White’ 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (20508) 12.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of exotic spice and incense mingle with tropical fruit, rosewater and whiffs of Juicy Fruit © gum. It envelops the palate with a gusher of ambrosia riding a balanced and bountiful wave of dazzling flavours with ginger root, Key lime cordial and plenty of tang and pizzazz from twist top to final drop. This is clean, crisp and refreshing. Just the wine to be drunk now and in summer on its own, and in the fall and winter with fish and seafood. This is also available at the LCBO. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following two wines online for home, office or restaurant: delivery in Ontario is FREE on orders of six bottles or more from this link Vineland Estates Winery. The wine shop is open for Curbside Pickup 7 days a week, 11am-5pm. Purchase online from the above link or place your order at 905.562.7088 ext. 124. Restaurant is open for Takeout Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm. Please order directly with the Kitchen at 905.562.7088 ext. 165. Best to check with the winery first as COVID-19 rules and regulations often change.
• The following 2020 Vineland Estates ‘Semi-dry’ Riesling was sourced from 100% riesling and the wine has no oak influence allowing this wine to portray the inherent qualities, aromas and flavours of their prized riesling grapes. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour. Pick up an armful or two.
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Vineland Estates ‘Semi-dry’ Riesling 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (232033) 10.5% alcohol
Aromas of flinty minerality and notions of petrol interweave with peach and plum on the nose. The races over the palate exploding with off-dry flavours—lemon pastille and lime cordial—along with textbook riesling tang and acidity. The monumentally tasty and lengthy finish and aftertaste replay palate flavours with gusto. This is medium bodied with silky mouthfeel and nicely balanced fruit flavour and acidity. It’s a sure thing matched with spicy Asian cuisine—spicy Shanghai noodles, Pad Thai or tandoori chicken. (Vic Harradine)
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Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (594127) 13.5% alcohol
Lifted aromas of dark bramble berry and black cherry decorated with baking spice and hints of floral notes precede a gusher of flavour of medium-plus weight with outstanding satin-smooth mouthfeel enveloping the palate with flavours galore—cassis and pie cherry mingle with savoury herbs and plenty of spice along with black currant and juicy black cherry. It finishes with a lengthy ripe-fruit tinged and mouth-watering aftertaste. Drink now to 2026 with backyard grilled burgers, flank steak, or beef fajitas. At this price, load up with a case of six or twelve. (Vic Harradine)