Aure Riesling 2010
VQA Ontario $15.20 12.5% alcohol
Bone dry, light-medium bodied, the aromas are citrus, green apple and wet stone. Offering a silky texture, the wine is bright, lively and zippy, with a palate of fresh citrus—grapefruit and lemon to the fore. The finish is lasting and slightly pithy. Enjoy with freshwater fish or seafood. Available from Aure Wines. (Susan Desjardins)


Aure Gamay 2010
VQA Ontario $16.20 12.0% alcohol
David Hoare was inspired to produce this wine by his memories of sipping chilled Beaujolais in a Paris café. A lovely pale candy-apple red, this dry, medium bodied wine offers appealing aromas of pepper, spice and red cherry. Vibrant acidity, a pronounced peppery note and flavours of zesty red fruit—pie cherry, raspberry and cranberry—create a tangy lip-smacking finish. Try it with grilled sausages. Available from Aure Wines. (Susan Desjardins)


Creekside Estate ‘Laura’s White’ 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 12.7% alcohol
Aromas of exotic spice, honeysuckle and tropical fruit waft freely from this tangy, artfully blended gem—Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Muscat and Viognier. It dishes up a crisp, refreshing river of tropical fruit, apple and juicy citrus on the palate and mouth-watering aftertaste. Sips beautifully on its own or poured with skillet-seared fish or seafood under a squeeze of fresh lemon. Available only from Creekside Estate in Jordan. (Vic Harradine)


The Good Wine Chardonnay 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula $22.00 12.5% alcohol
Lightly oaked in one-year old French barrels, this dry medium-bodied wine offers delectable aromas of citrus, pear, tropical fruit and a subtle floral note. Silky in texture, the well-integrated oak, fresh acidity, ripe orchard fruit and lively citrus create a delightful taste experience and a lasting well-balanced finish. Available only from The Good Earth Vineyard and Winery. (Susan Desjardins)


The Good Wine Rosé 2010
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $18.00 13.1% alcohol
Candy-apple red, this rosé is principally Cabernet Franc that went through a cold soak and cold stainless steel fermentation. It’s suffused with aromas of red berry fruit, a hint of sweet herbs and a tantalizing earthiness. Delightfully dry, medium bodied, there’s plenty of fruit on the palate, hints of white pepper and some lingering herbal notes on the fresh clean finish. A versatile wine to be chilled and enjoyed on its own or with grilled trout or salmon. Available only from The Good Earth Vineyard and Winery. (Susan Desjardins)


The Good Wine Pinot Noir 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.00 12.7% alcohol
Deep ruby, this wine spent 10 months in neutral oak barrels and offers a classic nose of red berries, roast beets, spice and earth. Dry, medium bodied, there’s attractive complexity and balance—lively acidity, underlying minerality, earthiness, a hint of herbs and a replay of the spice, raspberry and strawberry. The finish is dry, fruity and persistent. It was great with grilled salmon over a salad with quinoa and roasted tomatoes or try with veal chops and mushrooms. Available only from The Good Earth Vineyard and Winery. (Susan Desjardins)


Inniskillin Riesling Icewine 2007 

VQA Niagara Peninsula $69.95 (558288) 9.0% alcohol 

Sensuous and sexy, alluring aromas of honeyed pear, warm peach pie and racy lemon tart abound. On the palate, there’s a dazzling array of succulent, ripe tropical fruit and honeyed pear and apple flavours that are perfectly balanced with a moderating stream of lemon and grapefruit tang. Of course, it’s divine sipped on its own or with desserts like bread pudding or crème brulée—how about duck? Here’s a link to many recipes that pair with icewine. Purchase at Inniskillin Winery Boutique, Niagara-on-the-Lake. (Vic Harradine)


Nyarai Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2010
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.75 13.0% alcohol
Winemaker Steve Byfield has been hitting homeruns with Sauvignon Blanc the past couple of years and the 2010 is no exception. It has a fresh lemongrass and lime nose with a hint of mineral crispness. On the palate it’s dry and fruity with excellent acidity for balance. A small amount of barrel fermentation gives a slightly fuller body than many other Sauvignon Blancs. This is a real crowd pleaser and an excellent match for cedar-planked grilled salmon. Order for home or office delivery from Nyarai Cellars. (Dave Isaacs)


Nyarai Cellars Viognier 2010
VQA Niagara Peninsula $20.75 13.0% alcohol
Nyarai’s debut vintage of Viognier greets you with a nose of citrus, plum and honeysuckle. It’s smooth and medium bodied on the palate with flavours of honey, melon and peach. It's all balanced by a crisp acidity, leading to a very pleasantly flavourful and lengthy finish. Goes very nicely alongside pasta with meat sauce made with fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Order for home or office delivery from Nyarai Cellars. (Dave Isaacs)


Sue-Ann Staff Semi-dry Riesling 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.00 10.0% alcohol
Produced from grapes harvested from 4 separate parcels, this is Sue-Ann Staff’s first wine as proprietor. Pale yellow-green, there’s a whiff of petrol over mineral notes and the aromas of zesty citrus, ripe stone fruit and fresh-picked apple. Light-medium bodied and off-dry, this wine displays a great balance of fresh acidity, underlying minerality and tangy fruit that persists through the lasting finish. Lovely now on its own or with light appetizers, this wine will continue to age gracefully. Available from Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery (Susan Desjardins)


Sue-Ann Staff Baco Noir 2008
VQA Ontario $16.00 11.5% alcohol
Deep red with a violet note, this lightly oaked Baco is dry, smooth and flavourful. There’s attractive complexity on the nose—earthy, herbal notes, hints of mushroom and cured meat mingling with the scent of dark fruit. Medium bodied, the flavours of red fruits, spice and a hint of char are matched with lively acidity with the earthiness persisting through a clean fresh finish. Enjoy with eggplant parmigiana. Available from Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery. (Susan Desjardins)