Vintages Release: February 20, 2016

• The following winery, Kono, is part of a group of companies owned by Wakatū, a corporation based in Nelson, New Zealand with approximately 4,000 shareholders who descend from the original Māori land owners of the Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay Regions. Wakatū are successful, having grown their assets from $11 million in 1977 to its present value of over $260 million. Kono is Certified Sustainable and true to Māori culture they have a strong spiritual connection to the land and to the things they grow.

 
Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Marlborough, South Island $19.95 (441394) 13.0% alcohol 
This leaps from the glass with wild abandon and lifted aromas of passion fruit, asparagus and citrus. It caresses the palate with waves of lemon curd and juicy tang entwined with grilled pineapple and honeydew melon. It’s balanced and beautiful with good weight, generous mouth feel and a crisp, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste—this is very good value. Pour with pan-seared fish or grilled sea food. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: March 5, 2016

• When down Niagara way, the Restaurant at Peninsula Ridge, 5800 King Street West, Beamsville, Ontario was just named one of the top 100 Restaurants in Canada by OpenTable diners. Reserve here. Enjoy the meal and the following wine.

   
Peninsula Ridge ‘Barrel Aged’ Chardonnay 2014
VQA Beamsville Bench $15.95 (211490) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of baking spice, caramel and nutty notes open this medium-bodied, nicely textured beauty. It washes over the palate with apple and pear robed in a solid line of mouth-watering lemony tang and spicy oak on the palate, persisting through the delightful finish and aftertaste. This punches well above the price; stock up while you can. (Vic Harradine)