Info Cellar

Top Ontario Restaurants To Order Wine & Food From Right Now

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021May 1, 2020

Although we can’t physically dine at Ontario restaurants during COVID-19, we can still do our part to support them by continuing to order food and wine online.

While all industries are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant and hospitality industry certainly has been one of the hardest hit since the beginning of this crisis. According to the latest news reports, social distancing restrictions in Ontario will be effect until potentially halfway through the summer season. Yet, there is still uncertainty as to how and when measures will be loosened. As the isolation period rolls by, a number of restaurants in cities like Toronto and …

What is the Best Closure, Cork or Screw Cap?

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021April 28, 2020

What is the Best Closure, Cork or Screw Cap? We were recently part of an interesting experiment in our office. With considerable foresight, two New Zealand producers had bottled their 2002 Sauvignon Blanc under both cork and screwcap and tucked them away in the cellar. Eighteen years later we were able to see what the impact of these two closures was on the wines. Which was the better closure, cork or screwcap? Certainly, the wines were very different. The ones …

Wine in Vienna – A Streetcar to the Vineyard

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles 2 Comments January 28, 2021April 24, 2020

Wine in Vienna – A Streetcar to the Vineyard We were lucky enough to be in Austria for an extended weekend last September to explore wine in Vienna. On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, we decided to visit our friend, winemaker Alex Zahel at his winery in the 19th district. From our Airbnb in the center, we hopped on the streetcar and rode through the city for 30 minutes. As easy as that, we were at the winery, ready to …

Lambrusco, the Misunderstood Red Sparkling

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Styles January 13, 2023April 19, 2020

One of my favorite memories of drinking Lambrusco happened many years ago during Vinitaly. After a busy morning of tasting Brunellos and Proseccos, we left the show early and headed for lunch on a sunny patio in Verona’s centro storico. As plates of culatello (cured ham from Parma) and bottles of chilled, frothy Lambrusco kept flowing, I thought to myself “can it get any better?” Needless to say, I was hooked on this refreshing, earthy sparkling wine. This article will …

What Makes Napa Valley So Special?

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment August 13, 2021April 9, 2020

What Makes Napa Valley So Special Sunshine, warmth, elegance, and opulence. These are words that come to mind when describing Napa Valley, what many consider to be one of the world’s greatest wine producing regions. What makes Napa so unique? Location, climate and terroir: mountains, benchlands and valley floors, diurnal temperature swings, fog and marine air flow, over 100 types of soil… these features and more combine make this the special place that it is. Relatively small in size, Napa …

A How-To Guide To Decanting Wine

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021April 3, 2020

Decanting wine is a great way to open up a wine to its full potential and elevate the overall tasting experience. With the right tips, this is a process you can do easily from your own home.

All wine connoisseurs will have heard of the term ‘decant’ and it is not unusual to see a sommelier in a fine dining restaurant decanting a bottle of wine before serving to a table. However, many are still unaware as to what this process is or why it is carried out. Below, we walk you through a how-to guide to decanting wine. Wine Decanting: What Is This Process? Simply, the process of decanting wine is the act of slowly transferring …

Why You Should Consider Ordering From A Wine Agent Online

Peter Wearing Featured June 15, 2021April 3, 2020

Purchasing from a wine agent online often means that you can get access to an extensive selection of international wines that generally aren’t available in the LCBO or grocery stores.

Looking To Buy Wine Online? Purchasing wine online is becoming very popular among many in Ontario. We are pleased that we are recommended on Flower Delivery Reviews as one of the top 8 sources for buying wine in Toronto. If you are looking for new options to purchase wine by the case, using an online wine agent can be a great choice for you. While a lot of you may be more familiar with buying wine from a specialized …

Natural Wine: What Is It?

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Styles Leave a comment January 28, 2021April 2, 2020

When you shop for a bottle of wine you may not always think to check whether it is natural or not. But knowing the parameters might help you make better choices.

Natural wine isn’t a new concept. In fact, it has been around for thousands of years. It is only recently that this phenomenon has become trendy and passionately followed by many restaurateurs and wine aficionados. This movement is thought to have begun in rural France where a community of winemakers chose to farm organically. In the last few years, producers of natural wines have become more visible in other parts of the world and this movement has gone from a …

The Best California Wine Regions To Add To Your Travel List

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment June 7, 2021March 13, 2020

Vineyards in California wine regions are a sight to be seen and an experience to be savoured.

California: The Home Of Sunshine & Decadent Wine California – home of the Sunshine State, legendary beaches, exceptional national parks and some of the best American wine available on the market. When it comes to describing this U.S state, most individuals would usually say that the words relaxed and easy-going immediately come to mind. While the lifestyle in California certainly encourages you to enjoy a slower, appreciative pace there is one thing that they take very seriously: winemaking. If you …

BOULUD SUD POP UP

Peter Wearing Featured, News Leave a comment April 20, 2021February 28, 2020

BOULUD SUD POP UP Enjoy a vibrant celebration of the sun and sea at Café Boulud’s first-ever Boulud Sud Pop Up. Join Daniel Boulud and Nicholas Trosien as they create dishes inspired by the coastal Mediterranean. Dinner includes wine pairings by Sommelier Julie Garton, featuring The Small Winemakers Collection. For reservations, please call 416-963-6005 Thursday, March 12, 20206:30pm reception | 7pm DinnerFive-course menu with wine pairings $185 per person, excluding tax & gratuity