A visit to Megalomaniac Wines in Niagara.

Fine wines, beautiful winery, great venue. Updated October 15, 2023 This article also appears on my consulting website. Speaking of consulting, I do branding makeovers and offer my services as a writer/blogger and content creation resource. MORE HERE … I remember when John Howard first started out in the wine business. He launched and grew

Icewine alternatives. How sweet!

Icewine is a great dessert wine or apéritif. Here are some alternatives … SAUTERNES and TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE As you know, icewine is made from grapes that have hung on vine far beyond normal harvest time and have become very dry (and frozen). Other Dessert Wines A similar type of wine, that also shares the characteristic of

Bella Terra Red.

An endearing red blend from Bella Terra’s own estate vineyards. PondView Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake has recently changed its  name to Bella Terra Vineyards. The 2018 vintage of Bella Terra Red is a blend of the three main red varietals that grow in their vineyards: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This lovely medium-bodied red

Wine 101 – Part 2

Back to “Part 1” Part Two … (the rest of the world’s top wine regions) Wine Regions of Italy, Spain, the U.S., and more Having covered the regions of France in Wine 101 Part 1, this second section now covers additional exciting wine regions to round out your growing wine experience. Look up the regions, check them

Wine 101

A Quick Guide and Introduction to Wine. Wine might seem a bit daunting at first. We can help you with that. Enjoy the process.  We’ll take it one step at a time. Step One: WINE REGIONS A good way to learn about wine is to learn about wine regions. I’ve included special wine regions here, ones that gave birth

Sablet. A sensuous Southern Rhone wine from one of the most romantic villages in France.

The vineyards of Sablet, in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, are built on a mound of sand, from which its name derives. The town and its surrounding vineyards are located at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The terroir is of sandy soils and decalcified red clays mixed with pebbles of

Rabl Grüner Veltliner always a winner every time I have it. This Austrian varietal a best-kept-secret among white wines!

Rabl Grüner Veltliner Spiegel from Kamptal. Fresh, crisp, and luscious. Great mouth-feel. Astounding bouquet. I highly recommend any good Austrian Grüner Veltliner. And this is one of the best in the affordable to mid-price range. Rabl’s vineyard management mission is that only the best grapes make high quality wines. They use meticulous foliage treatment to ensure this. Tasting

Off to Wine Country in a Mercedes sport coupe

I contributed this article to the summer issue of Mercedes-Benz Club Canada‘s magazine. This is a reprint. I’m dreaming! Dreaming of hopping into a gleaming white sport Coupe, with a few ponies under the hood, tooling through south of France wine country. In my fantasy, I’m negotiating winding roads through the dazzling countryside along the

Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc and Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot The most famous trio of Bordeaux red wine varietals. Originally from the iconic wine region of Bordeaux, the three have arguably become the most famous red wines around the world. As a blend, either from the original region or elsewhere, these 3 exude robust, bold aromas and tasting notes,

Sauvignon Blanc – the white wine

Sauvignon Blanc   (classic tasting notes of cut grass, lemon, herbs and a hint of gooseberry)   Sauvignon Blanc is a popular alternative to Chardonnay. It makes a crisp, light wine. It originated in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Tasting Notes: Herbal flavors, olive and a soft, smoky flavor. It can range from sweet to