Welcome to the fifth edition of VineRoutes’ 50 Standout Canadian Wines—our annual coast-to-coast celebration of the country’s most compelling bottles and the people who craft them. From the rugged coastlines of Vancouver Island and the slopes of the Okanagan, to the limestone-laced vineyards of Ontario, the rising stars of Quebec, and the maritime expressions of Nova Scotia, this year’s list once again captures the spirit, diversity and upward momentum of Canadian winemaking.
Across 2025, our editorial team tasted hundreds of wines from every major region in the country. Principal Editor Carmelo Giardina, Contributing Editors Leah Spooner and Kate Dingwall, and Eastern Canada Regional Editor Alana Lapierre collaborated to handpick the 50 bottles that rose above—wines that impressed not just for their quality, but for their character, their sense of place, and their ability to tell a meaningful story about where Canadian wine is headed. (Click here to read Leah Spooner’s column on why Canadian wine stands out.)
Sign up for our VineRoutes Newsletter to find out what our ‘Most Outstanding White and Red Wines’ are for 2025 – announcement dates are December 29th and 30th respectively.
As always, this collection is not a ranked list. Instead, the wines appear in random order, reflecting the breadth of excellence rather than any hierarchy. Some bottlings are small-lot and may be harder to find, but accessibility has never been the purpose of this list. This is not simply a shopping guide, rather, it’s a snapshot of the producers and regions inspiring us right now.
Here’s to the bottles that shaped our year!
Stone Eagle 2022 ‘Eagle Eye’ White
Tasted during the winery’s grand media opening, this sauvignon blanc–sémillon blend is a study in precision and proportion. Each variety is barrel-fermented and aged on lees for 10 months, creating a supple, rounded texture that complements its bright aromatics. Notes of ripe pear, lemon, and orchard blossom mingle with faint tropical tones and herbal lift. On the palate, it’s layered and expressive, balancing vibrancy with weight. Its mineral-driven finish and overall refined complexity speak to its premium-level craftsmanship. – Carmelo Giardina
Bachelder 2023 ‘Bai Xu’ Gamay Noir
Since tasting, this gamay noir has stayed on my mind (and found its way into my cellar). Sourced from old vines planted in 1981 and made with 30% whole cluster, it reflects the slightly warmer Four Mile Creek sub-appellation, giving the wine a deeper, more powerful register. Forget any ideas of lightheaded gamays—this one has torque in the best way possible, with a ton of finesse and elegance to round it out. It’s dark-fruited and compelling, with deep, dark cherries and berries, and this gorgeous note of Marcona almonds (my favourite). The structure is vibrant and refined, with lift, freshness, and a long, sleek finish. I would drink it every day if I thought that were a decent thing to do (is it?). A beauty. – Alana Lapierre
Kacaba 2023 Reserve Riesling
A sustainably grown, vegan-friendly Riesling from the Sustainable Premium Series of Kacaba. The grapes for this wine receive extra hang time, harvested at the beginning of November, to enhance flavour concentration. Lemon-lime and honey overlay pear and candy-apple notes. A vivacious mineral core expands to all edges of the palate with bursts of ripe acidity zapping a high-tempo pulse of brilliance in every sip. This Ontario riesling is energetic and wonderfully balanced. Excellent finish. Drink now or cellar until 2030. – Leah Spooner
Blomidon 2022 Reserve Chardonnay
Let’s hear it for Nova Scotia! I don’t often search for Nova Scotia wines (nor are they widely available near where I live in Ontario) but I was blown away by Blomidon’s East Coast Chardonnay. It’s fresh, balanced, and bursting with lemon-lime aromatics and a generous palate of white peach and hazelnut shaped by a streak of sea spray minerality. – Kate Dingwall
The Grange of Prince Edward 2023 ‘Aurelia Series’ Cabernet Franc
Tasted at the winery this November, this is a striking reminder of just how compelling Prince Edward County cab franc can be when put in the right hands. Aromas of wild raspberry, dried herbs and subtle violet lead into a palate that balances ripe red fruit with a firm, chalky minerality – an unmistakable signature of the county’s limestone soils. The tannins are fine yet purposeful, giving the wine both lift and structure, while a lingering savoury note adds complexity. It’s a vibrant, beautifully composed expression that underscores The Grange’s exciting momentum. – Carmelo Giardina
Domaine du Nival 2023 Les Entêtés
The Québec red that I would reach for weekly if I had a never-ending supply of it. Depth, precision, freshness, and vibrant fruit with just enough spice to give it edge. Aromas of wild strawberries and a touch of cranberry, layered with wet leaves, black pepper, and cinnamon. On the palate, it’s both fruit- and savoury-driven, carried by a bright, Nordic acidity. Silky tannins give it shape, and the finish is long, clean, and spiced. From Matthieu Beauchemin’s south-east facing hillside overlooking the Yamaska River, a small portion of whole clusters adds lift, with native ferments and neutral oak. Bottled without fining or filtration. A perfect example of what Québec pinot noir can taste like — fresh, precise, and very more’ish. – Alana Lapierre
Black Bank Hill 2023 Runway Rosé
From grape to bottle, this rosé, that’s comprised of 94% cabernet franc and 6% cabernet sauvignon, comes from the Black Bank Hill estate vineyards within the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula. A 48-hour skin-maceration paints a ruby-light-trap display that is enough to widen one’s eyes on colour alone. This wine offers exactly what you would expect – zingy cherry and white cranberry, touched with whispers of savoury dried herbs and white pepper. It boasts depth and an energetic edge straight through to the finish. A perfect pairing for a herb-crusted pork roast. Drink now. – Leah Spooner
CheckMate 2022 ‘Fool’s Mate’ Chardonnay
The 2022 Fool’s Mate continues CheckMate’s signature ability to craft chardonnay with both precision and quiet power. Sourced from select vineyards across the Okanagan Valley, this vintage feels especially seamless—an interplay of ripe Okanagan stone fruit, Meyer lemon, subtle spice and that unmistakable CheckMate elegance. The palate is layered and textural, carrying a gentle creaminess tempered by vibrant acidity and a refined mineral edge. There’s a sophistication here that echoes the winery’s top-tier bottlings, but with a more immediate, welcoming charm. Long, lifted, and beautifully composed, Fool’s Mate once again proves why CheckMate remains a benchmark for modern Canadian chardonnay. – Carmelo Giardina
Pearl Morissette 2024 ‘Roselana’
Roselana is a wine that asks more questions than it answers, and the 2024 is its most compelling paradox yet — a rosé by definition, but one that pulls you into an inverted world of depth and shadow, leaving you slightly breathless when you finally surface. It’s my favourite vintage of this wine to date. A seductress wrapped in leather and lace, layered with deep, dark, mysterious fruit. Polarizing and idiosyncratic, yes — but if you love her, you’ll fall hard. 57% pinot noir, 24% Lemberger, and 19% gamay. Precise, biting, and deeply layered, with aromas and flavours of ripe fruit, tobacco, black pepper, and spice — defined as much by what it withholds as what it reveals. Everything is held together by damask-fine tannins and a finish that lingers. Hand-harvested and fully destemmed, the fruit spent five days on skins in oak and concrete, then moved entirely to concrete through fermentation and eight weeks’ rest before bottling unfined and unfiltered. She’s all depth, darkness, and intrigue. – Alana Lapierre
Westcott 2020 ‘Brilliant’
A gorgeous assemblage from a terrific vintage made up of 45% pinot noir, 45% chardonnay and 10% pinot meunier from the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation. The traditional method sparkling sees 42 months of lees aging that contributes to the exceptional textural depth of the palate. A delectable chalky mouthfeel, with notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, and gala apple encased in minerality and energetic acidity. Flavours of toast and almond complement an endless stream of spirited bubbles through a long finish. A wonderful, terroir-inspired work of art by winemaker Casey Kulczyk. – Leah Spooner
Cave Spring 2023 ‘Adam Steps’ Riesling
A wine that instantly transports me back to that unforgettable i4C weekend hike along the Niagara Escarpment (check reference here), the 2023 ‘Adam Steps’ Riesling is as pure and expressive as the site itself. Lime zest, green apple and stony minerality drive a taut, electric palate, lifted by shimmering acidity. It’s vibrant, precise, and unquestionably one of Canada’s standout Rieslings of the year. – CG
Geneviève Thisdel 2024 Rosé
This is the kind of rosé I want on the table from apéro straight through dessert — it has both brightness and backbone. Made from 100% pinot noir, it’s lifted, elegant, clean, and precise. The nose opens with raspberries, watermelon, and wild berries; the palate follows with the same fruit profile and a light touch of pink peppercorn that gives the wine shape. This cuvée comes from En Roue libre, the personal project of Geneviève Thisdel — also the vineyard manager at Les Bacchantes — where she crafts her own wines from estate fruit, relying on indigenous ferments and minimal intervention. The result is a rosé that balances freshness, presence, and complexity. Dry, structured, and (almost too) easy to drink. – AL
Rosehall Run 2022 ‘JCR’ Chardonnay
A beautiful expression of Prince Edward County chardonnay crafted by winemakers Dan Sullivan and Lee Baker. This wine sees a 20-month oak aging in 500L French oak puncheons, 40% new oak. Elegant, with fresh bread, baked apple and pear aromas and flavours. Honey comes in on the palate with warm touches of oak that gently hug the fruit. Seamlessly balanced with invigorating acidity and notable county mineral essence that keeps everything on an even keel. Long finish. – LS
Road 13 2021 ‘John Oliver Collection’ Cabernet Sauvignon
A polished, modern expression of South Okanagan cabernet sauvignon. Concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry compote, cedar and baking spice set the tone, while the palate impresses with its combination of power and refinement. Ripe tannins frame the fruit without heaviness, and a subtle graphite note adds a sense of elegance and precision. Though youthful, the wine already shows impressive poise, finishing long with hints of dark chocolate and sagebrush. A confident, age-worthy release that reflects the region’s continued rise in crafting world-class cabernet. – CG
Sempre Mio 2023 ‘Primo Mio’ Chardonnay
Tasted first at an event in Jordan Station this summer — and later again at home — this single-barrel expression from Corey Mio’s namesake vineyard, has been living rent-free in my head ever since. A first vintage for Corey, its depth, generosity, and pinpoint balance thread a silky fine line between energy and elegance. ‘Primo Mio’ was selected from the core release for its uniqueness and completeness: the nose is polished with orchard fruit, subtle tropical notes, flinty lift and soft white pepper notes; on the palate it blends silky texture with taut mineral drive, vibrant acidity and a finish that lingers in the most graceful way. This is a wine that walks a beautiful line between something slightly irreverent and cool and a core of serious structure and precision. A producer to watch. – AL
Leaning Post 2021 Gamay
This is an unfiltered, 100% gamay from the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake that sees seven months in neutral French oak. Fresh, ripe raspberries and red cherry aromas introduce a palate that is light and feels somewhat ethereal. Dried flower petals are etched down a line of cranberry and raspberry, with a waterfall of bright, refreshing acids. Subtle earth and beet notes balance nicely with the intense red fruit that is at the forefront of a persistent finish. – LS
CedarCreek 2022 ‘Platinum’ Pinot Noir
A compelling snapshot of North Okanagan elegance. Bright wild strawberry and pomegranate aromas mingle with rose petal, dried thyme and gentle oak. The palate is beautifully textured—silky, subtle, and lit from within by a vibrant core of acidity that keeps everything finely tuned. Red fruit purity shines throughout, grounded by earthy undertones and delicate tannins that provide just enough structure. It’s a graceful, energetic pinot that speaks confidently to the winery’s regenerative farming approach. – CG
Lightfoot & Wolfville 2022 ‘Ancienne Wild Fermented’ Pinot Noir
From Lightfoot & Wolfville’s organic and biodynamic estate ‘Oak Island Vineyard’ in Avonport, Nova Scotia, the 2022 Ancienne Pinot Noir is hand-harvested, hand-sorted, wild-fermented (20% whole cluster), and aged 21 months in mostly used French oak. In the glass, it’s bright ruby; on the nose, a field of wild berries and Turkish Delight. But it’s on the palate that it blew me away. 2022 was a warm vintage, and this wine has rich fruit, spice, and tobacco — it’s moody in a beautifully structured way. It has a kiss of Nova Scotia sea salt air, velvety soft tannins, and a long, layered finish. Bright, cool-climate pinot noir mingling with depth in all the right ways. Elegant, complex, and gorgeous. – AL
Dobbin Estate 2022 Estate Pinot Noir
I first tasted this wine out of barrel in the summer of 2024, and it left a lasting impression even at that early stage. There’s an almost volcanic energy to it, beginning on the nose with flint and crushed stone before darker cherry and subtle savoury notes emerge. On the palate, a distinctly granular texture adds tension and grip, making the wine both serious and engaging. Red and dark berry fruit are framed by fine tannins and bright, well-judged acidity, allowing the wine to unfold slowly rather than rush forward. This is Pinot Noir with intent—precise, expressive, and clearly rooted in place, offering immediate intrigue and the structure to reward patience. – CG
Blomidon Estate NV Brut Reserve Méthode Traditionnelle
Tasted this past summer at i4C (International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration) 2025, the Blomidon Estate NV Brut Reserve blends estate chardonnay and pinot noir from the warm 2016, 2017, and 2018 vintages, brought together with finesse after four and a half years in tirage. Made with 90% chardonnay and 10% pinot noir, it opens with bright citrus, sweet white clover, and buttery scones on the nose. The palate is everything I love about Blomidon’s wines — layered and structured, both rich and crisp at once, with bright acidity and that clean, saline line Nova Scotia sparkling wines do so well. It’s generous yet nervy, classic in frame but modern in its clarity, and brilliantly versatile at the table. Tastes like a kiss touched with saltwater — a reminder of just how consistently Blomidon overdelivers. – AL
Stanners Vineyard 2023 ‘Devil’s Wishbone’ Cabernet Franc
Stanners continues to be one of Prince Edward County’s quiet overachievers, and their Cabernet Franc is a perfect reminder why. Delicately weighted yet full of aromatic nuance, it reveals lifted redcurrant, raspberry leaf, violet, and that unmistakable County graphite-mineral edge. The palate is bright, savoury and wonderfully textured, carried by fine-grained tannins and a cool-climate freshness that never wavers. There’s a beautiful purity here — nothing forced, nothing embellished — just honest farming and sensitive winemaking. A standout Franc (the best I tasted from a recent visit to the County) that captures PEC at its most expressive. – CG
Lieux Communs 2023 Vues
From Montreal’s urban winery Lieux Communs, Vues 2023 is a sparkling riesling with fruit sourced from Beamsville, Ontario. A pétillant naturel aged 10 months on lees, it opens with citrus, white flowers, and a touch of green tea on the nose. The palate is pure happiness in a glass: a medley of proper British builders’ tea with cream, jasmine green tea, and ginger tea. At once creamy and crisp, it carries real complexity and finishes with impressive length. In my notes, I wrote — and underlined — ambrosial, a word that felt right for this exceptionally compelling wine. Lieux Communs works with vineyards and small farms across Quebec and Ontario and also tends its own regeneratively farmed vines in Oka, grounding this cuvée in a larger ethos. Pure, interesting, and delicious. – AL
Flat Rock Cellars 2020 ‘Hexa’ Pinot Noir
This certified sustainable pinot noir comes from the 17th Street Block of the Flat Rock Vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation. An abundance of charming aromas is effortlessly elevated from the glass giving preview to a balanced and layered profile. Power and brilliance through the palate with no abandonment of elegance and cool climate vibrance. Dark, earthy, iron-like elements and stewed fruit on suede-like tannins lay groundwork for gentle, sour cherry and raspberry inflections. All flavours continue long after the last sip. – LS
Mission Hill 2020 ‘Quatrain’
First tasted in April and then again in early December, this 2020 Quatrain has to be one of Mission Hill’s most memorable renditions of this syrah-merlot-cabernet franc-cabernet sauvignon blend. Concentrated notes of black plum, blueberry and cassis meet hints of olive tapenade, violets and warm spice. The palate is plush yet disciplined, with polished tannins and a measured richness that never overwhelms. Layers unfold slowly—dark fruit, savoury herbs, cocoa, graphite—leading to a long, composed finish. This is a wine that balances power with precision, reflecting both the strength of the vintage and Mission Hill’s continued refinement of its ‘Legacy Series’ offerings. – CG
Last House Vineyard 2023 Hillier Blanc ‘Block 130 Reserve’
The 2023 Hillier Blanc ‘Block 130 Reserve’ from Last House Vineyard, a small-batch Prince Edward County winery on the shores of Lake Ontario, where shallow clay loam meets limestone bedrock, is made from estate-grown chardonnay aged in what winemaker André Gagné considers a standout barrel (and I’d have to agree, given its place on this list). Organic-leaning, hand-tended farming with minimal-intervention winemaking built on wild ferments and purity of fruit. A delicious and more’ish combination of orchard fruit, crushed shell minerality, and limestone-driven saline energy. It’s elegant and disciplined, with a long and sleek finish. I adore when a wine manages to be cerebral and pure pleasure at once and this one nails both: it’s crystalline, precise and effortlessly drinkable: cool-climate chardonnay at its best. – AL
Two Sisters Vineyards 2020 Eleventh Post
Hailing from the optimal 2020 vintage comes this Niagara River sub-appellation blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc. The wine sees 30 months of elevage in 70% French oak and 30% American oak, with only 15% new. Attractive notes of blueberries, minerality and soft oak drive the aromas, while the palate reveals balanced dark fruit with savoury earth nuances integrated with juicy acidity and polished tannins. Tobacco and fresh cocoa add even more complexity towards a flavourful, persistent finish. – LS
Karlo Estates 2022 ‘Triumvirate’
Karlo’s flagship red blend has always been about harmony, and the 2022 Triumvirate may be one of its most complete editions yet. Ripe black cherry, plum, cigar box and warming spice meet a core of dark chocolate and dried herbs. What impresses most is the structure: firm but velvety tannins frame the fruit without overwhelming it, giving the wine both presence and poise. The finish is long, savoury and subtly smoky. Rich, polished and cellar-worthy, this is Triumvirate in top form. – CG
Hidden Bench 2023 Chardonnay Béton
Made from 100% organic, estate-grown chardonnay, the 2023 Béton is fermented and aged in concrete for 10 months with indigenous yeasts, followed by eight months in stainless steel — a combination that gives this wine an unmistakable energy and edge. I’ve recommended this wine more times than I can count — not just as a must-try Ontario chardonnay, but as a standout Canadian wine, full stop. The nose is pure and bright Meyer lemon (my favourite), apples, maybe even a few pineberries, with a touch of flint. The palate follows with citrus zest, Asian pears, and — unsurprisingly — a nuanced concrete stoniness that speaks directly to its élevage. It’s bright and textured and screams for a second sip — or, more likely, a second glass. – AL
13th Street Rose Brut NV
This local bubbly is elegant, mineral-driven, and off-dry. The 95% chardonnay and 5% pinot noir is blended perfectly for a pale blush colour that looks just as pretty as it tastes. Balance is the key here with bright acidity and charming Niagara minerality providing a structural frame to compliment sweet strawberry and light bready notes, guaranteeing a first sip swoon! – LS
Quails’ Gate 2022 ‘Stewart Family Reserve’ Chardonnay
A benchmark Okanagan expression that’s generous, finely sculpted and unmistakably Quails’ Gate. Aromas of lemon curd, white peach, baked apple and toasted hazelnut rise from the glass, supported by subtle flinty tension. On the palate, richness and vibrancy mingle effortlessly: creamy texture lifted by bright acidity and a mineral thread that pulls everything into focus. The oak is seamlessly integrated, adding depth without overshadowing the fruit. Long, elegant and quietly powerful, this is a standout Canadian chardonnay with both immediate appeal and long-term potential. – CG
Vignoble l’Ardennais 2024 Tørst
I had this on my list last year, and it’s back again for a reason: this is my feel-good, makes-me-happy wine. Not every bottle has to be cerebral, and this one embraces exactly that spirit. The 2024 Tørst is a fresh, fruit-forward red wine made from a blend of Chancellor and Frontenac Noir, two hybrid grape varieties well-suited to Quebec’s cooler climate. Direct press, aged in tank, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s the red that drinks like a rosé — juicy, fresh, and crunchy in the best way. With notes of raspberries, cherries, wild strawberries, and violet on the nose and the palate, along with an underlayer of darker fruit, it balances freshness, vibrant acidity, and structure, with a lively finish. The name Tørst (meaning “thirst” in Norwegian) reflects its refreshing, light, easy-drinking personality. Consistently one of my favourite Quebec wines year after year — and one I buy by the case and always keep chilled on hand. – AL
Leaning Post 2020 ‘Grimsby Hillside’ Cabernet Franc
This is a captivating example of what this unique escarpment site can offer in a warm vintage. The nose opens with dark cherry, blackberry, roasted red pepper and earthy spice, layered over a quiet but persistent floral lift. The palate is supple yet structured, with fine-grained tannins carrying waves of ripe fruit, graphite and dried herb. There’s both density and freshness here, sort of a rare duality that winemaker Ilya Senchuk has teased from this vineyard. Long, savoury and beautifully composed, it’s one of the Niagara Peninsula’s standout Francs. – CG
Benjamin Bridge 2018 Brut Reserve
Sourced from the winery’s top-performing parcels, hand-harvested and gently pressed to preserve purity, then blended with meticulous care and aged on lees for over five years, this vintage is rooted in a year of severe adversity. The historic early-June frost of 2018 wiped out roughly three-quarters of Nova Scotia’s crop, yet a handful of elevated, maritime-influenced parcels survived—forming the small, focused base of this cuvée. Winemaker Jean-Benoit Deslauriers described this wine as “nothing short of a survival wine.” The reserve nature of this cuvée comes from blending only their highest quality, overachiever barrels, adding complexity and depth to its 87% chardonnay and 13% pinot noir composition. On the nose, toasted brioche meets bright citrus; the palate mirrors that with subtle butter pastry richness, sweet lemon, and fine structure from the pinot noir. Perfect balance of freshness, richness, and minerality. Lingering and refined—it’s a standout in Canadian sparkling wines year after year. – AL
Rosewood Charmat NV
Opening with pear drop and golden apple aromas, this Charmat method sparkling wine offers biscuit, lemon candy, honey on a creamy, mineral palate with a delicate mousse. The solera method, a style you rarely see in Canada, has created a wine that is so savoury and complex; it really showcases what Rosewood does best – cool wines crafted with quality. – LS
Stone Eagle 2020 Red Label
From the newest winery in Niagara, this is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (40%), merlot (39%), and cabernet franc (21%), this vintage embodies the estate’s vision for balance and structure. As winemaker Adam Pearce says, “(the wine) makes itself based on the year. Sometimes this is merlot dominant, while other times it can see mostly cabernet franc. The idea is to make a consistent wine.” Deeply coloured and concentrated, it opens with aromas of blackberry, cassis, leather, and toasted spice. The palate follows with layers of black fruit, dried herbs, and subtle oak integration — bold, yet seamlessly composed. A generous mid-palate and long, savoury finish. Originally crafted as the premium focused wine of the Two Sisters Vineyards brand (since 2012), this is undoubtedly the defining wine for this new estate and a benchmark for Niagara’s ability to produce world-class Bordeaux-style blends. – CG
Stoss Lee 2023 ‘Only the Lonely’
This prismatic, low-intervention wine blurs the line between light red, rosé, and lightly skin-macerated white, and while that could be confusing, it’s really just bright, pure, unadulterated joy. Made from 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay with a five-day maceration, it’s barrel-fermented and aged 12 months in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts, low sulfur, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Red fruit leads on the nose — cherries galore — with more of the same on the palate, plus a bit of pie dough and the faintest prickle of fizz on the tongue. It’s a conversation starter and an easy bottle to finish. Fresh but never simple, with fine, lightly gripping tannins, and a crisp, persistent finish — all of it coming together in effortless harmony. Different, delicious, and a wine I’ll be stocking in multiples. – AL
The Grange of Prince Edward 2023 ‘Aurelia Series’ Chardonnay
This chardonnay reaffirms The Grange’s upward momentum, showcasing a refined, modern County expression. Lemon curd, green apple and white peach glide alongside subtle brioche, wet stone and a delicate saline thread. The oak is gently integrated, adding texture without overshadowing the fruit. What stands out is the wine’s precision — a clean, linear palate framed by bright acidity and a mineral-driven finish that feels almost coastal. Elegant, understated and quietly confident, this chardonnay is a highlight among the estate’s recent releases. – CG
Les Cuvées de Véronique 2024 Supernova
Working from an experimental plot of hybrid grape varieties at Vignoble de la Bauge with a small, all-female team, Véronique Lemieux punches well above her first-vintage weight. Supernova, a perlant wine—lightly effervescent from natural CO₂—made from Crimson Pearl is the bottle I poured for guests on New Year’s Eve to ring in 2025, and it set the tone: a bright, festive, flirty wine with a blend of hip energy and real structure. In the glass, it shows cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry with a hint of peppery spice on the nose. The palate mirrors that brightness with juicy red fruit, clean acidity, and perlant sparkle. Like its namesake — a star’s last flash — it’s bright, electric, and more serious than it lets on. A name to watch. – AL
Westcott Vineyards 2021 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir
A pure, rustic expression of Ontario pinot noir from one of the province’s best producers of the grape. A 22-month long élevage in neutral French oak follows wild fermentation that ultimately delivers honest and wildly seductive notes of red cherry, ripe raspberries and fall leaves. Fine tannins and a masterstroke of tension coupled with bright acidity brings undeniable energy and promises of a silk-infused love story in the glass. – LS
Karlo Estates ‘Van Alstine’ Red
A perennial favourite and one of Prince Edward County’s most dependable fortified-style reds, this remains a head-turner. The latest release is lush and deeply satisfying, opening with blackberry compote, cherry liqueur, cocoa and baking spices. Sweetness is beautifully counterbalanced by vibrant acidity, keeping the wine lively rather than heavy. Layered, velvety and luxurious, it’s the kind of after-dinner pour that instantly elevates the evening — comforting yet sophisticated, with a finish that lingers on warm spice and dark fruit. A true PEC original that continues to overdeliver. – CG
Bachelder 2022 ‘Wild West End’ Pinot Noir
His 2021 made my list last year; the 2022 left no doubt this year. Tasted at a memorable (aren’t they all) Bat Cave tasting with Thomas and Mary, this wine comes from the far western edge of the Wismer-Parke Vineyard on Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench, a site that showcases Thomas Bachelder’s grasp of terroir. Clay and limestone soils lend structure and mineral tension, while a challenging but rewarding 2022 vintage — marked by low yields — delivered purity, freshness, and vibrant fruit. In the margins of my notes, I wrote ‘tiny, jewel-box perfect’. On the nose, dark red wild fruit, pressed violets, and warm spice; on the palate, pure Bachelder — elegant, silky, precise, balanced, with a stunning, lingering finish. As Thomas puts it, “We onlookers are privileged to discover and rediscover the depth and yet forwardness of this amazing bit of the Vineland Bench – planted to a ‘Mystery Clone’ of pinot noir whose identity is lost in the mists of time.” Yes, Thomas — and this onlooker feels privileged to drink it. A benchmark expression of Niagara cool-climate pinot noir. – AL
Soren 2022 Boundary Spring (Red Blend)
Boundary Spring captures the Similkameen Valley at its most compelling. Cabernet sauvignon leads the blend, supported by classic Bordeaux varieties and a subtle splash of syrah, grown on a warm, west-facing site framed by heat-retaining granite cliffs near the U.S. border. The nose opens with ripe cassis, wild blackberry and desert sage, followed by a distinctly dusty, mineral edge. On the palate, it’s plush yet focused, with polished tannins, peppery lift and freshness that speaks to the balanced 2022 vintage. “Our goal is deliciousness,” says Geoffrey Moss MW, co-founder of the brand (along with Ryan McKibbon)—and this wine delivers now, while promising graceful evolution over the next decade. – CG
Liebling Wines 2023 ‘Oppenlaender Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc
My surprise hit this year. From the small vineyard the Oppenlaender family calls home, this 2023 cabernet franc is medium-bodied and hits every note I adore in the variety: bright red fruit (raspberries and cherries), a touch of tartness, a thread of smoke, and those perfect peppery edges that make cabernet franc such a favourite of mine. The grapes were lightly crushed and fermented in bins for three weeks on skins and seeds, then aged for 20 months in French oak (three seasoned barrels and one new) before blending and bottling. The palate follows through with more red fruit, the variety’s signature vegetal notes held in perfect balance, integrated tannins, and a long, elegant finish. – AL
Domaine Le Clos Jordanne 2023 ‘Clos de Kew’ Chardonnay
A standout expression, combining Burgundy-inspired finesse with unmistakable regional identity. The wine opens with citrus zest, white peach and subtle orchard blossom, followed by hints of flint and salted almond. On the palate, it’s beautifully balanced, rich and textural yet lifted by bright acidity and a crystalline mineral thread. Layers of ripe fruit, gentle creaminess and finely integrated oak give way to a long, focused finish. This is an elegant, ageworthy chardonnay that captures its place with thoughtful poise. – CG
Divergence Wines 2020 Blanc de Blancs Hughes Vineyard
Another i4C discovery, this 100% chardonnay — hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed — finds a beautiful balance of richness and finesse, creaminess and acidity. Aged for six months on lees followed by 42 months in bottle to build complexity, it’s chock full of layers that are undressed with each sip. Lemon and spring orchard fruit lead the nose and palate, with more orchard fruit carrying through, just enough stoniness to add depth, and an ever-so-slight echo of salted biscuits. It’s fresh, balanced, and textural, with a long, layered finish. Gorgeous now, though it could easily be cellared should you have the patience to do so. – AL
Mason Vineyard 2023 ‘The Matriarch’ Pinot Noir
There’s an unmistakable earth-driven character to this pinot that has always drawn me in, and the 2023 vintage delivers that signature in spades. The nose is layered and expressive, offering dark cherry, savoury spice, forest floor and subtle dried herb notes that continue to evolve in the glass. On the palate, the wine is equally compelling—complex, finely textured and beautifully balanced—where ripe fruit meets earthy depth and a gentle mineral thread. It’s a pinot noir that rewards patience and attention, offering nuance over power and proving, once again, why this wine remains such a consistent stunner year after year. – CG
Pearl Morissette 2020 ‘Ressac’ Cabernet Franc
My love for Pearl Morissette’s dimensional wines is not a well-kept secret, and this year the 2020 Ressac kept percolating to the surface of my mind when considering this list. Mysterious, brooding, and dark, it’s the kind of wine that shapeshifts into layers the longer it airs — all mystery unfolding. Dark fruit, exotic spice, heady perfume, and warm Tellicherry pepper run through both the nose and palate. Made with 100% cabernet franc from Redfoot Vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore appellation, it’s fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in old foudres (70%) and concrete (30%) without any racking for 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. It tastes like reading a Victorian erotic mystery in front of a fireplace — all velvet layers wrapped in heavy silk and gorgeously held together with a leather corset. Built to age, if patience allows, yet already impeccable. – AL
Dobbin Estate 2021 Estate Chardonnay
This was more of a sneak peek during an early fall visit, but it left a lasting impression—and the timing now feels just right as the wine approaches release. The 2021 Estate Chardonnay is beautifully focused and restrained, opening with a striking flinty character before revealing a subtle caramel note as it settles in the glass. Bruised apple, gentle citrus oil and a creamy mid-palate round out the profile. Made from 100% organically farmed estate fruit, wild fermented, aged 18 months on lees with full malolactic fermentation in second-fill French oak, this is a thoughtful, elegant chardonnay that speaks clearly to both place and intent. – CG
Vignoble de la Bauge 2024 Régénération
Régénération is the latest cuvée from Vignoble de la Bauge, the first vineyard in Canada to be certified in regenerative viticulture. A natural white made from Frontenac Blanc, LaCrescent, and Gewurztraminer, it’s fermented spontaneously and bottled by gravity, unfined and unfiltered, to let its Nordic terroir shine. Frontenac Blanc is pressed directly; LaCrescent and Gewurztraminer see skin-contact fermentation before the blend rests eight months in stainless steel. In the glass, it’s bright and energetic — citrus, orchard fruit, a touch of florals — with a texture that is both creamy and lively. On the palate, it’s crisp and tonic, with that same bright orchard-fruit energy carrying through. Fresh, vibrant, and almost impossible not to drink quickly. – AL
Domaine Le Clos Jordanne 2022 ‘Le Voyage Series’ Beurot
Beurot (the Burgundian word for pinot gris) is rarely treated with this level of seriousness in Ontario, and Domaine Le Clos Jordanne’s Le Voyage Series offers a compelling argument for its potential. The wine opens with inviting aromatics of ripe pear, yellow apple and subtle stone fruit, layered with gentle floral notes and a faint almond-like richness. On the palate, it strikes a confident balance between texture and freshness; creamy and rounded through the mid-palate, yet kept focused by bright acidity and a light mineral edge. There’s a quiet Burgundian sensibility at play here, favouring nuance over overt power. Thoughtful, composed, and quietly expressive, this is a wine that rewards attention and pairs beautifully at the table. – CG
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