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John Szabo’s i4C Buyers’ Guide
Preview of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) by John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, Michael Godel and David Lawrason Following David’s round up of cool wines from around the world last week, this week we feature a preview of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration. “I4C” is the annual immersion into […] More
Thermenregion: Jewel of the Vienna Woods
By John Szabo MS It’s less than 45 minutes south by train from Vienna’s Central Rail Station to the town of Gumpoldskirchen in the heart of the Thermenregion. It’s a quiet town of quaint cobbled streets, boutique shops and heurigen – the very Austrian institution of specialty wine taverns, with their vine-shaded terraces, fresh local […] More
VINTAGES Buyers’ Guide – July 6th, 2019
Cool All Over Again By David Lawrason, with notes from Michael Godel It’s annually ironic that the word cool gets bandied and batted about ad nauseum in Ontario during the hottest days of the year. It is all because of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (I4C) coming up July 19 -21 in Niagara, which […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Discover Canada's best wines! In 2016, 22 judges tasted 1,535 wines from 230 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
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World Wine Awards of Canada
Seventeen judges tasted 1,000 wines in 21 categories in 2015 to find the world's best wines sold in Canada under $50.
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Meritage is pronounced Meh-rih-TIJ, rhyming with Heritage. This is a made-up word, registered as a US trademark, that wineries must pay to use on their wines. Back in 1989, wineries were all choosing names for their various blended wines, and it was getting hard to keep track of them all. An association was formed to try to define a "Bordeaux Blend" of grapes that was done on non-French soil. They had over 6,000 people submit choices for the name of this blend, and "Meritage" won. Just like Bordeaux, since they're made with the same grapes, Meritage wines tend to have a rich, full aroma. Depending on the particular blend, it can be blackberry, black cherry, spices, chocolate, and vanilla. Most Meritages have the Bordeaux signature flavours - cigar box, rich fruits, with a hefty feel. They're great with a steak, or with game meats - venison, pheasant etc.
