Creekside's winemaking team of Craig McDonald and Rob Power were honoured as Ontario Winemakers of the Year at the Ontario Wine Awards this past April. The duo's zesty Riesling shows lovely lime, green apple and mineral characteristics. It's slightly off-dry, medium-bodied with a lingering finish and would be a terrific match with barbecued jerk chicken or spicy Thai dishes.

080267    (MD)            750 mL    $15.95     

Seriously Twisted is a different twist on Flat Rock's popular Twisted wine. Confused? No worries. Like its refreshing, carefree cousin, Seriously Twisted is a proprietary blend (shhh, it's a secret) of several white grape varieties. In this case, however, the grapes are barrel fermented, vinified and aged separately in French oak barrels as opposed to stainless steel tanks. The result is an equally fascinating and aromatic wine with a fuller body and richer texture than the original. Enjoy it with roast chicken, or pasta in a cream sauce.

This homegrown Savvy, a new and exciting addition to Mike Weir's collection of wines, has concentrated aromas of mineral, lemon, and grapefruit with clean grassy notes. It's refreshing, with hints of ripe tropical and citrus fruit flavours and a racy, crisp finish. Enjoy as an aperitif or pair it with fresh pan-fried trout in lemon butter.

Launched with the 2006 vintage, this winery is a new venture for iconic BC producer Mission Hill. Ganton and Larsen are the two growers who supplied Mission Hill with its grapes in the winery's early years. These well-respected properties are now the source for terrific wines like this citrus- and peach-packed Riesling. Soft and juicy with delicate mineral notes, it's the perfect wine to sip and savour during the waning weeks of summer.

Dry, medium full-bodied, this Chard offers ripe pear, apple and melon flavours with a touch of tannin and some mineral notes. Gentle with a creamy texture, it would make a fine match for herb-roasted veal chops.

Beringer selects the finest vineyard sites for this Napa Valley Merlot. They also blend in small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for added complexity and structure. The wine expresses rushes of black cherry and blackberry fruit, as well as notes of mocha and licorice, all tempered by a layer of supple tannins. It has an easygoing appeal that would be equally suited to a casual barbecue or a formal dinner table.

Here's a Cab that is easy to hail. The whimsical name and label are all in good fun, but the wine inside is surprisingly serious. An excellent value, the wine is bursting with juicy blackberry flavours with notes of mocha and toasty oak. It's dry, well balanced and ready-to-drink. Well worth the fare. Enjoy it tonight with roast beef or grilled steak.

Clos du Bois, located in Geyserville, released its first wines in 1974. Erik Olsen, who drew high scores and plenty of attention for his work at Château Ste. Michelle, took over as winemaker in 2003. This is prototypical Alexander Valley Cab Sauv - rich, ripe and powerful, packed with loads of fruit, spice and cedary oak. It's soft and luscious, with a long finish.

Ironstone Vineyards consistently crafts this deep and delicious Cab. This solid wine displays loads of ripe black fruit as well as notes of vanilla, cedar and spice. It's dry, medium full-bodied and quite luscious. Enjoy over the next two years with everything from barbecued burgers to medium-rare New York strips. A superb value wine to enjoy any day of the week.

Looking for a value-priced wine from Napa Valley that delivers all the goods? Then look no further than Napa Ridge. Featuring classic cassis, vanilla and cherry aromas and flavours, this crowd-pleasing wine is an excellent choice for meat off the barbecue.

Contra Costa County is one of California's most historic winegrowing appellations and home to some of the state's oldest Zin vines which managed to escape the scourge of Phylloxera. This concentrated old vine Zin also has a small amount of Petite Sirah blended in for additional structure. Ripe and juicy, it's bursting with wild berry, plum, ripe cherry and peppery spice and earth notes. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years with paellas, roasted chicken or barbecued ribs.

Winemaker Steve Reeder's final blend for the 2005 vintage of this Sonoma favourite includes tiny amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot which each add subtle complexities and structure to this luscious Cab. Classic Cabernet Sauvignon hallmarks are well-represented however with vivid cassis, blackberry, cedar and vanilla aromas, and a full-bodied palate featuring plump berry fruit and plum flavours, ripe tannins and spicy oak notes.

Born in San Francisco and raised in Napa, winemaker John Freeman was happy to escape the rat race of the California wine scene to explore an enjoy the pristine wine community of Walla Walla. His Cab shows intriguing toasty oak, licorice, and black fruit aromas. It's dry, medium-full bodied with generous fruit flavours supported by medium tannins, with hints of vanilla and mineral notes on the finish.

This wine won Gold and the trophy for best Cabernet Sauvignon at the first ever Argentina Wine Awards in 2007.

TASTING NOTE: Dense and youthful, this is a full, structured Cabernet that oozes fruit character, and has a rounded, complex, earthy palate. Very food friendly. Drink up to 2009. Score - (out of 5). www.decanter.com, Jan. 2008) 

066720    (XD)            750 mL    $15.95   

This wine earned an Editors' Choice nod with a score of 91 points in the February 2008 issue of Wine Enthusiast.

TASTING NOTE: A big, broad-shouldered wine, with muscular layers of black fig, coffee, bittersweet cocoa and dark licorice piled on top of hefty cedar-tinged tannins. A bit of a brute in style, but cellaring should soften its edges enough. Drink now through 2010. Smart Buy. Score - 91. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Feb.29, 2008) 

079293    (D)            750 mL    $15.00   

Familia Zuccardi is respected as one of Mendoza's most innovative wine producers. The Santa Julia wines are named for proprietor José Zuccardi's daughter. This easy-drinking Cab is made from 100% organically grown grapes. It's juicy and round with ripe black cherry, red currant and a touch of spicy oak and toast.

Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined that this wine contains 27 mg/L of free sulphur.

068452    (XD)            750 mL    $12.95   

Consistently a terrific value, this stylish Cab has the stuffing for some short-term cellaring, but it's already delicious so why wait? It's bursting with cassis, blackcurrant, and sweet spice aromas. Dry and full-bodied with loads of fruit flavour as well as hints of dark chocolate and spice, this elegant Cab is supported by fine-grained tannins and balancing acidity. Savour it over the next 3-4 years with rare beef tenderloin or grilled rib-eye steaks.

A perennial favourite with Wine Spectator (the 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages all earned scores of 90 points or above), here's a robust Cab that offers solid value. This powerhouse is packed with red currant, cassis, earth, sage, smoke and cedar aromas and flavours. It's dry, with a plush mouth-filling texture leading to ripe tannins on the lingering finish. Enjoy with bison steaks, lamb chops or rare roast beef.

Uruguay's winemakers are betting on Tannat to be their answer to Argentina's Malbec. Tannat is a relatively obscure grape variety originally from southwestern France. While it's known for making deeply tannic wines (hence the name), the climate in Uruguay is much better suited to ripening it consistently, making a softer but nevertheless boldly flavoured red wine. The fruit for this particular Tannat is sourced from two regions, vinified seperately and barrel aged for 20 months before blending and bottling. The result is a dark wine with complex layers of spices, chocolate and juicy berries and a lingering finish. Perfect with grilled beef.

This Savvy, owing to the cool climate of Mount Gambier, exhibits classic herbaceous character on the nose with hints of gooseberry, good aroma replays and a refreshing, zesty acidity on the palate. Enjoy with grilled tuna, or spicy mussels with ginger and lemongrass.

Sourced from this family estate's oldest vineyards, the Bloodstone Shiraz is bursting with violets, blueberries, plum, spice and earthy aromas. It's full-bodied with plush red berry flavours balanced by a good backbone of acidity and fine tannins. Great now, it can also be cellared for 3-5 years.

This SMG blend is dominated by lively smoky blackberry aromas and flavours with notes of chocolate, white pepper and earth. Medium-bodied, fresh and well-balanced, it would pair well with a roast leg of lamb with mint sauce.

RAW is Kingston Estate's acronym for Regional Australian Wine. In this case, the region being explored is Margaret River, known for its tremendous success with classic Bordeaux varietals. This blend is comprised of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot and features ripe berry, plum, herbaceous and smoky oak characteristics. Dry and full-bodied, it has impressive depth while maintaining elegance. Serve it with rosemary lamb chops with grilled roast potatoes.

075507    (XD)            750 mL    $18.95   

Trentham's La Famiglia wines are made using only classic Italian grape varieties. This Sangiovese rosé is easy-drinking with lovely aromatics of red cherry, strawberry and a hint of wild herbs. Juicy and refreshing with fruit salad flavours, it's perfect to sip while lunching on an antipasto plate on a sunny afternoon.

066811    (D)            750 mL    $15.95   

KONRAD SAUVIGNON BLANC  2006
Marlborough, South Island  

TASTING NOTE: A rather ripe style, with only modest leafiness, pushed into the background by hints of honey, stone fruit, gooseberry and red currant. It's plump and substantial without being heavy, with a lingering finish. Drink now. Score - 90. (Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast, March 1, 2008) 

616243    (XD)            750 mL    $17.95   

Part of Bellingham's Legends collection, this inaugural vintage is a blend of 88% Shiraz, 10% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier. The name honours the legend of St. George's victory over the rancorous dragon. Bursting with bright berry fruit flavours as well as touches of smoke and spice, this full-bodied red is fresh and well-balanced and ready to slay everything from bison burgers to lamb chops.

Kobus and Mariette Basson breathed new life into this three-century-old wine estate when they purchased it a decade ago. Today this revitalized winery is known for the quality and value of its modern wines, like this delectable Merlot. Dry and medium-bodied, it features plum, blueberry, cocoa and fruitcake aromas and flavours as well as some well-intergrated oak. Enjoy it with herb-roasted chicken or mild grilled sausages.

This shows classic Gewürz aromas and flavours including honey, lychee, dried apricot and paraffin. Dry, ripe and round, this full-bodied white pairs well with spicy shrimp dishes or salmon teriyaki.

With a combination of enviable terroir, ancestral knowledge and modern technology, the Sparr family have been at the top of the winemaking game for three centuries. This cellar-worthy Riesling comes from a tiny Grand Cru vineyard (0.9 ha) and features peach, apple and mineral flavours as well as racy acidity. An intense Riesling with a long finish. A good partner for choucroute or roast pork.

The vineyard Clos Chaise Dieu Mono was abandoned after World War II and was not rejuvenated until the 1990s. The rejuvenation has clearly paid off, as this wine has won numerous national and international awards in the past two years. Floral, apple and gentle oak tones combine on the nose. Dry and fresh, the fruit and acid work in perfect harmony. Serve with grilled game bird or salmon.

Puligny-Montrachet is renowned for its Chardonnays at all levels, especially in a vintage as respected for white Burgundy as is 2006. 'Village wines' such as this fine example from Joseph Drouhin, are brimming with crisp Granny Smith apple, citrus and pear aromas and flavours. Try this medium-bodied wine with pork tenderloin or boiled lobster with melted butter for dipping. It is also a good candidate for up to three years in the cellar.

There is little debate that Domaine Huet is one of the finest wineries in the Vouvray, if not the entire Loire Valley. Their skill with the Chenin Blanc grape causes one to wonder if they secretly perform the ancient art of alchemy on their wines. Perhaps they do, as they have been following Mother Nature-embracing biodynamic practices for many years. Whether dry, like this example, or sweet, Huet's Chenin wines taste like no others in the world. Enjoy now with a variety of shellfish, bloomy cheeses, poultry or mushroom dishes, or cellar these wines for 10+ years.

A tremendous value from what many have called one of the best Burgundy vintages in years. From the great houses to modest producers, quality has been consistently exceptional especially for the red wines. Experience the excellence of this vintage with this fine, strawberry/cherry-scented district wine for a fraction of the cost of the other more hallowed names in the area. Match it with roast veal.

There is a famous quote from Volnay that says, "l'aimable gaieté fuire vos festins si de Volnay vous ne serves les vins", which loosely translates as "the fun and gaiety will flee your feast if you do not serve Volnay wines". This Pinot Noir, from the great 2005 vintage, is a true testament to this aphorism. So, to enliven your late summer or early autumn feasts, pull out this cherry-, berry- and beetroot-scented wine.

This Domaine's wines are a relatively well-kept secret this side of the Atlantic, but are not to be missed. Henri Remoriquet has passed the torch to his son Gilles, who has developed a distinct winemaking style. The grapes come from vineyards along the border of Vosne-Romanée, adding elegant mocha, coffee and black cherry characteristics typical of Vosne Romanee to the traditional taste profile of Nuits-St-Georges.

069427    (D)            750 mL    $47.95   

This fresh and fruity Cabernet Franc is sourced from 35-year-old vines in the heart of the Loire's Saumur Champigny appellation. Dry, medium-bodied with fresh red berry flavours and a zesty seam of acidity, serve this wine (chill it first for 15-20 minutes) with grilled burgers, sausages or pork chops hot off the barbecue this long weekend.

The Bordeaux-based Lurton brothers have been venturing into the Midi for some years now, producing exciting, quality-priced wines such as this. This popular blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan typically shows aromas of raspberry and red currants with notes of spice, pepper and chocolate. There is great fruit concentration and well-integrated oak in this fresh, full-bodied wine. A fantastic value. Match it to grilled steaks or portobello mushrooms.

A ripe, round, rip-roaring crowd-pleaser that is sure to appeal around the late summer barbecue. Filled with blackberry, raspberry, vanilla and cherry aromas and flavours, this fruity wonder can stand up to almost anything you can conjure off the grill.

This wine will transport you to the South of France. Five generations of Perrin winemaking culminate here as you breathe in aromas of candied cherries, plum, spice, and earthy tones. There's loads of juicy cherry flavours surrounded by good ripe tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Gourmets can savour it with homemade pizza or hamburgers.

Cahors is unique amongst the important appellations of Southwest France in that neither of the Cabernets are allowed in the blends. The majority must be Malbec (called Auxerrois, locally), with Tannat and/or Merlot in a supporting role. This example is filled with aromas and flavours of spiced plum, cinnamon, blackberry, menthol, flowers and fresh herbs. A dry, supple, medium-bodied and food-friendly wine, particularly suited to root vegetable-based dishes or a rich pasta sauce.

Württemberg is a relatively warm region for Germany. Located in the southwestern corner of the country, most of its vineyards lie along the Neckar river and extend frorm the Tauber river valley to south of Stuttgart. Wines rarely come out of this small region because the Swabians, as the locals are called, are legendary for enjoying most of what is produced. Rieslings from this region tend to be fresh, fragrant, spicy, aromatic, fuller-bodied and strikingly fruity with a distinctive earthy finish.

This wine is a blend of Ribolla Gialla, Tocai Friulano and Riesling Renano, and has enjoyed both international acclaim and a loyal following. It features pretty aromas of peach, apple and double cream. Full-bodied and fruity, this long-finishing wine is an excellent partner for grilled tiger shrimp.

Classic Grigio aromas of pear, mineral, pea pod, citrus and hay dominate this lively wine. Dry and soft, yet also very fresh. A medium-bodied wine for pan-fried freshwater bass.

Cannonau is the Sardinian name for the Grenache grape. This versatile wine displays aromas of cherry, spice, wild berries, and smoke. It has a medium full-body, lush berry, earth and toasty oak flavours with ripe tannins on the finish. Best enjoyed with barbecued spicy Italian sausages or strong cheeses.

Amarone is a labour of love. The art of drying grapes creates in the finished wine sweet Port-like aromas of chocolate and plum that are very inviting. In addition, it is loaded with delectable currant, cherry, spice and tobacco aromas and flavours. Medium full-bodied with a very long finish, it is ready to drink now on its own, with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or good dark chocolate. It will also reward 3-4 years in a cellar.