Lineups are the new reality of 2020 but sometimes it doesn’t have to be. Need wine? Shop local and get wine delivered to your door. With over 150 wineries within 2 hours of the GTA, local Ontario wineries are closed for visitors, but still open for business. Many local wineries are providing discounted or even free wine delivery to your door. Small businesses sometimes you might even open the door to greet the owner or winemaker delivering the wine to you!
Ontario is Canada’s largest wine producing province with 3 regions located close to Canada’s largest metropolis. With less restrictions than European wine regions, Ontario grape growers and wineries have the freedom to grow a wide range of wines, from Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Merlot and more. This means there’s probably something out there for you, from delicious sparkling wines, fresh white wines, round Chardonnays, tasty rosé, and medium to full bodied red wines.
Being a cool climate (did you notice the snow in Mid May?) means the wines will usually be more fresh than BC or other new world wineries but acid is the key to long lasting and flavourful wines. Acid is the backbone that makes Rioja, Barolos and more age and develop beautifully. Grapes have naturally high occurring acids but as grapes ripen the acids convert to sugar & eventually alcohol, the reason why sunny and warm California can easily make full bodied reds. Winemakers in warmer wine regions sometimes even add acid to help balance the wines, luckily our Ontario wines have it in abundance.
With quick & safe delivery, the wineries are getting creative offering new wines and fun wine packages, so it’s never been easier to order wine to your front door. Or your friends, neighbours, or family members.
Here are a few of my best wine picks from wineries who are delivering quickly and safely across Ontario.
Husband and wife duo, Ilya and Nadia Senchuk, run their family oriented winery in the western part of Niagara. One of the first wineries to welcome you to Niagara, when you head down the highway from Toronto. Be sure to check out their wine packages with many being offered at different price points. Every few weeks new 6 packs and 12 packs are available, there’s truly something for everyone.
Try the Leaning Show 6 pack featuring their famous Riesling, a Rosé, and their red blend – Cuvée Winona – plus chocolate. Their Rieslings have zing, their Chardonnays are round and delicious and their red blend Cuvée Winona (Merlot + Cabernet) is new on the scene. Do not miss out trying any of their well crafted Pinot Noirs. Ilya has been making wine in Niagara for 12+ years and you might even meet him as he’s dropping off the wine.
Although they sell out quickly since only a handful is made if you see any Syrah or Cabernet Franc available make sure to grab some. The Syrah is very classic with powerful flavours of smoked meat, black pepper and dark fruit, a great wine that ages beautifully and a great BBQ wine. Their Cabernet Franc reminds me why we should all honk for Cab Franc, it’s deep but fresh and has classic savoury pepper flavours with a hint of red fruit.
Free delivery over 6 bottles ordered.
Known for their incredible sparkling wines, and butter tarts – the onsite bakery is legendary! – 13th street is a must visit whenever I’m touring through Niagara. Unfortunately all the wineries are closed for tastings but you can still access the amazing 13th street wines made by long time winemaker JP Colas.
13th Street makes a wide selection of wines, and you can find many of their blends popping up seasonally on LCBO shelves across Ontario (try the Burger Blend or Palette wines). My favourites are their traditional method sparkling wines, fresh Gamays and their rosé wines.
The newly released Gamay Vin Gris is the perfect spring and summer sipper that pairs with a wide range of food, you’ll regret not buying at least 6 bottles. The must buy Cuvee Rosé, is a sparkling rosé that is always in stock at my house, ready for a special occasion or a treat with pizza or charcuterie.
Free delivery when you use the promo code: “free”
Malivoire Wine Company – Niagara
Another winery famous for it’s rosé, Malivoire is one of the original Bench wineries known for their infamous Ladybug Rosé. Shiraz Mottiar, long time local winemaker, has been consistently making delicious wines at this unassuming winery (the winery is built into the Bench) with beautiful vineyards and Bench views.
Although best known for their spectacularly priced, and gulpable Ladybug Rosé, they make 2 other crisp rose’s – Rosé Moira & Vivant Rosé. These wines usually sell out by the summer so be sure to grab your bottles today. Every year I make a mental note to stock up on these wines earlier in the season, so this is your chance.
Want a dry and crisp white wine? A little rare in Niagara but try the Melon. Melon comes to us from North Western France (the mouth of the mighty Loire River) so expect this wine to have sky high acid and creme fraiche flavours. If you love seafood you’ll love this wine. Looking for red wine? Known for their Gamay, try the Small Lot Gamay (on sale now too!) or the fuller bodied the Farmstead Meritage.
Many of the Malivoire wines are vegan friendly and certified sustainable giving you even more reasons to try these wines.
Huff Estates Winery – Prince Edward County
Located in the heart of Prince Edward County, Huff Estates is a longstanding County winery known for their well made wines and beautiful adjoining wine country inn. Handcrafted by Frederic Picard, “Fred” as he’s known, has been at Huff since the early days and his wines deliver incredible value with delicious white wines and red wines to boot. Their Cuvée Janine, a rosé traditional method sparkling wine is always delicious and seems to get better and better each year. Their newest vintage Cuvée Janine has a richer and deeper pink colour with aromas that jump out of the glass. This sparkling wine is a real showstopper that is dry with flavours of fresh field strawberries and raspberries, perfect for brunch or a celebration at $29.95 it’s well priced for such intense and long lasting flavours. A real joy of a wine.
Huff also makes Merlot from a warmer part of The County and if you’ve never had this Merlot it’s about time you did. You will be pleasantly surprised how velvety and smooth this delicious red wine is with cherry mocha flavours, at $20.00 per bottle it’s a steal for a tasty Ontario red wine.
The winery is currently offering free shipping on orders $50 or more and try one of the great value wine packages, The Happy Household Mix of Six has 3 white wines and 3 red wines or The Happy Household Red Wines has 4 red wines. Check back to their online store for more wine deals and new wine releases.
Southbrook Vineyards – Niagara
Southbrook Vineyards is known as one of the eco-friendly wineries located in Niagara on the Lake. Located right on Stone Road, the main road that takes you through the many NOTL wineries, Southbrook is a family owned winery where the various teams work hard to be sustainable: from organic farming, to biodynamics, to being LEED certified. You might even see sheep in their vineyards eating away excess leaves.
Their online wine shop features an ever changing ‘6 Pack and Promotions’
section where you can find great deals or new wine releases being offered. Looking for organic wine? Look no further than their Organic Merlot. This wine is made without any filtration and low sulphites so it’ll have loads of texture while being smooth and delicious. I find Niagara Merlot to have notes of mocha and red cherry and this wine isn’t lacking any.
Looking for a fresh everyday sipping red or white wine? Try the Seriously Cool 6 Pack. The “Seriously Cool” wines are great patio and dinners sippers that are lower alcohol and known to be fresh and fun. The Seriously Cool Red is a blend of thinner skinned varieties: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Zweitgelt, and Syrah. This is a perfect picnic wine and despite much debate I would serve this wine chilled with beet dishes, tomato pastas, and other fresh spring dishes. Would be great with grilled sausages too! The Seriously Cool white wines are made from Chardonnay + Chardonnay musqué so expect an explosion of citrus and apple notes with a hint of fresh flower blossom. Are you missing the Cherry Blossoms this year? Try this wine!
Southbrook is famous for their excellent Chardonnays and they make several from vineyards across Niagara. Orange wine has exploded onto the scene and Southbrook has made a best seller at Farmer’s Market from Skin Fermented Vidal. Don’t miss their Cabernet Franc or Triomphe Rosé. They are also one of the few wineries who have made the popular farmer’s fizz known as Pet Nat and a Cider.
