LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2021

IN GOOD COMPANY

Andrew Peller

GOOD PARTNERS

Last year, among many other good deeds, Wayne Gretzky Estates donated 20,000 pairs of socks to shelters across the country. The brand’s Chardon- nay VQA ( LCBO 63826, $14.95) proves The Great One also knows from wine. The G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Dis­ eases was created to fund research into Lyme dis- ease in memory of Ontario wine industry icon Gabe Magnotta. Sup- port its work with every purchase of Magnotta Pinot Grigio Venture Series VQA ( LCBO 574533, $14.95). A long-time patron of Canadian artists, 13th Street Winery has launched its new Expression PROJECT, raising funds through sales of its Expression series of wines, including a fine Cab- ernet Merlot VQA ( VINTAGES 18880, $17.95, September 18 release). An annual financial award will be made to a stu- dent in OCAD U’s Sculpture/Installa- tion program.

This year, Andrew Peller Limited celebrates its 60th anniversary, and we can all join the party by raising a glass of Peller Estates wine (its Family Series Chardonnay VQA— LCBO 582825, $11.95—is hard to beat). Meanwhile, the company and its many brands continue to fundraise for the community. Its sales team alone donated $20,000 to local food banks and hospitality foundations across Canada. Another ingenious win-win idea was purchasing $50,000 in gift cards from hospitality partners and donating them to hospitality workers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic and front-line health- care workers. A strong foundation Almost 20 years since No. 99 created it, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation continues to pro- vide less-fortunate youth with opportunities to experience the sport of hockey. It also supports a number of charitable organizations, including food banks, hospices and United Way. This fall, the foundation enters a new four-year partner- ship with the Canadian Paralympic Committee as its official supplier of wine, spirits and beer. Gretzky himself is an honourary board member.

Clean power On the sustainability front,

Andrew Peller Limited has part- nered with Enviro Stewards on its ongoing carbon-reduction journey. Meanwhile, organic waste from the winery is sent to Bayview nursery in Niagara, where it is used in a bio-digestion process as a clean source of electricity.

Bayview Flowers

PUBLIC SPIRIT When the pandemic first struck Ontario in March 2020, Geoff Dillon of Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville sprang into action, distilling and distributing hand sanitizer, free of charge, to first responders all across the province. A number of wineries—including Andrew Peller Limited, Vineland Estates, Diamond Estates, Two Sisters, The Foreign Affair, Creekside Estate, Strewn, Quarry Ridge and Tawse— stepped in with help, donations and tens of thousands of bottles. “And the need is still there,” says Dillon. “We will continue to make and share sanitizer with first responders for as long as they need it, free of charge.”

BAYVIEW FLOWERS IMAGE BY JESSICA MARAGOUDAKIS

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AUTUMN 2021 FOOD & DRINK