LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2017

WINE  BIG TIME

A COMPANION TO A turkey dinner

Choose a versatile red and white for the entire meal, versus pairing by dish. “If you pair magnums with six courses, technically you’ve opened 12 bottles of wine!” says the Ritz‑Carlton’s Lorie O’Sullivan.

our picks

COLLAVINI PINOT GRIGIO LCBO 620617, 1.5 L, $25.95 This surprisingly aromatic white is extra-dry and crisp tasting, and as good with a salad course as it is with turkey breast. PELEE ISLAND MONARCH VIDAL VQA LCBO 492215, 3 L, $39.95 This off-dry blend, made on the north shore of Lake Erie, will please white- wine drinkers who prefer a slightly fruitier option with their meal. ROSEMOUNT DIAMOND SHIRAZ LCBO 631689, 1.5 L, $29.30 Spicy Shiraz makes a bold pairing with dark-meat tur- key, gravy or stuffing rich with fall herbs and spices, and vibrant vegetables like squash or greens.

Want the wine without the weight of the glass bottles, or the space they take up? Consider these alternative large-format packages: 1 L TETRA PAK  Lined cardboard car- tons make great lightweight, space-saving, re-closeable wine storage, especially for whites. (The lining helps keep it cold.) They’re recyclable in many places, too. Try the French Cross line from Peller Estates (including the Rosé, LCBO 68551, $10.45). outside the box

3 L BAG  This soft bag-style package has a pouring spout like boxed wine, plus a handy carry handle. Try Girls’ Night Out Peach Raspberry Rumba ( LCBO 513622, $24.95). 3 OR 4 L BAG-IN-BOX  Oenophiles might snub boxed wine, but the ingenious bladder-bag inside keeps air out of the open package, preventing oxidation and allowing you to enjoy the wine for up to four weeks. Ontario VQA wines are new to this innovative packaging; try Long Weekend Wine Co. Chardonnay Pinot Grigio VQA ( LCBO 492355, 3 L, $44.95).

112  FOOD & DRI NK AUTUMN 2017