LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

FromOntario With Love

› Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay VQA and Organic Pinot Noir VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 68817, $29.95 and 274753, $34.95 Nearly two decades of Niagara winemaking experience yield these exquisite Ontario VQA wines you can proudly gift as a pair. A dry but rich, full-bodied white balances smooth, barrel earned notes of vanilla and a clean, mineral finish. A green-leafy, cherry-accented red is lovely with earthy vegetable dishes.

› Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut VQA LCBO 217521, $32.95

Made from the famed Champage grape varieties (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), this Ontario bubbly uses France’s traditional method to produce berry-scented bubbly that finishes chalky dry.

› Trius Brut VQA LCBO 284539, $29.95

Honeyed, lemon-curd notes smooth out the green-apple brightness in this Ontario sparkler, which is also made using the Champagne bottle fermenting method to create fine, foamy bubbles.

CELLAR’ S MARKET Beautiful and practical wine-lovers’ gifts to complement special bottles.

“A charcuterie board is always wonderful. Look for unique, one-of-a- kind boards made in Ontario from black walnut,” Pusateri says.

“A Coravin wine system allows you to enjoy one or two glasses of wine or Champagne, and keep the rest for a later date,” says Ida Pusateri.

A classic waiter-style corkscrew (rabbitwine.com) is a staple. “For people just getting into wine, lever-style corkscrews make it even easier,” says corporate gift stylist Corinna vanGerwen.

The “universal” glass from expert Jancis Robinson (hopsongrace.com) enhances all wines; mouth blown Zalto lead-crystal glasses (williamashley. com) are also a top choice.

Bushel and Peck in St. Catharines (bushelandpeck.ca) is stocked with local Niagara food: to pair with Ontario or other wine gifts.

TASTES OF ONTARIO Ontario foodie accoutrements bring any wine gift (especially Ontario VQA!) home. Ottawa-based Givopoly (givopoly.com) delivers thoughtfully wrapped, personal-message packages of everything from cakes and pies to helicopter rides!

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