Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA
Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA
Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA
Price: $13.45
Tastes Like:
Pineapple, Golden Apple, Honey
Chuck’s Take
Low in acidity and somewhat sweet make this white blend a little off balance. While it goes down fast and easy there isn’t much to it. It could use a little backbone (read: acidity and structure). Also there is no year on the bottle so it’s non-vintage (made with new and older juices)
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Bask Pinot Noir
Bask Pinot Noir Bask Pinot Noir
Bask Pinot Noir
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Strawberry, Alcohol
Sean’s Take
Pros: Bright, clean, and dry. Cons: Strong alcohol flavour despite low alcohol level.
We labelled this as a Canadian wine, but the label makes that claim murky. It reads “International blend from imported and domestic wines“. Not grapes, not juice…wines. Suggests this is a blend of wines made in different places at different times then mixed together. Nothing wrong with that, but very difficult to make a compelling product.
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Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQA
Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQA Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQA
Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQA
Price: $4.90 / 250 mL can (750mL would be $14.70)
Tastes Like:
Papaya, Guava, Light Strawberry
Serve With:
Seafood
Chuck’s Take
The can makes it easy to travel with. I could see opening one pool side or any place you’re looking to sneak-drink inconspicuously. Maybe at the Sandbanks Dunes. Maybe not. If nobody saw, did it ever happen? Who’s to say.
Non-vintage (no year date on can). Light body and slightly sweet.
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Bodacious Pinot Grigio (250 ml)
Bodacious Pinot Grigio (250 ml) Bodacious Pinot Grigio (250 ml)
Bodacious Pinot Grigio (250 ml)
Price: $3.95
Tastes Like:
Honey, Peach, Honeydew
Serve With:
Roasted Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes, Fried Rice
Sean’s Take
There is a mix of bold and subtle fruit flavours, I settled on peach and honeydew to present them. Nicely balanced, easy to drink. Nice sightly tart finish that I really enjoyed. Great spritzer or white Sangria candidate.
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Angels Gate Pinot Gris 2020
Angels Gate Pinot Gris 2020 Angels Gate Pinot Gris 2020
Angels Gate Pinot Gris 2020
Price: $14.95
Tastes Like:
Yellow Apple, Cantaloupe, Lemon
Serve With:
Green Salad, Chicken Pot Pie, Smoked Turkey
Sean’s Take
A nice and easy to drink Pinot in a new world style. The fruit is soft and supple. I specifically picked out yellow apple, which is one of my favourite fruits. Pinot Gris is another name for Pinot Grigio (for bonus points, it’s also called Grauburgunder).
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Pelee Island Lola Pinot Grigio VQA 2019
Pelee Island Lola Pinot Grigio VQA 2019 Pelee Island Lola Pinot Grigio VQA 2019
Pelee Island Lola Pinot Grigio VQA 2019
Price: $14.95
Tastes Like:
Lemon, Lime, Honeydew, Floral
Serve With:
The label suggested seafood. I tried it and disagree.
Chuck’s Take
Light body, dry, bland finish when cold but I noticed that as it warmed in the glass the lemon and lime ratcheted up and gave a puckering sourness on the palate.
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Fresh Adventure Crisp White
Fresh Adventure Crisp White Fresh Adventure Crisp White
Fresh Adventure Crisp White
Price: $10.95
Tastes Like:
Apple, Pear, Tropical Fruit
Sean’s Take
This wine is a blend of Riesling and Moscato grapes. On their own, these grapes have distinctive qualities, but for some reason in this bottle, they have blended together into what I call a fruit cup. You know those fruit cup snacks you got as a kid (or still enjoy today) where all the fruit tastes vaguely the same but the cherry really stood out and the whole thing is nice and sweet?
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Bodacious Bubbles Sparkling Wine
Bodacious Bubbles Sparkling Wine Bodacious Bubbles Sparkling Wine
Bodacious Bubbles Sparkling Wine
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Peach, Tropical Fruit, Kiwi
Serve With:
Goat Cheese, Baked Brie, Candied Almonds
Sean’s Take
If you know me then you know I can be skeptical of “big brand” wines. There are several reasons for this and we are going to do an entire podcast on the subject, but I digress for now.
It’s sweet but not overly so. Smells of peach and tastes like kiwis and tropical fruits, hints of pineapple. The bubbles are small making it easy to drink and minimizing the urge to politely belch in ones cupped hand, polite like. This sparkling wine is a nice change from your typical austere french style versions.
This wine is featured in Episode 4 “Champagne Alternatives – Boujie on a Budget” of The Wine Podcast for Everyone
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Bodacious Smooth Red
Bodacious Smooth Red Bodacious Smooth Red
Bodacious Smooth Red
Price: $3.95
Tastes Like:
Plum, Blackberry, Black Cherry
Serve With:
Asian cuisine, Baked Brie, BBQ Ribs
Sean’s Take
Wine in a can? It can’t be good. Well, much to my surprise it is good. Medium sweet, bursting with ripe dark berry flavours this wine is very easy to drink. The wine is what I like to call “polite” because it has no unusual flavours, nice sweetness, and lower alcohol. This is a 250ml can which is a third of a regular size bottle. The full-size 750ml bottle goes for around $10.00. I was introduced to this wine by my good friend Joanna who assured me she had found a good boxed wine – and she was right.
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Sprucewood Shores Pinot Grigio 2019
Sprucewood Shores Pinot Grigio 2019 Sprucewood Shores Pinot Grigio 2019
Sprucewood Shores Pinot Grigio 2019
Price: $14.95
Tastes Like:
Candied Lemon, Ripe Apple, Honey
Serve With:
Spiced Popcorn, Devilled Eggs, Buttered Noodles
Sean’s Take
Coming in at 12% alcohol this is on the lower side of what you’re probably used to. If you’re not a fan of the hot or tingly feeling in your mouth some wines give you’ll enjoy this one. All the fruit is soft and supple, no one thing really stands out.
At two dollars cheaper and more interesting I’d recommend this Canadian Pino Grigio
Remember: three star reviews are good wines, it’s the one and two stars you want to consider carefully
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Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019 Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2019
Price: $15.95
Tastes Like:
Lime, Green Apple, White Grapefruit
Serve With:
Pasta Primavera, Salads
Chuck’s Take
Extra dry with big acidity gives this new world riesling from Niagara, Ontario a nice tartness that finishes quick and clean. It’s very different from an old world German riesling, but good it it’s own Canadian limestone and clay soil kind of way.
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Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Open Pinot Grigio 2020 Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Open Pinot Grigio 2020
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Candied Almonds, Citrus, Pear
Serve With:
Chicken Fajitas, Baked Brie, Mixed Nuts
Sean’s Take
Sometimes I skip the Pinot Grigios from Italy because they can be so sharp and acidic. Sometimes that’s a good thing with rich foods, but not for sipping on a Sunday afternoon. This Canadian made Pinot Grigio is completely different than its Italian cousins. Bursting with fruit flavours and a nice citrus scent. Easily a crowd pleaser.
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