Demystifying LCBO Vintages

Have you ever wondered what the Vintages section in LCBO stores is all about? With its reputation as the section where you can find ‘fancy wine’, it can feel a little intimidating. So we’re helping to demystify Vintages and share why there’s always something new to discover, whether you’re new to wine or a wine enthusiast.

LCBO offers 32,000 products online and in-store, and approximately 14% of them are classified as Vintages. They consist of the best and most interesting wines from Ontario and around the world.

There are three different collections which determine what products are available, where they are available, and for how long they are available: The Essentials Collection, The New Release Collection and The Cellar Collection.

Essentials Collection: Always available in store and online

Vintages Essentials consist of a permanent collection of more than 200 of our highest-selling products, so your favourite Vintages product is always available. Here you’ll find benchmark varietals and signature styles such as Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Trius Red VQA.

You can find the Vintages products in store by looking for the black signage or coloured product labels (see left). Product labels on shelves also identify if a product is part of the ‘Essentials’ collection.

New Release Collection: Limited-time releases

We have limited shelf space, but unlimited demand for the best products from around the world, so every two weeks we release around 120 limited-quantity wines online and in the Vintages section of more than 240 participating LCBO stores. You can find stores that carry Vintages by using the filter on our online store locator. This rotating collection of products ensures there’s always something new to discover and share with friends and family.

To stay up-to-date with new products being released, customers can check out the Vintages New Release catalogue, which is published every two weeks, and available for free in store or online. Another way to keep up to date with the latest releases is by subscribing to the Vintages Latest newsletter for weekly updates on the latest offerings.

If you’re interested in trying some Vintages New Releases before you buy, you can sample up to four products from the current release every Saturday from 12 pm - 5 pm at the following locations.

Cellar Collection: Prestigious & sought-after products

Our most limited quantity, ultra-premium Vintages wines from every corner of the world are part of our ‘Cellar Collection’. Within Cellar Collection, we have ‘Special Offers’ and ‘Bordeaux Futures’.

As one of the largest retailers and wholesalers of beverage alcohol in the world, we work directly with producers to secure small allotments of highly-prized or rare products to bring ‘Special Offers’ to Ontarian consumers. This can include wine and spirits directly from producers’ own cellars. Limited-time offers vary week-by-week, while monthly features typically include up to 70 wines from a range of regions and producers from around the world, and are released on the first Thursday of every month. You can find both on the Vintages Shop Online.

We also offer the opportunities to buy top wines from Bordeaux, one of the world’s most revered wine regions, before they’re even bottled. Known as ‘Bordeaux Futures’, this program is part investment, part treasure hunt. For example, if you have done your research and believe that 2023 was an incredible year for wine production in Bordeaux, you can place an order in 2025 and you will receive the product in 2026 (once it’s been bottled).

Popular with collectors and aficionados, LCBO hosts regular winemaker dinners held at top restaurants in Toronto where guests enjoy a guided tasting of ultra-premium wines by the winemaker alongside a multi-course gourmet meal.

Is LCBO Vintages for me?

Vintages products are for everyone. Products can range from $12 up to $20,000 and, similar to our broader product selection in store, we tailor our selection based on the tastes and trends of our customers.

If you’re not sure where to start, we have 288 Product Consultants in 201 stores across the province who receive extensive training on LCBO’s products and get to taste hundreds of products throughout the year.

So whether you’re looking for a bargain, a splurge, or even an investment, Vintages has something for everyone. You might just discover something remarkable.