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Unexpected Wine Pairings

Don’t take food and wine matching too seriously. Thanks to the variety of Ontario wine styles, it’s easier than ever to experiment with varietals and try some casual takes on classic pairings.
 


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Chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted white grapes in the world. It excels in Ontario’s cool climate, producing crisper wines with more orchard fruit flavours and food-friendly acidity. The versatile wine comes in a few styles. Unoaked means it was fermented in stainless steel tanks, yielding fresher, fruitier Chards that pair well with seafood and chicken.

 

Barrel-fermented Chardonnays are rounder and more full-bodied with buttery flavours from the oak—they’re dynamite with veal, lobster and corn. To match both styles, we came up with Unfried Chicken with Thyme Ranch, a less laborious spin on fried chicken with the same juicy, crunchy satisfaction.

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Closson Chase The Brock Chardonnay VQA

New to Vintages Essentials, this Chardonnay gives you the best of both worlds. Half the grapes were fermented in stainless steel, giving the wine vibrant acidity. The other half were fermented in French oak barrels, yielding nutty notes and a richer texture.


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Fielding Unoaked Chardonnay VQA

An early proponent of the unoaked style, Fielding shows the light, crisp potential of this grape when it never sees barrel. Lean and racy with scents of yellow apples, this wine is the perfect white for a Pinot Grigio drinker who claims they don’t like Chardonnay.



 


Riesling

Riesling is a favourite of oenophiles, as it often produces aromatic, complex whites that hum with energy. Flourishing in Ontario, it’s a chameleon of a grape, taking on many forms. Dry Rieslings tend to be stony and citrusy, and are outstanding with smoked fish and pork. Offdry have some residual sugar, but it’s balanced by tongue-zapping acidity; they’re excellent with Chinese or Thai cuisine. You can even find Riesling in a uniquely delicious sparkler! To pair with all these styles, we gave some heat and tropical notes to a beloved takeout dish to create Spicy Sweet‑and‑Sour Pork with Mango.

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Thirty Bench Winemaker’s Blend Riesling VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

This bottle offers a rich, fruity, off-dry wine with unwavering sweet-sour balance and a long finish. It’s an eyeopener or anyone who flinches at sweetness in wine.


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Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Sparkling Riesling VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

Made from organic grapes, this traditional method sparkler is citrusy with a creamy mousse and zesty finish. More sparkling Riesling, please!


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Cave Spring Estate Riesling VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

In this dependable dry Riesling, you’ll find scents of lemon-lime and wet stone with a rip tide of acidity that jolts the palate with each sip.



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Gamay

Gamay is the workhorse of France’s Beaujolais region. The winter-hearty grape also does well in Ontario, where it produces primarily light, tart, fruity wines that are extremely versatile at the table. It’s light enough to put out with a charcuterie platter during cinq à sept, yet big enough to pour with spicy sausages or roast chicken. Gamay is one of the better Thanksgiving turkey wines, and it has an affinity for the fun stuff like burgers and pizza. Playing on the latter, we developed, an easy Pizza Beans appetizer—a mix of saucy white beans baked under a gooey roof of mozzarella and Parm. With garlic rubbed toasts, it’s a wonderful complement for exploring the Gamays of Ontario.

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Malivoire Farmstead Gamay VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

This Beamsville winery is considered Ontario’s premier Gamay specialist. The Farmstead is about as light as red wine gets, with cran-raspberry flavours and a peppery finish. Refrigerate until cool, but not cold, just enough to temper the acids.


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13th Street Gamay VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

This bottle has a little more substance than the Farmstead, but it’s still light, juicy and easy to drink. With a floral bouquet and intense raspberry flavours, it’s reminiscent of a Fleurie, one of the 10 Beaujolais sub-regions with a Cru designation.




Pinot Noir

Between the limestone soils, cool breezes off Lake Ontario and the dedication of growers and winemakers, this province produces some of the finest Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy. Like Gamay, it’s extremely food-friendly, going with everything from beet salads to beef bourguignon. It’s often light enough to flatter richer fish like salmon and tuna, especially in more robust preparations. Pinot lends its blush and red berry flavours to excellent sparkling rosés, which pair well with smoked salmon, and even pink lamb. To show off its affinity for salmon, we came up with Salmon Fish Sticks with Prosciutto, Mushrooms & Pesto Tartar Sauce, a gourmet spin on a childhood favourite and the ultimate Pinot dish.

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Rosehall Run Pinot Noir VQA

The intoxicating fragrance of cherries and flowers is reminiscent of Burgundy, though the wine’s approachability and affordability are very Ontario. It’s on the lighter side, so serve it with fish and vegetables.


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Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut VQA

This sparkler has been a top choice among discerning locavores for decades. Made in the méthode champenoise, it has scents of raspberries with a fine mousse and tangy finish.


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Hidden Bench Estate Organic Pinot Noir VQA

This is a truly stunning wine—light, elegant and complex, with a heady perfume and cran-raspberry flavours. A world-class Pinot, it’s more than worth its premium price tag.



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Cabernet Franc

Aparent to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc lives in the shadow of its famous offspring, despite being the most widely planted red grape in Ontario. It’s most commonly used to add fragrance and acidity to Bordeaux-style blends. On its own, Cab Franc produces medium-to full-bodied wines with flavours of plums, strawberries and a polarizing note of roasted peppers. It’s excellent paired with beef, lamb, strong cheeses and, of course, bell peppers. Cab Franc–based rosés have an appealing herbaceous character and are the perfect pour with goat cheese salad or a croque monsieur. Our Steak & Blue Cheese Quesadillas with Roasted Pepper Salsa is tailor-made for local Cabernet Francs, even rosés!

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Pelee Island Cabernet Franc VQA

Since it’s located on the southernmost point of mainland Canada, Pelee Island’s slightly warmer climate tends to produce fruitier wines, like this juicy, affordable number with flavours of plums and cherries, and a beguiling whiff of tomato vine.


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Malivoire Ladybug Rosé VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

With help from Gamay and Pinot Noir, Cab Franc dominates the blend of this Niagara rosé, which is available year-round through Vintages Essentials. Expect a medium-bodied rosé with sour cherry flavours and those patented herbal notes.



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