Axel Heinz, who oversaw SuperTuscan estate Ornellaia for 18 years, present the first wines produced under his leadership at Château Lascombes in Margaux. Behind-the-scenes notes and tasting notes from our Toronto meeting are featured in today’s Substack newsletter. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Château Lascombes, an estate established in the Margaux appellation in the 1700s, presented a new challenge for winemaker Axel Heinz. The once prestigious producer in Bordeaux, ranked as a second classified growth, had lost its lustre. Gift link: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/260a807...

Three notable wines from two of my longtime favourite producers in Niagara reviewed today, including a first look at two of Cave Spring’s most popular labels as they are released to stores in Ontario open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Twenty-five years after the release of its first red wine, Osoyoos Larose is embarking on a fresh start. New labels and packaging will be introduced in the fall, with the release of the 2022 vintage of Le Grand Vin. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

I always considered Richie Roberts’ cabernet francs to be some of the finest in the region. These wines offer honest expressions of both the grape and the place, avoiding the temptation to push for excessively ripe grapes and extended aging in new oak barrels. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Wineries in Niagara are currently experiencing a surge in sales, leading producers to fast-track the release of white wines made last fall. Homegrown wine sales have increased owing to retail expansion and the removal of U.S. products from liquor stores. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/260a807...

I was never the intended audience of teen dramas like Gossip Girl and The O.C., but they struck home any way. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Blue Mountain’s reserve wines were among the first cult or collectible wines produced in Canada. As the winemaking team continues to focus on the unique qualities of their vineyard, they introduced a terroir-focused single parcel series, including these two chards open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

“For me, the Holy Trinity of wine is a sense of place, a sense of the varietals and a sense of the winemaker,” says Isabel Gassier, the fifth generation of her family to produce wine in Costières de Nîmes in the south of France. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/260a807...

This week’s Substack newsletter is a reporter’s notebook on recent Globe articles, plus an appreciation of the new season of Shrinking on Apple TV and a playlist that includes my new favourite band, Cardinals, from Cork, Ireland. Link to read and subscribe in bio open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Hope springs in British Columbia wine country: Severine Pinte is ready to bottle her first Okanagan wines for LaStella and La Vieux Pin since a polar vortex caused widespread damage to vineyards in January, 2024. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

“For me, the Holy Trinity of wine is a sense of place, a sense of the varietals and a sense of the winemaker,” says Isabel Gassier, a fifth generation vintner from Costières de Nîmes, France. “It’s important to have a perfect balance between the three.” www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

We have finally escaped the cold spell that has gripped southern Ontario since mid-January. It felt like we endured at least a bazillion consecutive days of freezing temperatures as part of a larger North American cold wave. But subzero days aren’t over yet… open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Ontario and Mendoza have become new members of the Wine Origins Alliance, a global organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to wine trade and protecting the integrity of wine names. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Wineries from coast-to-coast have refined their approach to the labour-intensive “traditional method” of Champagne in which bubbles are captured during a secondary fermentation in bottle to produce sophisticated profiles that say “Be Mine” each & every day www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

As climate-induced extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, intense and unpredictable in South Africa, viticulturalist Rosa Kruger is looking for ways her country can continue growing grapes for quality wine well into the future www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

“Horror visited us on the vineyard in the past few days,” Fowles Wine owner Matt Fowles wrote in a Jan. 10 Facebook post. “We lost our home, sheds, vineyards and livestock...” Find his Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Wild Ferment Shiraz at LCBO Vintages outlets www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Some timely reviews for this week’s LCBO Vintages drop. And, an appreciation for a moment in the Will Arnett comedy-drama, Is This Thing On?, that resonates open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

When it comes to filling the wine rack for February, there should be a balance of nurturing bottles that lean into the cold, and vibrant ones that speak of spring. How better to toast the gradual lengthening of daylight while coping with the persistent cold? www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Two wines from Niagara’s Domaine Queylus are featured as part of the February 7 LCBO Vintages in Ontario. Read reviews for them and three other recommendations in my latest Substack. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

A cameo in Taylor Swift’s Disney+ documentary sparked a surge in sales for Domaine de Terres Blanches. One of the winery’s bottles is visible during the last episode of End of an Era, prompting a run on the Sancerre which is released Feb. 7 at LCBO outlets www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Wine Consumption in Major Wine-Consuming Countries (1840-2024)

People think of icewine as a dessert wine or something for special occasions, but it doesn’t have to be, explains Inniskillin's Sumie Yamakawa. “We want to open people’s eyes to icewine’s potential.” www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

André Morgenthal loved wine. He loved South Africa. He loved connecting people. Mostly, he loved gathering around a table, sharing food, wine and free-ranging conversation. A toast to one of South African wine's greatest champions watersonwine.substack.com/p/my-dinners...

“[Trius Red has] definitely stood the test of time,” says Trius head winemaker Emma Garner. The new vintage of Trius Red is reviewed this week alongside other serious Bordeaux-influenced wines produced in Ontario and British Columbia. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

“Wine can be a symbol of resilience against climate change,” explains Spanish winemaker Miguel A. Torres. “We like to have our vineyards and like to produce wine to make people happier.” www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

If you’re shopping the upcoming LCBO Vintages release in Ontario, here are five wines that I have my eyes on. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

I went to a career fair in university and asked an unwitting reporter from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record how I could get a wine column. She deflected, with good reason. There were few wine columns in the country then. None written by twenty-something English majors. substack.com/inbox/post/1...

I am often asked if I have a podcast. I don’t, but do think about it. Time and confusion about technology and equipment are the biggest hurdles as I see it. Excuses that are easy enough to overcome should I decide to be the world’s last adopter of podcasting. open.substack.com/pub/waterson...

Although wine is often seen as a traditional business, Spanish winemaker Miguel A. Torres turned his family’s company into a global leader by embracing new ideas and preparing for the future. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Global Per Capita Wine, Beer, and Spirits Consumption, 1961-2022

If you plan to avoid or reduce consumption of alcohol in the new year, there’s an ever-expanding universe of non-alcoholic beer, wines and spirits to consider. Here are three recommendations to buy now www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/260a807...

Bill Ashburn started planning his retirement from Forty Creek two years ago by imparting knowledge gained over 38 years in distilling and transferring responsibilities as part of a succession plan. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Canadian wine has enjoyed a banner year, with increased consumer interest and good-quality harvests across the country. 
The real excitement was the abundance in B.C., which signalled a recovery from the 2024 frost that resulted in 95-per-cent crop loss. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Sharing wines with real personality is one of the best ways I know to spread joy. Whether they are classic or recognizable labels or more novel and modern expressions, the right sort of wine for this moment conveys unique characteristics. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Whether you opt to serve something bitter, bubbly or refreshing, a well-chosen aperitif can have a transformative effect especially during the merry mayhem of the holiday season. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

As the temperature drops, my interest in hearty red wine typically increases. But I’m also attracted to deeply satisfying styles of white wines that inspire cheer and conviviality during the cozy season. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Stone Eagle represents a huge vote of confidence in continued growth of luxury wine tourism in the Niagara. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

For many, it can be hard to pick from the many available options of wines for holiday hosting. 
Much depends on taste and budget, which is why I’m sharing recommendations for enjoyable bottles that can rise to meet different occasions. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

The popularity of drinks-themed advent calendars continues to grow, as festive packs of wine, spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails add to the merriment of the season. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Chief winemaker Peter Gago not only carries on the research, experimentation and wine development that define Penfolds’ legacy, but also serves as the company’s public face. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

A cold, wet fall night begs for comfort, which can come in the form of thick knit socks or something substantial and warming for dinner accompanied by a rich and complex wine to sip on. There are some solid examples recommended in this week’s column. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

The changing climate in Bordeaux has led the industry to welcome new grape varieties to maintain quality winemaking in the future, but Château Mouton Rothschild and other properties in Pauillac welcome “the golden age of cabernet sauvignon.” www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

A limited-edition bottle from J.P. Wiser’s marks another milestone for Canadian whisky. A 27-year-old whisky finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks was introduced by the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Windsor this month and retails for $599.95 per bottle. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

The festive onslaught seems premature this year, with an early start for Hallmark holiday programming and surprise sightings of seasonal gift packs in liquor stores this week. Ready or not, the countdown is on. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

Laura Catena travels the world to pour the latest releases of stylish chardonnays and robust reds from her family’s winery in Mendoza. She landed in Toronto with a different agenda this week: to show how those wines mature in the bottle. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

California accounts for 78.5% of U.S. wine production, followed by New York (4.2%), Washington (4.0%), and Oregon (2.8%). Behind that are many surprises (e.g., Kentucky #5, New Jersey #8).

While Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc continues to represent New Zealand wine around the world with telltale zesty and jubilant flavours, the couple behind that runaway success have shifted their focus toward more sustainable and refined wines from Marlborough. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/f...

The Arts team @theglobeandmail.com worked on this fantastic #culture #Canada #culture package. 1/3 www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/129d895...