I was able to crash a tasting held by the Cercle Rive Droit club in London in March. They're a group devoted to the Right Bank Bordeaux wines. Some of my notes, plus what Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson are saying about 2010.

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Osoyoos Larose winemaker Pascal Madevon, who dropped in to Toronto to show off his wine and sign bottles for fans, is proud of his BC wine. He regularly compares it with counterparts in Bordeaux and when he's complimented he says "it's not me, it's the terroir".

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With grape names like ugni blanc, tannat and gros manseng, plus negrette and mauzac, it’s hard to tempt Canadians to try the wines of South West France. But they're cheap, and good.

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The anti-chardonnay fervor among a certain segment of the wine drinking population has calmed down in recent years, but it's still possible to hear the dismissive "ABC", meaning Anything But Chardonnay, from time to time.

The new twist, which I heard at the Experts' Tasting at Brock University, is much more appropriate. And if you need convincing, just check out some of Ontario's better chardonnays.

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Ontario's first ever estate sale of wines - 2,500 bottles in all - was held at the Spoke Club. Everything sold above the guide minimum, with many lots going much higher than guide. There were a few value buys, but really just a few...

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If you love wine, you sometimes think "what if I started a winery?" You know, make it your way, fill a market niche - only there's no $3 mil start-up money. Well these guys launched a wine and got general-listed, but they don't even have a winery. It's all virtual.

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Happy New Year all! Bubbly sales are spiking as partying ramps up and everyone's got one eye on New Year’s Eve. But what to buy? Here are ten sparklers worth sticking in your cart. And I particularly recommend... the Canadian one.

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Stratus Vineyards winemaker J.L. Groux led a group of us through a tasting of the latest and perhaps greatest Stratus vintage back in June. New release available now.

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