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Jan 7, 2025 | 
winealign.com | John Szabo MS |David Lawrason |Michael Godel |Megha Jandhyala
John Szabo’s Vintages Preview January 4: Smart Values even Smarter while HST on Holiday (If Smart at All)By John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, David Lawrason, Michael Godel and Megha JandhyalaHow Smart are the Smart Buys? I have no doubt that sales statistics gathered by the LCBO over past decades indicate that shoppers gravitate to lower-priced products in the post-holiday spending hangover. Hence the annual January release of inexpensive wines.
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Dec 4, 2024 | 
winealign.com | David Lawrason
The Fourteen Most Promising New Canadian Wineries in 2024By David Lawrason Each June at the National Wine Awards of Canada, I spend time in the back room among the 2,000 entries — snap tasting and snapping labels I have never seen before. Many are new brands, or graphic remakes, from existing wineries. But I only log those that appear to be new wineries, virtual or otherwise. In 2024 there were 39, from across Canada. In the weeks that followed I visited as many as possible in B.C. and Ontario.
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Nov 18, 2024 | 
winealign.com | David Lawrason |Megha Jandhyala |Elsa Macdonald MW
Privatization’s Next Milestone – Price CompetitionBy David Lawrason, with notes from Sara d’Amato, Megha Jandhyala and Elsa MacDonald MW“Did you know that Costco is now selling wine [in Ontario]?”The question came from an LCBO cashier I have come to know as I shop every two weeks for samples of the Vintages releases — including the intriguing selection of excellent wines that we recommend below.
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Nov 4, 2024 | 
winealign.com | John Szabo MS |David Lawrason |Michael Godel
John Szabo’s Vintages Preview November 2: Premium (Greatest Hits?) California, and The Best From Campania FelixBy John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, David Lawrason, and Michael GodelThis week Vintages brings us a release with a “Premium California” theme, though the LCBO’s selection could well have been named “California’s Greatest Hits.” Those looking for familiar faces will be happy in this crowd: Duckhorn, J.
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Oct 4, 2024 | 
winealign.com | David Lawrason
By David LawrasonThis feature was commissioned by LaStella Winery. In the past two decades the proliferation of wineries in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley has been nothing short of shocking. The number of wineries has tripled to 335 since 2004 (according to 2022 statistics). Most have sought distinction through branding and marketing. After all, how different can one be in one small region?
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
winealign.com | John Szabo MS |David Lawrason |Michael Godel
Harvest & Storm Clouds in OntarioBy John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, David Lawrason and Michael GodelThe week’s report features the September 7 Vintages Release and the LCBO’s annual harvest-time focus on Ontario. The Vintages circular offers flashy spreads and ample coverage of Ontario wineries, with special emphasis on advancements in sustainability, the rise of hands-off winemaking, and the ongoing search for ever-finer distinctions across the province.
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May 2, 2024 | 
winealign.com | David Lawrason
By David LawrasonThis feature was commissioned by Sperling & GambleThat Ontario wine has arrived is no longer a question in most professional opinions. In fact, great Ontario wine has arrived, and WineAlign is working with winemakers Ann Sperling and Peter Gamble to put a curated 12-bottle case of it into your hands and cellars.
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Mar 5, 2024 | 
winealign.com | John Szabo |David Lawrason |Michael Godel |Megha Jandhyala
Exclusive Interview with Peripatetic Winemaker Paul Hobbs; Celebrate the Best of Ontario at Cuvée in Niagara FallsBy John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, David Lawrason, Michael Godel and Megha JandhyalaIn this report: March 2 Vintages release highlights, including a Croatian delight with rare quintuple alignment, top Tuscan wines from women winemakers (the theme this week is Italian women in wine), and triple-aligned assyrtiko from Central Greece and white Bordeaux.
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Feb 20, 2024 | 
winealign.com | David Lawrason |John Kent Szabo |Megha Jandhyala
France Featured, South Africa on Sale, B.C. on WatchBy David Lawrason, with notes from Sara d’Amato, John Szabo and Megha JandhyalaVINTAGES February 17 mid-winter release is short on heavy hitters but supplies some very good value wines within its regional French feature, and a few elsewhere. While shopping for these wines at my local Kingsway LCBO store in West Toronto, I spied some crazy sell-offs of premium South African wines.
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Jan 22, 2024 | 
winealign.com | John Szabo |Megha Jandhyala |Michael Godel |David Lawrason
Bonus: A Hungarian Revolution and Electricity-Generating Niagara Icewine FestivalBy John Szabo MS, with notes from Sara d’Amato, Megha Jandhyala, Michael Godel and David LawrasonThis week’s report features the usual buyer’s guide for the Vintages January 20 release. With just 70 wines joining the shelves, it’s the smallest release I can recall. But that’s not to say there isn’t much to choose from.
