Are you ready to conquer the wine aisles like a pro? I’ve got some fun and practical tips to help you navigate those shelves with confidence. Let’s dive into my top suggestions!

When it comes to wine selection, I recommend starting with the occasion. Are you pairing with dinner, bringing a gift, or just relaxing? For example, you can choose a bold red for steak night, a crisp white for seafood, Champagne for a gift or a chilled rosé for sitting back and relaxing.

Another tip is stick with a grape variety you like. This is a safe way to expand your wine experience without feeling overwhelmed. For instance, if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc, try one from New Zealand and Chile to explore the nuances. A Cabernet Sauvignon lover? Consider those from France, Argentina and British Columbia. The most popular white wine is Chardonnay, with the most famous coming from Burgundy, France. However, many excellent examples are available from Australia, Italy, South Africa and I recently discovered a gem from Niagara. More on that later in this article!

Understanding wine labels can be beneficial when navigating the wine aisle.

‘Old World’ wines come from traditional wine countries such as France, Italy, and Spain, which have a long winemaking history. The region is featured on the labels of these wines, such as Bordeaux in France, Chianti in Italy, Alentejo in Portugal, Mosel in Germany, and Rioja in Spain. It is very common for the grape variety to be absent on the label.

‘New World’ wines come from countries like Canada, South Africa, Australia, and the USA, which are newer to winemaking. These labels differ from their ‘Old World’ cousins. The grape variety, such as Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Merlot, or Riesling, are prominent on these wine labels to indicate the grape varietal used to make the wine. The wine region will also be located on the label somewhere.

A fourth tip: If you’re hosting outdoors, go for screw-cap bottles or wines in eco-friendly boxes or cans. They’re picnic-friendly and less fussy. Also, chill your reds slightly—especially in the sun. A slight chill brings out the fruit and keeps them refreshing.

Finally, like most shopping experiences, high prices don’t always equal high quality. You can find wines offering solid value across all price points.

An example of a good value red wine is Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 from the south of France. At $17, it is a go-to BBQ red in my house. This crowd-pleasing wine, with its fresh berry and spicy aromas, medium body, and soft, balanced tannins, is a testament to the fact that value wines are readily available. Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, will pair well with grilled meat, roast duck, vegetable casseroles, and cheddar cheeses.

Now, let’s showcase that Chardonnay from Niagara. Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2022 is a delicious discovery! This serious wine has fresh, forward aromas of vanilla with subtle and balanced creamy buttery flavours and a pleasant, long, lingering finish. At the sharp price of $24.95, Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2022 offers good value and competes easily with other Chardonnays at twice the price. Available in limited quantities at the winery.

Do you ever find yourself looking for wines that are outside the mainstream, wines that are away from the beaten path? Many small boutique wine agencies offer premium, curated, rare, unusual, and distinct wines.

One example is Wilco Fine Beverage. Louise Wilson Cormier, Master of Wine, founded her Ontario-based wine agency to create new tasting experiences for wine lovers by sharing unique, high-quality wines from her portfolio. Louise scours wine cellars worldwide and hand-picks exclusive wines that taste delicious while delivering exceptional value.

Exclusive to Wilco Fine Beverage is a wine I highly recommend called Dell’Aera Krio 2023. Dell’Aera is a family-run winery founded in the 1800s in Calabria, southern Italy. I found this red incredibly delicious! It is unusually light and refreshing for a red wine. It contains 40% Nerello Calabrese, which is a native varietal. It has aromas of peach, tangy acidity, and soft tannins. Serve Dell’Aera Krio 2023 slightly chilled with grilled salmon, sushi, patés and Gouda cheese.

Also exclusively from Wilco Fine Beverage is Marzocco Chianti Riserva 2021. The Marzocco family-run winery began in 1975 in Tuscany. This hearty red wine has forward, fresh aromas of cherries and a medium body with balanced, integrated tannins. Marzocco Chianti Riserva 2021 is an ideal wine to serve with food such as roast lamb, lasagne, mushroom risotto, and Pecorino cheese.

If you would like to reach out to Louise directly, she is at: louise@wilcofinebeverage.com and on Instagram @ wilcofinebeverage

Cheers to wine discoveries down the wine aisle and beyond!

Shari🥂

Not form Ontario? Try WineSearcher.

I can be reached at: sharispx@gmail.com