Barbera “Workhorse Grape” With Great Potential
By Ryan Gilchrist As we head into the much-anticipated summer season, we thought it appropriate to highlight one of the world’s great BBQ wines. It may not be the first wine that springs to mind when firing up the grill, but when done well, Barbera’s bright acidity, juicy fruit character and soft tannins are a […]
Dr. Konstantin Frank
By Rob Nellis The world has long recognized the quality of Californian wines, with Washington and Oregon also garnering international acclaim, but the wine regions of New York have remained relatively unknown outside the Eastern United States. Producing the 3rd largest volume of grapes in the country (behind California and Washington), the State lays […]
Fêtes des Vignerons
A Wine festival. swiss style by anna hobbs Switzerland may be better known for its watches than its wines – possibly because the fruit of the vine here is so good, most never leaves the country. Not only do the Swiss know how to make wine, they know how to throw a party. And […]
Fall Flavours
WITH RYAN GILCHRIST SOMMELIER I’m often asked, ‘what’s your favourite wine?’. My initial thought to such a question is…’it’s complicated’. What I do tell them is this…I try as many different wines as I can. AND…I drink wine seasonally! We’re now in the midst of my favourite time of the year, Autumn. Beautiful fall colours, […]
Get to Know Swiss Wine
WITH ROB NELLIS SOMMELIER Despite making wine for millennia, few people outside of Switzerland know anything about Swiss wines. This is, in large part, due to the fact that only 2% of domestic production is exported. Those wines that do leave the country are generally quite pricey. Add to that a penchant for using autochthonous […]
Margaret Hobbs Joins the Buyers & Cellars Team
OTTAWA, Canada (February 22, 2019) Buyers & Cellars Wine Purveyors Inc., Ontario’s newest boutique wine agency, is extremely pleased to announce that Margaret Hobbs has joined their ownership and management team. Margaret will be responsible for expanding supplier and Liquor Board relationships and contributing to the effectiveness of operations. “In my 30 years of working […]
Food Pairing With Sonoma Pinot Noir
WITH ROB NELLIS SOMMELIER Sonoma Pinot Noir has come a long way from its fairly innocuous beginnings. Lead by the examples of superstar pioneers like Williams Selyem, Littorai, Kosta Browne and a host of others, winemakers are crafting wines of ripeness, elegance and texture. These would never be confused with Burgundy, nor should they be. […]
Christmas Dinner Done Differently
WITH ROB NELLIS SOMMELIER Navigating the wine selection at LCBO VINTAGES to choose a special bottle for Christmas dinner – perhaps something a little different or unexpected – can be a daunting task. There is a common misconception that you pair the wine to the turkey at the centre of the meal, but that tends […]
On Aosta
WITH ROB NELLIS SOMMELIER It was dark as we drove into the Aosta Valley. Lights sparkled from houses and the odd streetlight on darkened slopes. There was a full moon, but it was barely visible through a shroud of clouds. You could sense the mountains around you and see dim outlines of the peaks, […]
Discovering a Rich New World
My passion for wine began in 2012 when I was working at a little off-the-beaten-path wine bar. They served what the locals liked to drink: Sancerre, Chablis and Pinot Grigio in the summer, while Malbec, Cabernet and Nebbiolo all were the favorites in the winter. When I started there, I had no particular passion for […]
