Staff Picks

Jason MacPhee

Wine Category Manager

🐰 Easter Pairing: Grilled asparagus

Le Morette, a renowned Italian winery run by the third-generation Paolo and Fabio Zenato, is located in the heart of the Lugana wine region, south of Lake Garda. The winery is dedicated to producing high-quality, sustainable wines, such as their Le Morette Lugana Mandolara. This wine has a vibrant bouquet of citrus and green apple, balanced by subtle floral notes. Crisp and refreshing on the palate, it has a clean, mineral finish that lingers elegantly. Lugana’s crisp acidity and citrus notes complement the delicate, grassy flavors of grilled asparagus, making it an ideal pairing. Lugana is always the life of the party without trying too hard.

Lucas Mader

Category Manager for Beer, Refreshment, & Spirits, Cicerone

🐰 Easter Pairing: Turkey

Kate, Michael, and Genny have you covered for the mid-dinner pairings, so i’ll make sure your whistle is wet pre-dinner. Vermouth may not be in the spotlight lately, but let me tell you; Vermouth is about to be cool and this white vermouth from Spain is how you’re going to show your friends how ahead of the trend you are. 

Casa Mariol Vermut Blanco is so aromatic with aromas of rosemary and thyme, citrus notes and touches of vanilla that lead into a sweet and refreshing palate. Serve on ice with a lemon peel and 2 olives, and you’ll be ready to enjoy that Easter dinner that awaits.

Kathryn Harding

Director of Customer Experience, Sommelier

🐰 Easter Pairing: Deviled eggs

Eggs are a favourite food of mine, but they are a tricky wine pairing as their rich yolks can dull wine flavours, while their sulphur may create a bitter or metallic taste. For tricky pairings, I always choose sparkling wine! The Lightfoot & Wolfville Rosé is perfect for deviled eggs—it’s strawberry and white flower notes will complement, while the bright acidity and lively bubbles will balance the richness. Plus, its gorgeous pink hue makes it perfect for toasting!

Alanna McIntyre

Product Specialist, Sommelier

🐰 Easter Pairing: Candied sweet potatoes

Gaby McCotter

Retail Manager

🐰 Easter Pairing: Stuffing

Easter stuffing, a glorious carb-fest often involving bread, sausage, and maybe even some dried fruit, meets its match in Vouvray. The stuffing, a hearty, slightly chaotic character, is introduced to Vouvray, a sophisticated Loire Valley white with a charming touch of sweetness. While the stuffing might initially be a bit overwhelming, the Vouvray, with its subtle fruit notes and refreshing acidity, cuts through the richness like a well-timed joke at the dinner table. It’s the unexpected pairing that somehow works, like finding socks that almost match in the laundry. Who knew breadcrumbs and Chenin Blanc could be such a delightful duo?

Ryan Almeida

eCommerce Manager

🐰 Easter Pairing: Ham

When it comes to meals like Easter supper, you’ll want something delicious and versatile and Laxas Albariño checks both of those boxes. Subtle floral notes mixed with stone fruit, refreshing acidity, and firm minerality make this a perfect choice for one of the meals main events, ham. Regardless of how you prepare your ham, Alabariño will do a great job of cutting through any sweetness or matching salinity. Plus, this wine is a joy to pair with just about everything else on the table, too!

Kate Fraser

Retail Supervisor, Spirits Specialist

🐰 Easter Pairing: Turkey

People don’t utilize rose enough when pairing with food, another hill i’ll die on. Some of the perks of red wine (red berry fruit) with the zest of a white wine, it really is a nice middle ground and ideal for a turkey dinner. Chiaretto di Bardolino is a rose producing region on the south eastern end of Lake Garda. Using Corvina, Molinara & Rondinella the Morette is fresh, fruit driven and perfect for any fine poultry dinner.

Stefan Nielsen

Retail Supervisor, Sommelier

🐰 Easter Pairing: Honey-roasted carrots

Sit at my table for a festive holiday dinner and I’ll more-than-likely be pouring a Beaujolais. Whether it’s Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas, I find that Gamay is the easiest and most versatile wine to pair with the wide array of foods and flavours you’ll be enjoying. My favourite side dish to contribute these days? Why, honey-roasted carrots of course. They’re super easy to prep and the roasting process is very hands-off and simple, allowing you to focus on all the other stuff you’ve got going on. They’re crunchy, sweet and oh-so-tasty, and just begging to be washed down with a tall glass of Beauj. This example from JP Brun has been a personal favourite lately – serve slightly chilled!

Matt Hodgson

Retail Supervisor

🐰 Easter Pairing: Ham

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for anything pineapple, and ham and pineapple go together as well as milk and cookies. Naturally, my first thought for a pairing would be a nice tropical Chardonnay (I’m looking at you, Montes Alpha).

But allow me to introduce a new idea: Chimay Red. This beer is practically designed to be enjoyed alongside a feast. Trappist beers have a long and rich history—one I won’t dive into now—but if you’re not already drinking them, it’s time to start.

Chimay Red boasts a sweet, brown-bread maltiness with pleasant notes of orange, apricot, and rich toffee. Its smooth bitterness is perfectly balanced by champagne-like carbonation, making it an excellent match for ham, cheese, or, honestly, just about anything on your plate.

Genny

Customer Service Sales Associate, Sommelier

Local Restaurant + Valentine’s Day Pairing ❤️

Pair with Beef Tartare from Field Guide

Beef tartare is one of those dishes that I always enjoy but would never think to try to make at home, so I usually go for it if I see it on a menu. I always go for it at Field Guide, whose take on the dish changes seasonally, but always involves some element of bright aromatics and textural variety to liven up the dish. With beef tartare, I still want a red to bring some depth to the pairing, but I wouldn’t want anything too heavy. Cousin Oscar is a pinot noir and cinsault blend from the French Languedoc region. Lifted notes of cherry, strawberry and gentle florals and silky tannins pair well with the tender, savoury experience of the meal.  

Fernando

Customer Service Sales Associate

Saint Patrick’s Day 🍀

It’s back and it’s in its glorious 750ml format. If you’ve been reading these write-ups then you’ll know that this is easily in my top five beers. With this larger size I’m more inclined to share this beer without fear of running out. The Saison Dupont undergoes a secondary fermentation, similar to that other neat sparkling wine you might know from France or Spain. Stock up before I take home all of our inventory!

Daniela

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Chocolate bunny

If you ask me what the perfect Easter treat is, I’d 100% say rich, creamy chocolate bunnies with a sweet, fizzy wine! The smooth, velvety texture of the chocolate beautifully complements the crisp bubbles and fruity notes of Michele Chiarlo Palas Moscato. The wine’s natural sweetness enhances the cocoa flavors, creating a delightful balance of decadence and refreshment. Whether you’re treating yourself or gifting a loved one, this combination adds a touch of fun to any celebration. Happy Easter! 🐰

Allie Barter

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Ham

Grand Pré Riesling is the perfect companion for your Easter ham. With its crisp acidity and notes of green apple, citrus, and a touch of minerality, this Nova Scotia gem cuts through the richness of the ham while enhancing its smoky-sweet flavors. The slight hint of residual sweetness balances the saltiness, making each bite more mouthwatering. Whether glazed with honey or studded with cloves, your holiday ham finds its match in this refreshing, food-friendly wine. Serve it chilled for a pairing that will impress your guests and elevate your Easter feast. Cheers to great wine and good company!

David

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Scalloped potatoes

Creamy, cheesy, buttery scalloped potatoes are a staple on many a table. Sometimes a big buttery Chardonnay is a good pairing, and sometimes it’s too much richness in a meal. My pairing for this classic starter is the DMZ Chardonnay, a fine example of a Stellenbosch chard. Round and creamy with rich flavours of nectarine and peach, the oak is subtle but present, and a limey, zesty, chalky mineral streak cuts right through to cleanse the palate, leaving just a touch of residual sweetness.

Erica Priolo

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Chocolate bunny

I cannot wait to indulge in a decadent chocolate bunny or two over Easter weekend. Why not pair it with a locally made ice wine? Grand Pre is located in the stunning valley and they make a top notch Vidal ice wine. With an appeasing brightness, the sugars interplay beautifully on the palette. Think of it as your fruits n nuts to that smooth chocolate bunny.

Michael Kamras

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Turkey

Oh, the turkey. The fan favourite bird with that ever elusive perfect cook. It’s a delicate thing, and that is why the perfect pairing needs to be versatile enough to hide the flaws but highlight the strengths of this majestic bird. That’s where Jean Paul Brun’s Saint Amour comes in. This fresh gamay is coming from the northernmost cru of Beaujolais which softens this wine just a touch, giving almost a hint of that Burgundy elegance. Fresh berries, a dash of floralness, and a hint of minerality will keep this pairing nice and light on the palate. Perfect for pairing, sharing, or keeping it all to yourself!

Maida

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Ham

When I hear ham, I think of a pineapple and cherry glazed baked ham. Sweet, salty, alittle fatty and slightly sticky so obviously deserves a Pinot noir that’s just as yummy. Echeverria Pinot Noir is aromatic with notes of red berries, cherry and chocolate which translates well onto the palate. The bright acidity provides a great contrast to the sweet/fruitiness of the ham without being overpowering. This pair compliments each other and what more could you ask for!

Damir Sancevic

Customer Service Sales Associate

🐰 Easter Pairing: Potato Salad

My grandmother used to make this simple potato salad every Easter. Sliced potatoes with onion and finely chopped dill. A touch of oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. It’s the kind of side that by being so simple, you can have one too many servings. There’s no such thing as too many servings. And if you’re having a Txakolí wine from the Basque country in Spain, the fresh and bright acidity, the saline and crips texture cutting through. Forget the Turkey, I might just stick to the sides this time.