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Buyers Guide to VINTAGES – Aug 18th, 2018
Noble Grapes versus Native Grapes By David Lawrason with notes from John Szabo and Michael Godel Last week John shone a light on the new wave of grape varieties re-making Australian wine in VINTAGES August 18 release – thanks to an uncharacteristically daring collection assembled by VINTAGES buyer Greg MacDonald. Langhorne Creek Montepulciano eh? This week […] More
David Lawrason: A Canadian Wine Industry Champion
WineAlign’s David Lawrason: A Canadian Wine Industry Champion By John Szabo Industry insiders know it’s no surprise that David Lawrason was named Wine Industry Champion during the 2018 Canadian Wine Industry Awards ceremony held a couple of weeks ago in Kelowna, BC. Few have worked as tirelessly as Lawrason to shine the spotlight, and educate both […] More
John Szabo’s VINTAGES Preview – Aug 18th, 2018
The New Australia By John Szabo, MS, with notes by David Lawrason and Michael Godel Australia has worked hard over the last decade to re-shape its image from purveyor of inexpensive, fruity “sunshine in a bottle” to serious, regionally-focused fine wine producer and innovator. If you’re still stuck in the old paradigm, then the VINTAGES […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Discover Canada's best wines! In 2016, 22 judges tasted 1,535 wines from 230 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
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World Wine Awards of Canada
Seventeen judges tasted 1,000 wines in 21 categories in 2015 to find the world's best wines sold in Canada under $50.
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The main white grape of Burgundy has become ubiquitous in the wine world, and remains one of the most popular of the "international" grape varieties. Planted all over the globe, from the most southerly regions of New Zealand to Québec's Eastern Townships, the Chardonnay grape itself is relatively neutral, with many of the flavours commonly associated with the grape being derived more from the specific climate and geology or the vinification and aging methods than from any intrinsic aromatic components. In fact, the notes of butter and vanilla, so often associated with chardonnay, are actually derived from oak and a process called malolactic fermentation, rather than from the grape itself. With such a transparent character, it shouldn't be a surprise to see it vinified in many different styles, from the elegant, "flinty" wines of Chablis to rich, buttery Meursaults and New World wines with tropical fruit flavors. Chardonnay is also an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne.
