On June 18th we celebrate fathers and all that they do for us. From teaching us how to hit a baseball to celebrating our victories, big and small, fathers know how to make us feel special. Nothing is more appreciated on Father’s Day than a meal shared with the family. Here’s a list of wines for every taste and every budget to help you celebrate the Papa Bear in your life.
South Australia
An excellent full-bodied Shiraz made with 96% Shiraz and 4% Viognier. That 4% Viognier sounds like a small amount, but it improves the structure of the wine. On the nose, aromas of dark berries, some floral notes, and milk chocolate. The plush palate reveals more dark berries, plums, mocha, and subtle spice, with polished tannins and fine acidity—a terrific wine to pair with lamb chops or bbq ribs.
Extra Dry • LCBO# 66738 • $21.95
STAG’S LEAP WINE CELLARS ARTEMIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
Napa Valley, California, United States
Father’s Day is a time to splurge on Dad, and you can‘t go wrong with an elegant, polished Cabernet Sauvignon. This one is fragrant and flavourful with soft floral notes, dark berry fruit, plum, mocha, subtle spice, leather, tobacco, and toasted oak. It’s satiny smooth and has excellent balance, with a delicious lingering finish, too—a perfect pairing for your next beef or lamb steak. You could age this for the next several years. . . but life is short, so why not enjoy it soon?
Extra Dry • LCBO# 708982 • $92.95
Tuscany, Italy
This delicious, fragrant, and full-bodied Brunello will surely make Papa Bear happy. Mama Bear, too! It is made from 100% Sangiovese variety, with a palate that is lush and flavourful, giving intense notes of cherry, raspberry, licorice, leather, cedar, sandalwood, and sous bois. Decant for two hours and serve with rare steaks and hard cheeses. Or it can be cellared for several years.
Extra Dry • LCBO# 650432 • $54.95
BOUCHARD PERE & FILS CHARDONNAY MACON-LUGNY ST-PIERRE
Macon-Lugny, Burgundy, France
This wine, from the esteemed Bouchard et Fils winery, will make any Chardonnay lover happy. The warmth of the Macon region results in richer, more intense flavours in the wine. You’ll find aromas and flavours of tropical pineapple, along with ripe apple and pear, citrus, roasted nuts and white florals, and sweet spices like nutmeg. Irresistible with grilled salmon or scallops or a rich mushroom risotto.
Extra Dry • LCBO# 51573 • $30
Sicily, Italy
Sicilian wines have improved in quality a great deal in recent years and are worth getting to know. This is a recent wine discovery, made from 100% Grillo grapes, that I highly recommend for summer. Pretty apricot, peach, and lemony notes show on this wine, making it very aromatic and flavourful. It’s well-balanced and elegant, with light acidity. It makes a delightful sipper and also pairs extremely well with seafood and vegetable dishes. You’ll get extremely good value at this price point.
Dry • LCBO# 30947 • $13.60
MOOSEHEAD NEON RADLER BLUE RASPBERRY
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
From Canada‘s iconic Moosehead brewery, Canada’s oldest independent brewer, which was founded in 1867, the same year as Confederation. This lager is infused with natural blue raspberry to make a refreshing summer beverage. It pairs well with grilled burgers or barbequed chicken or makes a tasty sipper for the patio.
LCBO# 024995 • 473 ml can • $2.95
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL THE GREAT DADS OUT THERE!
For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com