Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Prince Edward County has never lacked for ambition, but Volta Estate Winery represents something altogether different — a bold, design-forward newcomer poised to reshape the region’s premium wine landscape. As the newest kid on the block in Hillier, Volta arrives with both serious intent and a long-term vision that extends well beyond the glass.
Okanagan Falls continues to prove it can deliver world-class sparkling, and The One is a benchmark example: restrained, mineral-driven, and built on patience rather than flash. Elegant, focused, and beautifully aged—this is Canadian sparkling for Champagne lovers who value finesse over excess. Enjoy now and over the next 5 years. Tasted February 2026. 93+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Horseshoe Cellars 2024 Kelson Block Riesling Grimsby Hillside Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore VQA 93 points A beautifully poised single-vineyard Riesling that captures both site and season with quiet confidence. Pale straw-gold in the glass, this wine opens with lifted aromas of crisp pear, white peach, stone fruit, melon, and wildflower honey, underscored by a precise wet-stone minerality. The palate is elegant and finely tuned, delivering refreshing stone fruit and white orchard flavours in a medium-light frame. At 12 g/L residual sugar, the wine carries just the faintest whisper of sweetness through the mid-palate—enough to round the edges without ever distracting from its freshness. The finish is clean, persistent, and mineral-driven, with lingering notes of white fruit and a subtle echo of honey. Planted in 2008 with Riesling clone 21B, the Kelson Block sits on the drier, slightly warmer northern edge of the Grimsby Hillside Vineyard, benefiting from increased sun exposure and reduced escarpment runoff. Rooted in Trafalgar clay loam with layers of red clay and green-banded shale over Queenston bedrock, the site brings both structure and finesse, expressed here with clarity and restraint. Hand-harvested on September 28, 2024, and produced in a tiny lot of just 70 cases, this is an impressive and articulate vintage of the Kelson Block from Horseshoe Cellars. Refreshing, elegant, and remarkably versatile at the table—equally at home with seafood, spicy Asian-inspired dishes, or simply enjoyed on its own. Tasted February 2026. 93 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
January 25, 2026 Rabbie Burns Night is a celebration of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert (Rabbie) Burns, as well as an opportunity for people to celebrate Scottish culture as a whole. A typical Burns celebration includes poems, a traditional “Burns Supper” of haggis, neeps (turnip), and tatties (potatoes), as well as at least one dram to... Continue Reading →
Each year, a small handful of wines rise unmistakably above the rest—bottles that don’t simply impress, but define what greatness looks like in their place of origin. The top-rated wines I tasted this year from Canada, Champagne, and across Italy represent the absolute pinnacle of craftsmanship, terroir expression, and ambition. These are wines made without compromise, where precision meets emotion, and regional identity is expressed with clarity and confidence. From cool-climate Canadian vineyards delivering finesse and mineral tension, to the timeless brilliance of Champagne, and the profound depth and heritage found throughout Italy’s greatest appellations, these selections stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s finest. Together, they tell a compelling story of what is possible when vision, site, and skill align—wines that proudly showcase the extraordinary heights their regions can achieve on the global stage.
Wine shouldn’t feel intimidating — it should be enjoyable, expressive, and accessible to everyone. Yet myths persist about how wine should be sealed, served, stored, or selected. To help cut through that noise, I recently joined Patricia Boal on CFRA News Talk Radio 580 to debunk some of the most common misconceptions using seven wonderful wines from Canada, Portugal and Italy.
Wine shouldn’t feel intimidating — it should be enjoyable, expressive, and accessible to everyone. Yet myths persist about how wine should be sealed, served, stored, or selected. To help cut through that noise, I recently joined CTV Your Morning to debunk some of the most common misconceptions using five wonderful wines from Canada and Italy. Each wine highlighted a different myth, and each proved it wrong in the most delicious way. Wine doesn’t have to be complicated to be extraordinary. Serve it properly, store it wisely, and stay open to discovery. Whether it’s a twist-top white, a powerful cool-climate red, sea-aged sparkling, or an iconic style like Amarone — the key is curiosity, not conformity. Afterall, wine is meant to be experienced, not overcomplicated. So remember, the best bottle isn’t determined by price, closure, or origin—it’s the one you enjoy, explore, and share.
This is a compelling sensory example demonstrating that underwater cellaring is not merely theatrical but, when executed with precision, can serve as a legitimate élevage method, influencing structural tension, mousse density, aromatic restraint, and preservation of freshness. Excellent now, but also a prime candidate for medium-term evolution under cork. Enjoy 2025-2035. Tasted November 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca
Founded in 1772, and now guided by the seventh generation of the Boscaini family, Masi has spent nearly 250 years shaping the voice of Amarone—rooted in heritage, guided by innovation, and always deeply connected to the land. Their flagship Costasera Amarone is grown on hillside vineyards spanning the historic communes of Marano, Negrar, Sant’Ambrogio, and San Pietro in Cariano—the very cradle of the Valpolicella Classico zone, where many of the region’s finest Amarone wines are produced each year. These west and southwest-facing slopes soak up the final warmth of the day, while Lake Garda’s cooling breezes preserve the wine’s natural lift and finesse—a hallmark of Classico Amarone, which tends to show more vibrancy and freshness compared to its warmer eastern counterparts. The soils here contain red limestone and cretaceous marl, rich in calcium carbonate, which add a mineral tension and elegance that complements the naturally rich dried fruit character found in many Amarone wines. From these noble slopes, Masi cultivates Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, grapes that are slowly dried after harvest using the traditional appassimento method. The result is a wine style that balances intensity with elegance, approachable in its youth, yet structured for cellaring. I recently tasted the 2020 vintage of Costasera, now widely available at LCBO stores across Ontario, just in time for the holidays, when Amarone becomes one of the season’s most sought-after wines for both gifting and fireside enjoyment. In the glass, it’s deep, dense, and inviting, with expressive aromas of dark cherry, wild berries, and dried plum, layered with dark chocolate, balsamic herbs, graphite, and a subtle earthiness that nods to its hillside origins. The palate delivers a full-bodied, plush mouthfeel, lifted by bright acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Flavours of dried fruit, cocoa-dusted raisins, and gentle warm spice carry through a long, mouthwatering finish. While it’s drinking beautifully now, this wine will evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years. It’s approachable, classically styled, and offers excellent value, making it a great introduction to Amarone for those just discovering the style, and a solid, reliable bottle for seasoned enthusiasts alike. Tasted November 2025. 93 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Collectible Amarone: The Top Wines of the 2020 Vintage - A First Look at Amarone 2020: A Vintage of Elegance, Energy & Exceptional Balance. Full details at http://www.quercusvino.ca #Amarone #Anteprima #Valpolicella #Italy #Sommelier #Wine #TopRated #MustTry #WineAficionado #Verona #AmaronePreview #Cellarworthy #Backupthetruck #Winetime #2020Amarone #Corvina #LakeGarda #OperaPrima #Anteprima #WineCollecting #Cellaring #Consorzio
Quercus Vino 