Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Some partnerships feel inevitable, not because they were planned, but because they were meant to be. The recent collaboration between the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella and Parmigiano Reggiano is exactly that: a meeting of two cultural icons that have long defined the essence of Italian excellence.
Bolzano, Alto Adige — January 28, 2026by Matt Steeves Leaving Verona under a soft veil of rain, we began the steady drive north, tracing the eastern edge of Lake Garda before the landscape tightened into Alto Adige’s dramatic Alpine corridor. The highway soon threaded its way through a steep mountain valley, the slopes rising sharply... Continue Reading →
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
Quercus Vino 