Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
On this special edition of Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on CFRA News Talk Radio, I had the pleasure of chatting with Patricia about why Chardonnay is the #1 planted white grape globally, why it’s a favourite for both winemakers and wine drinkers, and why Canada’s cool-climate Chardonnay deserves your full attention.
Elegant, vibrant, and beautifully layered—this vintage captures the freshness of a cool start and the richness of a warm finish. 🍋🍐🍏 Pale gold with citrus, pear, yellow apple, lemon tart, and hints of jasmine tea on the nose. Full-bodied with a creamy texture, bright acidity, and finesse. The oak? Subtle and perfectly balanced. The most elegant Chardonnay yet from @burrowingowlwine. Enjoy now or cellar for 5+ years. 🥂 Perfect with grilled seafood, roast poultry, or autumn squash bisque. 📍 Oliver, BC | 🍇 Estate-grown | 🍷 Tasted May 2025 #BurrowingOwl #Chardonnay #OkanaganWine #BCWine #CanadianWine #WineLovers #WineTasting #ChardonnayLovers #SonoraRoom #WineCountry #CoolClimateWine
Crafted from carefully selected parcels on the Niagara Peninsula, this wine is powerful yet refined. Aged in high-quality oak barrels, it’s a Chardonnay that delivers depth and elegance in equal measure. Orchard fruit, crème brûlée, spice, and toasty oak form a complex profile. 🍏 A full-bodied, textured Chardonnay with fine balance and long finish. Perfect for lobster, creamy risotto, or roast pork. $48.50 (winery-direct)
From the limestone-laden soils of Prince Edward County, this small-batch Chardonnay is precision-crafted and mineral-focused. The JCR (Janine, Curtis, and Rod) cuvée is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay with classic Burgundian influences. Fermented and aged in French oak, it balances vibrant citrus with subtle toasty notes.
Hailing from one of Niagara’s premier sub-appellations, this extended barrel-aged Chardonnay is opulent, silky, and impeccably crafted. The Beamsville Bench’s unique terroir—characterized by clay-rich soils and limestone bedrock—shines through in the wine’s complexity.
Straw-gold colour, the nose offers ripe stone fruit, orchard fruits, spring blossoms, and a hint of wildflower honey, accompanied by a subtle mineral note. On the palate, it's generous, with vibrant flavors of stone fruit, pear, and a touch of citrus zest that lingers on the finish. A delightful wine to enjoy this spring and summer. Tasted May 2025. 90 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.QuercusVino.ca
April 2025 Black Bank Hill 2022 Chardonnay Winemaker Jonathan McLean, with a decade of experience creating exceptional wines in the Okanagan Valley, joined Black Bank Hill in 2021. His expertise and stylistic influence is evident in this estate-grown Chardonnay from their Lincoln Lakeshore VQA vineyard in Beamsville, crafted from clones 95 and 548. The wine... Continue Reading →
Today on CTV, CTVs Stefan Keys, Melissa Lamb, and Sommelier Matt Steeves were tasting an all-Ontario line-up of local wines and spirits which are delicious, crafted right here in Ontario, and are easily accessible winery-direct or at LCBO. With everything going on these days, having some delicious local Canadian wines and spirits is the perfect way to show your national pride and stay refreshed this spring.
Today on CFRA, CFRAs Patricia Boal and Sommelier Matt Steeves were tasting an all-Ontario line-up of local wines and spirits which are delicious, crafted right here in Ontario, and are easily accessible winery-direct or at LCBO. With everything going on these days, having some delicious local Canadian wines and spirits is the perfect way to show your national pride and stay refreshed this spring.
Light gold colour, the nose is inviting with rich orchard fruit, baked apple, pineapple, melon, and a hint of hazelnut. Full-bodied and creamy, offering an array of luscious orchard and tropical fruit flavors. The winemaker's careful attention in crafting this fine wine included fermenting in stainless steel followed by aging in French oak, and a small amount of Hungarian and Bulgarian oak. The result is a great expression of high quality and great value Niagara Chardonnay. Rich, ripe, and creamy, it’s a wine that showcases both the depth and power of the 2018 vintage. A testament to the skill of winemaker Sue-Ann Staff and the high quality fruit she's working with to offer such impressive wines at great prices. Enjoy over the next five years. Tasted March 2025. 90 points. Matt Steeves
Quercus Vino 