Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
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
Kirby Estate Signature Merlot 2020 – Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA Nestled in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Kirby Estate is positioning itself among Canada’s top-tier producers. Proprietors Scott and Maria Kirby have spared no effort in showcasing the full potential of their distinctive K-shaped estate vineyards (as depicted on their label). Supported by renowned viticulturalist Craig Wismer and winemaker Matt Smith, their philosophy is clear: precision farming, meticulous selection, and an uncompromising pursuit of quality. The 2020 Signature Merlot represents the pinnacle of their craft. Sourced from 18-year-old vines planted in sandy loam soils, the grapes were handpicked in two lots (October 24 and November 7) at 23+ and 25+ brix, highlighting both patience and confidence in the growing season. After cold soaking, wild yeast fermentation, and 20 months in French oak (new and neutral), the wine was bottled unfiltered in July 2022 at 15.7% ABV. This alone speaks volumes about the exceptional ripening achieved in this cool-climate region. Signature Merlot 2020 is a deep ruby colour with a subtle garnet rim. Fragrant and layered, offering sweet plum, blackberry, blueberry pie, cassis, and dark cherry, supported by savoury herbs, graphite, and crushed stone. A vibrant expression of both vintage ripeness and vineyard precision. Silky and powerful with exceptional texture. Velvety tannins frame concentrated dark fruit and spice, gradually unfolding into a long, graceful finish. Despite its 15.7% power, the wine remains refreshing and balanced, with cool-climate acidity adding lift and elegance to the full-bodied intensity. A defining expression of Niagara Merlot: rich, structured, and beautifully composed, capturing remarkable ripeness while staying true to its origin. The 2020 Signature Merlot is a testament to what can be achieved when ambition, talent, and terroir align. The finest Niagara Merlot I’ve tasted. Enjoy now with a 2 hour decant or cellar and enjoy over the next 15–20 years. Tasted November 2025. 96 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca
High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. Torre di Terzolan Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina. During my visit to the estate in winter 2025, the deep connection between land and legacy was palpable, from the ancient cellars where Roberta ages her wines in oak and amphora, to the extraordinary tree towering over the estate which was planted in 1492 to mark Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America. A place of serenity and craftsmanship. Their 2020 Amarone beautifully builds on the impressive 2019 vintage, offering a fragrant, complex, and elegant interpretation while retaining remarkable intensity. The nose is deeply expressive, unveiling dark cherry, dried red and dark fruits, balsamic tones, subtle spice, and graphite minerality, with gentle floral and herbal nuances emerging over time. On the palate, it's harmonious and elegant, showing graceful concentration with dried dark fruit, plum, fine spice, and beautifully integrated tannins. The texture is refined, the structure poised, and the overall impression one of restrained power, an Amarone that favours finesse and purity over weight yet has the structure for decades of cellaring. A compelling expression from this talented producer, the 2020 vintage is shaping up to be another standout, exemplifying the unique character of Torre di Terzolan’s single vineyards on their historic estate. Expect graceful development over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
This impressive lightly coloured Amarone impressed last year when it made its debut at Anteprima Amarone given its surprisingly faint colour yet big and layered taste profile. The 2020 vintage brings a similar light ruby colour and all the elegance you would expect along with great structure and texture revealing red and dark fruits, dried fruits, fig, plum, and sweet spices with impressive crushed rock minerality from the white limestone, black basalt and flint stone found in their high elevation vineyards overlooking Verona. This Amarone represents so clearly the terroir from where it was born. With their high elevation vineyards and careful winemaking they're able to reflect a profound sense of place so well. Contrada Palui is changing how many may have perceived Amarone in the past. See for yourself. Put your fancy Burgundy down and try this wine! You'll be impressed. Enjoy now and over the next 15 years. Tasted February 2025. 95 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Sartori ‘Corte Brà’ Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2020 Founded in 1898, Sartori di Verona is one of the region’s most historic and influential family wineries, with over a century of experience crafting wines that express the character and tradition of Valpolicella. Their flagship Amarone, Corte Brà, comes from select hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico zone, where the combination of old vines, limestone-rich soils, and cooling breezes promotes depth, concentration, and longevity. Produced only in the best vintages, Corte Brà Amarone Riserva is Sartori’s top expression—crafted with meticulous grape selection and long aging to reveal the estate’s signature elegance and power. 2020 Corte Brà Riserva opens with concentrated dark fruit, warm spice, cracked pepper, orange peel, and lifted balsamic tones, all melding beautifully in a deep and expressive bouquet. Initial impression is simply delicious! On the palate, it's richly textured and layered, showing generous dark fruit and spice supported by youthful, firm tannins that promise decades of graceful evolution. The structure is impressive, the balance refined, and the overall expression unmistakably that of a top-tier Amarone from this storied family estate. A fantastic effort with a long life ahead, and a shining example of the depth and sophistication that define Sartori’s most prestigious bottling. Tasted February 2025. 95 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca
Vigna ‘800 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva ‘Virgo Moron’ Vigna ‘800 is a family-run estate rooted in the historic hills of Negrar di Valpolicella in the heart of the Classico zone, where Amarone has been crafted and perfected for generations. The winery focuses on small-batch, terroir-driven wines that honour the region’s centuries-old winemaking culture. Known for purity, minerality, and complexity, Vigna ‘800 consistently produces Amarone that beautifully balances richness with freshness. Virgo Moron Riserva 2020 is an intriguing and deeply complex Amarone, opening with a layered bouquet of dark and dried fruits, interwoven with graphite minerality, earthiness, and delicate balsamic and savoury accents. The aromatic depth is captivating, offering both power and refinement. On the palate, the wine is richly textured yet balanced, with the dried-fruit character supported by savoury undertones and mineral lift. Everything is harmonious, polished, and beautifully composed—an exceptional Riserva that speaks clearly of its Classico hillside origins. Built for longevity, but immediately accessible, this is a wine to savour over the next couple decades. Enjoy 2026–2040. Tasted February 2025. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca
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