Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Ottawa, ON August 2020 Matt's review: Meritage 2017, Burrowing Owl's flagship wine, is a blend of (59%) Cabernet Sauvignon, (20%) Merlot, (18%) Cabernet Franc, and (3%) Petit Verdot, all estate grown from their Oliver-based winery in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Vinified and barrel-aged separately for 15 months in a blend of French and... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON June 2020 Matt's review: Jackson-Triggs' 2016 Entourage Grand Reserve Brut - A very impressive high quality sparking wine from this well known Niagara-on-the-Lake winery. At $29.95, Jackson-Triggs' Entourage Grand Reserve Brut has become a Sommelier favourite with each vintage given its consistent quality yet at a fraction of the price sparkling wines of... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2020 Matt's review: Benjamin Bridge has been making a real fizz in the sparkling wine scene over the past two decades. This Nova Scotia (Canada) based winery is producing sparkling wines that rival those from Champagne and other storied wine regions around the world. A combination of ideal terroir for producing... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON June 2019 Matt's review: Painted Rock Estate Winery's flagship wine, Red Icon, showcases the high quality wines that proprietor, John Skinner, and consulting winemaker, Alain Sutre, are focused on crafting from this picturesque Penticton - Skaha Lake, Okanagan Valley winery. With an objective of crafting world-class ultra premium wines that showcase the... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON November 2018 Matt's review: 2017 Chateau des Charmes' estate grown and bottled Sauvignon Blanc is a fantastic example of the fine mineral-focused Sauvignon Blanc being produced by this iconic Ontario winery. Herbaceous, with fresh tropical and exotic fruits on the nose and palate, the impressive minerality which persists on the finish resembles that... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON October 2018 Matt's review: Featherstone's Four Feathers blends four cool climate white grapes: Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a splash of Gewürztraminer, in one fragrant, creamy, and refreshing wine that's both super versatile and super value priced. Pale straw in colour, it's loaded with sweet orchard and tropical fruits, fragrant floral blossom, and... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON September, 2018 Matt's review: Icellars is excelling in the production of high quality red wines, which is earning them a reputation as one of the top fine wine producing wineries in Ontario. Their low production Syrah (145 cases) has a deceiving light ruby red appearance which bursts with expressive strawberry, smoky plum, black... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2017 I love tasting wines (obviously!) and am always keen to taste new wines in the Ontario market so I can share any new personal favourite wine picks with fellow wine lovers on social media and via my wine segments on CTV. Well earlier this winter I had the pleasure of tasting... Continue Reading →
Last February I had the pleasure of attending a full day symposium at the Vancouver International Wine Festival that focused on what it takes to enable the development of a prosperous and healthy wine culture here in Canada. The premise is that despite world class winemaking expertise, ideal terroir, and an increasingly knowledgeable and growing... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON June 2017 Matt's review: For over 20 years Burrowing Owl has been producing some of Canada's finest wines, from the Wine Capital of Canada, Oliver, BC. Their 2013 Meritage (Bordeaux blend) is a blend of 39% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec that were each... Continue Reading →
Quercus Vino 