Bring Canadian Wine Country to You: Your Guide to the Perfect At-Home Wine Tasting
Spring is in full swing — the season of sipping house-made wines on a patio that overlooks a valley ripe with vineyards. While a trip to a winery might temporarily be on hold, enjoying a glass of wine (or three) in your own backyard doesn’t have to be.
From coast to coast, Canadian wineries are bringing wine country to you with free (or discounted) shipping, virtual tastings via Zoom, tutorials on Instagram Live and collections of recipes you can recreate in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s a collection of Canadian wineries from Okanagan Valley, Niagara Escarpment and Nova Scotia to include during your at-home wine tasting.
Nova Scotia Wineries
Nestled along the Northumberland shores of Nova Scotia, Jost Vineyards produces a broad selection of wines that’ll impress the connoisseur and the newest wine taster alike. Thanks to the rich soil and cool coastal climate, the Nova Scotia winery is turning heads with its full-bodied 4Skins, aromatic Tidal Bay and refreshing Coastal L’Acadie Blanc Riesling. Pair the wine with one of these signature Jost winery recipes and you won’t be disappointed.
Benjamin Bridge is a distinguished winery in the heart of Annapolis Valley on the Bay of Fundy specializing in fine premium wines and world-class sparkling wines. Whether you uncork the iconic Nova 7, the versatile Vero or any of the winery’s acclaimed sparkling wines, you’ll quickly discover why Benjamin Bridge is adored by wine enthusiasts. Better yet — opt for the curated six bottle Sparkling Series Pack and join the winery’s head winemaker in a virtual tasting experience.
Niagara Wineries
From Pinot Noir to Chardonnay to Riesling, 13th Street Winery has handcrafted exquisite wines that reflect the Niagara wine country since 1998. Relax with their award-winning Gamay Noir in hand and join the Niagara winery for one of their Instagram live wine tasting sessions. Craving a satisfying meal? Recreate one of these 13th Street Winery recipes while you sip.
Situated amongst the Niagara on the Lake wineries, the one of a kind barrel cellar at Pillitteri Estates Winery is home to full-bodied reds and lively whites. While you can’t go wrong with the Gewurztraminer Riesling, Pillitteri Estates is also responsible for some of the most luscious ice wines in the country. Scroll through the winery’s social media, and you’ll find a handful of food and drink recipe videos for you to follow along with.
Okanagan Wineries
As one of the oldest Okanagan wineries, Hester Creek Estate Winery blends tradition, sustainable vineyard practices and innovative wine-making. Opt for the Trebbiano to infuse your palate with sweet and fruity flavours, or their beloved Rosé and Garland. Uncork the bottle and follow along with their series of virtual wine tours or pull together something in the kitchen with their virtual cooking classes.
With the Canadian ‘Winery of the Year’ award under its belt, CedarCreek Estate Winery continuously nurtures a spectrum of high-quality wines. If you’re particularly after a delicious red, CedarCreek is known for its Pinot Noir — a quintessential food wine. Order some of their white wine or rosé as well, and taste along with the Okanagan winery during their live virtual happy hour on Instagram.
Set up a charcuterie board, uncork a bottle of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, join a virtual wine tour or simply host your own with friends and family, and quench your thirst with some of these Canadian wines.
Oh, and did we mention they offer Canada-wide shipping?