WHITE WINES

Wines from the Old World

The following selections come from the Old World. In geographic terms the Old World refers to Europe and the Mediterranean basin and in the context of wine, tradition and place. We have organized the list first by country, then by style; from lightest to fullest body. Bottle size is 750ml unless otherwise noted. Prices do not include applicable taxes.    

White Wines

Italy

Versi Bianco IGT 2007                                                                                                                          $30

Fondo Antico, Sicily, Italy

A 50-50 blend of Inzolia and Grecanico – two indigenous Sicilian grapes.

Dry and light-bodied, with a bright crisp finish. Tropical aromas and

flavours of orange citrus and peach. Unoaked. A great aperitif wine, or

paired with appetizers or seafood dishes.  

Pinot Grigio Marca Trevigiana IGT 2008                                                                                            $35

Masottina, Veneto, Italy

Classic Pinot Grigio – light- to medium-bodied, dry and refreshing. Aromas

and flavours of citrus, apples, and minerals. Unoaked. Try on its own, or

paired with appetizers or lighter-style dishes.

Soave Classico DOC 2007                                                                                                                  $45

Balestri Valda, Veneto, Italy

A blend of Garganega and Trebbiano grapes, from an area surrounding the

historic castle town of Soave, in northeast Italy. Medium-bodied and dry, with aromas

and flavours of baked apples, pear, almonds, with honey notes. Unoaked. Try with

chicken or vegetarian dishes, as well as seafood, especially scallops.

Grillo Parlante IGT 2005                                                                                                                       $40

Fondo Antico, Sicily, Italy

Grillo is an indigenous Sicilian grape, and also the Italian word for cricket, which is

why there’s one on the label. Grillo Parlante means “talking cricket”, the original

name for Jiminy Cricket in the classic Italian novel Pinocchio. As a wine, Grillo is dry,

unoaked and medium-bodied, with tropical aromas and flavours of stone fruit and .

pineapple. A seafood wine, but also a good match for chicken and other poultry dishes.

Friulano DOC 2007                                                                                                                               $50

Ronco del Gelso, Friuli, Italy

This wine, made from 100% Tocai grapes received its eleventh consecutive Tre Bicchieri award

from Gambero Rosso in 2008.  Made following organic methods, it is medium-bodied and dry

with intense aromas and flavours of exotic herbs, nuts, honeydew melon, and dried fruit (figs). 

Refreshing and crisp on the finish, the unique flavour profile makes it a great match for dishes

featuring earthier ingredients or with herbs, including mushroom pastas, gnocchi, roasted chicken,

 grilled fish, and stuffed pork.

 

Spain

O Rosal 2006                                                                                                                                          $49

Terras Gauda, Rais Baixas, Spain

A magnificent blend of Albariño, Loureira, and Caiño Blanco, all indigenous grapes

from Galicia in northwest Spain. Medium-bodied, dry, with a very long, elegant finish.

Rich aromas and flavours of golden delicious apples, pears, and citrus, with gentle

floral and mineral notes. Unoaked, and inoculated with natural yeasts. In addition to seafood,

it’s a great match for vegan and chicken dishes.

Godello Val de Sil DO 2006                                                                                                                 $49

Bodegas Valdesil, Galicia, Spain

From a rare indigenous grape grown in the remote Sil River Valley in northwest Spain.

This wine comes from vines that were cuttings of over 100 year old vines, the first Godello

vines planted in the region and still in family hands. Medium-bodied, dry, and smooth.

Rich tropical aromas and flavours of white peach, almonds, and beeswax. Unoaked,  but full.

It’s a great match for richer seafood, vegan and chicken dishes.

France

Sancerre “La Croix au Garde” 2005                                                                                       $59

Domaine Henry Pellé, Loire Valley, France

The modern winery is located in the picturesque village of Morogues just east of

 Menetou-Salon, in the Loire Valley. Anne Pellé has run the domain since 1995 and Julien

Zernolt is the winemaker. Their vineyards are on chalky soils, rich in marl and

oyster shells, and they practice organic viticulture. This wine was fermented in neutral vats

using native yeasts, and kept on their lees until bottling, creating the perfect tension between

acidity and fruit. Vivid apple and pear aromas and flavours with smokey/minerally notes.

Polished and elegant, with a long clean finish. A great match for shellfish, seafood, and pork.

Chablis 1er Cru “Vau de Vey” 2005                                                                                       $73

Château de Maligny, Burgundy, France

Château de Maligny is owned by the Durup family who have lived in the village of Maligny

since the 15th century, and are now the largest landowners in the appellation. Winemaker

Michel Poitout ferments and matures his wines in stainless steel. The result is consistently

fine Chablis with the characteristic mineral nuances that the terroir provides, but with welcome

fruitiness that can be drawn from the Chardonnay grape. Pale straw with green tints, with rich

fruit – apple and pear – aromas and flavours with pronounced mineral tones, which enhances the

structure and character.  A long finish, and a great match for fuller dishes, including seafood,

chicken, and pork.

 

 

 

Wines from the New World

The following selections come from the New World. In geographic terms the New World refers to the Americas, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, and in the context of wine, the best science and technology can offer. We have organized the list first by country, then by style; from lightest to fullest body. Bottle size is 750ml unless otherwise noted. Prices do not include applicable taxes.

 

 

 

Canada

Riesling VQA Niagara Peninsula 2007                                                                                             $33

Lailey Vineyard, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

While Germany may be the ancestral home of Riesling, very good versions also

come from Ontario. And Lailey’s version is one of the best. Light- to medium-bodied,

dry, and refreshing. Bright aromas and flavours of apple, pear, and yellow plum.

Unoaked. Pair with appetizers or lighter-style dishes.

Chardonnay unoaked VQA Niagara Peninsula 2008                                                        $30

Lailey Vineyard, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Medium-bodied, dry and crisp. A pleasant wine without any toasted oak flavours

getting in the way. Instead the wine offers rich aromas and flavours of yellow apple,

melon, and peach, with hints of tropical fruit. A great match for chicken or vegetarian

dishes, and especially seafood.

Ideal Pointe Chardonnay VQA Lake Erie North Shore 2006                                            $49

Viewpointe Estate Vineyard, Harrow, Ontario

Medium-bodied, dry. This barrel-fermented wine has buttery aromas and flavours of 

rich baked apple, with tropical fruit, spicy oak, and vanilla notes. Finishes long and elegant.

A great match for chicken or vegan dishes, as well as richer seafood.

Australia

Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007                                                                                                        $35

Geoff Merrill, South Australia

The addition of Semillon to the blend – similar to white Bordeaux – adds structure and

complexity to the wine. Medium-bodied, dry, with good acidity. Aromas and flavours of

fresh citrus and tropical fruit and herbal notes. Unoaked. A great match for appetizers and

seafood, as well as vegetarian and chicken dishes.   

Viognier  2007                                                                                                                                        $44

Ralph Fowler, South Australia

Ralph Fowler's winemaking career began 30 years ago, and now he works a 100-acre property

with his family in Mount Benson, in the Limestone Coast. A pioneer of the Viognier grape in

Australia, his vines are specially trellised to enhance the unique varietal characteristics. The wine

is fermented in French oak and bottled off  lees with minimal handling to maximize the varietal

expression and flavours. Aromas and flavours white peach, apricot, and lychee, with roasted nut

and honey suckle notes. Elegant, long, silky, and balanced – best matched with fuller-style dishes.

New Zealand

Sauvignon Blanc 2007                                                                                                                         $42

Forrest Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand

Marlborough is the home for classic New World Sauvignon Blanc, and Forrest Estates

is one of the best producers. Medium-bodied and dry, and refreshing (unoaked), with

intense aromas and flavours of tropical fruits, passion fruit, lime, and slight

herb/mineral notes. Great with appetizers or other dishes featuring goats cheese (a classic

match for Sauvignon Blanc) but it also pairs well with chicken and vegetarian dishes.

United States

Chardonnay 2007                                                                                                                                             $44

Santa Barbara Winery, Santa Barbara County, California

Sourced from six vineyard sites, approximately half the wine was fermented in stainless steel

tanks, giving the wine a distinct brightness and intensity of the fruit, while the rest was

fermented in oak barrels to round out the wine. Tropical aromas and flavours, with notes of

apples and citrus on the clean finish. Pair with seafood dishes, as well as roast chicken and pork.        

Gewürztraminer 2007                                                                                                                            $30

Washington Hills, Washington State

A deliciously off-dry version; more typical of styles from the Alsace in France. The wine

offers up rich aromas and flavours of pear, lychee, and pineapple, accented with spicy notes.

Full and creamy on the palate with good balancing acidity and a nice clean finish. Can pair

with egg dishes and paté, as well as seafood, chicken and other white meats like pork and veal .

Chardonnay 2006                                                                                                                                             $30

Butterfield Station, California

A full California-style Chardonnay that has been fermented and aged in American oak

barrels for about six months. The result is a rich, round, dry wine with tropical aromas

and flavours of baked apple, pineapple, and coconut, with toasty vanilla oak notes. Pair

with full-bodied seafood dishes, chicken and other white meats like pork and veal .

Chenin Blanc 2005                                                                                                                               $39

Bogle Vineyards, Clarksburg, California

The Bogle family has been farming in California since the mid-1800's, and in 1968 they

planted their first 20-acre vineyard in Clarksburg, a small community along the Sacremento

River. Today Bogle Vineyards farms over 1,200 acres of wine grapes. The Chenin Blanc

grape is best known in France’s Loire Valley for its versatility and ability to make long-lived

wines. Fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel tanks, with aromas and flavours of green

apple, candied lime, and pineapple with notes of vanilla, orange blossom, and honey suckle.

Dry and crisp, this medium-bodied wine pairs well with spicy dishes and lighter fare.

Chardonnay 2007                                                                                                                                             $38

Toasted Head, Dunnigan Hills, California

Named for the process whereby the barrel heads are toasted as well as the staves, to impart a

mellow, toastiness to barrel-aged wines – the wine spent 7 months in barrels, 20% new. Pear

and tropical fruit aromas predominate with notes of mango and vanilla on the round, smooth

finish. Pair with seafood dishes (grilled salmon), chicken, and other white meats like veal.

Chardonnay Russian River 2006                                                                                                       $60

Martin Ray Winery, Sonoma County, California

Martin Ray Winery operates out of an historic building dating back to the late 19^th century,

the oldest continuously operating winery building in Sonoma County. The grapes for this wine

come from select vineyard sites in the cool Russian River Valley. Aged for 18 months in

French oak barrels, on the lees, for an extra creamy texture. Rich aromas and flavours of

tropical fruits, apple and ripe melon with vanilla notes. Elegant and smooth, with balancing acidity:

pair with richer seafood dishes like lobster, as well as roast chicken and creamier-style pastas.

South Africa

Roulette Blanc 2006                                                                                                                             $49

Lammershoek, Swartland, South Africa

An interesting blend of Chenin Blanc (58%), Chardonnay (25%), Viognier (9%), and

the Hungarian grape Harslevelü (8%). The grapes come from hand-harvested old

vines, and each is vinified separately then aged in a different types and ages of oak

barrels. The result is a full-bodied, dry wine, with exotic, tropical aromas and flavours

of baked apple, caramel, quince, figs, melon, and honeysuckle. Pair with full-bodied

seafood dishes, chicken and other white meats like pork and veal.