Barrel Samples

The guys breakdown the meaning behind the word Vintage in the wine industry, and then hop through some of their most favourite and least favourite and break down the WHY?? question of it all!What they drank: 2020 Blanc De Blancs MarynissenWhere to find vintage reports:Rick Vansickle Wines In NiagaraGrape Growers of OntarioVQA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we drank: Bella Terra Blanc De Blanc 2017What we mentioned: CuvéeNiagara Wine FestivalWineries of Niagara On The LakeNiagara BenchlandsWine Country OntarioSavvy CompanyDark Horsei4C - Cool Climate ChardonnayVQA Wine Truck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We break down the where and why in the Niagara food & drink scene. From bottle shops, to restaurants, to wineries, our top picks for place that SLAP, all while being great supporters of Ontario wine!Wine We Drank: Divergence Riesling Brut (375ml)Places We Talked About:Gather Tasting RoomOliv CellarThe Cheers StoreArchives Wine & SpiritsBarbeaKaiserhausOddbirdDispatchTwentyWellington CourtMerchant Ale HouseRuffino'sTreadwell CuisineGarrison HouseJust CookingRidgepointVineland EstatesRedstoneRavineBarrelheadKitchen 76Pearl MorissetteAugustSmoke & Moonshine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitchell McCurdy & Marc Pistor are joined by Chris Frey of Nuance Winery Supply to taste through Rosé and explore a world of complexity!Wines We Drank:Pixie Sparkling Rosé - Rosehall Run2022 Trius Rosé2022 Featherstone RoséWhispering Angel Rosé2022 Foreign Affair Gamay Rosé2021 Southbrook Cabernet Franc Rosé Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team explores the world of where to get your wine. Who's your dealer?? Some new and exciting ways the wine/alcohol world is offered, links below to places mentioned in the pod!What they drank: Alvento 'Flora' Sparkling wine in 375ml bottlesWinery Direct DatabasesOntario Craft WineriesWine Country Ontario3rd Party OptionsMy Wine CanadaWine OnlineSavvy CompanyStocked CellarsMentioned Restaurants/Bottle ShopsKaiserhausTwentyArchives Wine & SpiritsGrape WitchesBarbeaDispatchGather Tasting RoomOddbirdLCBOLCBO ClassicsWine AgenciesBurgundy DirectNicholas Pearce Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The group is back on their sparkling game while they explain the world of VQA, wine appellation systems, and how to read your wine label, or find out more about what you're drinking from Ontario. They also are the most unhinged they have been so far.What we were drinking: 2020 Divergence Brut NatureKey website mentioned for all things VQA: VQA Ontario WebsiteWines Mentioned:Jackson Triggs Entourage Sparkling BrutJackson Triggs Cuve CloseBachelder WinesLe Clos Jordanne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc and Mitch welcome their first ever friend guest: Jeff Moote of Divergence Wines, and also of 'being their friend'. The guys get into 5 different Ontario Rieslings they picked up at their local LCBO and taste through what makes them different and what you can expect from one of our wine country's most popular grapes!Guest Host: Jeff Moote - Divergence WinesWines They Drank:Cave Springs 2021 Riesling Winery Online | LCBOInniskillin Non Vintage Late Autumn Riesling Winery Online | LCBOVineland Estates 2021 Semi-Dry Riesling Winery Online | LCBOCave Springs 2020 Estate Riesling Winery Online | LCBOVineland Estates Elevation Riesling St Urban Vineyard Winery Online | LCBOOther Wines Mentioned:Foreign Affair Sussreserve RieslingKaiserhaus Riesling (Available @ the restaurant)Charles Baker Picone Riesling Vinemount Ridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc & Mitch go down the rabbit hole of Wine Award competitions. Why hasn't a certain wine won any awards? Which awards should I pay attention to? What's the process even LIKE?! All will be answered! Links below to any wines or notable competitions or wine reviewers we mentioned!What we were drinking: Blue Mountain 2014 Brut Reserve $49.90Award Competitions To Watch: Decanter World Wine Awards (Decanter)National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC, through Wine Align)International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)Ontario Wine AwardsAll Canadian Wine Championships (ACWC)Articles & Reviewers Mentioned:Decanter 'Canada Calling' ArticleDavid Lawrason 'Canadian Wine Insider' ArticleChris Waters Wine ReviewerRick VanSickle Wine ReviewerWines Mentioned:Hidden Bench Felseck Chardonnay (We mentioned 2018 won best wine in the world, this is a link to current selling vintage 2020)Closson Chase South Clos 2021 ChardonnayHidden Bench 2021 Pinot NoirThirty Bench 2019 Benchmark Red (Meritage)Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc (2020 won the award from Decanter, they are selling 2018 vintage right now)Marynissen Sparkling Vidal Icewine (2020 won the award, 2022 is current vintage for sale) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Barrel Samples! In our first episode we give you a bit of background on who the heck we even are! Then the team gets into sparkling wines, after drinking some international bubbly options (Champagne, Prosecco, some others) as well as stylistically similar Canadian options we get excited about the array of options in our country! Next we start to break down some top tips (of many many more to come..) on how to choose which bottle to purchase when you head to your local wine retailer, or right to the wineries themselves to explore specific producers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.