Time is a precious commodity these days. Often, despite our best efforts, we can’t find enough of it.

And sometimes, this means we find ourselves browsing the wine aisles in our local grocery stores instead of making a dedicated trip to the LCBO.

This may induce panic if it happens when you’re having guests over for dinner, or when you need to pick up a bottle as a gift for your hosts, especially if you don’t drink wine or don’t know much about it. But fear not: there are a couple of quick tricks you can use to make sure you pick a good bottle of wine during your last-minute shopping run, every time.

In Ontario, the wines you’ll find at your grocery store are for the most part grown and produced in Ontario. Look for the VQA designation, which means the wine is made from 100% Ontario grapes and meets quality assurance standards.

White wine grapes grow wonderfully in Ontario, so you’ll rarely go wrong there. Red wines can be a little more touch-and-go. There are some great bold reds around, but they generally need more time and TLC to produce. That’s not to say you can’t find a great Cabernet Sauvignon on the shelf across from the potato chips, only that it may take more trial and error to get to one you’ll enjoy.

The exception is Pinot noir. While this grape has a reputation for being temperamental, Ontario’s cooler climate is especially amenable to producing quality examples. Plus, Pinot noir doesn’t need as much aging time to hit its optimal drinking point, so it’s easy to pick up a tasty bottle without fussing over vintage years or wondering if you’ll get value for your money.

These bottles of Ontario Pinot noir below are two we found at our local Loblaws, but there are many more excellent examples out there available at grocery stores across the province.

Angels Gate 2020 Pinot Noir
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario (VQA)
$18.95 at Loblaws; Also available at LCBO (#308486) and angelsgatewinery.com for $19.95

After pouring with a deep, magenta-like pink colour, this Pinot opens up to aromas and flavours of fresh cherry, cherry jam, and strawberry, offset by a lightly toasted and nutty quality. Lighter meats and fish will pair with this nicely. Try it with an herb-crusted pork loin roast.
Score: 8.5/10

Trius Distinction 2019 Pinot Noir
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (VQA)
$19.95 at Loblaws

This stout Pinot, almost brick red in hue on the pour, is fruity all around with a fresh and fruity presentation of raspberries and cherries. This would be a delightful summer sipper served slightly chilled with a strawberry and spinach salad, topped with candied almonds or pecans.
Score: 7.5/10

Steph is a successful, established freelance writer and has been a wine aficionado for more than two decades. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
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