TorontoWine.Com

your guide to wine in the city

Introduction to Wine in Toronto

There is an amazing amount of information on wine available via the internet.  The problem is knowing where to find what you are looking for.  TorontoWine.Com solves that problem for the Toronto wine lover by  acting as a customized reference guide.  Each page listed in the table of contents deals with a particular aspect of wine, and contains the most useful and relevant web links from a Toronto wine consumer perspective, together with an accompanying site description.  Toronto specific information is provided wherever applicable.  Where a broader brush is appropriate, priority is given to Canadian based organizations.  

Note that this site receives no advertising revenues.  If there are any unconscious biases displayed, they are strictly personal and are not driven by monetary considerations.

Read on for a site overview or simply follow the headings in the table of contents. 

Tasting

A good way to taste some fabulous wines that you couldn't afford yourself, and enhance your knowledge and expertise at the same time, is to join a local wine Club.  A typical club in Toronto has a monthly tasting on a preset theme such as a particular grape or region/grape. Some clubs also offer dinners as part of their schedule.

Another way to enjoy a good tasting without breaking the bank is to attend a special Wine Event.   International Shows feature the products of a particular country or region e.g., California or Australia.  Many of the products presented may not be readily available in Ontario.  Domestic Shows typically feature offerings from the major wine agencies in Ontario and the wines are usually available in Ontario either from the LCBO, Vintages, or on a consignment basis.  If the budget allows, you can attend a Charity Function to taste, buy or both.   

Education

If you want to start your wine education in a structured fashion, you can either take a Course or browse some Educational Sites.  However if you like the idea of curling up in front of the fire with a good wine and some reading material, you will find information on magazines and newsletters under Publications, and information on Toronto bookstores and some selected titles under Books.  If you are interested in studying the tasting process, follow the Tasting link.  You may also find the People page helpful.  It contains biographies of some of the leading personalities in the wine world from a Toronto perspective.

Buying & Storing

Now that your appetite or, should I say, your throat has been whetted, check out Buying Wine for buying options in Ontario.  If you would like a handy 2 page reference to the best value wines on the LCBO General Listing, you can download a pdf file of the current Adam C. Plackett Guide to Cheap Wine.  Check Accessories for stemware and corkscrews, and Wine and Christmas for Christmas presents with a wine theme.  If you are wondering how to store your wine or where, visit the Storing Wine page for options.  

Food & Wine

Perhaps, you love to entertain and want to make sure that the right wine is served with each course.  Follow the Food & Wine link to learn more.  You'll find some general principles on food and wine matching, some sites to further facilitate the process and some interesting books on the subject.  You'll also find a section on Party Planning (useful for weddings and other special occasions) and one on TV & Radio.   

However if you'd rather have somebody else do the cooking, look up Restaurants for some ideas on Toronto wine friendly fine dining. Or, maybe, you're just looking for a comfortable location for a drink after work.  In that case, refer to Wine Bars  for some enticing possibilities.  

Travel

If you are interested in information on destinations within easy access of Toronto (Toronto Area; Niagara; Prince Edward County; the Finger Lakes in New York State) or on escorted tours further afield (California, Okanagan, Europe, New World ), follow the Travel link.  The Europe and New World pages both feature a grid where you can see at a glance where tour operators are based and where they go.

Or visit the Wine Region page first if you have a specific region or country in mind and want to travel independently.  For Vinotherapy, which is a wine based spa treatment, and information sources on the benefits of wine in moderation, visit the Massage & Health page.

Feedback

Don't hesitate to send an email to Adam Plackett, the publisher of this site, if you have any comments or suggestions.  Likewise, if you are establishing a Toronto relevant wine site and would like to be listed.

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