Wine by the glass is a glorious feeling. There is nothing better than curling up with a great book and a luxurious glass of wine to pass part of an afternoon, and it’s one of my favourite things to do while I’m on holiday. Ok, substitute the book for people watching on holiday, but you get my drift.

I jumped at the chance to try Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Lailey Vineyard‘s Zweigelt 2013 at Tequila Bookworm recently. Available at a very affordable $1.50 per ounce pour, I enjoyed a 3oz pour after my meal. Zweigelt drew me in – the alternative was a cabernet merlot blend, and I’m rather grapist towards merlot. Zweigelt is predominantly a cultivar from Austria, but I haven’t had much of this varietal. The varietal itself has only been around since 1922. A 750 ml bottle will set you back $14.20 directly from the vineyard. Lailey Vineyard practices sustainable viticulture, using natural fertilizers and growing their grapes without the use of pesticides. Cheers to that!

Appearance: Rich burgundy colour with thick legs.
Aroma: Deep plum and dark cherry aromas, with a hint of black currant and smokiness.
Taste: Dry on the palate, surprisingly devoid of the smoky aromas. Tart mouth feel. More of the dark cherry flavour comes through as you drink it.
Aftertaste: Faintly acidic aftertaste with a lengthy finish.
Overall: Surprised that the deep aroma did not fully translate to the glass. We think this would pair nicely with roasted chicken and potatoes – a nice Sunday evening glass of wine.

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Shawna O'Flaherty

Shawna is a 30-something Montreal native transplanted to Toronto in 2010. Wine loving, beer sniffing and rum swilling come naturally to her, and she is also a certified Irish whiskey taster. She has hosted beer and cheese pairing events in the past.

Shawna has visited vineyards in 8 countries on 3 continents, and has a knack for finding the hoppiest beers around. A dedicated Booze Hound, Shawna completed the Wine Specialist Certificate at George Brown College in 2018.

She can be found drinking alka-seltzer and coconut water in the morning.

Email: [email protected]

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