Best Wine Bars Toronto
7 excellent wine bars Toronto
Toronto’s chefs and sommeliers have been striving to match the best restaurants and wine programs in the world for years. Things have been difficult and primarily undetected, but they are now beginning to improve. Toronto is, at last, experiencing a culinary renaissance. Here are seven enjoyable wine bar Toronto.
Grey Gardens
Anyone who follows Toronto’s food scene will be familiar with Jen Agg. Agg splashed on the scene in 2008 with her ground-breaking charcuterie restaurant, The Black Hoof Toronto wine bar. Since then, she has opened several famous establishments, including Grey Gardens.
Grey Gardens natural wine bar Toronto, a subtly hidden establishment in the city’s hip Kensington Market neighbourhood, specializes in unusual natural wine. This is the type of place to go if you’re daring and want to try something new because the menu is separated into sections with names like “elegant, layered, complex” and “spicy, savoury, herbaceous.”
Try one of the two orange wines available by the glass, or treat yourself to a bottle of Pearl Morrissette, which are true rarities.
Salt
Salt is the place to go if tapas are more your style. Salt natural wine bar Toronto is an establishment specializing in Iberian wines and cuisine, with comfortable communal tables and a menu emphasizing regional and seasonal cuisines. Consider charcuterie in the Spanish and Portuguese traditions prepared in Canada, served with a fine wine from their extensive collection wine bar downtown Toronto.
Get acquainted with Portugal’s green wine (Vinho Verde) by opening a bottle of Muros Antigos Escolha ’17, or if you’re in the mood for a full-bodied indulgence, pick the Alento Reserva ’12.
Paris Paris
The relatively new Paris Paris is situated on Toronto’s fashionable Ossington strip. This double-talk wine bar Toronto downtown more than makes up for its lack of (well-curated, delicious-looking) meal selections with its enormous wine list, which includes skin contact and oxidative wines, a few sakes, and two pages of red wines by the bottle. Trendsetters and excellent youngsters should make a point of visiting this hidden gem.
Recommendation: If you’re the “if I’d only known!” type of person like myself, try the Turner Pageot “Le Blanc” (a skin contact white created with Marsanne and Roussanne) and be sure to check their last chance bottle list.
Chez Nous
Chez Nous best wine bar Toronto is unique for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is located in Toronto’s frequently overlooked East End. The second reason for the moniker is that it only focuses on Ontario wine. Third, it’s one of the only establishments I’m aware of offering wine in 375mL half-carafe portions.
The menu best wine bars in Toronto features traditional options (sparkling, white, and red) and healthy options for orange/skin contact and rosé wine. There is also a fantastic craft beer area for those who don’t drink wine but were coerced into coming by their friends. The menu is quite limited. However, you can bring in outside food to go with your beverages.
Bar Buca
The Great Italian Restaurant served as Toronto’s gastronomic launching pad, and Bar Buca wine bar Toronto is a treasured heir to that legacy. Bar Buca, the younger sister of the two Buca restaurants, specializes in Italian food and wine and serves small plates, which are difficult to miss in this city.
Amaro and limoncello are popular ingredients in cocktails, but let’s face it—we’re here for the wine. A large selection of locations and varieties and some organic and biodynamic wines are included on the medium-sized wine list in best wine bar Toronto.
Grand Cru Deli
Grand Cru Deli is a wine bar situated in the heart of downtown and offers “elevated deli fare” to “make the world of wine accessible, one glass at a time.” The deli’s daily in-house cooked meals and extensive wine range best wine bars in Toronto.
The Somm Factory, a training forum operated by Master Sommelier Bruce Wallner, is affiliated with it and is located above; nonetheless, you shouldn’t anticipate it to be all elitism and arrogance. Even if you don’t know your sauvignon blanc from your cabernet sauvignon, the environment and staff are friendly.
Good Cheese
As the name implies wine bar Toronto, this establishment is renowned for its superbly chosen and delectable cheeses. Their wines, which frequently include little intervention or “natural” winemaking techniques, emphasize ethical winemaking and openness in production.
Compared to the other wine bars Toronto downtown on our list, their wine list is relatively modest, yet everything on it is a gem. The menu teaches you as you go, including grape and area information and a brief tasting remark to assist you in making your (tough) choice. It mainly covers Europe and Ontario.
10 Must-Try Canadian Wines
While Canada may be most famous for its best wine bars Toronto, exploring the realm of Canadian still and sparkling wines is essential. Canada is a relatively new contender in the dry wine market, as most Canadian wines were traditionally sweet until the 1970s. After that, however, a handful of wineries emerged, propelling the country’s wine industry forward.
Rather than a single grape variety dominating, healthy competition thrives in Canada, with a wide range of international grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon flourishing in the heartlands of Ontario and British Columbia.
The recent IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition) awarded Canadian wines an impressive array of medals. Inniskillin Niagara’s Icewine Cabernet Sauvignon performed exceptionally well, earning a Gold Medal with a remarkable score of 95/100. Judges were captivated by its “ultra-penetrating concentration and focus,” describing it as an “absolute stunner.”
Another top-rated red wine was Blasted Church Vineyards’ Small Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, which received a Gold Medal. It garnered praise for its “beautifully defined fruit” and the delightful integration of balsamic flavours and red plum on the palate.
Riesling stood out in the white wine category, including Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Winery’s Reserve Riesling Icewine 2018 and Alventory’s Riesling Icewine 2020, scoring an impressive 95/100. The former impressed judges with its “delightful honey, stone fruit, and creamy baked citrus aromas,” and the latter showcased “layers of delicate lemon, ginger, almonds, and sweet spice.”
A distinguished panel of experts, led by Master of Wine Dirceu Vianna Junior MW, meticulously evaluated each Canadian wine entered in this year’s IWSC. They received assistance from Master Sommelier Eric Zwiebel, New World wine buyer at Ocado Joseph Arthur, and head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall Serdar Balkaya.
Canadian wine is a treasure trove filled with delightful offerings, and regardless of your preferred style, the country consistently delivers excellence. Therefore, we are excited to present our selection of the finest Canadian wines as recognized by the IWSC.
How are these wines to be judged?
We conduct a detailed, highly organized wine-tasting procedure. This implies that each wine sample is pre-poured into a specific number of glasses before being judged by the panel of experts. Most significantly, all IWSC wine judges are industry professionals who work in all facets of the wine business. Check out our whole list of judges for proof.
- Icewine Cabernet Sauvignon – Unique green, golden colour that may pass for Marsala! Coffee, toffee, and baked apples are concentrated in the nose. The firm acidity brings out the flavours of warm fig jam, hazelnuts, and crushed apples. Focus and concentration are brilliant. An incredible knockout!
- Small Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon – The aroma is intense blackcurrant, holiday spices, and chocolate. Beautifully delineated fruit develops on the rich, nicely integrated palate of balsamic and red plum.
- Reserve Riesling Icewine – A rich and satisfyingly lengthy taste energized by fresh citrus and a vanilla spice is accompanied by delightful scents of honey, stone fruit, and creamy baked citrus. The entire process was intricate and refined.
- Riesling Icewine – Exquisite nuances of honey and blooming flowers transform the luxuriously indulgent palate, characterized by intricate layers of subtle lemon, ginger, almonds, and sweet spices. This wine’s complexity ensures a delightful and satisfying experience until the last sip.
- Oak Aged Vidal Icewine – Aromas of lemon iced tea, honey, bloom, spun sugar, intense ripe mango, passionfruit, pineapple, fragrant elderflower liqueur, and elderflower liqueur are present on the nose. Round, sweet flavour with a freshness from the balanced acidity that lingers on the tongue with notes of passion fruit and lime zest.
- Hopetown Co Craft – An assertive and concentrated aroma of ripe cassis takes the lead, complemented by subtle hints of green elements and a slightly smoky undertone. Meticulously structured tannins and well-balanced acidity result in a delightfully satisfying and lingering finish.
- Rosomel Vineyard Fumé Blanc – Palate showcase ripe peach and tropical aromas, which gracefully unfold to reveal intricate layers of zesty bitter lemon and luscious hazelnut.
- Grand Chardonnay – Lilies, acacia, mango, peach, cream, honey, and toast scents are prominent, while the flavours are primarily peach and nectarine with a long, lingering aftertaste.
- Reserve Chardonnay – Lilies, acacia, mango, peach, cream, honey, and toast scents are prominent, while the flavours are primarily peach and nectarine with a long, lingering aftertaste.
- Viognier – Rich, flowery, and intensely scented with a delicate acidity balance. The reviving citrus flavour of lemon and lime balances out peach and fully ripe apricot fruits.
A Guide to Buying Natural Wine
Explore the World of Low Intervention and Natural Wines natural wine bar Toronto: Unveiling Ways to Enjoy Them at Home or Share a Case with Friends!
- BOTTLE SHOPS -The Ontario government stated in October 2020 that it would permanently let restaurants and Toronto wine bars sell wine, which would substantially shift the province’s alcohol distribution laws. This is a BFD. Here is a list of Toronto bottle stores specializing in natural and low-intervention wines, but you should also check out Bottle Shop TO, which could be more current!
- IMPORTERS – Ask who imported the wine if you enjoy it at a restaurant or Toronto wine bar, and then think about purchasing directly from the importer; however, you must order by the case, which you can always divide with friends, and some agencies provide mixed cases. Importers purchase the LCBO rather than selling it to customers directly. Here is a list of Ontario importers focusing on natural and little processed wines.
- WINE CLUBS – Grape Witches, The Real Wine Club (curated by The Living Vine), Crushable, Albae Wine Club (focused on Spain), Weird Wine Subscription (from Lake Inez), VQ Wines, Boxcar Social, Grey Gardens, Meanwhile Wine Club, Don’t Worry, In Wines, We Trust, and Pour Taste are local wine clubs that offer carefully chosen natural and low-intervention wine packs.
- LCBO – Products of the World Specialty Stores provide an expanded selection of goods tailored to a particular nation, area, or niche market for in-store sales or wine bars Toronto. In addition, you can look through the LCBO’s online store to make purchases (I’ve had success locating natural wine producers like Milan Nestarec, Kuntz, Rennersistas, and Cos, among others); Additionally, they recently created a separate section for Natural and Low Intervention Wines under their Destinations Collection, which offers low volume products not available in their general or vintages collections.
Frequently Asked Questions
In secret, many best wine bars Toronto let guests bring their alcohol, often for a “corkage fee” of between $15 and $45 per bottle. But a few businesses forego the price on certain days of the week.
Ask the server Toronto wine bar whether there is a corkage cost and then what the restaurant’s corkage policy is. After that, it is up to the restaurant to decide how much they want to charge you to bring your wine.
If you want to pair various wines with different meals, you can bring more than one bottle, but remember that most wine bar downtown Toronto charge you for each bottle you get. You pay more for corkage the more bottles you bring.
Table wines, or your average non-sparkling reds and whites, typically keep for three to five days after opening. After being opened, fortified wines like Port or Sherry can last for a few weeks or even months.
- The lower lip of the foil should be cut.
- Place the screw in the cork’s middle.
- The corkscrew should be turned six times.
- Pull the lever cork gently.
- Use a napkin to remove any tartrate crystals or debris.
In Ontario, 19 is the minimum age to consume alcohol in a place with a license to sell alcoholic beverages.
Although it’s uncommon, occasionally, a bottle opened is not the one ordered; knowing this upfront helps avoid awkward conversations when the bill is delivered and the wine cost may be more than you anticipated.
Because labels were not always present on bottles in the past, checking a cork for the winery’s stamp was one way to determine its legitimacy. A pin may be used for a variety of purposes today. The wine is yours because you purchased it.
Bacteria that convert ethanol into acetic acid cause the wine to deteriorate. Wine tastes sour and vinegary due to a process known as oxidation. It’s crucial to preserve wine sealed in a bottle or container with as little air exposure as possible since it oxidizes when exposed to oxygen.
Unopened red wine bottles often keep for two to three years after the suggested drinking window. Their high tannin content ensures this prolonged natural preservation—store items to get the most shelf life in a cool, dark place from the sun.