The March 21 2026 LCBO Vintages Release has a good Sparkling selection for your Easter Brunch. And, check out #76 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2025.
Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Use my recommendations to get the best wine for your money - and they're free!
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Best Sparkling Wines Under $20:
BEDIN ASOLO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO SUPERIORE, DOCG, Veneto, Italy Vintages #36172 $18.95 This fragrant, lively Sparkling will be a perfect companion for an Easter Brunch. Look for citrus and floral notes with hints of almonds. Nice mouthfeel and persistent mousse. Add a Salmon and Shrimp Sandwich Cake to your buffet to make it really special. Score - 91 (Othmar Kiem & Simon Staffler, falstaff.com, April 18, 2024)
(D - 16 g/L)
BERNARD-MASSARD BRUT SPARKLING, Luxembourg, Vintages #47077 $18.95
traditional method. Luxembourgish wine tends to be made in the style of a dry Alsatian wine. This Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir is buttery and floral with bright acidity and delicate fruit. (D - 13 g/L)
PERE VENTURA PRIMER EXTRA DRY ROSÉ CAVA, DO, Spain, traditional method Vintages #48072 $18.95 This is bursting with red fruit and is off-dry, so it will pair well with a charcuterie of Brie and strawberries, or a lunch including Spicy Strawberry Salad. It is also a candidate to accompany Asian dishes. Score - Gold (Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards, 2023) (D - 18 g/L)
Best White Wines Under $20:
FEATHERSTONE FOUR FEATHERS VQA Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada Vintages #341586 $15.95 This easy-drinking, aromatic Riesling-based blend is scoring 90 -93 among critics. Look for apple, pear, limestone and mineral tones. Pair it with Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad. (D - 13 g/L)
SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2024 Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Vintages #186346 $18.95 This is a complex wine with peach, citrus, vanilla and cashew on the nose. The palate is bright and textured. It is well-structured with a persistent, complex finish. Score - 93 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, June 2025) (XD - 2 g/L)
BARON DE HOEN RÉSERVE PINOT GRIS 2024 AOC Alsace, France Vintages #461657 $18.95 This just off-dry white is balanced and fresh with well-defined fruit and honeyed tones. Enjoy with Lemoncello Chicken. Score - Gold (Concours Général Paris, 2025) (D - 12 g/L)
MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #447425 $19.95 This is a standout Sauvignon Blanc, even among NZ offerings. It is powerful with lime and floral aromas, intense fruit on the palate supported by vibrant acidity and a saline texture. Enjoy with Salmon in Puff Pastry with Lime Cream. Score - 95 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, June 2025) (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Red Wines Under $20:
LOUIS BERNARD LOUIS CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2023
Vintages #561290
$16.95
This 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah blend is scoring low 90s among critics. Look for black fruit, olive and spicy notes. The palate is vibrant and pwerful with light tannic texture. Pair with Ottolenghi Lasagne with Mushroom Ragu.
Score - 92 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025)
(XD - 4 g/L)
GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 WO Stellenbosch, South Africa Vintages #13316 $18.95 Another option here if you are missing your California Cabs. It is scoring low 90s consistently among critics. It gets a 91 from Neal Martin of vinous.com, who describes it as opulent with blackberry and cassis aromas. The palate is supple with generous fruit and peppery/graphite notes. (XD - 3 g/L)
ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP BLACKBERRY PATCH CABERNET 2021 Fleurieu, South Australia, Vintages #353193 $19.95 Zonte's Footsteps are always a reliable bet for quality. This gets a 95 from Ken Garget of winepilot.com, who describes blackberry, plum, coffee, spice, and chocolate notes. The palate has good intensity with a long finish and fine tannins. Enjoy with Pork Tenderloin with Prune Sauce. (XD - 3 g/L)
BENGUELA COVE ESTATE SYRAH 2021 WO Walker Bay, South Africa Vintages #48604 $19.95 This gets a 93 from Tim Atkin, MW, who describes spicy, meaty and herbal tones with sage, tarragon and white pepper over a plum palate. Some underlying stony tones. Enjoy with Spicy Black Pepper Beef. (XD - 3 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines Under $40
INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 Veneto, Italy Vintages #949768 $23.95 This has bright floral and apricot aromas floating on some smoky tones. The palate is silky with refreshing acidity. Enjoy with Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Asparagus and Hazelnuts. Score - 92 (Aldo Fiordelli, jamessuckling.com, Jan. 26, 2025) (XD - 2 g/L)
AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #663286 $21.95
This gets a 95 from Cameron Douglas, MS of camdouglasms.com, who describes a 'fantastic' bouquet and palate. Look for layers of orchard fruit, grapefruit, lime, and minerality over stony tones. Good acidity with a touch of lees texture and spice. Outstanding. (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines Under $40
VIÑA COBOS FELINO MALBEC 2024 Mendoza, Argentina, Vintages #118067 $20.95 Tis gets a 94 from Virginie Boone of jebdunnuck.com, who describes it as juicy and tantalizing. Look for red and blue fruit with spicy notes. Tannins are soft and supple. Enjoy with Ribs with Spicy Blackberry Sauce through 2035. (XD - 2 g/L)
For another level of elegance and compexity consider CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2023 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #492413 $25.95 Ranked #76 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2025. Look for dried herbs and citrus notes over a core of berry and plum. Velvety texture with underlying chalky minerality. The finish shows cassis and fig. Best from 2027 through 2040. [Decant for 60-90 minutes to enjoy before that.] Score - 95 (Aaron Romano, winespectator.com,) (XD - 4 g/L)
I COLOMBI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022, Tuscany, Italy Vintages #48006 $25.95 A 'delicious' Chianti, look for dark cherry, dried herbs, and spices. Full-bodied with fine tannins and a velvety, fruity core. The finish is long and flavourful. Enjoy with Braciole. Score - 93 (jamessuckling.com, July 22, 2024) (XD - 2 g/L)
ELDERTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 Barossa, South Australia Vintages #9175 $27.95 Elderton is a highly respected Australian producer. This gets a 94 from Sam Kim, who describes it as 'splendidly' fruity, showing cassis, violets, thyme, game, and nuts. The palate is fleshy with good weight and fine tannins. The finish is robust. Enjoy with Sirloin Top Roast with Bordelaise Sauce. (XD - 3 g/L)
Cellar Suggestions
CHÂTEAU DE MARSAN 2022 AOC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France Vintages #446245 $19.95 This is a full-bodied wine with ripe black cherry and spicy notes. It is rich and well-structured, but tannins are still 'bold', so plan to enjoy from 2027. Editors' Choice. Score - 92 (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, April 1, 2025) (XD - 3 g/L)
FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES 2022, Rhone, France Vintages #566844 $21.95 This Châteauneuf-du-Pape-adjacent appelation represents good value if you are a fan of elegant Rhone GSM blends. Matt Walls of Decanter describes it as intense with cherry and leathery notes. It needs time to soften, so plan to enjoy from 2029 through 2037. (XD - 3 )
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FAQs
What Are LCBO Vintages Releases?
Twice a month the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) releases a selection of special wines they have chosen from around the world. They are not part of the regular stock that is replenished regularly. So if you see something that is good value you need to order it or pick it up while you can.
I am WSET 3 Certified and I use my experience as an LCBO-approved media taster to highlight good value wines. I also have the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world as showcased in industry Master Classes and wine tastings. See my About page for more details on my experience.
The Best Buy wines I recommend tend to be wines that score 90 or above and are in the $20-$30 ish range. I research the wines to see which are scoring consistently in the 90 + range. You can expect these wines to represent the characteristics of their varietal and region well; display some complexity, depth and length. I suggest food pairings for many of the recommendations because... that is what it's all about here at The Wine Lover's 
Kitchen.
Wines I call 'cheap and cheerful' wines are wines < $20 that are hovering around the high 80s to 90-point mark. They are not going to win gold medals in competition, but they should be a solid choice for weeknight sipping or dock or deck sitting. They also make for a good value choice if you are serving a crowd and your lively guests are too busy chatting to discuss the depth and length of their wine!
Premium Wine recommendations are edging up on my $40 limit. They may be 'entry' level wines of prestigious regions or producers. Often cellar-worthy and always wines that you want to pay attention to when you serve them to ensure you appreciate their complexities!
The $40 is a rather arbitrary level, but if you are spending more than $40 routinely on a bottle of wine, then you are probably a wine enthusiast doing your own research.
Decanter World Wine Awards taste and score wines according to their price bracket. So a 95 Score for a $20 bottle of wine means it is outstanding among wines 'in that price range'. Decanter scores from an individual or a panel are scored against the 'Gold standard' for that varietal.
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