With world-class vineyards regularly taking home international awards, it's tough to remember a time when the Great White North wasn't a big name in the grape game. However, we didn't get to where we are today without some seriously bold revolutionaries who weren't afraid of shaking up the status quo in the world of wines.
One such maverick was Thomas. G. Bright, a Niagara wine pioneer and the namesake of a new line of wines available in Canada. Despite the cold climate (and the many doubters), Bright had the idea to grow European grapes in Niagara in 1874, launching a company called T.G. Bright & Co. which imported hundreds of types of vines to Canada and grew vines where others wouldn't. The Audacity of Thomas G. Bright's Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay Sussreserve are made from grapes grown in the Niagara Peninsula and the Okanagan Valley with roots that stretch all the way back almost 150 years.
Aged in American oak wine barrels and finished in whisky barrels for five months, the Audacity of Thomas. G. Bright's Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend is our new best friend for the winter months. The exceedingly smooth red, with spice and black fruit notes, pairs beautifully with everything from lamb shanks and barbecued beef to cheddar cheese – a.k.a. every delicious thing you could want to dig into this season of overindulgence.
This winter, dare to be different. Pick up a truly audacious bottle of Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay between now and January 5, 2020, and save $2 – Thomas G. Bright would surely approve.
$15.95 (reg. $17.95), lcbo.com
