Grange of Prince Edward 2010 Sparkling Riesling
$25 | Prince Edward County | 88 points
Given Ontario’s success with riesling, it’s surprising local winemakers don’t make more sparklers with it. This frizzante exudes terrific aromas of honeysuckle, peach, lemon and honey. It’s light-bodied and off-dry with bracing, sour acidity.
grangeofprinceedward.com
Jackson-Triggs 2007 Entourage Silver Series
$23 | Niagara Peninsula | 88 points
This is a pleasant, slightly softer blend of pinot noir and chardonnay that’s redolent of freshly baked bread, shortbread and dried apple. It’s light to mid-weight and fairly delicate, with a touch of sweetness and nutty bitterness. There’s some pastiness on the finish. Very good length. LCBO. Vintages 234161
Trius Brut Rosé
$30 | Niagara Peninsula | 89 points
Trius is one of Ontario’s largest producers of méthode champenoise. Made from red grapes, this is a fine, taut and quite complex rosé sparkler, with gentle flavours of strawberry, dried cherry and pink grapefruit, along with a vague bready character. It’s light bodied, dry and fresh.
triuswines.com
Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut
$30 | Niagara Peninsula | 90 points
Cuvée Catharine was named Sparkling Wine of the Year at the 2012 Canadian Wine Awards. It has a nose of bread, toasted almonds, pears and clover. It’s medium weight, fleshy and engaging, with a hint of honey sweetness and a pasty finish. LCBO 217505
Huff Estate 2008 Cuvée Peter F. Huff
$40 | Prince Edward County | 90 points
French winemaker Frédéric Picard made Canada’s first méthode champenoise in 2004. The 2008 shows maturity, delivering flavours of pear, vanilla, hazelnut, mushroom and a touch of garlic. It’s light with frothy effervescence and taut acidity. LCBO. Vintages 198754
Hinterland 2009 Les Étoiles
$39 | Prince Edward County | 91 points
The best buy from this tiny bubbly operation is an ethereal blend of chardonnay and pinot noir. It’s aged for three years, producing a piquant nose of hazelnut, dried herbs, lemon and toast. It’s built on a seam of fine acidity and chalky minerality. A wonderful pair for oysters.
hinterlandwine.com
Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs
$30 | Niagara Escarpment | 91 points
This charmer won a Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in 2012. It’s pure chardonnay, aged for 30 months to build complex almond aromas into scents of dried apple, lemon and shortbread. Balanced, light bodied and gentle, it has a wisp of sweetness and a beam of mineral acidity. LCBO 213983
Cave Spring 2006 Blanc de Noirs
$35 | Beamsville Bench | 92 points
Cave Spring’s maturing vineyards produce taut, classy bubblies. This one is slim, tidy and full of well-integrated flavours: barley sugar, pecans, dried apple and straw. It’s extremely refined for $35.
cavespringcellars.com
13th Street 2006 Grand Cuvée Blanc de Noirs
$60 | Niagara Peninsula | 93 points
Ontario’s priciest bubbly rivals champagne in quality. Vintner Jean-Pierre Colas has created a bubbly of riveting acidity, with a powerful bouquet: crème brûlée, almonds, barley, maple and straw. Order a case for your New Year’s celebration.
13thstreetwinery.com 
