Vintages Value List Introductory Post
What is this Vintages Value List all about?
Please allow me to introduce myself – Karen – co-author of the Vintages Value List. I am currently doing some contract work for the LCBO and have access to the “Sensory Evaluation Room”, the bi-weekly Vintages release is laid out for Product Consultants, wine critics and myself and my sidekick Rose to taste. Rose and I diligently head over to the Sensory Evaluation Room to taste the release on the Tuesday prior to the Saturday release date. We taste about 80 wines each visit and select the best offerings under $25. We have been emailing this list to a few select individuals every couple of weeks and Alexa offered us some space on the CheapEats blogs so that we can share the knowledge with all of you.
Why should you pay any attention to what Rose and I have to say?
Both Rose and I have taken wine courses. Rose has done so through the LCBO. I have taken the Wine and Spirit Education Trust courses – an international organization based in London, England. We are avid wine drinkers and collectors without the deep pockets of many collectors and thus – have a keen interest in sourcing out well-made, well-priced products for purchase. We appreciate the diversity and selection that Vintages has to offer, but when faced with a myriad of products, we do not appreciate the “crap shoot” that comes with the purchase of a bottle of wine under $20 solely based on the label, the varietal, the region and the vintage. We drink too much for that kind of gambling!
What is Vintages www.vintages.com ?
Vintages is an arm of the LCBO that offers “premium wine and spirits”. There are Vintages sections in most LCBO stores in major cities and towns in Ontario. Some people hate Vintages and some love them. Rose & I happen to fall into the latter category. We like Vintages because they bring in new products for us every 2 weeks. The products cross every price point, but they give us the opportunity to try wines from smaller producers and/or more obscure varietals. Most of the products release are over $20, but there are always several within our price range.
We hope you find some benefit from this list! We welcome your comments, suggestions, complaints or your own picks.
Cheers, Karen & Rose
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