Charitable Wines

Our review desk was recently populated by wines with ulterior motives, albeit, positive ones: make money for charity! Both Niagara-On-The-Lake's Chateau Des Charmes and the Southern Okanagan's Time Estate Winery have produced wines with the aim of supporting charities close to their hearts.

Chateau Des Charmes 2012 '1951' Unoaked Chardonnay - $14
Created as a fundraiser to support the Missisauga Lakeshore Rotary association that was founded in 1951, hence the name. Refreshing and relatively plump, for an unoaked Chardonnay, the wine opens with a pleasant, subtle nose of melon and orchard fruit aromas and follows-up with similar flavours on the round palate and an added kick of citrus fruit and mineral notes.
Icon Score

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 '1951' Cabernet Merlot - $15
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a flavour profile of red berries, sappy-garrigue, rosemary, brine-y cured meats and toasted oak.
Icon Score

Time Estate Winery 2013 The Girls Vivacious Rosé - $20
Produced in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the aptly named "The Girls" is a beautiful, light pink hued rosé that opens with pleasant strawberry, raw honey, rose water and cherry aromas.
Icon Score

Time Estate Winery 2012 The Girls Voluptuous Red - $25
The sister release to The Girls' rosé, the Voluptuous is an easy-drinking, round, sweetly scented blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot offering impressive ripeness with berry and cherry fruit flavours paired nicely with French oak and South Okanagan wild herb notes.
Icon Score