Spending summer in the city has lots of pluses – there’s a world to discover. While all the wine clubs and fancy winemaker dinners have temporarily shut down, there are still many great ways of enjoying fine wines, brews and even spirits at various Toronto venues. The cheapest and most cheerful suggestion may not exactly conform to the letter of the law, but if the hour-plus wait I endured trying to get out of the Ontario Place parking lot last Saturday after the fireworks is any indication, I will now use my bike.

One thing I learned in France is that a bicycle is not complete without a survivor kit: baguette, saucisson, fromage, olives and a tasty bottle of wine were de rigueur. Unfortunately, few fellow cyclists have been willing to spill the beans on this, up-to-now, well-kept byob (bring your own bottle) secret.

It seems like ages ago when biking the then-dry Toronto Islands, I would make a pit stop at Pasquale Brothers (217 King Street East) and pick up the necessary ingredients. A friend explained to me the secret of how to get my beverage of choice into a vessel that would not attract attention – simply use a recycled fruit juice bottle. As a result, we would always salute Welches grape juice for all the tasty reds! Those tempted to take the plunge should remember that lots of water and moderation is the key - the last thing we need is inebriated cyclists.

Basically, if I had to choose a “bike wine” today, it might be one of this summer’s best rosés – Torres 2002 De Casta Rosado (General List 619916) at $9.95. This Spanish Garnacha/Carinena blend is dry, crisp and surprisingly well structured (13.5% alcohol) with slightly spicy, honeyed, plummy, dried strawberry fruit flavours.

If you are not interested in preparing food, nothing beats an el cheapo al fresco meal at a Licks Beaches picnic table (1960 Queen Street East) with one of their juicy home burgers. Unfortunately, it is illegal to byob, because if you could, today’s choice would be an extremely tasty BC off-shore-based blend that comes with a gorgeous label brilliantly designed by the folks at Vincor.

While some VQA-only wineries may groan, there is no denying that the non-vintage Okanagan Vineyards Merlot (General List 460246) is a definite crowd-pleaser at $8.95. This imported and domestic grape blend (70-30) is very well balanced with fruity, ripe plum and raspberry flavours and some vanilla notes on the finish. It will be interesting to see how this virtual winery’s two upcoming VQA efforts appearing next month at the LCBO will fare.

On those sultry rainy hot day/nights where cool indoors is a refuge, you can make a beeline to one of the numerous events at various LCBO stores. This includes the tutored tastings series, which are featured at a host of locations throughout the city (Click Here to go to the LCBO website for dates/details). The new LCBO flagship Summerhill store (10 Scrivener Square), for instance, offers Wednesday/Thursday tutored tastings, as well as Tuesday evening cooking classes (call 416 922-0403). In addition, there is the “introduction to wine appreciation” course ($80), which runs on four Mondays – July 14, 21, 28 & August 11.

Keep in mind that there is also the opportunity to taste a two to three products (depending on whether the other tasting stations are open) at just above cost at the Summerhill Tasting Tower. The new list of 108 wines/spirits can be seen by Clicking Here. You can get a one-ounce sample of the Torres rosé mentioned above for 50 cents or a quarter-ounce sip of the Glen Breton Rare Canadian Single Malt (listed at $89.95) for $1.50!

Breweries/brew pubs are another possibility. Located near the Skydome in the Roundhouse, Steam Whistle Brewing is an attractive, airy destination. C’est What now in its 15^th year at 67 Front Street East is another popular venue. According to National Post reader and beer aficionado Gary M. Gillman, the India Pale Ale available at the Granite Brewery (245 Eglinton Ave E.) takes the cake. “This beer is served on hand pump in the traditional English way. It has a luscious malt flavour (not caramel-oriented, but rather like a good English bitter) … The Granite has been offering IPA for some years but the current "vintage" is the best yet.”

One of the great things about Toronto is the incredible number of excellent outdoor dinning spots, which make you to feel as if you are visiting a foreign country without the cost or aggravation of airfare. Harbord Street, for instance, has couple of my favourites, including Messis, where owner Eugene Shewchuk has fine food and a reasonable list of well-priced wines, including the reliably tasty, grassy, green pear flavoured Domaine Des Cassagnoles for $25. Just a few blocks away at the Boulevard Café, a frosty pitcher of Sangria and Peruvian charbroiled chicken anticuchos prove to be a divine summer match.

If you love Spanish tapas, you will need more than one visit to work your way through Casa Barcelona’s 140+ selection (2980 Bloor Street West). They also happen to have over 500 different wines and the most extensive list by the glass (120+) in the city. If you show up on July 10^th at 8 pm you catch a mariachi band. It’s enough to make one get up and dance.  

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July 2003 InStore Discovery

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