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  Tico
I knew the seasons were changing when I reached for a glass of port instead of a white or a rosé. Time for another beautiful season at The Winehouse; I’m embracing the crunching leaves and pairing the early evening light with Calem LBV Porto. This port shows a smooth blend of nuts and oak on the palate with sophisticated hints of red fruit like blackberries and raspberries.
 Tom
Late September I woke up to the familiar smell of the furnace turning on for the first time in a long time. A burnt air smell that reminds me I’m into the season when the sun wakes up to see me rather than the other way around. The golf season is coming to an end and I realize further that I will have a little more spare time on my hands.... okay, a lot more spare time. I’ll read a little more, I’ll turn on my fireplace and make myself comfortable in what used to be my cat’s favourite chair. I’ll open the pages of an interesting biography and sip on a glass of Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina) or Ventisquero Reserva Pinot Noir (Chile).
 Tanya
Pennywise Petit Syrah (USA). I tried this wine in a completely informal setting, barely paying attention to what I was about to sample; I don’t even remember if I swirled the glass. What I do remember is being punched in the face by this wine’s unique aroma. I immediately got burnt wood (crackling in a fireplace) and bacon (sizzling away in the pan). The mouth feel was almost oily. This wine was so meaty I stopped in my tracks and smelled the air around me to make sure I wasn’t next to campfire barbequing steaks. Medium to full bodied, significant tannins, crazy oak and cigar smoke notes. If there was fruit on the palate I don’t remember it. I only had one glass that day. I can’t wait to give it another try and way more attention.
Arrogant Frog Croak Rotie (France). Arrogant Frog has been making fun experimental wines that end up on my list of favorites for years now. Keeping the wit in winemaking, the Croak Rotie is a traditional Cote Rotie blend from the Rhone Valley. This Syrah Viognier is a deep purple, bordering on blue. The colour is so saturated with purple that it reminds me of ink. Contrary to its appearance it doesn’t go down like syrup, it’s incredibly light weight. It exudes rose pedal notes on the nose and the palate is blueberries and vanilla. I love to drink it a little bit chilled. It’s amazing.
 Kristine
Seeing as I haven’t been drinking for the past six months, and I won’t be for at least another three, here is what I WOULD be drinking if I could. To toast the official end of summer I’m choosing two whites. The first is Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (New Zealand). For the record, the 06 and 07 vintage were previous Staff Picks of mine. The 08 just arrived on our doorstep. How exciting; the new vintage of Saint Clair. As one of my favourite wines of all time, I am dying to try the new vintage (the 06 vintage being my favourite to date). An absolute explosion of fresh flavours, this one is a must-try for any New Zealand/Sauv Blanc fans. Phenomenal to pair with seafood.
Saint Clair Pioneer's Block Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand). Same-same-but-different? To make this wine they choose a very specific area of the vineyard (Block 3 to be exact) and produce a wine that represents a very specific plot of land. They have several other 'Block' wines but they sold out at the winery before we had a chance to grab them. I can’t wait to try this because I want to see how it stacks up against the other Saint Clair Sauvignon Blancs, and because I know it's going to be good!
 Patty
Torlasco Mr. Pinot Pinot Noir (Italy) is a surprising lovely, full bodied Pinot Noir - not a typical tasting Italian wine either. It has just a slight bit of sweetness to it with dark cherry on the palate. Rounding it out there's a hint of spice that’ll hit you at the back of the tongue. A really pleasing wine to have with any lighter fare.
Montes Alpha Merlot (Chile) is simply delightful. A medium bodied wine that elegantly slides along your tongue. Smooth and silky, yet with a richness to it that is so delicious you can drink it with anything and is a real treat for any occasion. LOVE IT!
 Jeff
Gloria Ferrer Etesian Pinot Noir (USA). This is an old favorite of mine. It’s lively and bright and a little bit spicy. It shows cherry-berry flavours with subtle hints of spice, smooth caramel and black currant. This wine is dominantly fruit forward but as you sip it, it gets more and more complex.
Clayhouse Adobe White (USA). Hands down, the best white of the summer. This wine blew us all away when we tasted it as a sample before it came into the store. Now that it’s here we can’t stop drinking it! I’m sure it’s a favorite for all the staff, but I thought it would mean more coming from me since I’m known for loving complex reds that need some age. Adobe white is good now. Orange blossom, lime, layers of floral notes, this wine is silky sweet.
 Graeme
To heck with seasons – I’m still drinking Montes Cherub Rose de Syrah (Chile). The aromas of cranberries, pomegranate and strawberries leap out of the glass. Its medium body and sharp acidity make it a winner, not to mention with the old rad heating in my apartment kicking in this week it will offer the refreshment I didn't really need this past summer.
My forays into Italian wine are few and far between but the latest was a success. Menhir's Primitivo Quota 29 is a wine for good times. Ridiculously seductive I challenge you to come up with more technical descriptors than Wildberry Twizzlers and Cherry Blasters. It's right up there on my list of guilty pleasures with Bend It Like Beckham and Shania Twain.
 Ronnie
Espelt Saulo (Spain). This medium bodied spicy red arrived on The Winehouse shelves at the beginning of the summer. It has wonderful red fruit characteristics backed-up with exotic cinnamon and paprika spice. There are notable tannins that give the wine excellent structure and would be perfect for tapas or any spicy dish.
Matchbook Syrah (USA). This syrah has loads of blackberry and soft pepper and boasts brighter notes of cassis and cherry, probably from the 11% Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix. I find the touch of Cab gives this wine a nice balance and strong tannins perfect for barbequed meats or simply enjoying on its own.
 Paul
I have just recently returned from California where I tasted a lot of great wines, the majority of which you can’t get here. C'est la vie. With autumn impending, there are a couple products that might keep you warm while you are sitting beside that open air fire on the beach refusing to let go of the last days of summer. Either the Lupine Hill or Peter Franus Cabernet Sauvignon (USA) will help you achieve this goal. Don't forget to invite me though. I can play guitar until the sun rises and I might even bring a bottle of my own.
 Linda
At a recent wine tasting we had the opportunity to try one of my favorite wines, Cossetti Theo Brachetto (Italy). It is absolutely lovely. Theo is a gentle ruby red colour, slightly sparkling, and sweet but not overpoweringly so. It shows subtle aromas of blackberries that follow through on the palate. Theo is the perfect accompaniment for dessert; think chocolate cake, chocolate fondue … anything chocolate. Just about any rich dessert would match perfectly with Theo. Too many calories in dessert? Just opt for the wine! That’s what’s so amazing about Theo – it’s a dessert in itself.
On one of those last summer-like evenings we had in September, my husband and I enjoyed a bottle of La Vigilia Pinot Grigio (Italy). This wine is relatively new to The Winehouse and it’s as delicious as it is affordable! With lovely soft, tropical fruit and floral notes, this wine has a great fresh taste and a well-balanced smooth finish. We paired it with barbequed chicken and a creamy dill sauce but it would be fantastic with appetizers or alongside light creamy pastas, seafood, ham, veal or pork.
 Alena
"What!!?? Staff pick time again? Hang on, I'll start drinking... I mean sampling sampling!!" In the meantime - everyone should try any of the wines from Blasted Church. Great, smooth white wines.
 Krista
Mehnir Quota 29 (Italy). This is the perfect summer to fall transition red! It has very delicate berry flavors, black cherry seems to stand out the most amongst the others, and although I generally drink heavy reds that have long finishes I found this wine refreshing with its short presence. Quota 29 has done a wonderful job with food pairings that had stumped me in the past. I would serve it with a cucumber and tomato salad tossed with feta, oregano, oil and balsamic vinegar. Don’t think it won’t stand up to your steak folks! Done up with sautéed mushrooms and served with a medium rare steak was amazing for dinner the other night!
Deakin Select Chardonnay (Australia) What a Chardonnay! Smooth, but not oaky, fruity but not acidic, delicious and … AFFORDABLE! This wine was amazing; the palate shows peach, mango and hints of vanilla if you pause a moment and wait for it. Is a great pairing with chicken dishes, even spicy Thai would have been nice. Delicious, enjoy!.
 Larry
"Larry... Larry!!! Staff pick time again!"
-"5 Passi Ne-gro-ma-ro from Italy"
-"Why?"
-"My wife says I like it!"
Done.
 Marc
Ventisquero Reserva Carmenere (Chile). By far best value (according to me). This red has rich aromas of dark fleshy fruits and berries. On the palate, it shows decent structure with a rich, almost creamy texture. This elegant red is smooth, with nice acidity and food-friendly. At under $15 a bottle, this wine is an absolute steal!
Cline Viognier (USA)Selected for its great value (I’m a practical guy) this Viognier is perfect on its own or along with a meal. On the nose there are subtle hints of mango, peach and tropical fruit. On the palate, there is a touch of sweetness to this medium-bodied white. It pairs nicely with full flavourful foods like Mediterranean stew, spicy Mexican or Thai dishes.
 Amy
The Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) is one of my all time favorite wines. The first time I had this wine was when I was living in Australia and I’ve been craving it ever since. I was ecstatic when I heard that instead of dreaming about it from afar, this wine was coming to me! It arrived at The Winehouse not too long ago and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s an easy drinking wine, very characteristic of New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. It has great passion fruit intensity with a nice dry finish, which I love. This wine can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a great fish dish.
I recently had the chance to enjoy Sa Solin Ripasso (Italy) at one of my favorite restaurants: Pizzeria Gusto. This wine really surprised me. I love the rich cherry flavours accented by a little peppery spice. It went great with my meal, but I can see myself picking up a bottle just to enjoy on its own. This wine would be great, I hate to say it, for the up coming winter months or to be paired with the “Don” pizza at Gustos, known for its plethora of meaty toppings.
Come to the winehouse on any Saturday and I will happy to tell you why I like the Pennywise Cabernet Sauvignon.
 Marnie
The newest member of the winehouse has a lot of catching up to do...staff pick pending!
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