This past weekend, I was pleased to see that my local LCBO at Bloor West and Runnymede had removed all US wines from the US wine aisle and replaced them with Baco Noir from Ontario. Interestingly, Baco is a fusion of grapes indigenous to this land and wine grapes from Southwest France. Like Canada, Baco is the result of the contact between Indigenous people and settlers from abroad. Like us Canadians, Baco has origins in this land and overseas. In other words, it has both local and immigrant roots. Baco is resilient and bold, yet it has soft deep flavours of ripe dark forest berries only found in this region. Baco’s delicious smoky and jammy aromas pair well with BBQ, spicy food, pasta, kebabs, aged cheeses, and so many diverse foods that our country has to offer. I love the underrated and underestimated wines, like Baco, which are hale and hearty yet softspoken. Its hardiness allows it to withstand the worst winters and the darkest days. Baco reminds me of our beautiful country, Canada, which can and will always survive the hardest challenges.

Take care, stay safe, et à votre santé !