{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6511c62fe7b19e00114600e0/6aee29782dd74bda336f1981?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"2026 Ontario's Ultimate Wine - Part 2","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6511c62fe7b19e00114600e0/1794164296944-dd891b98-8ab8-4ee4-95e8-f31dffe632f1.jpeg?height=200","description":"<h3><strong>Ontario’s Ultimate Wine 2026, Part 2: Eight Wines, One Champion</strong></h3><p><br></p><p>Eight wines remain. Seven decisions stand between them and the title.</p><p><br></p><p>In the conclusion of <strong>Two Guys Talking Wine’s Ontario’s Ultimate Wine 2026</strong>, André, Michael, and guest judge <strong>Tony Aspler</strong> move from three-wine flights to head-to-head elimination. Every matchup sends one wine forward—and one home.</p><p><br></p><p>The quarterfinalists span Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Meritage, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and traditional-method sparkling wine. Comparing them is anything but straightforward.</p><p><br></p><p>There are divided votes, a Star Wars comparison, some genuinely painful eliminations, and a championship matchup between two wines with almost nothing in common—except how much the judges want to keep drinking them.</p><p><br></p><p>Listeners know the contenders, but the judges still haven’t seen a label. Once the final decision is made, it’s time to uncover the bottles and find out what has been in the glasses all along.</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>In this episode</strong></h3><ul><li>Four quarterfinals and the move to head-to-head competition.</li><li>Why balance, texture, complexity, and finish become deciding factors.</li><li>A sparkling-versus-Merlot matchup nobody wants to call.</li><li>A white-wine semifinal that leaves Michael breaking the tie.</li><li>Two outstanding reds separated by their finish.</li><li>A Merlot-versus-Riesling championship tasting.</li><li>The final bottle reveal and reactions around the table.</li></ul><h3></h3><h3><strong>Spoilers below: tournament results</strong></h3><p><strong>Quarterfinals</strong></p><p>Quarterfinal 1 CREW: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery — 2024 Flagship Chardonnay vs. Palatine Hills Estate Winery — 2021 Overtime Meritage </p><p><strong>Winner: CREW — 2024 Flagship Chardonnay</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Quarterfinal 2 Tawse Winery — 2022 David’s Block Cabernet Franc vs. 16 Mile Cellar — 2019 Incivility Pinot Noir </p><p><strong>Winner: Tawse — 2022 David’s Block Cabernet Franc</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Quarterfinal 3 Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery — 2020 Ravine Reserve Merlot vs. Divergence Wines — 2020 Blanc de Blancs </p><p><strong>Winner: Ravine — 2020 Ravine Reserve Merlot</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Quarterfinal 4 Horseshoe Cellars — 2025 Kelson Block Riesling vs. Keint-he Winery and Vineyards — 2023 Portage Chardonnay </p><p><strong>Winner: Horseshoe Cellars — 2025 Kelson Block Riesling</strong></p><h4></h4><h4><strong>Semifinals</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Horseshoe Cellars — 2025 Kelson Block Riesling</strong> advanced over CREW’s 2024 Flagship Chardonnay.</li><li><strong>Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery — 2020 Ravine Reserve Merlot</strong> advanced over Tawse’s 2022 David’s Block Cabernet Franc.</li></ul><h4></h4><h4><strong>2026 Ontario Wine Tournament Champion</strong></h4><p><strong>Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery — 2020 Ravine Reserve Merlot</strong></p><p>Listed price supplied for these notes: <strong>$55.00</strong></p><h4></h4><h4><strong>Runner-up</strong></h4><p><strong>Horseshoe Cellars — 2025 Kelson Block Riesling</strong></p><p>Listed price supplied for these notes: <strong>$34.99</strong></p><p><br></p><p>A Merlot, a Riesling, a Chardonnay, and a Cabernet Franc made the final four—four very different expressions of Ontario wine, judged without a label in sight.</p><p>Congratulations to Ravine, Horseshoe Cellars, CREW, and Tawse, and thank you to all 18 participating wineries.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>There can only be one.</strong></p><p><br></p><p>You can support us on Patreon here - <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine</a> ... $5/month members NOW get exclusive content. See Patreon page for details.</p><p>You can email André at <a href=\"mailto:andre@andrewinereview.ca\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">andre@andrewinereview.ca</a> and follow him on Instagram here - @andrewinerview</p><p>You can email Michael at <a href=\"mailto:michael@michaelpinkuswinereview.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">michael@michaelpinkuswinereview.com</a> and follow him on Instagram here - @thegrapeguy</p>","author_name":"Two Guys Talking Wine"}