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Inside The Royal Hotel: Prince Edward County’s most stylish stay
The Royal Hotel blends design, award-winning dining, and hospitality into one of Prince Edward County’s most compelling stays Stepping into The Royal Hotel feels like walking onto a film set; perhaps somewhere between The White Lotus and Oppenheimer. The atmosphere takes hold the moment you pass through its unmarked Main Street entrance in small town Picton, Ontario (within Prince Edward County), unfolding into a space that balances resort-like ease with carefully considered design. Every corner reveals something new, from vintage-chic bars that transition seamlessly into tasting soirées, to a lounge anchored by a fireplace, plush sofas, and even a guitar, all inviting the kind of evening that lingers into the late night. Read Also: Prince Edward County: Where to eat, drink and stay It’s easy to settle into The Royal and lose track of time. It’s the kind of place that quickly proves itself as a destination in its own right. While the rooms are inviting and thoughtfully styled, the expe
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Parma Food Valley: Where Italy’s culinary soul comes to life
From Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto to Lambrusco and balsamic vinegar, a four-day journey through Emilia-Romagna reveals why this corner of Italy remains one of the world’s great gastronomic destinations There are places you visit for the sights, and then there are places you visit for the flavours. Italy’s Parma Food Valley—set within the fertile heart of Emilia-Romagna—belongs firmly in the latter category. Over the four days that I spent weaving through the elegant streets of Parma, the culinary powerhouse of Modena, and the quieter charm of Colorno and other nearby towns, one thing became abundantly clear: here, food is not simply consumed—it is lived. Read Also: Exploring Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast: wine, food, and culture That idea feels especially relevant now. Italian cuisine has recently been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. It’s an acknowledgment not just of recipes, but of rituals, traditions, and a deeply rooted connection between
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Gambero Rosso returns to Toronto with Italy’s top wines
From Tre Bicchieri tastings to limited-seat masterclasses, this event offers rare access to Italy’s leading producers For many, the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri World Tour is defined by its walkaround tasting—a chance to sample some of Italy’s highest-rated wines in one place. But for those looking to go beyond the glass, this year’s Toronto stop offers something even more compelling: a series of focused masterclasses designed to explore Italy’s regions in greater depth. Taking place April 29 at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, the annual event will once again bring together 46 Italian wineries whose wines have earned Tre Bicchieri, the highest distinction in Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia guide. Yet it’s the smaller, more intimate sessions surrounding the main tasting that are quietly becoming the most sought-after experiences of the day. A closer look at Lombardy—before the main event For those eager to get an early start, the spotlight turns to northern Italy the day before th
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Why Bierzo, Spain matters now: Old vines and the rise of site
Long overshadowed by Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Bierzo is stepping into focus with wines that speak more clearly than ever of place Set in northwest Spain, in the province of León along the border with Galicia, Bierzo sits at a natural crossroads—between Atlantic freshness and inland warmth, between Castilla y León and Galicia. The region forms a basin encircled by mountains, with the Sil River running through its centre and vineyards rising along its slopes. That shape tempers the climate while creating a patchwork of exposures, elevations, and soils: clay in the valley, slate and quartz as you climb. It’s a region of altitude, but also of rugged terrain—small plots, steep slopes, old bush vines, and everywhere, the sense that the land is still very much in charge. Read Also: Rethinking Brunello: A more complete picture of Montalcino For generations, Bierzo was farmed for subsistence. Parcels planted as field blends—red and white varieties together, harvested together. Many of those
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5 warm-weather cocktails worth shaking up, courtesy of Dillon’s
Fresh, vibrant and easy to make at home, these seasonal cocktails from Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers are perfect for spring and summer sipping As the days grow longer and the weather begins to warm, cocktail season shifts into something lighter, brighter, and more refreshing. Enter Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, whose latest lineup of spring and summer cocktails leans into vibrant fruit, garden herbs, and crisp, easy-drinking profiles. From effervescent highballs to citrus-driven sippers, these recipes are designed with versatility in mind—whether you’re hosting, unwinding on the patio, or simply looking to elevate your at-home bar game. Even better, Dillon’s offers a range of cocktail kits—complete with ingredients and recipes—available directly through their website, making it easier than ever to recreate these drinks at home. Here are five cocktails worth shaking up this season: Melon Cucumber Fizz A refreshing, garden-driven spritz Built around the bright, aromatic profile of D
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Single-vineyard wines: terroir truth or marketing hype?
As producers across the Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula zero in on their most distinctive vineyard sites, single-vineyard wines are reshaping how Canadian wine expresses place—and why it matters The names of vineyards are appearing more frequently on Canadian wine labels. Is this just marketing hype or is there something special, or even superior about these single-vineyard wines? By definition, a single-vineyard wine is one produced exclusively from grapes grown in a specific vineyard site. It follows that the designation emphasizes characteristics of that vineyard’s terroir (soil composition, microclimate, altitude, sun exposure, and vineyard management practices among others). It also suggests a distinctiveness and individuality expressed in the resulting wine. Read Also: Explore Ontario’s Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation This concept is not new. In the Old World (if we can still call it that), single-vineyard wines have been produced and marketed for a long time. Where it al
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Top Rated: A chardonnay that confirms CheckMate’s winning streak
Awarded VineRoutes’ 2025 Most Outstanding White Wine of the Year, CheckMate’s 2022 ‘Fool’s Mate’ Chardonnay highlights the winery’s remarkable consistency—marking its second top honour in three years and reinforcing its place among Canada’s benchmark producers There’s something especially satisfying about a wine that lives up to every expectation you’ve built around it. The 2022 ‘Fool’s Mate’ Chardonnay from CheckMate Artisanal Winery (located within the Okanagan’s Golden Mile Bench sub-GI) does exactly that—having earned VineRoutes’ Most Outstanding White Wine of the Year in our 2025 editorial team blind tasting and impressing just as much on repeat visits. It’s the kind of chardonnay that doesn’t need to demand attention; it naturally commands it, with a sense of balance, clarity, and quiet confidence that stays with you long after the glass is empty. Read Also: Top Rated: A red blend from British Columbia’s most unconventional valley This is not unfamiliar territory for CheckMate. I
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CAPS Ontario chapter announces new 2026-27 Board
Hospitality veterans join to lend expertise and steer industry’s association for three-year term The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) – Canada’s only non-profit association that funds educational programs and competitions for the country’s sommelier community – has announced its new 2026-2027 Board, elected last week at the chapter’s annual general meeting held online and at the Vintage Conservatory in Toronto. CAPS Ontario is thrilled to welcome industry veteran, Elsa MacDonald, MW as Director, Education. Ms. MacDonald is an accomplished Master of Wine, WSET Diploma Leader at George Brown Polytechnic, wine educator, business consultant, and international wine judge that brings to bear extensive experience in wine sales, marketing, events management, educational design and delivery, and prior senior management experience with a Big 5 consulting firm. Current projects include Head of WSET Diploma, George Brown Polytechnic (2024-present), Wine
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Why Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner menu deserves a closer look
At Augusta National Golf Club’s most exclusive table, Rory McIlroy delivered a Champions Dinner as thoughtful in its wine pairings as it was in its storytelling There are few traditions in sport that feel both mythic and oddly intimate at the same time. The Masters Champions Dinner—held each year as a precursor to the Master tournament itself, at Augusta, Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club—is one of them. On paper, it’s simple: past winners of the Masters gather for a private dinner hosted by the defending champion, who selects the menu. In reality, it offers a carefully staged glimpse into the personality of one of the most scrutinized athletes in the world—told through food, wine, and a series of choices that, intentionally or not, reveal quite a lot. Read Also: Restaurants Canada Show: 6 trends shaping the future of drinks culture This is Rory McIlroy’s turn to show off his tastes. And based on what he has put together, it is safe to say he did not just understand the assignment;
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Restaurants Canada Show: 6 trends shaping the future of drinks culture
Fresh from the floor of the Restaurants Canada Show, VineRoutes’ Nicola Brown breaks down six standout trends shaping a more dynamic, inclusive and experimental drinks culture In a vast complex of connected halls peppered with stalls, stages and swarms of attendees, this year’s Restaurants Canada Show (March 8-10, 2026) brought together over 25,000 people across the restaurant and food service industry. With a dedicated hall and stage in the centre, bar and beverage brands, vendors, keynote speakers and visitors created a buzzy atmosphere, well lubricated by all manner of libations from wine, beer and spirits to cocktails, mocktails, sodas, coffees and teas. Read Also: How politics reshaped Canada’s spirits shelf Some notable bar takeovers lit up a lively pop-up space with snaking lines of thirsty patrons eager to taste show-exclusive tipples from top spots like Suite 115, Uh Bar and No Vacancy from Toronto, Bisou Bisou from Montreal, Parlor from Saskatoon and Humboldt Bar from Victori