The best Canadian wines can definitely compete on the world stage. That said, unless you're reading this in Calgary, you'll probably never see them. I was one of several mid-NAFTA judges flown in April to Edmonton for an innovative, painstaking wine competition called . There were few enough entries -- 82 red wines, 73 whites, 27 other -- that each flight was judged by more than one panel on more than one day. This obviously wouldn't work for a competition like the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which gets 8000 entries, so that each judge ends up tasting less than 2% of them. Every judge left Edmonton having tasted all the top awards winners, giving us all a survey of what's going on up there in the Great White North. * Syrah is the best red varietal being made in Canada right now. Not only did a Syrah deservedly win overall Best Red Wine; its runner-up could probably have won as well. * White wines are not all about Riesling, even though one did win Best White Wine.

I voted for a Pinot Gris first and a Chardonnay second. * This won't be news to Canadians, but there's almost no cross-country traffic in wine. It's really hard to find an Ontario wine in British Columbia, or vice versa. (Of course, you can say the same about buying New York Riesling in California, but at least wine travels in one direction in the U.S.) * Top Canadian wines are good values. buy wine bags onlineOf the 20 wines I rated 90 points and higher, four were under $20, only three were over $33, and none cost more than $40. best quotes for wineAnd that's Canadian money.best wine to drink when you have a cold Now here are the 10 wines I liked best, arranged from cheapest to most expensive. wine in india online

Two of them you can actually order in the U.S. right now! Delicate and floral on the palate. I voted for this nicely balanced wine as Best White, and I'm not normally a big Pinot Gris advocate. It didn't win, but it did win best Pinot Gris. It turns out Pinot Gris does well in the Okanagan Valley. Lively fruit-driven wine with a nice mouthfeel. A light, pretty entry and a complex finish. top red wine 2010Tasted it blind or I would have given it bonus points for a name that sounds like it was made by werewolves.best wine that goes with cheese I think this didn't do as well with other judges because it's kind of California-like, dense with fruit and rich in the mouth, but it has good freshness and isn't heavy.best cheap italian red wine

Spicy, peppery and lively, with black fruit in the background and a nice mouthfeel. This was included in the Best Red competition and I voted it second. , shipped from California! Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Estate Grown Okanagan Valley Merlot 2011 ($30) This did not win Best Merlot, but I voted for it. Cherry fruit, silky mouthfeel, good freshness, persistent finish. Really everything you want in a Merlot.glass of wine with bottle Lovely aroma, leafy with red plum fruit. beer and wine picturesOld World style with more generosity on the palate. This won Best Cabernet Franc and deserved it. We didn't get the Mission Hill Chardonnay that won its category on my panel, and I liked that one a lot when I encountered it in the finals. But I loved this one too. Its toasty, leesy, alluring aroma made me want to dive right in.

Good balance and length on the palate. Ontario does some terrific Chardonnays, but this proves western Canada does also. Light and juicy, with friendly berry fruit. This won Best Pinot Noir and deserved it. We tasted this a few times and I wavered between loving it, merely liking it, and really loving it. The aroma is alluring: peppery, earthy, with dark plum and hints of wildflowers, probably from the 2% Viognier. It wasn't originally in the Best Red grouping but was included by popular demand and ended up taking the title. Follow me on Twitter: @wblakegray and like The Gray Report on Facebook.Now that I’m back from my detox -we say “detox” but we all know I had chocolate and caffeine in my backpack- there were a couple of things I was excited to have back in my life after time away. #1: the nightly glass of red wine. I have a glass after dinner most nights, and it’s like a glorious ending to the day. The Pilot and I will enjoy a glass and watch TV or chat, and it’s become an evening ritual.

The wine is also like my “dessert,” and I rarely get the nighttime munchies. I usually post a glass here or there on the blog, or during my virtual wine date posts, and am always asked about my favorite inexpensive red wines. It’s good to keep the cost down when drinking it everyday! Here’s the thing: I really don’t discriminate. If it’s red, I’ll drink it, and there’s a 90% chance I will like it. Over time though, my wine senses have developed a little bit, and I have discovered some delightful reds. Here are my favorite everyday red wines, in no particular order. (Note: I had to Google for the specific flavor notes. Otherwise I would have been like “this one is good,”this one is good, too” and “this one tastes like.. Best Inexpensive Red Wine Apothic red blend (2012): a California red blend (of Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) with notes of plum, blackberry, spice and vanilla ($10). This has been the standard for the past year or so, and I love the light sweetness.

It has almost no bite at all. Ménage à Trois midnight, dark red blend (2013): a dark and luscious blend (of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah and Petit Verdot), with blackberry, spiced plum and mocha notes. This actually may be my very favorite wine, but’s tricky to find! I got some at Baron’s (which is similar to Sprout’s) in San Diego for about $13. Dearly Beloved – I Thee Red, red blend (2011): this is another smooth and delicious red blend (of Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc). It has a vibrant flavor with notes of cherry, plum, spice, and anise. This is particularly amazing with a hearty bolognese pasta. Jam Jar Shiraz: this wine tastes like candy. It’s almost like a dessert wine -very sweet- and tastes amazing. If you’re newer to the red wine world and want to start with something sweeter, I highly recommend this one. This lovely wine is bursting with berry flavors and has chocolate undertones (yes, please). Usually it’s around $15 at Whole Foods.

Layer Cake Shiraz (2012): this South Australian wine has the flavor of dark berries and chocolate ganache. I don’t buy this one as frequently -I think because I’m always trying to switch it up- but it’s an old favorite. Usually around $12 at Trader Joe’s. Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel: has raspberry and cocoa flavors, but a bit of a “tang” to it from the alcohol. It’s not one of the smoothest wines, but I find that it pairs nicely with a cheese board and appetizers. Alamos Malbec (2013): this is another all-time fave, and one that I’ll occasionally order at restaurants. This one is primarily Malbec, but has small portions of Syrah and Bonarda for berry flavor. It has also has spice notes and vanilla, and it’s a beautiful wine for an evening treat. $9-12, depending where you find it (Walgreen’s and Trader Joe’s both carry this one). Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon (2011): this is a smooth wine, with flavors of clack cherry and oak. It’s usually around $16 at Trader Joe’s.