Bar a Vin 1855

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Red Dory where the views of the Sakonnet River offer a clue to the Mediterranean-inspired menu featuring fresh ingredients from local farms and docks. And to help you pair wine with seafood, shellfish, or meaty, saucy dishes Michaela identifies tasting notes and offers pairing suggestions to ensure the spices and herbs pair well with the wine. From white Riojas with notes of cantaloupe, green apple, lime zest to bold reds with flavors of blackberries and cassis, along smoke, black pepper, and oak, Michaela helps you understand which wines to pair with meals on the menu. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Ostatu Viura, Rioja, Spain

• 2017 Cantina del Taburno Aglianico, Campania, Italy

• 2021 Movia Sauvignon Blanc, Slovenia

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a look through the wine list at Oberlin in Providence, Rhode Island to find the value wines, special bottles, and little-known gems that you might miss. A James Beard Award finalist, Oberlin features an extensive menu of seafood and pasta, and the wine list offers an eclectic selection of  Old World and New World wines, organic, skin contact, and local wines from New England. Michaela spots wines made from rare varietals, natural whites from Chile, and unique orange wines from Georgia. If an adventure in wine is what you’re looking for, you’ve arrived. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Echeverria Viognier, Curico Valley, Chile

• 2020 Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero, Alto Adige, Italy

• 2019 Nine Oakes Khikhvi

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Blu Ristorante where they offer a stand-out selection of Old-world and New-world wines to accompany their delicious menu. One addition to her suggestions is a pinot noir from the Dundee Hills in Oregon, and a Grecheto from Umbria with notes of white flowers, and lilacs, lemon zest, and grapefruit, with a mineral and herbal finish. Wow! Liquid lusciousness.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 La Carria Grechetto

• 2016 Bedegas Fuenmayor “Nocedal Reserva” Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

• 2020 Zolla Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto. Their wine list has won the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and the list includes classic producers, limited releases, and local selections from small producers in Canada. Michaela spots some stand-out wines on the list including a syrah with notes of ripe, red cherries, ripe raspberries, white pepper, and thyme, perfect for pairing with pasta or rich, saucy dishes.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Wild Goose Riesling from the Okanagan Valley

• 2019 Domaine Chante-Perdrix Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

• 2018 Tenuta Sette Ponti “Oreno” from Tuscany

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Chiado a Portuguese restaurant that offers an exciting selection of wines specifically from Portugal, and, in addition to wine, port which originates from Portugal. Michaela suggests wines from several different regions of Portugal, she describes the tasting notes and offers pairing suggestions, and even helps you find a stellar wine if you are on a budget and don’t want to compromise on quality. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2017 Quinta de Pellada, Quints de Saes Reserva

• 2018 Alves de Sousa, Branco da Gaivosa.

• 2016 Cortes de Cima Blend

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Harriet’s Rooftop, an elegantly comfortable space where patrons can take in the most expansive views of vibrant Toronto. Do aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle, ripe pear, lemon zest and spice tickle your palate? If so, dive into the podcast where Michaela offers pairing suggestions for a few local and organic wines, and she suggests several noteworthy wines that will enhance your meal and your evening.  

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 13th St Winery Chardonnay, Creek Shores, Canada

• 2020 Malivoire Small Lot Gamay, Beamsville Bench, Ontario

• 2019 Juggernaut Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Barberian's Steakhouse. With over 100 pages, this list is a who’s who of top producers, and in nearly every vintage. This could be Canada's most stunning wine cellar, with more than 15,000 bottles from the world's greatest vineyards, and all to complement top-grade, dry-aged steaks that are butchered in-house.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2016 Sacred Hill, Riflemans Chardonnay, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

• 2010 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia, Reserva, Rioja, Spain

• 2018 Chappellet Signature from Napa Valley, California

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Canoe, a Canadian restaurant that is inspired by the provinces of Canada, and the wine list offers a carefully curated selection of old and new world wines to explore. Michaela explores the list, shares information about sweetness in bubbles, and kicks of the review with a spectacular sauvignon blanc that would pair well with shellfish from the east coast provinces, and follows it up with a red that would pair well with fish and heavily sauced dishes. 

 Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Leaning Post Sauvignon Blanc, Niagra

• 2020 Closson Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ontario

• 2016 Bodegas San Isidro “Gemina Cuvee Seleccion”, Spain

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head north to explore the wine list at Harbour 60 where they serve the best steak in town and have curated an exceptional wine list. This exceptional restaurant offers a wonderful selection of old-world and new-world wines, and it also features a few standout Canadian wines that are new to the market but well worth trying. Michaela finds a few delicious whites to pair with shellfish on the menu, a shiraz to pair with lamb, and a beautiful Rioja from the oldest vineyard in the region that dates back to 1852.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021 Lungarotti, Torre di Giano, from Umbria, Italy
• 2018 Wakefield “Crooked Horse” Shiraz, Australia
• 2017 Marques de Murrieta Reserva from Rioja, Spain

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit The Shore Club, a fabulous restaurant with locations in both Ottawa and Toronto. This is an elegant seafood and steakhouse with a comfy dining area and lively cocktail bar, plus a long wine list. Michaela explains why you should try a Brut Cremant if you are looking for quality bubbles at a good price, and, of course, she identifies the tasting notes in wines from both the old and new world wines and offers pairing suggestions guaranteed to elevate your dining experience. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Jules Rose from Provence, France

• 2020 Ben Marco ‘Plata’ Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina

• 2020 Domaine Lucien Jacob Aligote, Burgundy