Raise a Glass to Canada: Canadian Wines Perfect for Summer
By Alison Phillips
’Tis the season to celebrate our beautiful country in the great outdoors. Canadian summers are meant to be enjoyed outside. In Alberta, we love a good barbecue! So we encourage you to try the fabulous array of Canadian wines to sip on and enjoy with summer meals.
Beef is King on the barbecue here, and a good red wine works every time. A great one to try is Henry of Pelham’s Baco Noir. Hailing from Ontario, this hearty North American hybrid grape produces deeply coloured, high-acid, smoky-fruit wines that deliver a rustic, robust punch that holds its own when paired with a good barbecued steak.
If a juicy hamburger is more your style, I recommend a bold BC Syrah or a Cabernet Merlot blend.
Blasted Church Vineyards Syrah VQA from the southern Okanagan offers a rich, complex taste. With notes of blueberry, plum, and violet, and a hint of gaminess on the nose, the palate gives a rounded attack with blueberry, blackberry, and ripe red berries, leading into flavours of wild sage and plum. It is balanced with good acidity and fine-grained tannins throughout the finish.
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Cabernet Merlot is a popular, budget-friendly blend featuring notes of blackberry, cherry, and mocha. Although the Summerland, B.C. Winery closed in 2023 after 43 years, the operation moved south in the Okanagan, and their brand is still being produced and sold.
Nothing shouts out Patio Wine better than Rosé! This versatile wine incorporates some of the colour from the grape skins, but not enough to qualify as a red wine. It’s perfect for sipping alone or pairing with salads, chicken dishes, BBQ salmon and even pork ribs. A couple of interesting ones from the Okanagan – Rosé Hush from Dirty Laundry Vineyards is an intriguing blend of Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it a juicy, fruity taste while not being sweet. And, with notes of strawberry, grapefruit and kiwi, Wild Goose Vineyards Rosé is a perfect light patio sipper.
If white wine is more your style, Canada produces excellent choices, as we are classified as a cool climate wine region in the world. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay from Niagara and the Okanagan are outstanding, but some grapes you may not have heard of are worth trying. Be adventurous and try a crisp, fruity off-dry Ehrenfelser from Gehringer or Gray Monk, or a crisp, citrus Chenin Blanc from Quails Gate, all from the Okanagan. Ontario Riesling is world-class, known for its high acidity, mineral notes, and versatility, ranging from bone-dry to lusciously sweet ice wines.
Primarily grown in the Niagara Peninsula, they taste like summertime in your mouth. Pair with chicken and fish dishes or local Canadian cheeses.
It’s noteworthy to add that in the past few years, many Okanagan wineries were hit by the severe 2024 winter cold snaps, destroying local vine crops. The B.C. government allowed wineries to import U.S. grapes, extending this program into 2025 to manage a 10,000-tonne shortage. It did save many wineries from bankruptcy, but the move created tension, as some local grape growers struggled to sell their own fruit. Then, the 2025 Tariffs imposed by the US further added insult to injury. Some B.C. wines state on their labels that their wine is produced in B.C. with grapes grown in Washington. This practice has sustained many B.C. wineries waiting for their own grapes to grow back. The geography of the Okanagan Valley does, in fact, extend into Washington state, and as far as we know, grapes are not politically biased.
Sante!
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Alison Phillips
After living in Vancouver for more than 25 years and building a career in the travel industry — working with airlines, serving as a sales manager for tour operators, and teaching at the Canadian Tourism College — Alison took a major leap of faith in 2007 when she moved to Edmonton with her partner to open a wine and spirits store at West Edmonton Mall. Together, they have spent the past 19 years building a successful business, while Alison also earned her Level II Sommelier certification and became a French Wine Scholar.
Passionate about lifelong learning, Alison believes the wine and spirits industry offers endless opportunities for growth and discovery. Through Aligra, she has helped create a vibrant community experience by hosting tastings, winemaker dinners, charity events, and educational classes both in-store and throughout Edmonton. Alison has combined her love of sharing knowledge, writing, and travel from her previous career, continually finding new ways to elevate the customer experience in a competitive industry.
Her travels have taken her throughout Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, North America, and Europe, both as a solo traveller and tour escort. Alison especially enjoys the dynamics of group travel, sharing stories and insights while ensuring every trip is well organized and filled with memorable experiences. Although exploring destinations on foot at a grassroots level remains her favourite way to travel, she has also developed a deep appreciation for exceptional accommodations, fine dining, and unique cultural experiences.
Now that the store is well established, Alison is dedicating more time to her lifelong passion for travel. She has led several international wine tour groups to destinations including Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, the Okanagan, South Africa, Portugal, and Hungary. More recently, she has spent winters in Mexico and travelled to Costa Rica earlier this year. Her next adventure, Winos & Rhinos II to South Africa, is scheduled for September 2026.
For more information on upcoming tours with Alison, visit travelswithalison.com.