Chronicles of Cork: No California? No Problem. Smart Wine Replacements at the LCBO
By: Marcel Bregstein, CCM/Sommelier
Assistant General Manager, Toronto Hunt Club
It has been over a year and many of our favourite California, Oregon and Washington wines are still missing from LCBO shelves. If you’re struggling to replace the Cabs, Pinots and Chardonnays you used to love, the good news is that excellent alternatives exist — often from the very regions where these grapes originally came from. The Oregon Pinot Noirs can easily be replaced with Burgundy and the Washington Cabernets with Left Bank Bordeaux wines.
The three varietals all came from the Old World. Pinot Noir was brought from Burgundy to California in the early 1850s by early winegrowing pioneers. It is often credited to Frenchman Pierre Pellier, Colonel Agoston Haraszthy, or Charles LeFranc.
Chardonnay was brought to California from Burgundy in the late 19th century, with significant, lasting imports arriving around 1912. While early, undocumented, or experimental plantings may have occurred in the 1880s, the most influential, documented introduction was made by the Wente family in 1912, importing clones from France that now account for roughly 75-80% of California’s Chardonnay.
Cabernet Sauvignon was brought to California in the early-to-mid 1850s from Bordeaux. French nurseryman Antoine Delmas is credited with importing the first cuttings to the Santa Clara Valley in 1852. It was subsequently introduced to Napa Valley in the 1880s by Morris Estee and popularised in Sonoma by pioneers like Jacob Gundlach.
Burgundy and Bordeaux are logical substitutes, but climate and winemaking styles differ. New World wines tend to be riper, fruit-forward and oak-driven, so finding the right replacement is about matching style, not just grape variety.
Excellent alternatives to US wines
Excellent alternatives for fans of bold, oaky, and fruit-forward styles include Australian Shiraz, Italian Primitivo and Sangiovese, and Canadian wines from British Columbia or Niagara. For premium, rich reds like California Cabernets, consider Languedoc-Roussillon (France), or Ribera del Duero (Spain). Tuscany and South Africa are making beautiful complex Chardonnay’s.
Left Bank Bordeaux wines are powerful just like California Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends known for high tannins, structure, and exceptional aging potential, primarily due to gravel-rich soils. These wines often feature notes of cassis, blackcurrant, graphite, and cedar. Key appellations include Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, and Pessac-Léognan, with many classified under the prestigious 1855 Bordeaux Classification.
Ever since the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were transported to Chile from Bordeaux during the 19th century, this sun-loving grape has been the driving force behind the country’s wine industry.
Today, roughly one of every three bottles of wine produced in Chile is varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. The high-end Chilean Cabernets are very similar to the Napa Cabs.
Rocca delle Macie Moonlite Chardonnay IGT Italy
Intense aromas of broom flowers with hints of apple and exotic fruits. Pleasantly fresh, fruity and smooth with mineral hints perfectly blended with citrus notes.
If you like a Chardonnay that balances ripeness with restraint, this Tuscan is for you. It gleams glossy and pale in the glass almost water white with an immediately inviting aroma. Scents nod toward Bosc pear and apricot kernel, while the entry tastes clean and crisp with a polished, tightly wound centre that’s neither too fruity nor too forward. Flavours allude to white orchard fruit scored with bitter almond and peach pit before tapering to a dry, textured finish.
Price $15.00
Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay
This Winemaking Pioneer Is a Leader in Sustainability. With a 350-year winemaking tradition, South Africa blends high-quality production with eco-friendly practices, making it one of the most exciting and earth-friendly wine regions around.
They've been making wine in South Africa ever since the first traders from the Dutch East India Company set up a supply station on the Cape more than 350 years ago. The country’s dry and sunny Mediterranean climate, cooled by the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, is ideal for growing a wide range of grapes, and the dramatic geography allows it to produce myriad styles. Today, South African wines are recognized for offering excellent quality at affordable prices and sustainability.
Boschendal began making wines in 1685; a testament to South Africa's rich viticultural heritage. This is a striking wine that overdelivers at this price. It's bold and impressive, with upfront nutty, citrus and peppery fruit, and remains buttery and complex through to the finish.
Price $18.95
Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Louis Henry Denis Jadot founded Maison Louis Jadot in 1859. Even before then, the story of Jadot had its roots in the vineyards, with the first acquisition of Clos des Ursules in 1826. Since this time it has been praised as one of the most venerable, most trusted and most revered houses in Burgundy. With over 280 acres in the Cote d'Or's prestigious Grand and Premier Cru vineyards, they place equal importance on all of their appellations from village wines up. Vinification balances tradition and technology and focuses on the purest expression of each wine's terroir
This is a plush and fragrant nose of cherry, raspberry, vanilla, violets, pipe tobacco and cedar... lovely red berry, fine spice and tea flavours lead the palate. It starts out silky then gathers grip across the palate... The finish trails tealeaf, cocoa, leather and spice flavours.
Price $40.95
Pinot Noir Tradition Wein Expertise
German Pinot Noir, known as Spätburgunder, is Germany's premier red wine, characterized by its cool-climate elegance, high acidity, and notes of raspberry, cherry, and white pepper. Often compared to Burgundy but offering distinct value, top examples are increasingly recognized for their power, refinement, and aging potential, particularly from the Baden, Ahr, and Pfalz regions.
This great Pinot Noir combines fresh red cherries and strawberry jam with racy cranberry acidity, a touch of beetroot earthiness and light tannins. Drinking window: 2025-2027.
Price $17.95
Montes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Most Chilean cabernet comes from the Maipo Valley close to the capital Santiago. Montes makes this about 2 hours drive south in the Colchagua Valley. It has lovely fragrant aromas of red cherry and raspberry fruit with hints of smoke, tobacco and sweet dried herbs, thyme and oregano. It is round, fullbodied with a clean palate and well balanced juicy fruit flavours. It shows good cabernet character with the ripeness balanced by lively acidity. I love the pureness and focus. Not that complex but well made with very good length. Try with grilled meats or hard mature cheese.
Price $15.05
Chateau Teyssier 2023
Chateau Teyssier has a long history in the Bordeaux region. In fact, wine has been produced since the 1700s. The estate dates to at least 1714. In fact, during the nineteenth century, Teyssier was the largest wine producer in their sector of the Right Bank.
Chateau Teyssier (Saint-Émilion) is a highly praised, bold, and juicy red, showcasing notes of blueberry, spice, and mocha. Despite significantly lower yields (nearly two-thirds less), the 2023 vintage is described as superb and is expected to be approachable early, with a drinking window of 2025–2035. The wine typically features a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Price $32.00
While we all hope to see our favourite US wines return, this is a great opportunity to explore where these grapes originally came from and discover new favourites along the way. You may find that the replacement becomes your new go-to bottle.
Marcel Bregstein Chevalier, CCM/Sommelier
With a rich background in hospitality and wine, Marcel Bregstein has an extensive career in the Food and Beverage industry. He holds a degree in Business from the and the University of Toronto, and furthered his education in F&B Management, Catering, Wines One and Two, and Club Operations at George Brown College. Marcel took the International Sommelier Guild Program at Humber College and is currently enrolled in the prestigious Master of Wine program.
Marcel achieved the CCM Certification in 2017.
Since 1997, Marcel has worked at The Toronto Hunt in various roles, including F&B Manager, Clubhouse Manager, and currently, Assistant General Manager. His previous experience includes positions at fine restaurants, Royal Caribbean International, and The Royal York Hotel.
A recognized leader in the industry, Marcel is involved in several professional associations, including being the Cellar Master and a member of the International Wine and Food Society for over a decade. He serves as Chair of the F&B Advisory Committee at George Brown College and is a member of the Centennial College Cabinet and the Event Planning Advisory Committee. He has also taught wine courses at George Brown College and hosted renowned wine figures, such as Julien de Rothschild, Barone Francesco Ricasoli, and Eduardo Chadwick.
Marcel's dedication extends beyond his professional work; he is a former President of the Ontario Branch of the Club Managers Association of Canada (CMAC), where he developed a Wine Program in partnership with George Brown College. He was also instrumental in founding the F&B National Conference and the annual Networking Social Ontario Branch event.
In 2015, Marcel was inducted into the prestigious Ordre de Coteaux de Champagne and knighted by Mr. Taittinger, becoming one of only four Canadians to receive the title "Chevalier."
Beyond his career in wine and hospitality, Marcel has supported charitable causes, raising over $1,000,000 through Guinness World Record attempts to sabre the most bottles in one minute. He has been featured in publications like Wine Access and on major TV networks, including Global TV and CTV Breakfast Television. Marcel had a small part on the Movie “A Tail of Love” and the mini series “Rising Suns”.
A passionate traveler, Marcel has explored the world’s most celebrated wine regions and is now producing a wine show for PBS where he engages with some of the globe's top winemakers. The World’s Greatest Wine Trips with Marcel Bregstein will air on PBS in 2026.
Marcel is a dedicated family man, the father of two daughters and grandfather to a 14-year-old boy. He is an avid marathoner with 10 completed races, and he stays active with hobbies such as yoga, tennis, and golf.
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