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Just drawing your attention to an interesting new site, www.winealign.com, which helps consumers in Ontario find well-reviewed wines in their price range at their local LCBO stores. It hooks into the LCBO’s inventory as well so you know your local store will have it in stock.

It lets users review and rate and share wines as well, and will be launching a version 2.0 sometime in March. It looks promising. One drawback is that they’re charging $40/year, but there is a 60-day free trial that doesn’t require any payment information.

If you join, find me as “jmcnally” and add me as a contact. The more people that contribute, the better.

I really enjoyed The Bridge, and thought it was a daring concept. The director was present at the screening I saw and said they actually prevented several suicides during their observation.

Supersize Me was fun, but a bit of a stunt. I recommend a new documentary called Food Inc. directed by Robert Kenner which played at TIFF last year. It’s a more serious treatment of some of the issues raised by Spurlock’s film.

Ooh, and a great summer refresher is the Aveleda Vinho Verde from Portugal (CSPC 5322). Slightly spritzy and refreshing, and just $8.45. The LCBO site tells me that you also get 4 bonus Air Miles until May 24th on this wine.

There is Sante (http://www.santewinefestival.net/) from May 5-10 but it’s hit and miss. Of all the Canadian wineries participating, only Strewn has any decent wine, in my opinion, and they’re just reliable, not necessarily excellent.

I’d take a weekend and base yourself in the village of Jordan. My favourites are Vineland, Henry of Pelham, Cave Spring, Fielding Estates, Flat Rock and Stratus.

1. Withnail and I

2. The Big Lebowski

3. Rushmore

4. Magnolia

5. The Philadelphia Story

6. Les 400 coups

7. The Royal Tenenbaums

8. All About Eve

9. Raising Arizona

10. Bottle Rocket

I made this list several years ago for the site YMDB (http://www.shompy.com/jmcnally/l12387_ukuk.html) so it’s probably time I looked at it again, but listmaking in general is really difficult. I think there would be more foreign films in it now.

The laws are funny about that. When I wanted to do something similar at Lifford, I was told it was actually illegal for us to help people split cases. Sadly, selling booze is still seen by our government as something sort of shameful.

Doubters might want to check out an upcoming event. Somewhereness (www.somewhereness.com) is taking place on April 22 at Coupe Space (998 Queen St. E.) from 6:30-9:30. Five Ontario producers (Flat Rock Cellars, Malivoire, Norman Hardie, Stratus and Tawse) will be presenting their wines to demonstrate the uniqueness of Ontario’s “terroir”. Tickets are $75.

My house red is the Spinelli Quartana Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (CSPC 454629). It’s a steal at $6.95 a bottle, and is perfect with all Italian foods, even Pizza Pizza!

Well said, msurman. I think Ontario Rieslings are pretty fine, and knowing that the wine hasn’t had to travel for weeks in a container ship means it’s fresher, too. In fact, I love visiting the wineries around Jordan village (Cave Spring, Fielding, Vineland Estates, Henry of Pelham, Flat Rock, Stratus) and though the wines aren’t bargains, I’m happy to be supporting local agriculture.

My previous job was as web guy for Lifford Wine Agency (www.liffordwine.com) who have an excellent portfolio of wines, many of which are not available at the LCBO. They’re the biggest consignment agent seller of wines to the restaurants of Ontario. You still have to buy by the case, but they have an excellent weekly email newsletter (which I still help send out) with links to a tasting video by a dedicated consumer sales guy. Huge portfolio from Canada, US, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Chile, etc.

Best part is their annual Grand Tasting, which is being held May 7 at the Eglinton Grand Theatre in Toronto. Tickets are $125 but you can try any wine in the portfolio. I’m very proud of this event as I helped organize it the past four years. I’m even taking a day off from my new job to pour wine this year. They have about 35 winemakers coming especially to pour and talk about their wines, too.