The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Life is hard and wine is delicious, so it can sometimes be a good idea to pair the latter with the former, particularly if you're having a crisis.
I recently had a massive meltdown over something inconsequential, and when my very kind fiancé offered to head to our local LCBO in Toronto and pick me up a bottle of bubbly (which, to be fair, is my go-to beverage), I looked at him like he had insulted me because bubbles do not go with meltdowns — a nice, juicy cabernet sauvignon is much more appropriate, in my opinion.
It got me thinking about which wines pair with what kind of particular crisis one may be having, so I've taken it upon myself to create a pairing guide because having the right drink during one's time of need is important (provided, of course, that the drinking is done by those of legal age and in a safe, responsible way).
Here's which LCBO wine you should grab depending on what's going on in your life.
If you just lost your job
Toro Bravo Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc DO La Mancha at the LCBO.
Everything costs about one million dollars these days, and if you just lost your job, funds are likely extra tight at the moment, which means you need something cheap.
Despite the fact that Toro Bravo only costs $10, it's surprisingly tasty and balanced for a budget wine, and it goes down easily. With a nice citrussy brightness, it'll keep you company while you doomscroll on Indeed for your next gig.
ABV: 11.5%
Price: $10.00
If you just got dumped
Saintly The Good Sparkling Rosé VQA at the LCBO.
First of all, I am so sorry — getting dumped is a special kind of painful life event, and for that reason, you need an uplifting rosé to keep you company while you process your feels.
While Saintly's The Good Sparkling Rosé VQA isn't very sweet (this is, after all, a bitter time in your life), it has delicious flavours of berries that are lovely, and combined with the sparkling element, it's overall just an easy drink.
ABV: 12.5%
Price: $19.95
If climate change is scaring you
Jackson-Triggs Reserve Meritage VQA at the LCBO.
The summers in Toronto are starting to freak me out with their aggressive heat waves and wildfire smoke, and while I don't know that shopping local actually makes a difference in terms of mitigating climate change, buying a wine that's made in Niagara feels like it could help.
The Jackson-Triggs Reserve Meritage VQA is better than any of their other blends I've tried and tastes quite fancy for an Ontario vintage — this red tastes of equal quality to a California red, which is impressive stuff for Niagara grapes.
ABV: 12.4%
Price: $15.00
If it's been a long week and you're over it
Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon at the LCBO.
If you're done with everything and everyone, I highly recommend the Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a bestseller for a reason — whenever I have a sip of this delicious red, it lowkey feels like a warm hug.
It has flavours of fig preserves, nuts, toast, herbs and honey, and I feel like this wine tells me, "It's going to be okay, you got this!"
ABV: 13.5%
Price: $19.95
If you have a big meeting/test/presentation tomorrow morning
Tarapacá Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc at the LCBO.
If you have an important event in the morning and can't afford the possibility of a hangover but still want something delicious to sip on, try the Tarapacá Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc.
Some NA wines have a weird flavour, but this one actually tastes like a sauv blanc with juicy flavours, acidity and sweetness. It is a touch on the sweeter side due to the lack of alcohol, but it also tastes great when mixed with a bit of soda water.
ABV: 0.5%
Price: $10.95
If you want to impress a new partner
With Love Pecorino at the LCBO.
You shouldn't judge a bottle by the label, but look how freaking cute this is! The With Love Pecorino is both bold and easy to drink and goes well with pretty much any food or snacks that you might be serving.
Hopefully the little cheese and bean friends on the label holding hands will inspire some warmth between you and your partner!
ABV: 13%
Price: $15.95
If you have to give a gift but have a limited budget
Vistamar Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 at the LCBO.
Despite the fact that I'm pretty good with wine, I always panic when it's time to buy a present for someone since everyone's palate is so different, and then I go into a spiral of overthinking.
My go-to these days is the Vistamar Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 from the Vintages section. It comes in at a price point that says, "I spent more than $11 on this but didn't want to be pretentious and spend $30," and the bottle feels quite hefty, perhaps because of the wax embossment on the label.
It's also just a really delicious red with a nice mix of juiciness and earthiness that I could sip away at all night.
ABV: 14%
Price: $17.95
Find it at the LCBO
If you're getting ready to go to the thing you don't want to go to
Jacob's Creek Moscato at the LCBO.
You know that feeling when you made plans when you were in a good mood, and now it's time to go do the thing and you don't want to? Jacob's Creek Moscato will help with that.
It's the perfect wine to sip on while getting ready as it's sweet and has a lower alcohol level, so it won't get you too buzzed before you head out but it might help you feel a little stronger to face the thing.
You got this!
ABV: 7.5%
Price: $16.00
If you're feeling yourself
Latte Miele Prosecco DOC Spumante at the LCBO.
And lastly, if you're feeling yourself, it's always a good idea to pop some bubbles.
The Latte Miele Prosecco DOC Spumante is bright, fresh and delightful, and when it's on sale, I buy a bottle or two because it's my favourite thing to have on hand when I want to have a dance party in the kitchen, sing along to Taylor Swift and harass my guy with love.
ABV: 11%
Price: $16.00
Narcity does not condone the overconsumption of alcohol. If you're going to drink alcohol, please do so responsibly and only if you're of legal age.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.