2026 Ontario's Ultimate Wine - Part 2

Ontario’s Ultimate Wine 2026, Part 2: Eight Wines, One Champion

Eight wines remain. Seven decisions stand between them and the title.

In the conclusion of Two Guys Talking Wine’s Ontario’s Ultimate Wine 2026, André, Michael, and guest judge Tony Aspler move from three-wine flights to head-to-head elimination. Every matchup sends one wine forward—and one home.

The quarterfinalists span Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Meritage, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and traditional-method sparkling wine. Comparing them is anything but straightforward.

There are divided votes, a Star Wars comparison, some genuinely painful eliminations, and a championship matchup between two wines with almost nothing in common—except how much the judges want to keep drinking them.

Listeners know the contenders, but the judges still haven’t seen a label. Once the final decision is made, it’s time to uncover the bottles and find out what has been in the glasses all along.

In this episodeFour quarterfinals and the move to head-to-head competition.Why balance, texture, complexity, and finish become deciding factors.A sparkling-versus-Merlot matchup nobody wants to call.A white-wine semifinal that leaves Michael breaking the tie.Two outstanding reds separated by their finish.A Merlot-versus-Riesling championship tasting.The final bottle reveal and reactions around the table.Spoilers below: tournament resultsQuarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1 CREW: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery — 2024 Flagship Chardonnay vs. Palatine Hills Estate Winery — 2021 Overtime Meritage

Winner: CREW — 2024 Flagship Chardonnay

Quarterfinal 2 Tawse Winery — 2022 David’s Block Cabernet Franc vs. 16 Mile Cellar — 2019 Incivility Pinot Noir

Winner: Tawse — 2022 David’s Block Cabernet Franc

Quarterfinal 3 Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery — 2020 Ravine Reserve Merlot vs. Divergence Wines — 2020 Blanc de Blancs