Mastronardi Estate wines coming to area LCBOs

 A third wine from Kingsville's Mastronardi Estate Winery is expected soon on the shelves of select LCBO stores, including seven locations in Windsor and Essex County.

Winemaker Lyse LeBlanc says the Vidal 2007 will be available within weeks, sell for $8 a bottle and join the winery's red wine Cabernet Franc 2006 VQA and the a'Dorah, a white wine blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The a'Dorah sells for $15 and the Cabernet Franc will sell for a reduced price of $12.95 beginning Feb. 1.

Later this year, the winery expects its Brianje 2007 Riesling ($15) to be featured with Vintages products in LCBO stores.

A provincial program helps smaller wineries such as Mastronardi Estate to distribute and sell products through LCBO stores.

And the effort to highlight local wines in the LCBO stores continues to work, says LeBlanc. "I feel good," she says. "I think our company is really moving forward."

The Mastronardi Estate wines are available at LCBO stores in Leamington, at the St. Clair Shores Shopping Centre in Lakeshore, and in LaSalle, Essex and Amherstburg as well as Windsor stores at the Roundhouse Centre on Howard Avenue and the Walker Road-Ottawa Street location.

The winery's retail store, 1193 Road 3, just west of Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, offers wines and related products for sale. Contact the winery at 519-733-9463.

CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH PORTUGUESE FLAVOUR, TOO

The Year of the Ox arrives at Cafe Morena, 999 Erie St. E., with a dinner event this Sunday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Asian culinary instructor Suzy Cui and Portuguese chef Fatima Cavaca offer a special menu to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The cost is $35 for the five-course dinner, including tilapia seafood and a Portuguese roasted chicken piri piri dish. Seating is limited, tickets required; phone Cui at 519-251-0300 or Cafe Morena at 519-253-3777.

TAKE THREE BITES AT WINTER'S CHILL

A discount menu program continues through Saturday for diners who can enjoy a three-course dinner for $25 at restaurants in the Winter Bites promotion. Organized by the website windsoreats.com and its directory of restaurants, the program provides a special menu with choices of three appetizers, three entrees and three desserts.

"We want to add excitement to the hospitality industry during a traditionally slow month," Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner of windsoreats.com, explains in an e-mail. "Prix fixe menu events have been done with great success in cities like Chicago, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto," Ciotoli writes. "It was time to bring that same concept to Windsor."

Participating restaurants include World Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant, Three... A Tasting Bar, Bamboo Catering Co., Mick's Irish Pub, Thai Silk Restaurant. The website lists the restaurants and reservations strongly recommended.

FOR LOVERS ONLY: PELEE ISLAND WINERY EVENT

A special chocolate lovers' Valentine's Day Dinner at Pelee Island Winery, 455 Seacliff Dr., Kingsville on Feb. 14 features a five-course dinner, each course especially paired with the winery's selections. The cost is $50 per person before taxes; seating is strictly limited.