Barrel Select began with an idea and was fed with a passion for fine wine, based on the understanding that there is a difference between “vin ordinaire” and wines that taste good. Long before we brought a single bottle of wine into Ontario, we pursued the idea that wine lovers in Ontario would clamour for rare and interesting wines from artisanal winemakers. We recognized the desire for luxury wines not commonly found in the regular retail distribution channels in Ontario; a yearning for wines distinguished by their taste, structure and integrity, not only by their price tag.
Our raison d’être at Barrel Select, is to bring in wines of unique character and craftsmanship that preserve the integrity of the fruit and the land. Our portfolio is a community of “terrioristas” who in turn are as much “winegrowers” as winemakers, wholeheartedly committed to their trade. For most of our producers share a common belief about wine: that wine is made in the vineyard. While we find wines that receive frequent acclaim, our intention is to sell great wines, first and foremost. Many of our wineries have established themselves as varietal leaders, having achieved international acclaim. Highly sought after in some of the most competitive markets in the world, we offer them in Ontario on a limited basis. Unlike their commodity driven counterparts, more wine simply can’t be produced when demand outstrips supply. Yet these are the wines that drive us to want more, tasting a sense of place, a “somewhereness.” Committed to bringing some of the most elusive, ultra-premium wines to a select and limited number of wine enthusiasts, our portfolio has become a veritable list of "must haves." Whether you are a spirited consumer or a serious collector, your wine selection cannot be considered complete without Barrel Select's exclusive offerings.
Our enthusiasm for these wines and our commitment to our vision is reinforced in all of our interactions. Whether we are tasting in a cellar in Walla Walla or Santa Barbara with the winemaker, showing our wines to our restaurant partners in Toronto, hosting a wine event, dining out or with friends and family; our enthusiasm for what we do is obvious. Our objective is to make it contagious. Building on the excitement and exclusivity of our wines makes for very rewarding experiences and results in meaningful relationships. Wine is meant to be an emotional pursuit that stimulates the senses and brings people together in fun. Everything we do at Barrel Select is an extension of this: behaviour, attitude and word.
