Located in the depths of the Longo’s grocery superstore at 15 York St. in downtown Toronto is a tiny corner devoted to Ontario’s craft product called Corks, Longo Bros Beer & Wine Bar. It shares the same building as Real Sports Bar, and is neighbour to more than a few local and tourist powerhouses, like: Air Canada Centre; Union Station; and the Metro Convention Centre.

My initial visit to this locally-minded ‘grocery-resto-bar’ occurred recently after I missed a VIA Rail train and had three hours to kill. Being an uneventful Sunday in the area, the silence was uneasy in a venue made for major crowds, hectic shopping, and festivities; but I descended the escalator into the Longo’s supermarket, impressed with its vastness and quiet community of nearby condo dwellers milling about doing their weekly shopping.     

I took a seat at the empty bar, and began chatting with Yolande, my server for the afternoon. I looked over the menu that offered a wealth of local beer and wine selections – and, happily, tasting flights of both paired with cheese.

I was thrilled to see taps from: Black Oak, King, Beau’s, Granite, and Old Credit for beer; not to mention the quality of the local wine selections from: Fielding, 13^th Street, Daniel Lenko, and Tawse, to name a few. In fact, as the next day was Valentine’s, I first had the 13^th Street Brut Rose which came with a large chocolate covered strawberry.

Shortly after, I decided a snack of various cheeses was due. It is only, here, that I take issue with Corks menu. No doubt wanting to promote their own roster of deli cheeses that are sold in the supermarket – mere steps from where I sat – I was still perplexed at the effort to supply such fantastically local product in the form of Ontario beer and wine; but then completely fall short on the origin of the cheeses, with only one brie vaguely labeled “Ontario”.

Though we may not be as globally well known – yet – as our provincial neighbour to the East, or some European counterparts for artisanal cheese, there are certainly more than enough high quality and unique selections from our very own farmers and cheesemongers, here, in Ontario. What better way to gain acclaim and recognition with Torontonians and tourists alike, than to deservedly pair our cheeses beside both beers and wines that share their postal codes, and within a venue specifically marketing a ‘local’ experience.

Contributed by Kaylea McCarron – www.winenotontario.com