Ugly Ducky, You’re the One: Magnotta Wines Introduces Ugly Duck Wine

VAUGHAN, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 9, 2024--

It’s summertime – a time for grilling, chilling and sipping really good wine while spending as much time as possible having fun in the great outdoors. To celebrate the season, Magnotta Winery, a Canadian award-winning, leading wine producer and third largest winery in Ontario, is releasing a quacky, quirky brand new wine – the Ugly Duck – right on time for summer fun. The new label comes in a red and a white blend now available at all Magnotta Winery retail locations and online at magnotta.com. In addition, Ugly Duck will launch at LCBOs across the province beginning this month.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240709926452/en/

“You’ll see, we chose an ingenuitive, fully recyclable paper bottle format designed with a playful yet purposeful format as we continue to introduce premium quality wines this year,” Rossana Magnotta, CEO, Magnotta Winery. “This wine is meant to complement a variety of different meals, particularly those cooked and enjoyed outdoors, and the packaging is perfect when it comes to safety (no glass) and being good to the environment,” she adds. “When serving Ugly Duck White Blend, we recommend chilling it in the fridge as it’s best not to put paper packaging on ice. Ugly Duck could also be that perfect ‘barbecue host’ gift,” said Magnotta.

Reminding us that Canadians do love their ducks, CEO, Rosanna Magnotta recalls the Mama Duck Festival from 2017 when a six-storey, 13,000-kilogram rubber duck arrived in Toronto to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Ugly Duck, Beautiful Blends

But as the story of the Ugly Duckling goes, appearances are misleading so get ready to enjoy the beautiful blends offered in these whimsically packaged, delicious new wines.

Experience a harmonious union of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay grapes in the White Blend. It offers a pale glistening sip, releasing delicate notes of green apple, citrus and blossoms into a rich tapestry of tropical fruits, toasted almonds with a touch of vanilla. It captivates with a finish that is crisp, refreshing and utterly delightful. Pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, aged cheese and light meat.

The Red Blend is a magical fusion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. A deep, ruby hue introduces a nose filled with initial subtlety of dark berries and a hint of spice. As the wine dances on your palate, the flavours transform into a beautiful narrative of black cherries, plums, and velvety tannins. The finish is a build-up of rich, dark chocolate and a touch of oak. Enjoy with a juicy steak hot off the grill.

Fits The Bill: Paper Packaging

Poolside or dockside, packaging is always top-of-mind. Glass is usually avoided and recyclable products are favoured for safety reasons as well as for quick and easy disposal.

Ugly Duck comes in a shatter proof paper bottle made of 100 per cent recycled paperboard, easily recycled in a bin for paper when pulled apart. They’re also eco-friendly with a carbon footprint up to 84 per cent lower than glass and uses 77 per cent less plastic than recycled plastic bottles.

Priced at $12.95 a bottle, Ugly Duck is currently available at all 14 Magnotta Winery locations in addition to the LCBO roll out starting in July 2024.

About Magnotta Winery Corporation

Magnotta Winery Corporation is Ontario’s third-largest winery producing, retailing, distributing and exporting wine, beer, cider and spirits. Magnotta’s commitment to excellence and innovation has resulted in being bestowed over 5,000 awards for product excellence and after being judged both locally and internationally, is ranked with the world’s best. Most recently, Magnotta was awarded Winery of The Year at the VINITALY, 5 Star Wines 2024. They offer over 180 world-class wines in every category, including one of the largest VQA portfolios in Canada. With vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula, they are part of an exclusive group of Ontario wineries that have been around for over 30 years. Magnotta offers its customers superior value and an enhanced retail and online shopping experience.

To learn more about Magnotta Winery and its products please visit magnotta.com.

Magnotta Wines Introduces Ugly Duck with Red Blend and White Blend. (Photo: Business Wire)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The driver of a car that barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp in central Illinois, killing three children and a teenager, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may have had a medical emergency, police said Thursday.

No decisions have been made on whether to file charges against the 44-year-old driver, Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly said at a news conference. The driver is not in custody, Kelly said.

Evidence that she may have had a medical emergency was “not conclusive” and the investigation is ongoing, Kelly said.

The car went off the road Monday, crossing a field and smashing into the side of the building in Chatham used by Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, also known as YNOT. It traveled through the building, striking people before exiting the other side.

Six other children were hospitalized. Four of them remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition, a state police spokesperson said after Thursday's news conference.

Those killed were Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield, Ainsley Johnson, 8, Kathryn Corley, 7, and Alma Buhnerkempe, 7. All of the children were from Chatham, a community of about 15,000 outside the Illinois capital of Springfield.

The driver was not injured but was taken to a hospital for evaluation after the crash, Kelly said. She voluntarily submitted blood and urine samples that tested negative for drugs and alcohol, he said.

“Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash,” Kell said. “However, the investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue until all leads and research have been exhausted.”

He would not elaborate on the possible health issue or say what evidence investigators have indicating a medical emergency may have occurred. He also would not say whether the driver was conscious and alert when emergency responders reached her.

Security camera footage showed the vehicle was “a substantial distance” away when it left the roadway, said Jamie Loftus, founder of YNOT Outdoors. It crossed the field, a road, the sidewalk and YNOT’s parking lot before crashing through the building “with no apparent attempt to alter its direction,” Loftus said earlier this week. The vehicle then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and fence.

Kelly said the vehicle traveled more than 1,300 feet (396 meters) but would not elaborate and also would not say how fast the vehicle was moving.

He said he could not provide a timeline for completing the investigation and said charges, if appropriate, would be up to the Sangamon County state's attorney.

Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed.

Brandy Fletcher leaves flowers at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

An overhead view shows the scene where victims were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Police tape is left at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Damage is visible at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)