Archive for February, 2013

Vine App for Wine: Twitter Videos Decant Private Passions

Call it YouTube for Twitter. Vine is the next big thing. (Call me a geek. It’s okay … I got that years ago when I jumped on Twitter and mobile.) Vine creates tiny, moving windows that allow others to look in on your life. Forget Hollywood-like stage sets, lights and stilted dialogue … this is [...]

Valentine’s Day Chocolate + Wine Killer Combos Video

In our second video chat below, Master Chocolatier Derrick Tu Tan Pho reveals more of his secrets for pairing wine and chocolate, especially for Valentine’s Day. He’s also designed some lovely chocolate creations, and suggests rosemary-infused chocolate with habanero sea salt as an aprodisiac that pairs amazingly well with prosciutto and cheese (and a bear [...]

Halifax restaurant Bicycle Thief Sommelier Steve Adams

Steve Adams, manager and wine guy at The Bicycle Thief restaurant in Halifax talks about matching wine and seafood, the growth of Nova Scotia wines and tips on how to choose a great bottle from a restaurant list. What’s on your wine list? We currently have 144 wines on our list, and it’s always changing. [...]

Wine and Chocolate Pairings for Valentine’s Day Video

In the video chat below, Master Chocolatier Derrick Tu Tan Pho shares his tips for pairing wine and chocolate for Valentine’s Day and any other time of the year when you want to indulge. He knows his sweet stuff having won gold at the Culinary Olympics in the categories of sugar, chocolate, wedding cakes and dessert [...]

Video 2 Free My Canadian Grapes & Wine: MP Dan Albas

In our second video chat, Member of Parliament, Dan Albas, talks about the law he helped to pass that got rid of federal restrictions on shipping wine across Canada. However, important issues remain. We also taste two terrific B.C. wines together and toast to all barriers coming down so that all Canadians can enjoy all [...]

Shipping Wine Across Canada: Bill C-311 and Beyond

In the video chat below, Member of Parliament Dan Albas talks about what Bill C-311 means for Canadian wine lovers and wineries today, and what needs to happen next. Can we call a winery in another province and order wine, or only purchase on site? Is there any limit on how much? Is just Canadian [...]

Hogue Cellars Genesis Riesling, Altesino Brunello Di Montalcino: Best LCBO Wines Feb 16

Here are my top wine picks from the February 16 Vintages Release. You can also get all 91 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking [...]

Canadian Wine & Cheese Pairing: Go Local for Taste

The Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz (above), was among hundreds who gathered near Parliament Hill in Ottawa last night to celebrate Canadian cheese and wine with the terrific pairings below. It was a privilege to meet the farmers and producers across this country who create these artisanal cheeses. It proved to me, once again, [...]

Top BC Wines in the LCBO

A number of spectacular wines from British Columbia hit LCBO store shelves recently. Several of them below hosted their own Twitter tasting. They chose the hashtag #ONtastesBC so you can join them. I’ve been reviewing these wines for several years now, and it’s interesting to track their progress to the most recent vintage. As well, [...]