In our second video chat below, Dave Loan shares some specific vegetarian and wine pairings, such as the Seitan dish above, which is a protein made from high-gluten flour, has the texture of a cutlet and a higher protein value than beef. He coats it in a pecan crust, pan fries it and serves it with a black rice cake, sautéed vegetables, a thick tomato chutney and a robust red wine. Dave also discusses his course on New World wines for the sommelier program at Algonquin College. What’s the most memorable wine and vegetarian pairing you’ve ever […]
Month: March 2013
Wine and Chocolate Pairing with a Chocolate Sommelier
In my recent column for the Ontario interior design magazine Homefront, I featured wine and chocolate pairings, including an interview with chocolate sommelier Roxanne Browning, who teaches classes on pairing wine and chocolate. You can also watch a couple of video interviews with Roxanne on this topic. What was your first experience with wine? My two brothers and I grew up in Oceanside, California, and neither of our parents drank wine. When we moved to the suburbs of Long Island, New York in the 1970s, drinking was the right of passage for young people. Cheap wine, Boones Farm Strawberry Hill, […]
Wine and Vegetarian Pairing Video
In our video chat below, David Loan, co-owner of Ottawa’s best vegetarian restaurant, Zen Kitchen, chats about pairing wine with vegetarian dishes. In particular, he discusses styles of wine that work well with vegetarian dishes and how both protein and umami play a pivotal role. And why is it that green vegetables always seem to clash with tannic, red wines? Is there any hope for a wine lover when it comes to artichokes and asparagus? Are there any general guidelines you suggest when pairing wine with vegetarian dishes? Are there particular styles of wine that tend […]
Wine Wednesday’s Bargain Bottle: Jackson-Triggs Meritage
Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in Ontario is dead has never been in the LCBO on a Friday evening when the cashier opens another checkout line. This week’s reason to get to the liquor store early is the Jackson-Triggs Reserve Series Meritage, perfect for Easter lamb or a juicy steak, and on sale now until Monday. Sale Ends: April 1, 2013 Sale Price: $12.95 | Save: $1.00 (Usually $13.95) Natalie’s Score: 88/100 Jackson-Triggs Black Series Meritage VQA, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada Robust with dark red and black fruit and toasty oak. Savoury and cedary. Superb for the price point. Pair […]
Le Clos Jordanne Chardonnay, Versado Reserva Malbec, Delaforce Port: Best LCBO Wines March 30
Here are my top wine picks from the March 30 Vintages Release. You can also get all 66 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. I’ve also already posted my wine reviews for the April 13 Vintages Release. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the […]
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Tasting Video
Cabernet sauvignon is the focus of the short wine tasting video below. Discover why cabernet sauvignon is the world’s best known red wine, what sauvignon means and terrific cabernet sauvignon and food pairings. Bordeaux is the benchmark for cabernet sauvignon but many regions around the world also make this robust red. Taste along with me and see the difference in style between Old and New World cabernet sauvignon. Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20 Top Rated Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon and Food Pairings Mouton Cadet 2010 Bordeaux, France Jackson-Triggs Reserve Series Meritage 2010 Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario […]
Wine Tasting Dinner with Canada’s Best Sommelier Veronique Rivest
Join celebrity-sommelier, Véronique Rivest, for a unique tutored wine tasting and small-plates dinner on April 10 at 7 pm. Véronique is the winner of Canada’s Best Sommelier and of The Best Sommelier of the America’s in 2012, as well as a top 12 finalist for The Best Sommelier of the World competition in both 2007 and 2010. Watch Véronique in action and learn from the master how to taste and pair wines with a variety of dishes. Novice and seasoned wine-lovers will enjoy this evening that will be a memorable experience.Wine Tasting and Small-Plates Pairing Dinner April 10, 2013 – […]
Wine Terms: Learning the Liquid Lingo
By: The Drink Wine and Giggle Gals “To have a second language is to have a second soul.” Charlemagne For some time, it has been the collective goal of the Drink Wine and Giggle Gals to be able to order wine in the native tongues of the top wine-producing countries in the world. In our book Drink Wine and Giggle we have an activity called Learn the Lingo in which we explore a new language and surround ourselves with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of its home culture. Wine is the wellspring of Learn the Lingo because nothing captures […]
Shiraz Syrah Wine Tasting Video
Shiraz and Syrah wines are the focus of the video tasting above. Both come from the same grape clone, but different regions around the world have chosen one name or the other and produce different styles of this robust red wine. The wines tasted in this video include: Famille Perrin Les Cornuds Vinsobres, Rhone Valley, France McWilliams Hanwood Estate Shiraz, Australia The Stump Jump D’arenberg Wines, Australia Best Shiraz Under $20 Top Rated Shiraz What’s the best Shiraz or Syrah that you’ve ever tasted?
January Active Adult
For this issue of Active Adult Magazine, I focused on the best value wines from around the world. I’m always looking for those wines that taste twice as a expensive as they cost. Here are my top picks and wine reviews. What’s the best value wine that you’ve discovered recently?
