Most of us think of hearty wines with soups or stews because their meat and texture is appetizingly rich from slow cooking. These winter warmers often work, but you might also consider other ingredients. Spices, herbs and tomatoes add tangy notes that may call for wines with good acidity, while vegetables such as onions, carrots and squash add an element of sweetness and so wines with more rounded, lush fruity flavors work. Just as you experiment with different seasonings in your pot, try different flavors in your glass to see which ones you like best—and enjoy! These wine pairings and […]
Month: January 2010
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 68 Review date: 2/6/2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include lots of amazing wines rated 90+ points for incredibly low prices. This is a terrific release and it’s reflected in how many wines I’ve recommended. Enjoy! – 14 wines under $20 – Best value white: A stunningly tasty Portuguese white ideal for fried chicken or fish – Favourite white (tied): Hazelnut melted butter goodness in this Aussie Chardonnay to pair with roast chicken 92/100 – Favorite white (tied): A classic Chablis with vibrant lime aromas, drink with shellfish, seafood 92/100 – Best value red (tied): […]
The Pleasures of Austrian Wine
Austria’s whites like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc have shown their potential in many international blind tastings. Nowhere on earth are great wines more refreshing, so full of character. Enjoy Austria’s new red wine culture, lead by Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. Distinctively delicious and refreshingly different – these wines are far away from the uniformity of the international red wine mainstream. The intensive gold hue of Austria’s noble sweet wines glows in the glass like a peaceful sunset over the Neusiedlersee lake. Every sip of these rare velixirs of nature captures the senses. Truly unforgettable. A taste […]
Our cups run over: Wine fundraiser for Haiti Feb 9
Hats off to Steven Lifford & his team at Lifford Wine Agency for organizing a wine fundraiser on Feb 9 at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The details are still coming together, but it’s promising to be a fabulous evening. The Lifford team has created the web site, Eat, Drink and Give. There’ll be a silent auction that evening for which I’ve thrown in 12 signed copies of Red, White and Drunk All Over and 5 complementary one-year subscriptions to my wine reviews. On Twitter the hash tag is #eatdrinkgive and you can […]
Which Wine to Pair with 24?
The new season of 24 has started with a bang. Wine lovers are wondering not so much how Jack Bauer will get out of his latest predicament, but rather, which wine(s) to drink while watching the series. Until that’s settled, there’s no way we can focus on the plot. So here are some fun suggestions to kick things off from my wine friends on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere online: A tasty, and a challenging pairing! Probably something bianco & indigenous to Italy. Falanghina perhaps? @CityWineJournal I’m also thinking an Oregon Pinot might work… unassuming yet powerful (as in a Bauer […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 56 Review date: January 23, 2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – 27 wines under $20 – Best value white: Vibrant, mouth-watering white from Argentina for pork and shellfish $13.95 – Favourite white: Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa with lime zesty goodness for vegetarian pizza, cornish hen, chicken wings 91/100 – Best value red (tied): Berry-ripe red from Chile for steak and hamburgers $14.95 – Best value red: Australian Shiraz with lip-smacking robust flavours of plums and berries for prime rib, beef stroganoff $15.95 – Favorite red: Classic Bordeaux for the cellar at a […]
Two spectacular BC wines in my Globe & Mail column
In my most recent Globe & Mail column, I’ve featured two Okanagan Valley blockbuster blends that are both coveted and collectible. You might open one tonight, but save the other for a few years. The first is … 2006 Burrowing Owl Meritage ($56) With enticing aromas of cassis, black plum, blackberries and coffeed oak, this one’s destined to become a cult classic. The plush layers of dark fruit will easily transform a dreary winter work-night into a celebration. It’s beautifully structured, with a finish that’s as long as the yacht you’re planning to buy. Score: 93/100 2006 Mission […]
New wine reviews for January 6 and 9
I’ve just posted a new batch of 63 wine reviews for January 6 and 9 with some incredibly tasty deals. There are more than 20 wines under $15, many of which taste like $30. Stock your cellar now and have a delicious winter. – Best value white: South African Sauvignon Blanc for a zesty aperitif or with seafood, vegetarian dishes and chicken $11.95 – Favorite white: Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that mind-blowing quality for the price ($12.95): Buy a case! 90/100 – Best value red (tied): Argentine Malbec Syrah with with fleshy plums for grilled lamb, steak $12.95 – Best value […]
