Holiday guests are on their way. Can one cheese handle every drink on the table? Here to help us is Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com.
Welcome, Natalie.
Great to be back with you! I brought one cheese and three drinks today, which is the first time I’ve ever packed this light.
This is the new Canadian Reserve Gouda. It has just arrived in grocery stores.
It’s proudly made in Canada by master cheesemakers. Each package features an etched drawing of an iconic Canadian animal.
It’s the most patriotic thing in my fridge. That includes the maple syrup.
Let’s start with some sparkle. What’s in the glass?
Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco DOC
Veneto, Italy
Il Vino dei Poeti means the wine of the poets. The name celebrates the creativity, beauty and cultural heritage of Italy.
It’s made from Glera, Chardonnay and Pinot grapes in Veneto, the historic home of Prosecco. It’s an authentic Italian sparkling wine at outstanding value.
Feel free to try the Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco.
It’s bright and refreshing, with notes of apple, pear and white flowers. The bubbles are delicate. The finish is clean.
It’s fresh, approachable and versatile for everyday celebrations.
All the drinks we’re tasting today are in the LCBO. The cheeses are in local grocery stores.
So what do we set out beside it at the kitchen island?
Canadian Reserve Gouda Aged 5 Months
The Gouda Aged 5 Months features an etched drawing of a lynx. Five months of aging gives it a supple texture, like a lynx. It also has a gentle sweetness and subtle caramel notes.
Now try the Gouda Aged 5 Months with the Bottega Prosecco.
The Prosecco’s bubbles lift that creaminess off your palate.
More Pairings: Haskap berry jam on crackers. Radicchio and quinoa.
Now a red. Tell us about this one.
Cono Sur Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere Syrah
Chile
Cono Sur means South Cone in Spanish. Its bicycle logo honours the vineyard workers who ride their bikes among the vines each day.
The organic line adds a monarch butterfly on the bottle. That butterfly is at the heart of their approach, chosen by nature.
Nature chooses this wine for its organic grapes. People choose it for its taste.
Cono Sur Organic is Canada’s best-selling organic wine. It overdelivers on quality for its price.
Feel free to try the Cono Sur Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere Syrah.
This red is a road trip across Chile in a glass. Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo brings structure.
Carmenere from Colchagua adds spice. Syrah from Limarí brings elegance.
What do we bring to the dining table with it this weekend?
Canadian Reserve Gouda Smoke Flavoured Aged 5 Months
The Smoke Flavoured Gouda features an etched drawing of a beaver. It’s woodsy and rustic, like a beaver’s home in the forest.
The delicate smoky notes let the cheese’s natural flavour shine through.
Now try the Smoke Flavoured Gouda with the Cono Sur Organic.
That smokiness meets the Carmenere’s spice.
More Pairings: Maple shortbread nuts on crackers. Slow roasted beef.
What makes this whisky special?
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Provence Edition
Speyside, Scotland
George Smith founded The Glenlivet in Scotland’s Livet Valley in 1824. This limited edition is their 12-year-old single malt, with a portion of it finished in fine French wine oak barrels.
These include Provence Cru Classé casks. They bring bright citrus and elegant floral notes.
It’s a perfect marriage of whisky and wine. So this Scotch spent its summer in the South of France, which is more than I managed.
The packaging’s lavender and golden tones bring Provence to the table.
Feel free to try The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Provence Edition.
You’ll find white peach and orange marmalade, then crème brûlée and marzipan. The finish is smooth and floral.
What should sit beside it in front of the fireplace?
Canadian Reserve Gouda Aged 9 Months
The Gouda Aged 9 Months features an etched drawing of a moose. Like a moose, it’s strong and rich. Unlike a moose weighing in at 600 kilograms, this is only 170 grams and much easier to serve at a party or to take to one.
Nine months of aging deepens the caramel notes. Its texture becomes firmer and slightly crumbly.
Now try the Gouda Aged 9 Months with The Glenlivet.
Here an aged cheese meets an aged whisky. The cheese’s caramel and toast notes pick up the crème brûlée in the glass.
More Pairings: Black garlic mushrooms on crackers. Peaches.
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
Take your cheese out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before serving for full flavour. Your guests will warm up faster if the cheese already has.
Here’s to a full table and an easy host. Cheers!
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines and drinks online?
On Instagram, you can find me posting wine reviews and tips at:
Come for the cheers, stay for the cheeses.
Posted with permission of CHCH. Please drink responsibly.
