What makes you smile? Time with family, getting together with friends, moments of real connection. Enter this Lindeman’s Wines Contest, and you could win one of 100 prizes that will make you smile. You can also watch videos of smile moments. Lindeman’s Wines are part of those smiles in 100 countries around the world, 80 million times a year. #WhatMakesYouSmile Lindeman’s Bin Series It was in the 1980s that Lindeman’s most well-known wine was created. Lindeman’s iconic Bin 65 Chardonnay was launched in Canada in 1985 in response to the popularity of Lindeman’s approachable and fruit-driven style of […]
Author: Natalie MacLean
Tasting Across Time and Terroir: The 9 Bordeaux Wine Appellations of Dourthe
Recently, Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in the nation’s capital for a Dourthe portfolio tasting with Head Winemaker, Frédéric Bonnaffous. Established in 1840, Dourthe is recognized as a leader in the Bordeaux of France, with a particular passion for the various soil types and the wines best suited to them. The nine estates that comprise Dourthe all focus on the unique character of their respective appellations. Here are the team’s notes and impressions. Jennifer MacDonald Havers Wine Columnist, Ottawa Citizen What an honour to meet head winemaker, Frédéric Bonnaffous, and to learn about the various châteaux of Dourthe in Bordeaux. […]
Nova Scotia Wines: Cool Climate Grapes Create a Wide Range of Styles
By Susan Desjardins A recent tasting event in Ottawa provided the opportunity to once again taste a range of wines from Nova Scotia’s burgeoning wine industry. Vines were planted as early as 1611, when a French settler, Louis Herbert, planted a vineyard in the Bear River area – he soon learned that climatic conditions in the region make wine production a challenging enterprise. It wasn’t until 1980 that an intrepid entrepreneur, Roger Dial, produced Nova Scotia’s first commercial vintage at the Grand Pré winery. The Jõst family soon followed suit, establishing their winery in the Malagash Peninsula. The Grape Growers’ […]
Tasty Cool Climate Chardonnay, Niagara, Italy and Tasmania, Robust Barolo and Brunello, Italy, plus dry Rose from France: July 23 Vintages Release Wine Reviews
My top picks and best value wines from the July 23 Vintages Release: Full-bodied, deep and delicious Italian red wines: Barolo, Brunello, Amarone Cool-climate, generously layered Chardonnay: Tasmania, Niagara, Italy, France Zesty, herbal, food-friendly New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Blackberry-rich Cabernet and Shiraz from Australia Smooth and luscious Niagara Merlot Rhone and Okanagan Syrah You can get all 74 wines that I’ve recommended from a wide range of price points, scores, food pairings, regions and styles, including red, white, sparkling, rose and dessert wine. Make sure you pick some back-up choices from the full list in case some of these below […]
Errazuriz Wines: Chile’s Cool Climate Grapes Shine
This is the first in a series of team tastings by top reviewers in our community, most of whom are graduates of either the Algonquin College Sommelier Program or La Cite Collegiale Sommelier Program. They share with us their overall impressions from the tasting, as well as reviews of each of the wines presented. You’ll also find their reviews shared on Twitter and Facebook as they are all very active on social media. “The Errazuriz wine tasting at Daly’s restaurant in Ottawa on September 26th was an absolute treat. Francisco Baettig, head winemaker at Errazuriz, is a supremely knowledgeable and […]
Pickled Beef Tongue Recipe, Creamed Spring Leek Tart + Ravine Vineyard Cool Climate Chardonnay
Pickled Beef Tongue Recipe in Creamed Spring Leek Tart This vibrant summer dish pairs beautifully with the clean notes of cool climate chardonnay. Meet Chef Young at the Moveable Feast brunch on Sunday, July 22nd. Tickets on sale at coolchardonnay.org. Ingredients: 1 beef tongue Water Salt Pickling Liquid: 2 cups white vinegar 2 cups water 2 bay leaves 10 peppercorns 2 cloves garlic crushed Method: Simmer tongue in pot of salted water for 3 hours. Peel off outer skin layer covering tongues. Bring pickling liquid ingredients to a boil. Place liquid in refrigerator to cool for approx..5 hours. Once liquid […]
Shrimp & Lobster Burger Recipe Paired with Cool Climate Chardonnay
Shrimp & Lobster Burger Chef Michael Pasto’s burger is perfect for al fresco summer dining, paired with a crisp chardonnay while you’re attending coolchardonnay.org. Serves 8 Ingredients: 3 Cups shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 Cup cooked lobster, diced 7 oz coconut milk 3 tsp. lemongrass, finely chopped 1 tsp. kaffir lime leaf, finely chopped 1 tsp. fresh chili, finely chopped 4 tsp. fresh coriander, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. fish sauce 1 ½ tsp. salt 2/3 Cup asparagus, blanched and diced Garnish: 8 sesame seed buns 1 Cup bean sprouts ½ Cup carrots 2 Tbsp fresh coriander 1 Tbsp fresh Chilli […]
Errazuriz Winery Puts Chile on the Wine Map with Cool Climate Viticulture
By Melissa Pulvermacher On October 31, I had the pleasure of joining Eduardo Chadwick and fellow industry professionals for lunch at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto. Bosk restaurant catered the intimate meal and Eduardo spoke about the wines that we tasted from Errázuriz Vineyards. Eduardo Chadwick Aconcagua Costa The majority of the wines tasted at the luncheon were from a relatively new wine region –Aconcagua Costa. About 12 km from the cool Pacific Ocean, Chile is able to successfully grow and harvest in a cool-climate zone that is very well suited to white varieties, as well as Syrah and Pinot […]
Recipe: White Fish, Potato Gratin, Garlic Braised Baby Spinach, Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Crisp cool climate chardonnay and Ontario whitefish is a classic pairing, enhanced by the rich leek and potato gratin. Meet On the Twenty Restaurant’s Chef Romano where he will present more delicious fish dishes at the Fins, Fowl & Flint Luncheon at Cave Spring Cellars on July 21. Tickets on sale at coolchardonnay.org. Serves 4 4 – 6 oz portions Ontario white fish (skin on optional) 4 pounds Yukon potato (peeled) 1 pound leeks (washed and sliced thin) bottoms only 1 liter cream 2 garlic cloves 2 pounds spinach ½ cup Cave Spring Juice 1 lemon 1 tbs poppy seeds […]
Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration: Down and Dirty with the Grape
The rebirth of cool is kicking off today in Niagara, as the world’s top cool climate chardonnay producers gather together with wine lovers to celebrate the grape. In the video below we chat about the event and what makes this style so different from other chardonnays and wines … The second annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (mercifully i4C) will showcase 110 chardonnays and 50 winemakers with tastings, dinners and fun events where guests can blend their own wine, participate in a boot camp challenge and do other crazy things to reaffirm their love of this style […]
