Much as I try, I can’t get stuffy about wine. Anyone can match an expensive Bordeaux with filet mignon, but which wine do you drink when you’ve been on hold with customer service for an hour? There’s the rub. Here are my top wine picks for the most commonly terrible customer service experiences from my column in More Magazine. Got one to suggest? D’arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2007 Mclaren Vale, South Australia Big black bruiser with dark fruit, savoury bacon, dark spices and mint. Full-bodied and smooth. Big “bang” for your buck. 981183 $49.95 Score: 91/100. Rosehall […]
Author: Natalie MacLean
Brookstreet Sommelier Rene Wallis Wine Tips
Rene Wallis, sommelier at the Brookstreet Hotel’s restaurant Perspectives, in Kanata shares, his tips on choosing from a wine list, unusual food pairings and favourite holiday wines. Where did you grow up? My mother raised my older sister, Angela, and I on her own in Ottawa’s French village of Vanier, a bilingual community where everyone knew each other. Wine wasn’t on the dinner table, but my good friend’s Portuguese parents made their own wine. At his tenth birthday party, I bit into a large piece of hot pepper on the pizza, filled my glass from a large pitcher of […]
Wine and Cheese Pairing Video
In this video we pair wine with 4 types of cheese: triple cream brie, goat cheese or chèvre, apple wood-smoked cheddar and blue cheese. I’ve selected four different styles of wine, but the fun is in mixing and matching to find new combinations. You can find more cheese pairings here or in the drinks matcher.Got a favourite? Let me know. In related news, you’ll find a video on pairing wine and pizza. Carmen Reserva Chardonnay 2010, Chile The 2010 Carmen Reserva Chardonnay wins the Best Brie Wine award! It’s caramel, toffee depths are a perfect backdrop for such a […]
Jackson-Triggs Chardonnay, L.A. Cetto Cabernet: Best LCBO Wines January 19
Here are my top wine picks from the January 19 Vintages Release. You can also get all 60 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 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 reviews. Jackson-Triggs Proprietor’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2011, VQA, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario Gorgeous richness with ripe peach […]
Duran Gran Reserva Brut, Langtry Guenoc Petite Sirah: Best Cellar Wines, LCBO January 5
By Gaby Israel The release we’ve been all waiting for – Smart Buys! After the last two expensive releases, January comes and gives us hope for the new year. Here are my top picks: #1 choice – Spain – Ribera del duero – Finca Villacreces Pruno 2010 (312140)-$19.95 2010 was a remarkable vintage in that region in Spain. wine critics have provided very supportive reviews indicating a 10 years cellaring potential, and for $20, this is a very attractive buy. I’d buy 3-12 bottles. About the winery/vineyard from www.DrinkRiberawine.com: “The first vines were planted on this amazing estate in the […]
Wine and Pizza Pairing Video
Are you planning a movie night soon with pizza? Here are tips on pairing your favourite pies with wines, whether you love Hawaiian, Margherita or Meat Lovers’ pizza. These are the four wines I tasted in this video, however several of them may not be in stock now so I have suggested some alternatives below. You can find more pizza pairings here or in the drinks matcher. Got a favourite pairing that you’d like to share? In related news, you’ll find a video on pairing cheese and wine. Urban Nik Weis Selection, Weingut St.Urbans-Hof Riesling 2009, Moselle, Germany Pure […]
Wines Available in BC Liquor Stores with Stock Check
Do you live in British Columbia or have wine-loving friends who do? We’ve just added several new features on our web site to make shopping easier in the province: – Check how many bottles of each wine recommended on this site are in stock at each BC Liquor Store including both B.C. wines and those from around the world (click on the number of bottles under the picture of the wine bottle) – See only BC-available wines first, not those that are available in Ontario but not BC – If you add your postal code to your private account page, […]
Torres Vina Esmeralda, L.A. Cetto Petite Sirah, Flourish Vidal Icewine: Best LCBO Wines January 5
Here are my top wine picks from the January 5 Vintages Release. You can also get all 55 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 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 reviews. Torres Viña Esmeralda 2011, Catalunya, Spain Simply divine even at triple the […]
Konzelmann Estate Winery: German pedigree, Niagara flourish
By Susan Desjardins The Konzelmann family delivers consistently good and good-value award-winning wine—10 medals at this year’s Ottawa Wine Challenge and 5 at the Canadian Wine Awards. It’s hardly surprising considering the focus and dedication of 75-year-old Herbert Konzelmann, and his extensive winemaking pedigree. His great grandfather, Friederich, a successful restauranteur and wine connoisseur, created the Konzelmann Estate Winery in Germany in 1893. Friederich was soon producing over 200,000 litres of wine, and the successful business was passed from one generation to the next. Herbert joined the family business in 1958 and continued its growth, almost doubling production. But as […]
Recipe: Aged Gouda Quesadillas and Bacon Paired with Cabernet Sauvignon
By Christie Pollard At a recent wine and cheese pairing event I tasted an Aged Dutch Gouda from Lancaster, Ontario with several wines and the best match was with Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California. The nutty, caramel flavours in the cheese wonderfully compliment the juicy, ripe fruit flavours in the wine. This easy quesadilla appetizer recipe was inspired by the match. Aged Gouda and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas with Bacon and Roasted Red Pepper Recipe Serves 8 Ingredients: 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil 2 large Spanish onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tbsp brown sugar ½ […]
