As part of the CBC’s Food Fantasy fundraiser for the Food Bank, I raffled myself off to visit the home of the winner and pair wines with a three-course meal. You can listen to our group chat above and discover some surprising tips on pairing wine and food. The winners were Merle and Richard (far right in the picture below), a lovely couple who hosted a fun evening filled with wine, laughter and memories. Wines Tasted and Food Pairings Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, New Zealand Grassy and smoky and absolutely great! This New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc […]
Best Wines
California Wine Fair 2015: Taste Bottled Sunshine
Sponsored Post The 2015 California Wine Fair travels across Canada in April and features tasting events in eight cities from coast to coast. This year, there’ll be more than 400 wines poured representing more than 100 wineries, with lots of winemakers on hand to chat. The Californian Wine Fair is one of the best organized and most comprehensive wine events in Canada, so get your tickets now because they do sell out and there are no tickets at the door: Call the California Wine Fair Hotline 905-336-8932 or 1-800-558-CORK (2675) Visit www.calwine.ca Tastings are held in the evenings, but check […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages March 7
You can access the 93 wines that I reviewed for March 7 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for February 21. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a […]
Asparagus and Brie Tartlets Recipe Paired with Riesling or Merlot
Eat Green this St. Patrick’s Day I love the month of March because it is a sign of fresh things to come. The weather is beginning to warm up and green is starting to poke out from under the snowy landscape. And of course that’s not the only green we’re seeing; St. Patrick’s Day will bring a whole new slew of green things. And there’s no better way to incorporate the festive colour into your St. Patty’s day than with a delicious asparagus and Canadian Brie-based appetizer. Impress your guests with these Asparagus and Brie Wonton Tartlets – trust me, […]
LCBO Wines on Sale: Bargains and Best Buys March 2015
Sponsored Post by Philippe Dandurand Wine Agency You can get the complete shopping list of these wines in your closest liquor stores here. Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir 2012 Marlborough, New Zealand Regular Price: $21.95 Sale Price: $19.95 March 1 to March 28 Folonari Valpolicella 2012 Vénétie, Italy Regular Price: $14.45 Sale Price: $12.45 March 1 to March 28 Les Jamelles Merlot 2012 Vin de Pays d’Oc, France Regular Price: $12.95 Sale Price: $10.95 March 1 to March 28 Folie À Deux Menage A […]
Canada’s Best Sommelier Competition: Bruce Wallner Video
In this video chat, Bruce Wallner, recently named Ontario’s Best Sommelier, talks about participating in the Best Canadian Sommelier Competition this month in Halifax. He’s already a certified Master Sommelier and has worked in restaurants around the world, including Australia, Spain and the UK. We also talked about what made him want to become a sommelier originally (some interesting comparisons with the world’s oldest profession), the role of a sommelier and what he enjoys most about the job. Tell us about the competition: who enters and what do you have to do to compete? This event is […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages February 21
You can access the 160 wines that I reviewed for February 21 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for February 7. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or […]
New Wine from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have just launched their first wine, a lovely, pink petal, bone-dry rose from Provence called Miraval Rosé. The wine is being released in the LCBO Saturday. The couple owns the winery and estate Château Miraval, even though you’ll find no reference to them on the label. This wine doesn’t need to ride on the back of their celebrity: it stands alone as a terrific, refreshing rose with aromas of small field strawberries, orange zest and light spices. Should I add though that there’s a hint of drama on the nose, with a surprise twist finish? […]
The App that no Wine Connoisseur should be without
In Friday’s edition of the St. Catharine’s Standard, tech columnist Syd Boyd has written a helpful guide on using apps to plan your dinner party. We were delighted that he recommended our app for selecting your wines: “Of course you might want to add some wine to that party of yours and the Canadian made “Wine Reviews & Ratings: Natalie MacLean” is the app that no wine connoisseur should be without, especially as it will help you find the closest store with the best price for the perfect pairing to the food you picked above. “If you are at the […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages February 7
You can access the 90 wines that I reviewed for February 7 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for January 24. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a […]
