Our new feature, Wine Review of the Week, will put the spotlight on our vibrant community of wine reviewers with one special bottle personally selected by one contributor. To kick things off, sommelier Lesley Quinn has chosen the Loimer Erste Lage Zöbing Heiligenstein Riesling 2011, Kamptal DAC Reserve from Austria for Earth Day. Her tasting note: Ever come across a small clear spring where the water is slowly trickling over rocks, giving off a fresh clean steely scent? That is what drinking this Riesling reminds me of. The satin smooth texture and fresh aromas of pears and apples give you […]
Best Wines
Wine for Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch & the Charming Man Behind the Bottle
Winemaker Matt Fowles talks with guests By Jane Staples An early spring evening, a cozy fire burning in the hearth and award-winning wine from Australia’s Fowles Wines set the tone for a delightful evening at Australia’s High Commission on April 8th. The original Fowles family ancestors settled in Australia in the early 1800s, having arrived from England and Ireland. The winery is now run by one of their descendants, Matt Fowles, who was formerly a successful lawyer. In 2007, Matt was selected to be part of the “Future Leaders” program that fosters a new generation of wine industry leaders for […]
A White Wine that is Remarkably Green
Sponsored Post: Text and Photos by Santa Margherita It turns out that Santa Margherita’s white wine, the celebrated Pinot Grigio, is remarkably ‘green’. With the Italian winery undertaking extensive sustainable practices, at home and now here in Canada, to ensure that production and distribution of the wine has no impact on the environment. In fact, the bottle is now Carbonzero Certified. In honour of Earth Month, from April 1st – April 26th Santa Margherita will be planting trees across Canada. Fifty cents from each sale of their celebrated Pinot Grigio in Ontario and British Columbia will be donated to support […]
Appassimento Wines Featured in LCBO Vintages April 12
Appassimento wines, passito-style wines that use a traditional winemaking process, are part of one of the hottest trends right now in many wine regions, from Italy where it originated to Ontario where there is tremendous experimentation. Many of these wines will come out on liquor store shelves in the April 14 LCBO Vintages Release. I’ve posted my Appassimento reviews and ratings of the best wines in this style available now. Northern Italy’s Veneto wine region developed this technique originally of drying red wine grapes on straw mats in a temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms for 3-4 months. The grapes lose 30-40% […]
Wine Descriptions and Adjectives Chart
This is a very helpful chart with 120 key wine descriptions and adjectives for a range of wine styles. You can see a larger wine chart here and even order it as a poster from Wine Folly. You may also find the UC Davis Wine Aroma Wheel helpful.
Wine and Lamb Pairings for those who aren’t Sheepish
The other Easter classic, roasted or grilled lamb, is one of the easiest foods to pair with wine. Juicier in texture than turkey, milder in flavor than beef, the classic match for its savory flavors are the cabernet sauvignon blends of Bordeaux. But many dry and robust reds will also work, such as Spanish rioja and Rhône Valley syrah blends. Also good matches are the lush, fruity cabernets from New World regions, such as California, Chile, Canada and Australia. However, with more succulently prepared lamb dishes, many people prefer the more austere, restrained flavors of Old World reds. In fact, […]
Canadian Havarti and Zucchini Stacks Recipe with Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc
Spring Appetizers for All Spring is definitely in full bloom. It brings a smile to my face to see people finally coming out of hibernation and spending more time together, which makes hosting a spring gathering a great idea. If you’re like me and want to invite some friends over to usher in the warmer weather, I have the most delicious recipe for you to try. Every time I make these Canadian Havarti and Zucchini Stacks I receive tons of compliments on them – the melted Havarti is absolutely mouthwatering and perfectly complements the sweetness of the baked zucchini slices. […]
The Rising Green Tide of Sustainable Viticulture and Eco-Centric Winemaking
Trending words like sustainable viticulture, eco-centric winemaking, biodynamic and organic wines, and that old chestnut, environmentally-friendly grape farming, are all sprinkled as liberally as compost on wine blogs, labels, and most recently, the LCBO Vintages Magazine. They’re all part of a growing trend that looks at wine holistically, though of course, there’s also a certain amount of natural barnyard marketing here ;) Regardless, it’s a good thing. Sustainable viticulture can include everything from LEEDS-certified buildings like Stratus Vineyards in Niagara, which recycles gray water; to lighter bottles that meet the Lightweight Glass Wine Standard of 420 grams. Those wineries don’t […]
5 Tips to Shop LCBO Vintages + 5 Reasons to Love a Product Consultant
Remember when buying wine at the LCBO and other liquor stores was like buying drugs? Wines weren’t displayed – they were kept instead behind locked doors. You chose from a bleak list of product codes on a blackboard and waited for someone to return with your bottle already wrapped in brown paper from the back storeroom. Today, the Vintages section of the LCBO is often tucked away in the back of the store, much like the adult section of video stores. However, it’s not meant to hide the elicit juice from us. Rather it recognizes that tried-and-true, everyday wine […]
California Wines: Classics, Cellar Collectibles and Cabernets
California wines hit the spotlight in the March 15 LCBO Vintages release, including heavy-hitter Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel wines, along with classic Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Collectors will take note that I’ve awarded one wine in this release a perfect score of 100 — it’s been 10 years since I gave out that score. (Yes, I am tough when it comes to top scores: a wine really has to earn it.) This is just a sampling of wine ratings, the most quoted Canadian source of reviews in the Vintages Magazine. I’ll be posting the rest soon. In the meantime, […]
