Here are my top wine picks from the October 26 Vintages Release, the most quoted Canadian source of reviews in the magazine. VIP Members can access all 67 wines that I reviewed as a text shopping list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores. Stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. You can also see my reviews for the October 12 LCBO Vintages Release or take a sneak peak at the November 9 LCBO Vintages […]
Best Wines
A Tale of Two Ruffino Wine Tasting Dinners with Authentic Italian Food Pairings
Our second Ruffino wine tasting took place October 19 at La Cucina Ristorante with another team of our top-notch wine reviewers who share their observations of the wines, pairings and experience below. You’ll find the pictures, videos and notes from the Ocober 18 Ruffino wine tasting here, and reviews of all Ruffino wines here. “The more I drink Italian wines, the more convinced I am that they are made for the purpose of enjoying good food. And when you have the perfect pairing, it gives you the kind of evening we had at the great Italian restaurant La Cucina in […]
Stratus Wine and Food Pairing Dinner with Beckta Cuisine
Stratus Winery hosted a spectacular wine and food tasting dinner in Niagara on September 28 that featured the cuisine of Ottawa restaurateur Steve Beckta’s three establishments: Beckta Dining & Wine, Play and Gezellig. I found that the Stratus wines paired beautifully with partner and executive chef Mike Moffatt and chef de cuisine Katie Brown Ardington’s dishes. Click on the arrow above to play the short Instagram video clip. The missing word at the end is windmill ;) Chef Moffatt is a two-time Gold Medal Plates winner and Katie is a rising star on the Ottawa restaurant scene. This dinner paired […]
Black Hills Winery: Tasting Vintages of a BC Flagship Wine
By Valerie Stride Located on one of the most arid and sunny sites in the Okanagan, Black Hills Estate Winery is abundant in many things – including quality wines. Spread across a 27-acre vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon are carefully grown and handled by the Black Hills team. The microclimate on property, in addition to long hours of sunlight and cool nights, offers this west-facing orientation vineyard added value. The vineyard manager, Steve Carberry, works closely with winemaker Graham Pierce to ensure that the authenticity of Black Hills wines remains bona fide. On October […]
Italian Wines: Brunello, Amarone and Barolo Tasting
By Tania Thomas Fall has definitely arrived to the West Coast of Canada. After an incredibly warm and sunny summer, the rain has returned to Vancouver. The air is cool and heavy with moisture; it is the perfect time to cozy up by the fire and enjoy some hearty comfort food, good friends and smooth, velvety reds. Arrival of fall also signals the beginning of the celebratory season and every celebration, big or small, calls for some bubbles. Sparkling wine has been an undeniable celebratory drink over the ages. Stylish and chic, fizz has been associated with fun since the […]
Pairing Steak and Red Wine and Other Robust Matches
In the CTV News video above, we talk about fall wines for comfort foods. When the weather outside turns frightful, there’s nothing more satisfying than staying home with a warm meal and a good glass of wine. A steaming bowl of stew, a mouth-watering prime rib or a heaping plate of pasta can bring comfort on the worst winter nights. But the meal just isn’t complete without the right wine on the table. And just as our meals become heartier and richer in the winter, the wines that pair perfectly with comforting fare are of the full-bodied kind. Here are […]
LCBO Best Wines: Napa Cellars Zinfandel, Podere Chianti Classico, Luca Pinot Noir: Vintages October 12
Here are my top wine picks from the October 12 Vintages Release. VIP Members can access all 77 wines that I reviewed as a text shopping list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores. Stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. You can also take a sneak peak at my reviews for the October 26 LCBO Vintages Release. They can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one click and access […]
Food and Wine Pairing Book: Inspired by The Flavour Principle
In the video above, two of Canada’s most respected food and drink writers, Lucy Waverman and Beppi Crosariol, discuss their new book The Flavour Principle. It’s packed with delicious recipes that are paired with wine and other drinks, based on 11 key flavour categories. The two writers are also weekly columnists for the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. They share their tips on pairing and some surprising insights they discovered while writing the book that make it different from other cookbooks and pairing guides. You’ll question your assumptions about red wine and cheese and find out why texture and […]
Taste Ontario: Wines + Event Make Spectacular Blend
“The evening function for Taste Ontario in Ottawa was beautiful. The Westin outdid itself with food stations all around the ballroom interspersed with ice sculptured bar tables and tree stands. The majestic Chateau Laurier was lit up in the background outside the room-length floor-to-ceiling windows. Music and mingling. Eating and drinking. My favourite pairing of the night was the sauteed shrimp in a rich cream sauce with the Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay 2011. The event gave us a chance to talk one-on-one with the owners, representatives and winemakers at some of the best wineries in Ontario. At the Closson Chase […]
Latke Recipe: Holiday Wine Match
A Jewish holiday dish of potato pancakes to celebrate Hanukkah. The oil for cooking latkes is symbolic of the oil of long-lasting flame that kept the Second Temple in ancient Israel illuminated. The word “latke” means “patch”: the potato pancakes are usually shallow-fried grated potato, flour and egg, and seasoning, and may be garnished with a savoury topping such as sour cream or a sweet one, such as apple sauce. Potato Latkes for Hanukkah We used the traditional method of soaking the grated potatoes and onions in ice water for 5 minutes before wringing them out. This produces extra-crispy latkes, […]
