Neck tags will be available to wineries and agents whose wines are either nominees and or winners in The Great Canadian Wine Match. These would have the competition logo and category in which the wine is a nominee or winner, such as Best Canadian Beef Wine, etc for seafood, chicken, cheese, pizza or dessert. Please provide your feedback on how to make these as effective as possible: Would you use a neck tag if it were designed for you? Do you prefer portrait (above) or landscape (below) for layout? Both orientations would open to 2 panels inside and there would […]
Food & Wine Pairing
Vegetarian Wines with Sommelier Instructor Video
In our second video chat below, Dave Loan shares some specific vegetarian and wine pairings, such as the Seitan dish above, which is a protein made from high-gluten flour, has the texture of a cutlet and a higher protein value than beef. He coats it in a pecan crust, pan fries it and serves it with a black rice cake, sautéed vegetables, a thick tomato chutney and a robust red wine. Dave also discusses his course on New World wines for the sommelier program at Algonquin College. What’s the most memorable wine and vegetarian pairing you’ve ever […]
Wine and Chocolate Pairing with a Chocolate Sommelier
In my recent column for the Ontario interior design magazine Homefront, I featured wine and chocolate pairings, including an interview with chocolate sommelier Roxanne Browning, who teaches classes on pairing wine and chocolate. You can also watch a couple of video interviews with Roxanne on this topic. What was your first experience with wine? My two brothers and I grew up in Oceanside, California, and neither of our parents drank wine. When we moved to the suburbs of Long Island, New York in the 1970s, drinking was the right of passage for young people. Cheap wine, Boones Farm Strawberry Hill, […]
Wine and Vegetarian Pairing Video
In our video chat below, David Loan, co-owner of Ottawa’s best vegetarian restaurant, Zen Kitchen, chats about pairing wine with vegetarian dishes. In particular, he discusses styles of wine that work well with vegetarian dishes and how both protein and umami play a pivotal role. And why is it that green vegetables always seem to clash with tannic, red wines? Is there any hope for a wine lover when it comes to artichokes and asparagus? Are there any general guidelines you suggest when pairing wine with vegetarian dishes? Are there particular styles of wine that tend […]
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Tasting Video
Cabernet sauvignon is the focus of the short wine tasting video below. Discover why cabernet sauvignon is the world’s best known red wine, what sauvignon means and terrific cabernet sauvignon and food pairings. Bordeaux is the benchmark for cabernet sauvignon but many regions around the world also make this robust red. Taste along with me and see the difference in style between Old and New World cabernet sauvignon. Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20 Top Rated Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon and Food Pairings Mouton Cadet 2010 Bordeaux, France Jackson-Triggs Reserve Series Meritage 2010 Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario […]
Wine + Seafood Pairing Video: Food Network Star Michael Smith
In our second video chat below, Food Network star Michael Smith talks about his take on food and wine pairing, especially with seafood. Michael’s laid-back approach to all things wine and food is part of his success. You’ll note his conversational tone in this video … it’s as though we’re sitting at his kitchen table enjoying a good glass of wine. Find out why Michael is especially keen on wines from B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. What’s your take on pairing food and wine? Which wines pair best with seafood? Which don’t? What’s one of your most memorable wine and […]
Wine & Vegetable Pairing Tips
When it comes to the task of pairing vegetables with wine, an award-winning sommelier and wine writer is up to the challenge. “A lot of us are eating a lot more than meat these days, and even if you haven’t gone completely vegetarian, the move towards more healthy eating means there is a lot more greenery on our plates,” says Natalie MacLean. But she does agree the match between the plate and the glass becomes more challenging when it comes to seeking veggie-friendly wines. Full-bodied red wines should be avoided because they contain tannins, she explains. These are the natural […]
Recipe: Homemade Nachos and Cottage Cheese Dip with Chianti
Add some sophistication to your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a Sunday soiree full of good wine and Canadian cheese. When throwing a St.Patty’s Day get-together, I recommend making this fabulous homemade nachos and cottage cheese dip. Made with Canadian Cottage Cheese, guests will swoon over the dip’s soft and creamy texture. Splashes of green chives and cilantro make it perfectly on theme for the occasion. The best part? It only takes about ten minutes to prepare. A great wine to go with the […]
Canadian Wine & Cheese Pairing: Go Local for Taste
The Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz (above), was among hundreds who gathered near Parliament Hill in Ottawa last night to celebrate Canadian cheese and wine with the terrific pairings below. It was a privilege to meet the farmers and producers across this country who create these artisanal cheeses. It proved to me, once again, just how well our own food and drink pairs together, and the incredible range of styles and flavours we create. Le Mont-Jacob Fromagerie Blackburn Jonquière, Québec The Blackburn Farm has been in the family for over 80 years. In 2006, 4 generations later, the […]
Pairing Wine and Molecular Gastronomy: Steve Robinson
My story about Steve Robinson was originally published in Ottawa Magazine, the sister publication of Toronto Life Magazine. Ottawa sommeliers are proving to be among the best in the province. Steve Robinson placed second in this year’s Ontario’s Best Sommelier Competition, and was named one of the top 30 under 30 in the province’s hospitality industry by the Ontario Hostelry Institute. Robinson studied chemistry at the University of Ottawa, then completed the sommelier fast-track program at Algonquin College and finally became certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2011. The 26-year-old’s passion for science and wine pair perfectly for […]
