Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:30pm Reception 6:30 7:15pm Jazz and Wine Matching After a year off, our unique Jazz and Wine Matching event is back by popular demand … this time at Casa Loma in partnership with the Kiwanis Club. The live jazz will be performed by Elise Legrow and friends. The wines for the event have been specially selected for this event and include many award winners. Food to match with the jazz and wine will be provided by the Castle’s caterers – Pegasus. 8 different jazz tunes will be matched with 8 different VQA wine types and 8 […]
Wine Articles
Wine and Cheese Pairing Awaken your senses in Reif Estate’s Wine Sensory Garden at Canada Blooms
Reif Estate Winery invites you to explore their Wine Sensory Garden at Canada Blooms March 16 through 25 at the Direct Energy Centre, in Toronto. Contemplate the colours, aromas and flavours used to describe wines in a relaxed garden oasis created by Mori Gardens. It is sure to inspire! Reif Estate will share VQA wines that will pair perfectly with cheese samples presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada. Choose from a Riesling or Cabernet Merlot or try our Trend Wines by Steven and Chris. Great giveaways include garden party charms, recipe cards and special offers to visit the winery this […]
California Wine Fair Tastings in Ottawa and Toronto March 30 and April 2
California Wine Fair – OTTAWA City: Ottawa Date: March 30, 2012 Time: 7:00PM – 9:30PM Place: Westin Ottawa, Confederation Ballroom, 11 Colonel By Drive How to Purchase Tickets: California Wine Institute T: 1.800.558.2675 Ticket Form: www.calwine.ca Ticket Price: $70.00/ticket OR $65.00/ticket from wine club members California Wine Fair – TORONTO City: Toronto Date: April 2, 2012 Time: 7:00PM – 9:30PM Place: Fairmont Royal York, Canadian Room, 100 Front St. W How to Purchase Tickets: California Wine Institute T: 1.800.558.2675 Ticket Form: www.calwine.ca Ticket Price: $70.00/ticket OR $65.00/ticket from wine club members
A boldly irreverent approach expertly crafting a pleasing concoction of seamless storytelling and voluptuous food and wine writing – The Globe and Mail
By Kate Parsons In this ambitious and thoroughly entertaining book, Natalie MacLean chronicles her travels to five continents and eight countries in search of quality wines at good prices. Along the way, she meets the quirky personalities behind the wine and picks up a wealth of practical information about where they’re made, what to pair them with and how to find out more on your own. Like some of the winemakers profiled, MacLean is a master blender, expertly crafting a pleasing concoction of seamless storytelling, voluptuous food and wine writing and easy-to-use punch lists. This book is also part personal […]
Wine Book is Witty, Engrossing and Entertaining
I can’t remember the last time I picked up a book and could not wait until I had some free time to pick it up again. I am only on page 72 of Unquenchable and I just love the way you are able to set the scene, it’s witty, engrossing and thoroughly entertaining. As a chef for the past 31 years and a passionate wine lover for the past 20 years or so, it is so refreshing to read a book so full of my own thoughts and beliefs. Too many books and writers making the subject of wine […]
3 Tips for Buying the Rosés of Provence + Pair with Salmon, Roast Chicken, Asian Dishes and Salads
The last chapter of my new book Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines is about the lovely rosés of Provence. I was fortunate not only to sample many mouth-watering, bone-dry, food-friendly rosés, but I also cooked a multi-course meal with one winemaker and met the rosé-drinking donkey of another. (You’ll just have to read the book : ) Here are my top tips for finding great rosés in your local liquor store, no matter where you live. Cheers, Natalie My Top 3 Insider Tips to Finding Tasty Rosés Forget those notions of pink wine being sweet: […]
Ontario’s Best Winery Restaurants
Cave Spring Cellars Inn On The Twenty 1-888-806-9910 Hillebrand Estates Vineyard Café 800-582-8412 Ravine Vineyard’s Bistro 905-262-8463 Vineland Estates Winery Restaurant 888-846-3526
Describing wine (buffalo chips anyone?) and why a goat was milked in the middle of a wine book – Kim Fraser Show CJAD
Great chat with Kim Fraser, host of Montreal’s CJAD call-in talk show. I love her witty comments and questions, everything from describing wine with aromas of buffalo chips and dew-dappled violets to where that sweet spot is for finding wines that taste twice as expensive as they cost. Why I had to milk a goat in the middle of a book (and how do you do that?) and so much more :)
Buying Wines that are Affordable (not cheap) and Delicious – Sympatico Lifestyle
What defines a bargain wine? Is it just a low price or is there something more? What are some tips on finding wines that are affordable but still delicious in the liquor store? Wines mentioned in this video: Segura Viudas Cava, Spain Yum, smells like fresh baked bread just out from the oven! Wonderfully toasty, this bubbly will warm you after a day of sledding or skiing. Love the notes of hazelnuts too. $14.65 Score: 87/100. Freixenet Cava Cordon Rosado, Spain How festive is this pink bubbly? Aromas of ripe field raspberries tickle your note. Float a raspberry on top […]
MacLean has a flair for matching food and wine and it’s the stories that make this book so interesting – Tasters Guild Journal
Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World ‘s Best Bargain Wines You’ll remember how Dorothy sighed “lions, and tigers, and bears; oh, my” in the Wizard of Oz . Well, we might be hearing Natalie saying something like “hawks, and sheep, and goats, and turtles, and baboons; oh, boy” in her new book Unquenchable. And you thought this was a book about wine – and it is; but her adventures brings her in contact with all these critters plus a lovable Great Dane and almost too close a contact with a great white shark. All of this MacLean weaves into […]
