What a terrific chat with Mark Oldman author of How to Drink Like a Billionaire! Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Listen to Mark’s stories about adventures in the wine world. Discover more juicy tips that will make you wine smart. Cheers, Natalie P.S. Join us next Sunday, August 6, at 6 pm eastern right here with Ann Sperling, Winemaker Southbrook Vineyards: www.nataliemaclean.com/live Want to know when we go live next Sunday with Ann Sperling? Click on the Follow and Like buttons on this page to get notified when we go live. We’ll be simultaneously broadcasting […]
Wine Articles
San Pedro Winery: An Overnight Success 150 Years in the Making (of Wine)
Tania Thomas Wine Expert, Rogers Daytime Television Our wine writing team was treated to an engaging guided tasting, expertly led by Viña San Pedro’s passionate Enologist of 1865 Single Vineyard and Castillo de Molina labels, Matias Cruzat. After perfecting his craft in the wineries across California, USA and South Africa, Matias returned home to Chile and was soon recruited as a winemaker for the winery’s Premium brands. Photo: Tania Thomas The winery was established in the Curicó Valley in 1865 by the Correa Albano brothers and started with varieties brought over from Europe. Today, with 1,200 […]
Randall Grahm: A Californian Blend of Wine, Wit and Wisdom
What a terrific chat with Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Winery in California! Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Listen to Randall’s stories about hosting a funeral for an open casket of corks in NYC’s Grand Central Station, his experiments with adding rocks to wine and why he has a meteor named after him. Discover why his wines are superb, his new project on a very special piece of land and his push for ingredient labeling on wine. Next Sunday, July 30 at 6 pm EST, writer Mark Oldman joins us from New York to chat about […]
Red, White and Bluesfest with Lindeman’s Wines
Our team of wine writers and sommeliers are attending the Ottawa Bluesfest courtesy of Lindeman’s Wines this year. Stay tuned for more photos and commentary as the festival unfolds. Enter this Lindeman’s Wines Contest, and you could win one of 100 prizes that will make you smile. #WhatMakesYouSmile Rachelle O’Connor Wine Writer & Competition Judge It was a perfect Friday in Ottawa for one of North America’s best outdoor live music festivals “Bluesfest” – made more exciting as Canada celebrates its 150th birthday this year. We were happy to spot the Lindeman’s sign from the entrance and made our […]
What Makes You Smile? Win 1 of 100 Prizes with Lindeman’s Wines
What makes you smile? Time with family, getting together with friends, moments of real connection. Enter this Lindeman’s Wines Contest, and you could win one of 100 prizes that will make you smile. You can also watch videos of smile moments. Lindeman’s Wines are part of those smiles in 100 countries around the world, 80 million times a year. #WhatMakesYouSmile Lindeman’s Bin Series It was in the 1980s that Lindeman’s most well-known wine was created. Lindeman’s iconic Bin 65 Chardonnay was launched in Canada in 1985 in response to the popularity of Lindeman’s approachable and fruit-driven style of […]
Tasting Across Time and Terroir: The 9 Bordeaux Wine Appellations of Dourthe
Recently, Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in the nation’s capital for a Dourthe portfolio tasting with Head Winemaker, Frédéric Bonnaffous. Established in 1840, Dourthe is recognized as a leader in the Bordeaux of France, with a particular passion for the various soil types and the wines best suited to them. The nine estates that comprise Dourthe all focus on the unique character of their respective appellations. Here are the team’s notes and impressions. Jennifer MacDonald Havers Wine Columnist, Ottawa Citizen What an honour to meet head winemaker, Frédéric Bonnaffous, and to learn about the various châteaux of Dourthe in Bordeaux. […]
Errazuriz Wines: Chile’s Cool Climate Grapes Shine
This is the first in a series of team tastings by top reviewers in our community, most of whom are graduates of either the Algonquin College Sommelier Program or La Cite Collegiale Sommelier Program. They share with us their overall impressions from the tasting, as well as reviews of each of the wines presented. You’ll also find their reviews shared on Twitter and Facebook as they are all very active on social media. “The Errazuriz wine tasting at Daly’s restaurant in Ottawa on September 26th was an absolute treat. Francisco Baettig, head winemaker at Errazuriz, is a supremely knowledgeable and […]
Pickled Beef Tongue Recipe, Creamed Spring Leek Tart + Ravine Vineyard Cool Climate Chardonnay
Pickled Beef Tongue Recipe in Creamed Spring Leek Tart This vibrant summer dish pairs beautifully with the clean notes of cool climate chardonnay. Meet Chef Young at the Moveable Feast brunch on Sunday, July 22nd. Tickets on sale at coolchardonnay.org. Ingredients: 1 beef tongue Water Salt Pickling Liquid: 2 cups white vinegar 2 cups water 2 bay leaves 10 peppercorns 2 cloves garlic crushed Method: Simmer tongue in pot of salted water for 3 hours. Peel off outer skin layer covering tongues. Bring pickling liquid ingredients to a boil. Place liquid in refrigerator to cool for approx..5 hours. Once liquid […]
Shrimp & Lobster Burger Recipe Paired with Cool Climate Chardonnay
Shrimp & Lobster Burger Chef Michael Pasto’s burger is perfect for al fresco summer dining, paired with a crisp chardonnay while you’re attending coolchardonnay.org. Serves 8 Ingredients: 3 Cups shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 Cup cooked lobster, diced 7 oz coconut milk 3 tsp. lemongrass, finely chopped 1 tsp. kaffir lime leaf, finely chopped 1 tsp. fresh chili, finely chopped 4 tsp. fresh coriander, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. fish sauce 1 ½ tsp. salt 2/3 Cup asparagus, blanched and diced Garnish: 8 sesame seed buns 1 Cup bean sprouts ½ Cup carrots 2 Tbsp fresh coriander 1 Tbsp fresh Chilli […]
Tasting the Cool Climate Wines of Argentina’s Secreto Patagonico
By Melissa Pulvermacher Another tasting during my time at the 2016 i4C Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration was with Secreto Patagonico’s Production and Sales Manager, Tomas Groppo Parisi. Secreto Patagonico is in the southern hemisphere in Patagonia, Argentina. A lot of us immediately think of Mendoza, heat and Malbec when we think of Argentina, which may leave us a bit confused with the relevance to cool climate wines in this situation. Patagonia is actually in the south of Argentina and remember that in the southern hemisphere, the south is a lot cooler than the northern regions. Mendoza, the Malbec-famous region, […]