By Tania Thomas We drove into The County across the Bay Bridge from Bellville on a hot and sticky mid-July morning. The shimmering waters of Lake Ontario beneath us looked refreshing and exceptionally inviting. Sunset on the beach and a swim is definitely on our agenda, but before that there are wineries to visit and winemakers to talk to. Just a few hours away from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Kingston, nestled on Quinte’s Isle are the vineyards of Prince Edward County, Ontario’s newest VQA wine Appellation and the fastest growing wine region of Ontario. With close to 40 wineries, and […]
Canadian Wine
Jane’s Gems: 90 Point Wines in the LCBO Vintages Sept 5
By Jane Staples The September 5th release is all about uncorking a great wine. A great bottle of wine is like a great painting; so much goes into creating it and the final product is a work of art. Like a painter working with colour and canvas, the winemaker works with the soil, the vines, the harvest and the oak, making decisions about blending and aging along the way. Uncorking a great bottle of wine can kick off a great conversation. Some wine lovers enjoy discussing the terroir and winemaking techniques, or the history of a particular region. Others are […]
Jane’s Gems: 90 Point Wines in LCBO Vintages August 22
By Jane Staples The August 22 Vintages Release is all about wines that have achieved a score of 90 points or more out of 100 from various wine critics. There’s a certain magic in that score of 90 or above, as we all remember test grades from childhood so we can relate easily to them. There’s even a great difference, perceptually, between 89 and 90 for many consumers, even though there may not be for the critic giving the score. The 100-point wine scoring system wasn’t invented by the US critic Robert Parker Jr., but he certainly brought it to […]
Tania’s Magical Matches: Wine Pairings for Summer Salads
By Tania Thomas Among the great summertime pleasures are the relaxing patio suppers enjoyed with friends. Often, they are nothing more than a great salad dish, splashed down by a cool glass or two of a crisp summer white wine. Matching wine with salads can certainly present a challenge. Luckily, if you know a few easy tricks, it becomes effortless. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the acid in wine matches or is slightly higher than the acidity in the vinaigrette. With that in mind, a simple tossed green salad with citrusy vinaigrette dressing calls for […]
Vegan and Vegetarian Wine Food Pairings
By Alex and Priya, A Vine Romance One of the most interesting things I’ve realized since meeting Alex is that although wine and food pairings are common, it is extremely rare that wine pairings are offered for vegetarian or more specifically, vegan foods. With Meatless Mondays gaining momentum and scores of celebrities (Beyonce, Jared Leto, Bill Clinton, Ellen Degeneres) going vegan and since I have my own, in-house sommelier to help me out, I thought I’d pay it forward and offer some general thoughts on how to pair wine with vegan foods. To begin, I should clarify ‘vegan’ from ‘vegetarian’. […]
Jane’s Gems: 90 Point Wines in LCBO Vintages July 25
By Jane Staples The LCBO Vintages Release for July 25 offers a cool breeze to beat the summer heat. The focus is on refreshing, zesty white wines. You’ll find that these sippers are usually also light in alcohol and oak (sometimes completely unoaked) and have racy, mouth-watering acidity. They pair well with summer dishes such as fresh seafood, shellfish and salads. The wine regions that tend to produce these vibrant whites are often cool climates like New Zealand, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, and Canada, for our Riesling. These regions are more distant from the equator than are warm climate […]
Pairing Canadian Wine and Cheese: Why are They so Natural Together?
Liza, Jeff and I chat about pairing Canadian wines and cheese on Global Television Morning Show. You can watch the video above by clicking on the arrow. We’re just a few weeks away from Canada Day, and what could be better than celebrating with a glass of Canadian wine, and of course pair that with some Canadian cheese. Here to show us how which wine and cheese pairings are is Natalie MacLean, the editor of Canada’s largest wine review web site. So why do wine and cheese pair well together? – both start as natural liquids and are products of […]
Canadian Cobb Salad Recipe Paired with Riesling
Spring into April Nothing says the weather is getting warmer than some April showers. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, get out your rubbers, and get your green thumb ready. Or at least start your gardening with this simple and elegant garden salad, the Canadian Cobb Salad. This is a great dish that’s easily made when expecting company and sure to have everyone leaving satisfied. Toss together some chives, chicken, and lettuce for that fresh, crisp salad that marks the start of spring. Top it off with delicious crumbles of Canadian Blue Cheese for a salad that bursts with […]
Spicy Tuna Melt Recipe with Chardonnay Wine Pairing
Spicy Tuna Melt Spice it up this Spring Yes, it’s still cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn up the heat. Warm up with your favourite sweater and glass of wine to melt away the last of your winter worries. Maximize your “me time” with a simple yet delicious tuna melt. A childhood classic that will take you back to the days of sticky hands and messy faces. My favourite version is the Spicy Tuna Melt, a modern twist on this much-loved sandwich. Toast some multi-grain bread and top it with a mix of tuna, peppers, and red […]
Vertigo Flights of Wine: CN Tower Restaurant Wine List Dazzling (and Dizzying)
James Muir, is the sommelier and maitre d’ at the 360 The Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. James manages the world’s highest wine cellar and has served many celebrities from Michelle Obama to John Travolta. What was your first wine experience? It was likely some low-end import wine from the depanneur, the corner convenience store where I lived in Montreal. I also tried Baby Duck at some point back then. However, more interesting wines were those from British Columbia in the 1980s. At that time, I experimented with pricier, imported bottles when I went out […]
