Book & Bottle Pairings for Father’s Day

We’re back with more books and bottles for Father’s Day.   What are we starting with this time?         We’re starting with Ten Garments Every Man Should Own: A Practical Guide to Building a Permanent Wardrobe by Pedro Mendes. This is an accessible field guide to classic menswear, no matter what dad’s age or budget or the fact he still loves those painter pants from the 80s with all the side pockets. Each chapter covers an essential piece – shirt, jacket, hat, leather shoes, etc – in an entertaining way.           Drea’s Wine […]

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Climate Change Impact on Wine? It’s Not What You Think (Video)

Recently, I worked with TVO on the impact of climate change on wine. Is it simply a matter of wine regions getting warmer and therefore, wine styles getting bigger? No. With this weekend’s cool climate chardonnay event in Niagara, this issue is not just timely, but also important to all wine lovers who value a nervy energy in their wine.   My thanks to Daniel Speck, Henry of Pelham Winery, and to Paul DeCampo, Southbrook Vineyards, for their expert guidance on this subject. Notes: Ontario has grown grapes for wine for over 150 years, and and winters were colder back then Adapting to […]

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Canadian Wine: New Regions, Hot Trends, What’s Next > CBC TV

In the CBC TV interview above with Amanda Lang and Kevin O’Leary, anchors of the national news program The Lang & O’Leary Exchange, we discuss the Canadian wine industry from the perspective of Canada’s largest wine site: Which new wine regions are emerging across the country? How is climate change affecting traditional regions and wine styles? Will Canada ever have completely open borders across the country to ship wines? What’s next for the Canadian wine industry? Here are my latest reviews of Canadian wines.     Posted with permission of CBC   Amanda: The wine industry is flexing new muscle […]

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Icewine and Chocolate Pairing Video

In this second video chat, Karen King talks about pairing icewine with chocolate as well as being on the CBC TV show The Big Decision. You can also see the Icewine cocktails we discussed in part one of our conversation …   Blue Cheese and White Wine Pairing: Video Part 3 Building a Persuasive Wine Brand: Arlene Dickinson Restaurant Wine Service: The good, the bad and the ugly with Scott Carney, MS See all wine video chats here.       Icewine and Chocolate Pairing Video Natalie: We’re back with Karen King of The Ice House. We’re talking about her ice […]

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Holiday Wines and Spirits Plus Hosting Tips (Video)

As the holidays approach, we look forward to entertaining friends and family. On CTV’s Your Morning we chat about terrific wines and spirits for the holidays.   Welcome Natalie.   What’s a good drink to serve to guests when they arrive?   Sparkling wine is the drink of celebration, especially at this time of year. I’d recommend two from Nova Scotia:         Avondale Sky Winery Benediction Sparkling Wine Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada                   Blomidon Crémant Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada         Both are zesty and […]

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5 Spectacular Wines from Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Winemakers

We often talk about buying wine because of the way it’s made, but we don’t often talk about who makes the wine in terms of race. Here with us today to highlight some of our country’s best wines that are owned or produced by Blacks, Indigenous or People of Colour (BIPOC) is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes.   Welcome Natalie.   Why does it matter who makes the wine, Natalie?   These days we seek out wines because of how they’re made, whether that’s sustainable farming, organic viticulture or ethical Fair Trade practices. We vote […]

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What You’ll Learn in Online Wine Classes and Courses

Back to Wine School Now that the kids have headed back to school, let’s chat about how the adults have changed the way they learn about wine, especially with online courses. It’s a virtual world of wine learning at your fingertips. Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome, Natalie Great to be here!   First, tell us why online wine courses have become so popular? Online courses offer the best of both worlds: they’re accessible to everyone no matter where you live, they’re more comprehensive than a one-off […]

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Pairing BC and Ontario Wine with Books (Video)

The long weekend is coming up, and you might be celebrating with a glass of Canadian wine or two, but what should you pair with your vino beyond BBQ? How about some Canadian books?   Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com   So we’re going to start on the west coast Natalie. What do you recommend? We’re starting with Nk’Mip Cellars (pronounced in-ka-meep) Winemaker’s Series Talon, the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America. Nk’Mip means “Bottomland” because the vineyards are planted at the southern tip of the Osoyoos Indian […]

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Instant Spiced Apples Recipe Paired with Icewine

The Apple of my Wine Get ready to bust out the BBQ, because its finally grill season. Mmm, I can practically taste the sizzle of tender steaks and juicy ribs, waiting to be devoured. Nothing says spring is here like a backyard BBQ. Best enjoyed with your friends and family over burgers, sausages and Canadian Cheese. Just don’t forget to leave room for dessert, or a scrumptious snack, like Spiced Apple with Canadian Brie. This light snack is sure to be a hit with its simple ingredients locally sourced from the farm. Slice up some apples with a dash of […]

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7 Must-Buy Wines for Fall: New This Season (Video)

Today is the first day of fall, burr. I feel a chill in the air already. Just as we start to wear warmer clothes,  we should also change the wines we drink. That’s what we chat about on CTV News. Click the arrow above to watch the segment.       First off, what makes for a great fall wine? – full-bodied enough to pair well with more robust dishes. – extra texture, mouthfeel and weight for richer sauces. – and just for fun, the wine is trendy like fall fashions.   You have a couple of examples there for […]

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