Exciting Times for Ontario Wines By Jane Staples Exciting things are happening in Ontario’s wine industry and wine tourism is developing in great strides. One trend is that women now participate in every facet of the business and perform in every role, whether as winemaker, planting in the vineyards, or in marketing. Women like Ann Sperling, Winemaker at Southbrook Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, are making waves. Southbrook’s winemaking philosophy is based on biodynamic, organic farming practices. Every aspect of their operations reflects their commitment to these principles. Carolyn Hurst co-owns Westcott Vineyards in Niagara Peninsula with her husband, Grant Westcott. Victoria […]
Wine Region
How to Pick a Wine Class? Learn About Wine to Satisfy Your Thirst
You’ve started to learn about wine and find yourself thirsting for more knowledge. Choosing a wine course can be challenging, especially with so many options these days. Selecting the right wine class depends on your goals: 1. Is it to become more knowledgeable as a wine drinker and to increase your personal enjoyment of wine? 2. To find a new hobby that you and a friend or partner can pursue together? 3. To learn more about various wine regions in order to plan gastro-vacations? 4. To make a career change or start one in the wine industry? I’ve always felt […]
A Tasteful Wine Journey from Provence to Paris
Town centre of Beaune By David Skinner Provence stands as Southern France’s glorious gateway to the viticultural and gastronomic treasures awaiting discovery along the Rhône River Valley. A river cruise from Provence to Burgundy is likely one of the best ways to experience these famous wine regions and cruising is the most leisurely and convenient way to uncover abundant appellations and epicurean adventures. Of course, one of the attractions of seeing the countryside by boat is that you only unpack once and this simply eliminates the worry of transportation and lodging, granting more time to create memories of fabulous food, […]
Tania’s Magical Matches: Wine Pairings for the Late Summer Bounty
By Tania Thomas With so many choices in an array of dazzling, vibrant colours, late summer at the farmers’ market is a true sensory overload. I can never resist the urge to buy a little bit of everything and then try to come up with some creative ways to use it all up before it passes its prime. Golden corn, juicy red tomatoes, shiny plump eggplants, sunny-yellow squash and sunset-hued ripe peaches, it’s hard to choose. Summer is the time for effortless entertaining and relaxed patio dinners, and the wine that accompanies it should be exactly that; simple and effortless. […]
Israeli Couscous and Emmental Salad Recipe Paired with Chardonnay
Israeli Couscous and Emmental Salad One of my favourite summer past-times is planning and pulling off the perfect picnic. Picnics make for a great way to spend quality time with your family, or a romantic date. All you’ll need to do is to find your perfect spot and pack your supplies. Just make sure not to forget the most important part, delicious Canadian Cheese. Just as red and white blankets are essential to picnics, so too are salads. This Israeli Couscous and Emmental Salad is absolute heaven and couldn’t be easier to make. The Canadian Emmental really brings the salad […]
Cheddar Onion Butter on Steak and Corn Recipe Paired with Cabernet Sauvignon
Cheddar-Onion Butter on Steak and Corn on the Cob Imagine this: a grill stacked high with juicy burgers, sizzling steaks, and corn on the cob. Sounds delicious right? But I’ve got a recipe that will take your grill skills to the next level, Cheddar-Onion Butter on Steak and Corn on the Cob. The sharpness of Aged Canadian Cheddar gives this dish the kick it needs. Just throw together some butter, chopped kale, onion, pecans, and of course some delicious Aged Canadian Cheddar, then refrigerate. Once finished I like to spread it on corn, steak, and even toasted bread. Mature cheddars […]
Butternut & Swiss Cheese Ravioli Soup Recipe Paired with Merlot
Butternut & Swiss Cheese Ravioli Soup Autumn is the perfect time of year to stock up on flavourful squashes as they’re in season. This harvest-inspired soup will be an instant hit – whether you’re entertaining guests or getting the family together. And the delicious combination of fall squash and Canadian Swiss cheese will have everyone asking for seconds. This Butternut & Swiss Cheese Ravioli Soup is so delicious it’s worth every second spent in the kitchen making it. All you’ll need is some tasty cheese, wontons, and squash, and you’re halfway there. The finishing touch is finding the perfect 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 […]
An Icon of New Zealand Wine: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir
Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in our nation’s capital last Friday to taste world-class New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pint Noir. We were privileged to be guided in a personal tasting with Nobilo Wines Chief Winemaker, Dave Edmonds, who was in the country for a couple of days. In the video above, Dave introduces us to his wines as well as the spectacular food pairings for each course of our meal. Click on the arrow to watch the segment. You can also watch more videos of Dave in his vineyards as well as recipes to pair with the […]
Free-Spirited New Zealand Tasting Pairs Nobilo Wines with Adventurous Foods
Photo Credit: Melissa Pulvermacher By Melissa Pulvermacher A huge trend in the Canadian wine market right now is not only New Zealand wines, but more specifically, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with its grassy notes and aromas of gooseberry and tropical fruit. It’s been pretty easy to identify for consumers and the demand from the LCBO is still on the incline. Trends exist for multiple reasons, but there is something to be said about a wine that easily identifies with a large group of people. A beautiful aromatic wine that finishes refreshing and clean obviously isn’t very difficult for everyone to enjoy. […]
