Video: Prosecco and Pinot Grigio Primer for the Holidays with Santa Margherita

  What a terrific chat with Nicola Lovato, Brand Ambassador, Santa Margherita! Click on the arrow above to watch the video.   P.S. Join us Sunday October 8, at 6 pm eastern with John Williams, Winemaker, Frog’s Leap Winery. www.nataliemaclean.com/live Want to know when we go live Monday with John Williams? Click on the Follow and Like buttons on this page to get notified when we go live. We’ll be simultaneously broadcasting on Facebook Live, YouTube Live Stream and Twitter Live Video via Periscope. Watch previous episodes of the Sunday Sipper Club (SSC) and find out who’s coming up next. […]

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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 […]

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Santa Margherita Wine Tasting: To Pinot Grigio and Beyond

Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in our nation’s capital recently for a comprehensive tasting and overview of Santa Margherita wines. Their overall impressions and reviews are below. Click the arrow in any video to watch it. Monique Sosa Wine Columnist, Ottawa Life Magazine  Virtually everyone I know has had a taste of the eminent Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. It is the number one selling white wine in Canada and a consistent top seller in North America altogether. Not so long after the rise of their Grigio’s popularity, we started to notice more and more Santa Margherita labels of various styles of […]

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Capra and Chianti: A Perfect Pairing with Gabbiano Wines

Last night, we were joined by a special guest, Chef Massimo Capra, to chat about Italian wine and food pairings ​Join us on the Sunday Sipper Club, April 16​ at 6 pm eastern (Toronto time)​ ​when we talk about Malbec. Tune in here for our Facebook Live Video Wine Tasting:  www.nataliemaclean.com/live P.S. Click on the “Follow” and “Like” buttons on this page to get notified when we go live. You’ll find upcoming and past Live Tasting Videos here.   If you’d like to read 74 comments for this tasting, or make a comment yourself, visit: https://www.facebook.com/natdecants/videos/10154975674214845/ Here’s a sampling of […]

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Orange, Poppy Seed & Apricot Loaf Recipe Paired with Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio

ORANGE, POPPYSEED & APRICOT LOAF   Sunshine can be fleeting, particularly in the depths of winter, which makes the bright spring flavours of the stunning 90 point Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio an absolute delight! Limited stock is now available at the LCBO so get your hands on some while you still can, and then pair it with this beautiful orange and apricot loaf. It’s incredibly moist, with crunchy poppy seeds topped with fragrant apricots and an orange glaze; the perfect accompaniment to a splash of Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio. Welcome to spring!   Orange, Poppy Seed & Apricot Loaf Recipe […]

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Mozzarella with Hot Capicollo, Melon, Tomato, Basil & Black Olives Recipe Paired With Gabbiano Pinot Grigio

  Mozzarella with Hot Capicollo, Melon, Tomato, Basil & Black Olives Recipe Serve with Gabbiano Pinot Grigio Ingredients Galbani Mozzarella, sliced Cantaloupe melon, sliced Watermelon, sliced Tomatoes, sliced Red onions, julienne Capicollo, sliced Basil, hand torn Sundried Black Olives Olive oil Balsamic glaze Directions Arrange on a plate all the fruit and vegetables, sprinkle the olives and season with the salt and pepper then a drizzle of olive oil and a few drops of balsamic glaze and the basil leaves, place the sliced Capicollo in the middle and serve. This recipe and wine pairing is provided courtesy of Gabbiano Wines […]

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Delicious Galbani Cheese Recipes and Wine Pairings

Caprini Salad with Galbani Fresh Mozzarella A delicious, fresh recipe that can be made in minutes. Enjoy as an appetizer or side dish. Ingredients 8 oz. Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Ball 3 Vine Ripe Tomatoes Yellow Pear and Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half 1/2 Red Onion, thinly sliced Capers, chopped 1 Lemon Zest Oregano Garlic Basil Olive Oil Lemon Juice Salt and Pepper, to taste Wine Pairing Gabbiano Pinot Grigio Directions 1. Cut the vine ripe tomatoes into quarters and arrange on salad plates with sliced cherry tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes. 2. Scatter sliced onions. 3. Slice Galbani Mozzarella Ball […]

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Under the Tuscan Moon – Gabbiano Wine Tasting Dinner

Heather Wall Wine Columnist, Huffington Post Canada Wine tasting lunches that I have had the pleasure of attending usually follow a similar format. A visiting winemaker/owner/agent; a group of local sommeliers and bloggers; a lovely meal paired with six or so of the winemaker’s selected wines; and some technical notes with some storytelling. We all leave with tasting notes and stories we can share with our wine loving community.         A recent Ottawa Castello di Gabbiano tasting at Sidedoor Kitchen in Ottawa threw that format out with the must! As we entered the private dining room there […]

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Ruffino Wines: A Taste of Tuscan Life, Sun and Soil

Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in the nation’s capital for an extraordinary tasting of Italian wines from Ruffino, a winery nestled in the heart of Tuscany. In the video above, Ruffino Global Brand Beppe d’Andrea shares the story on how, in 1861 Ruffino Ducale Riserva Chianti Classico got its name and how the term ‘Reserva’ came into being. Tania Thomas Wine Expert, Rogers Daytime Television   It’s impossible to imagine Tuscan life to be anything but pure bliss. With all the fabulous food and wine, culture, history and art, it’s a place for living la dolce vita. We […]

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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. […]

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