5 Great Reasons to Explore Armenian Wines

A View of Ararat from Armenia Wine Company   By Rebecca Meïr-Liebman of Chef & Somm I’ve tasted thousands of wines – perhaps even hundreds of thousands – from all over the globe yet, until now, none had been Armenian. So when I was invited by the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia (VWFA) to explore Armenian wine culture, I was thrilled to say yes! There is a great energy here, with new wineries, wine bars, and wine shops popping up everywhere, many of them owned by Armenians who, returning from abroad, are investing heavily in this renaissance. Chances are […]

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Wine Confidential: An Insider Look at the Wine World Video

Would you love to get an insider view of the wine world – a sneak peak behind the scenes? That’s exactly what we’re going to learn from our guest from our guest who has written a book that has become a New York Times bestseller. Our guest this evening has is the author of the New York Times bestseller CORK DORK: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste It’s been described as the “KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL of wine.” She has written about food, wine, architecture, and technology for […]

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Festive Wine and Cheese Pairings with Janet Fletcher Video

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. If you’d like to read the comments for this tasting, or make a comment yourself, visit: https://www.facebook.com/natdecants/videos/10155625565449845/ Here’s a sampling of our lively discussion from our Janet Fletcher Video Chat: Anne-Marie Chivers · 41:19 What about goats cheese with sparkling?? Acid plus acid makes the cheese taste more creamy and the wine more fruity?? […]

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Which #Wine to Pair with Your Ugly Christmas Sweater?

  In our second Day in the Life Photo Essay, we’ve assembled our pictorial interpretation of holiday spirit with the classic Ugly Christmas Sweater. Yes, there’s a wine for that. We’re also sharing these photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn. The hashtag is #WineFashion  and @RobertMondavi. You can see our first photo essay here.   Jane Staples Wine Columnist, Ottawa Wedding Magazine           Jon Steeves Accredited Sommelier & Blogger         Matt Steeves Wine Expert, CTV Morning Live           Sean O’Regan Director, National Capital Sommelier Guild   […]

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Cultivated Success: Prosecco’s Popularity is no Accident

 By Greg Hughes Some say the national drink of Italy is espresso, others say it’s Prosecco. Northeastern Italy’s distinctively aromatic sparkling wine is now beloved by the majority of the wine drinking world. Often, it is misrepresented as an inexpensive alternative to traditional sparkling wines, which are laborious and costly to produce. Could this be so? Is it merely a cost-saving mix for mimosas? Definitely not, especially considering it is priced in a similar bracket to local sparkling or even Cava, Spain’s traditionally made sparkling wine. There are plenty of other choices available to consumers, yet they overwhelmingly choose Prosecco.   […]

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Food and Wine Books with Wines Matched for Gifts: CTV Video

Here’s part two of our conversation about books and bottles that you can give as holiday gifts. (You’ll find part one of our conversation here.) Do you have a favourite wine and word pairing? Do you belong to a book club that likes to crack open a bottle? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Gassier Sables D’azur Rosé 2011, A.C., Côtes De Provence, France I love it! (I also just shouted that out the window to some surprised people on the sidewalk.) So very pretty with a basket of fresh field strawberries. Bask in the sun and pretend you are […]

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Wine Book and Bottle Pairings for the Holidays: CTV News at Noon

In the first of our two-part conversation, Leanne Cusack, host of CTV News at Noon, and I chat about six terrific book and bottle pairings that you can give as a gift set this holiday … don’t forget to treat yourself too! Here’s part two of our conversation, with more pairings, later today.   Veuve Clicquot Non-Vintage Champagne Champagne, France A.C. Notes of green apples, orange zest and white peach on the nose with toasty goodness through the core and finish. Try the ultra-shabby chic combo here between French Champagne and a bucket of KFC chicken. Why wait for New […]

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Around the World in 80 Wines with Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist

  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. If you’d like to read the comments for this tasting, or make a comment yourself, visit: https://www.facebook.com/natdecants/videos/10155608241189845/ Here’s a sampling of our lively discussion from our Mike Veseth Video Chat: Stephen Andrews · 41:04 In your opinion Mike do countries generally set trade barriers for their wine. And Canada uses wine to raise […]

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What You Don’t Know About Wine & Health, But Should

Are you confused about the various heath studies when it comes to wine and breast cancer, heart disease or brain function? Would you like to know exactly what moderation means when it comes to drinking wine? That’s exactly what we’re going to discover tonight with our guest this evening who is a gynecologist and obstetrician. He is also part of an international research community that investigates the role of wine in health. He holds an advanced-level sommelier certificate from the International Wine & Spirits Guild, and he joins me now live from his home office in Arizona. You won’t want […]

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A Dionysian Tasting with Thornbury Wines Winemaker Simon Fell

Recently, Canada’s top wine writers gathered in the nation’s capital for a comprehensive tasting of Thorbury wines with head winemaker Simon Fell. You can watch our Live Video Wine Tasting on Facebook right here.     David Skinner Wine & Travel Columnist, Outdoor Magazine   In New Zealand the wine trail always seems to lead to one of Villa Maria’s cellar doors. The flagship brand is represented by over 60 labels but founder, Sir George Fistonich, has been adding other great regional wineries to the family with quality and diversity driving his search for excellence. Thornbury, one of the more […]

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