Wine, women and … the movies. As we celebrate the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF 2014), here’s a look at some of the cameo roles that wine and women have played in film as terrific co-stars. In The Seven Year Itch (1955), Marilyn Monroe, moves into a Manhattan apartment above Tom Ewell, a married man whose family has gone to Maine for summer vacation. When the two get together for an innocent glass of champagne, the bottle explodes—and he gets his thumb stuck while trying to stop the overflow. That makes for lots of double-entendres about pent-up pressure […]
Movies & Wine: Oscar-Worthy Moments
Vino plays a supporting role in some of the silver screen’s most memorable moments. We asked wine experts to tell us which scenes stayed with them long after the theatres went dark. “Here’s looking at you kid.” Even if you haven’t seen Casablanca, you’ve likely heard that toast. And if you have seen the movie, you know that not long after Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman clink glasses, the Germans come marching into Paris and change their lives forever. Here, noted wine experts recall equally vivid movie moments where wine is firmly in the frame. David Lebovitz, chef and author […]
The Dark Side of Wine in the Movies: Days of Wine and Thorns
In films such as the Godfather series, wine and food are expressive of Italian culture, and its fierce loyalty—wine is part of family gatherings, and presented as something simple, without pretense. It’s often consumed from shot glasses. But also represents the darker side: the brooding nature of the family members, and the blood ties that bind. You’ll find my TIFF and Oscar-worthy, award-winning wines here, with all-star ratings. Looks alone have made red wine the preferred drink of horror movies, often an omen of evil. The Dracula movies associate wine with blood. “Aren’t you drinking?” inquires the guest, as Count […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings February 20
You can access the 112 wines that I reviewed for February 20 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for February 6. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day […]
How to Get the Most from a Wine Show? 17 Insider Tips
You’ll find my Top 10 Wine Shows in Canada list, as well as a tongue-in-cheek story of attending a show. And here are my top tips on how to get the most from a wine show: 1. To build your stamina in the weeks leading up to the show, walk around Price Club during the weekends. Eat lots of the cheese-doodles and toothpick wieners. And be nice to the Demo Lady: she may well be pouring your sample at the show. 2. Eat before you come to the show even though there are often lots of food exhibitors. A full […]
Do I Have to Spend a Lot to Get a Good Bottle of Wine?
By Alex and Priya, A Vine Romance Question: Do I Have to Spend a Lot to Get a Good Bottle of Wine? Alex: The answer to that is that it depends on what you’re looking for, so ‘yes and no’. Priya: This is the most common question in wine and also the hardest to answer because there are so many factors involved. A: First and foremost it’s based on your personal palate, what you like and what you consider to be a good wine. P: Good point because what you and I like are often very different. I’m still a casual […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings February 6
You can access the 104 wines that I reviewed for February 6 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for January 9. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day […]
56 Wines Tasted + 971 Tweets Posted = 1 Great Wine Shopping List
Our Wine Tasting A Team gathered Sunday to review 56 wines, covering a wide range of styles and regions. Twitter and Facebook lit up as we posted our reviews live during the afternoon. You can see the complete list of wines below to add to your shopping list. Enjoy! Jane Staples Wine Columnist, Ottawa Wedding Magazine Jennifer MacDonald Havers Wine Columnist, Ottawa Citizen Matt Steeves Wine Expert, CTV Morning Live Cherie Cole Restaurant Wine Consultant Craig Kuziemsky MBA Professor, […]
Days of Roses and Red Wine: A New App for Your Valentine
By Olivia Villalta Valentine’s Day and roses go hand in hand. Want to tell someone you love them? Roses. Want to show someone you missed them? Roses. Want to get out of the dog house? Roses. But there’s more to these flowers than a beautiful gesture, composed in an elegant vase. Let me share some secrets with you on how to plan the perfect date night using roses in some surprising and creative ways. First, you’ll need two bouquets… one red, for your loved one, and one with a rainbow of many colours, just for fun. The Perfect Delivery With […]
How to Decant Wine: 5 Easy Steps
How do you decant wine? Decanting wine simply means pouring it from its bottle into some other container: a carafe, a decanter, even a water jug. Here are 5 easy steps to decant wine: To decant a bottle with sediment, first leave it upright for about a day to settle the sediment at the bottom. When you’re ready, make sure the decanter and the mouth of the bottle are clean. For the actual pouring process, stand a flashlight on the table so that it shines upwards—it gives stronger light than the classic lit candle. Place the decanter beside it and […]
