By Melissa Pulvermacher We all think of pairing food and wine, but have you ever thought of pairing music with wine? Charles Smith, a self-taught winemaker, has brought a new element to the world of wine – soul. Smith is undoubtedly a full-bodied personality with a genuine passion for both music and wine. The only way to truly describe the experience of Charles Smith and his wines is to crank rock music and pour yourself a big glass of red or white… or both and just enjoy. During a 1999 road trip, when Smith was managing rock bands and concerts, […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews and Ratings: Vintages April 4
You can access the 106 wines that I reviewed for April 4 as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. You can also see my wine reviews for March 21, 2015. Curious about what my scores mean or my tasting process? Find out here. 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 […]
Spicy Tuna Melt Recipe with Chardonnay Wine Pairing
Spicy Tuna Melt Spice it up this Spring Yes, it’s still cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn up the heat. Warm up with your favourite sweater and glass of wine to melt away the last of your winter worries. Maximize your “me time” with a simple yet delicious tuna melt. A childhood classic that will take you back to the days of sticky hands and messy faces. My favourite version is the Spicy Tuna Melt, a modern twist on this much-loved sandwich. Toast some multi-grain bread and top it with a mix of tuna, peppers, and red […]
New LCBO Wines and Limited Time Offer Sale: April 2015
Sponsored Post by Delegat Canada Wine Agency You can get the complete shopping list of these wines in your closest liquor stores here. Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, New Zealand Regular Price: $18.95 Sale Price: $16.95 March 30 to April 26 Oyster Bay Merlot 2013 Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand Vintage Release April 4 In stores while stock lasts Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2013 Marlborough, New Zealand Vintage Release April 18 In stores while stock lasts Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz 2012 Barossa Valley, Australia New Vintage Release April 18 In […]
11 Tips for WineSense: No Nonsense Wine Lovers
By Bob Desautels 1. Get to know the best producers/wineries. This is your safest route to consistent quality. 2. Distrust frivolous names and “pretty” pictures on labels. 3. Taste and know wines (and grape varieties) from their traditional home. This becomes your benchmark for all other similar wines made from the same grapes. 4. Experiment with lesser known grape varieties versus always drinking the classic varieties and blends. It makes life more interesting. 5. Drink wine with food – it’s good for digestion and it slows the absorption of alcohol into your system. 6. Buy local wines when possible (when at […]
LCBO Wines on Sale: Bargains and Best Buys April 2015
Sponsored Post by Philippe Dandurand Wine Agency You can get the complete shopping list of these wines in your closest liquor stores here. Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2012 Mendoza, Argentina Regular Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $12.95 April 1 to April 30 Yellow Tail Merlot 2013 South Australia Regular Price: $11.95 Sale Price: $10.95 April 1 to April 30 35 South Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012 Chile Regular Price: $12.95 Sale Price: $10.95 April 1 to April 30 Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Valle de Aconcagua, […]
Billionaire’s Vinegar Movie Stars Matthew McConaughey + Wine Book Review Globe & Mail
Alright, alright, alright! It’s just been announced that Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey will star in movie adaptation of the wine book The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Ben Wallace. Will Smith bought the rights and will be directing this production along with Todd Black, James Lassiter, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch. No indication yet of which role McConaughey will play or of the release date for the film. I can’t wait to see it! Here’s my review of the book in the Globe & Mail … Reviewed by Natalie MacLean The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of […]
Getting Hammered: 9 Tips to Win at Wine Auctions
Sitting in the centre row of the auction room, I barely lift my forefinger for the 1945 Château Cheval Blanc. All bidders crane their necks to look at the mysterious woman who has just bid the price of a Porsche. “Sold to the gentlewoman in the Prada jacket with embroidered family crest,” the auctioneer says, bringing down the hammer. The reality: I’m at the back of the room blinking wildly, struggling to remove the eyelash from my eye. The auctioneer just winked back at me — bad news when you’re playing the blood sport of the rich. Most auction talk […]
Vertigo Flights of Wine: CN Tower Restaurant Wine List Dazzling (and Dizzying)
James Muir, is the sommelier and maitre d’ at the 360 The Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. James manages the world’s highest wine cellar and has served many celebrities from Michelle Obama to John Travolta. What was your first wine experience? It was likely some low-end import wine from the depanneur, the corner convenience store where I lived in Montreal. I also tried Baby Duck at some point back then. However, more interesting wines were those from British Columbia in the 1980s. At that time, I experimented with pricier, imported bottles when I went out […]
Drinking Beside the Box: The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Wine and Fast Food
Knowing that saffron-flavored mille-feuille of red mullet and langoustine pairs perfectly with Dom Perignon, or that prime fillet of Kobe beef with braised oxtail and potato rosti will make Château Pétrus sing is useful if you have a fat trust fund and a kitchen staff of twenty. But when most of us are racing from work to soccer practice to ballet class and then home again, we’re far more apt to grab some take-out food or heat a frozen TV dinner than to prepare a multi-course dinner every night of the week. We’re more aware than ever of health issues […]
