I’m not letting go of summer until the first official day of fall, which is still a few weeks away. Now is the time to enjoy luscious tomatoes, sweet corn, grilled steak, field berries and other late summer treats. I’ve paired them with wines in the latest issue of Fine Cooking magazine. Carpe diem!
An Unforgettable Evening of Wine, Laughter and Storytelling
Join Natalie MacLean and Wolf Blass in Toronto Sept 10 and Ottawa Sept 17 for a tasting of 12 Wolf Blass wines, a range of sumptuous tapas dishes prepared by Toronto’s award-winning Against the Grain Restaurant and a personally signed copy of Natalie’s book Unquenchable. Natalie MacLean, named the World’s Best Wine Writer at the World Food Media Awards, will interview one of the most witty, provocative and colourful characters from her book Unquenchable: Wolf Blass of Wolf Blass Wines Australia. Yes, this is the man who once described his Red Label Shiraz as “the leg opener,” but he’s also […]
La Font Des Grieres Gigondas, Columbia Crest, Gemma Barolo: Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release September 15
By Gaby Israel Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print and will show you LCBO stock availability. GPCi top 4 for up-to $22: #1 choice – Italy – Abruzzo – 2008 Barba I Vasari Old Vines Montepulciano D’Abruzzo – $18.95 It’s not every day that you see Gambero Rosso giving a high 3 out of 3 glasses rate and for a $19 (!) bottle of wine. Besides… I have a very soft spot for Montepulciano wines. Seems like an excellent QPR wine-of-the-house option. I’d buy 3-12 bottles. #2 choice – […]
Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling, La Marca Prosecco, Torres Floralis Oro Moscatel: Top LCBO Wines Vintages Release September 15
Here are my top picks from the September 15 Vintages Release. You can also get all 54 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. I’ve also posted my wine reviews for the September 29 release. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews. 2011 Loosen […]
Atlantic Canadian Wines Compete on the World Stage: CTV News
In the CTV News video clip below, we chat about the exciting development in Atlantic Canadian wines, including those from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI. From the Olympics to a Tidal Bay of refreshment, it’s worth taking a second (and fifth) sip of these wines. Here are my wine reviews for Jost Vineyards, Gaspereau Vineyards, Benjamin Bridge, Rossignol and Magnetic Hill Vineyards. Coming soon, reviews for Domaine Grand Pre, Newman Estate Winery and Luckett Vineyards. Posted with permission of CTV News.
Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and Spinach Salad Recipe with Southbrook Cabernet Franc Rose
Spice rubbed pork tenderloin and spinach salad with summer fruit and curry vinaigrette This spice mix is a blend of sweet and heat. A bright, vibrant rose with touch of sweet fruit freshness would be a terrific match for this main course salad. A delicious choice would be Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose 2011, an organic wine from the Niagara Peninsula. Serves 4 Ingredients for the pork one 2¼ to 2½ lb pork tenderloin, trimmed ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp cumin seed ½ tsp fennel seed ½ tsp chili powder ¼ tsp black pepper 1 tsp […]
There’s a Buzz in the Air at Rosewood Estates
By Susan Desjardins While working as a high-tech executive, Eugene Roman was also developing his skills as a master beekeeper and dreaming big about creating a winery and meadery in Niagara. In 2000, he and his wife Renata purchased 40 acres on the Beamsville Bench, an ideal site for producing cool-climate wines, and backing onto the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. A further 45 acres was subsequently purchased in Jordan. Construction of the winery began in 2005, the design of the building reflecting the family’s European heritage, as do the Renaissance-style parterres and exquisite rose gardens. 2006 marked […]
Italy’s Verdicchio: A Country with a Grape for Everyone
By Holly Bruns It’s hard to believe that with hundreds of indigenous grapes, Italy is not the birthplace of winemaking. Thus far that credit goes to Georgia where along the slopes of the Caucasian Mountains, perhaps, there was one mother of a vine that gave life to the multitudes of grapes that now grow worldwide. When exactly Vitis Vinifera were transplanted to the Italian peninsula is not known exactly, but Greek traders back in 800 BC certainly helped the process along. Today, as the wine industry in Italy continues to go through a renaissance, the shelves of Pinot Grigio and […]
Recipes from Wine Country: Prosciutto and Rosemary Wrapped Salmon Parcels with Reif Estate Riesling
Prosciutto and Rosemary Wrapped Salmon Parcels What better way to go local than matching your favourite Reif Estate VQA wine with a recipe from wine country? The summer heat has offered up sweet, ripe produce and now that wines from the remarkable 2010 vintage are hitting the shelves at your local LCBO the time is right to put Ontario on your table. Chef Robin Howe uses only the freshest ingredients in preparing his culinary creations, an expression of his passion for the bounty in Niagara. One of his favourite ingredients to use this time of year is tomatoes and of […]
Ribera del Duero, Vina Tarapaca, Capraia Classico Riserva: Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release September 1
By Gaby Israel Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print and will show you LCBO stock availability. Spain – Ribera del Duero – 2008 Legon Crianza (276089)-$15.95 This is my #1 GPCi choice of the Sep 1st, 2012 release. 2008 was a very good vintage in Ribera del Duoro region (wait for the 2009 wines – they are even better!). RP gave this Legon Crianza 90 with a 8 year cellaring window (until 2020), which makes the GPCi almost par with 2 (remember, any GPCi below 3.5 is a good […]
