By Gaby Israel Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print. Intriguing Wines Under $20 Spain – Rias Baixas – 2010 Nessa Albarino – $15.95 Since I tried this grape about 1-2 years ago, I never miss an opportunity to explore more of the fresh and, in this case, fairly priced Albarino. This is my #1 choice for whites for this release. Try it with anything that comes from the sea. Québec – St-Nicolas Brut Crackling Strong Cider – $16.95 This one is for my lovely wife. She loves Cider and […]
How are Wine Prices Set? Is Expensive Wine Better? Video Chat: Painted Rock, John Skinner
In this video above, we chat with Painted Rock Winery owner John Skinner about how wine prices are set, if expensive wines taste better than cheaper wines. Also: – can you buy a good wine for under $15? – can big wine producers make good wine? – how much government tax is in the price of each bottle of wine we buy? – what does the B.C. wine industry need to do better? Click on the arrow above to play the video (we’ve since fixed the microphone): John Skinner John Skinner had always dreamed of owning a winery, […]
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Gemma Barolo, Quails’ Gate Rose: Best LCBO Wines Vintages Release June 23
Here are my top picks from the June 23 Vintages Release. You can also get all 77 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 picks for everyday good value wines from the regular list of wines as well as the July 7 Vintages 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 […]
Free My Grapes Video Interview with Shirley-Ann George
Shirley-Ann George is the President and Founder of the Alliance of Canadian Wine Consumers — a grassroots, non-partisan, volunteer group of wine lovers whose goal is to change the provincial and federal laws so Canadians can purchase and ship wine from Canadian wineries in other provinces. – What prompted you to found this group in 2010? – Last 2 weeks: Bill C-311 has been passed in both the House of Commons and the Senate: tell us what that bill changes – What’s the difference between in-person transportation of wine versus shipping it directly to a consumer? – Is this law […]
Japanese Grilled Steak Sandwich Recipe with Canadian Havarti & Riesling
According to the calendar, summer officially starts in a week – on June 21. However, I believe that in sun-starved Canada summer starts the moment we see leaves on trees, and that’s why we’ve been enjoying it for more than a month. I suspect that many of you have fired up your barbecues long ago and by now you’ve probably cooked your fair share of burgers and steaks. So I thought you’d appreciate a fun, new idea for a simple and delicious recipe on the barbecue: Japanese-style Steak Sandwich with Canadian Havarti. This steak sandwich recipe features a mouth-watering, exotic […]
Canadian Wine Deserves More Attention – Occasions Magazine
This interview with columnist Andrew Facey was published in the Newfoundland Liquor Commission magazine Occasions. I interviewed Natalie MacLean, author of the bestselling book: Red, White and Drunk All Over, when she was in St. John’s on tour for her second book: Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. MacLean was named the World’s Best Wine Writer at the World Food Media Awards for the wine picks and pairings she posts on Canada’s largest wine site and mobile smartphone apps at www.nataliemaclean.com. Here are some of the questions I asked and her responses. Andrew: Where is home […]
Shipping Canadian Wine Across Borders, Bill C-311 and Free My Grapes
This guest post is from Shirley-Ann George, the founder and president of the Alliance of Canadian Wine Consumers and its Free My Grapes campaign. This is a critical issue for all of us who love Canadian wine. By Shirley-Ann George Many Canadians shake their head when they hear that it is a criminal offense for us to carry or ship our own wine across a provincial border. While few of us believe that transporting a legal product across a provincial border is “importing”, the provincial liquor boards are quick to inform any winery of this filling an order from an […]
Bill C-311 Allows Wine to Cross Provincial Borders, Wine Drinkers Rejoice – Global News
A unanimous vote by MPs has moved the country closer to wiping out a prohibition-era law that makes it illegal to carry a bottle of Canadian wine across a provincial boundary. The vote on Bill C-311, a private member’s bill introduced by Okanagan-Coquihalla Conservative MP Dan Albas, received unanimous support on third reading late Wednesday night. The legislation now goes to the Senate. Supporters of the bill, including national wine experts Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine site at www.nataliemaclean.com, Kurtis Kolt, a B.C. wine consultant and Norman Hardie from Norman Hardie winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, say […]
Wine Prices for California and Other Regions – Smart Money Magazine
The glass looks half empty for lovers of California wine, as many wineries are expected to raise prices in the coming years. But experts say consumers can still hunt down a wide variety of cheap bottles. Although consumers have been drinking more wine, California wineries — which produce 90% the country’s wine — haven’t ramped up production, an imbalance that is starting to push up prices. The cost of Napa Cabernet grapes rose 35% last year, even as the region’s total grape supply fell 8% short, according to a report from Silicon Valley Bank. “We went from a glut situation […]
Grilled Steak Recipe Paired with Yalumba Shiraz or Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon
By Tracey Black Father’s Day coincides with the start of summer, so a grilled steak is the perfect way to celebrate Dad and enjoy a great bottle of wine with el fresco dining. You can take on the grilling yourself or let Dad take up his rightful place at the BBQ while you whip up this wonderfully easy and delicious dinner. Serve with grilled potatoes, your favourite baguette or forgo the carbs for an extra glass of wine. Be sure to make this recipe a jumping-off point to your summer as it’s easy to put together on the fly post-golf […]
