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 […]
Vinho Verde, Portugal: White Wine for Summer Refreshment
By Holly Bruns Every year, sometime between the moderate temperatures of spring and the humid heat of summer, I begin to develop a crush on the white Vinho Verde wines from the Minho region of Portugal. Their easy-going qualities and low alcohol make them perfect for alleviating the heat on those hazy, lazy afternoons. Vinho Verde means green wine, named thusly not because the wine is green, but because it is made to be enjoyed while young. It’s possible however, that the lush, fertile countryside where the vines grow is inspiration for the colourful moniker. Minho is in the north […]
Sol de Andes Syrah, Chateau Fourcas Dumont, Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling: Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release June 9
By Gaby Israel Here are my best cellar wines for this release as a shopping list that you can print and these are my recommendations in order of preference for an up-to $100 release budget: Great wines under $20 Chile – Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Syrah 2008 – $19.95 Maycas has a few wines in this release. According to the producer, in the last decade, the Limarí Valley has experienced an explosive growth, from 93 hectares of vineyards planted in 1995 to 1,667 today. The Limari Valley is sitting at a latitude of 30 degrees south at the north […]
Pork, Peach, Feta Recipe Paired with French Chardonnay
A Short and Tasty Recipe for a Long Summer Day I love the long days of June. I love having 16 sun-soaked hours to enjoy the splendour of Canadian summers and relish the prospect of lots of warmth and sunlight to come. It’s important to enjoy every minute of these days, from sunrise to sunset. Let me suggest a simple recipe for the barbecue that will put a perfect end to your day and start you off on a great summer night, preferably with some friends and a bottle of wine. The recipe I have in mind is Pork, Peach […]
