Here we are, already mid-month with 58 of the best wines and value wines from the September 17 Vintages Release. As usual, I’m just spotlighting my top picks here, but you can get the complete list of wine reviews. Drop any of the Top Wine Picks into your virtual shopping basket to create your own list. You’ll find that out wine picks search engine has been improved dramatically, so finding those wine gems is easy. [table id=17 /] You get all of my wine tasting notes and scores when you subscribe to my wine reviews for $2.10 a month, less […]
Savouring Early Fall Flavours With Easy Wine and Tapas Entertaining
By Tracey Black Tapas-style hors d’oeuvres and casual platters are hands down, my favourite way to entertain and spend time with friends. My experience as a caterer also tells me this style of entertaining almost guarantees a relaxed and lively vibe at a party and is perfect for casual early fall soirées. I like to serve an array of tasty bites as part of a lengthier cocktail hour before a BBQ or as a tapas style dinner. The pressure is off, the food is make ahead, eye appealing and more time is spent enjoying your guests, and of course your […]
Truffle Hunt in Provence Getaway with Truffle Recipes and Wine Pairings Guided by Sherry Page
With autumn swiftly approaching, it’s time to finalize plans for one of our very favorite wintertime events – our Truffle Getaway in Provence. It is coming up on January 29th-February 4th, 2012. This event focuses on the king of truffles – the fragrant black melanosporum truffles that are found in the Provence region of France between mid-November and mid-February. I love the flavor of these incredible melanosporum truffles, but one of the best parts of the week is the truffle hunt with a local farmer and his dogs. It is really fun to tag along and watch the hunt take place. […]
Riesling Paired with Smoked Trout Appetizers Recipe
Pat’s Smoked Trout Appetizers Paired with Riesling By Pat Anderson Who doesn’t love a crispy little ball of goodness that you can pop in your mouth between sips of wine? This is a mash-up of three different recipes, so I could come up with something original to serve guests as an appetizer with a chilled dry Riesling wine. The origins are taramasalata, a smoked trout and cream cheese spread, and a lamb croquettes recipe. Somehow, in the hot summer, I find cream cheese a bit cloying, and although I love taramasalata, I know it’s an acquired taste, and it can […]
How to Taste Wine, describe it and understand what’s going on in the glass
“Now ladies and gentlemen, if you will each raise your wine glass to your nose I’m sure that you will agree that the scent of black cherry, cinnamon, truffle and the slightest hint of wet stone quite typically displays the varietal character of this wine.” What the hell! Am I the only person in the room that has a problem with this? Judging by the expression on the lady’s face sitting across from me, apparently not – in fact, I think the cork just flew over her head. “Is it wrong that all I smell is red wine?” she […]
Top food and wine apps by Toronto Star include the bar code bottle scanning app
We are thrilled that the Toronto Star recommended our app as one of the essential food and wine apps. The story doesn’t appear to be online yet, but here’s the print version … If you’re older than 24 and can’t read this text, here it is: Natalie MacLean Wine Picks & Pairings Free; iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry Perhaps the only wine app you’ll ever need. A search for what goes best with sauvignon blanc turns up a list of suggestions including friend chicken and dim sum. Select a wine to read the reviews, check its availability at your nearest LCBO […]
Plan your food and wine vacation in BC with these tips
Sponsored Post British Columbia is one of the best places to spend a vacation filled with sipping local wines and sampling homegrown food. Check out BC Trip ideas, which will tempt you to have a wonderfully indulgent summer. Here’s a snapshot of the trip ideas you’ll find: • Stop and taste award-winning Gewurztraminers along Corkscrew Drive near Penticton. • Try a blackberry port-style wine at a First Nations–owned winery on Vancouver Island. • Go on a chef-led tour through Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market, where its stalls are filled to the brim with fresh fruit, vegetables, local meats and cheeses. […]
Stellar Cellar Wines from the Rhone, Bordeaux, Australia and Italy for August 20
By Gaby Israel All of the following wines can sit in the cellar for 8-12+ years (in ideal conditions) which makes them GPCi-worthy: the cost divided by the number of cellaring years is lower than 3.5. Depending on your budget this weekend, I’d buy 2-6 bottles from each. 2008 Pirramimma Cab Sauv $24.95 – Pirramimma has never produced anything less than exciting. From their beautiful Petit Verdot, to Shiraz and this Cab Sauv. Just bang-on and affordable. 2007 Dauvergne Ranvier Vin Rare Gigondas $31.95 – The Gigondas is a bit more expensive than usual (most 07 are sold at the […]
Cellar Wines from Bargains to Blockbusters
By Gaby Israel Looking for some wine bargains at the LCBO. Out of the latest Bin End Sales list, here are a few wines that are definitely worth trying now: For the cellar for less: 2007 CHATEAU DES CHARMES EQUULEUS – $24.95 – one of the best red wines from Ontario IMHO. A fabulous representation of the 2007 vintage in Ontario. A left bank Bordeaux blend. Well balanced. Decant for 2 hours. Expect shaved pencil notes integrated with lovely black currant flavours and a lovely finish that calls for more. Can be cellared for another 7-10 years which makes it […]
Pairing Wine and Tomatoes is a Delicious Challenge
Bill Daley, the superb wine columnist from the Chicago Tribune, asked for my tips on pairing wine with tomatoes. You can find more of my tomato and wine pairings in the Drinks Matcher: click on Start with a Food, then Vegetables/Salads. These pairings are also in the mobile wine apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and Blackberry. Since we’re just coming into tomato season, we have lots of delicious days ahead of us! Cheers, Natalie Bill Daley A ripe tomato deserves to be showcased at the table with, at least, a sprinkling of good salt and, at most, a […]
