Heavy hitter shiraz and syrah from Australia and the Rhone Valley are among my top wines in the August 20 Vintages Release. There are also refreshing some refreshing sauvignon blanc from Chile and New Zealand and lusciously rich chardonnay from several regions. You can get all 66 of the best wines and bargain wines that I’ve recommended that encompass many price points, styles and regions by subscribing to my wine reviews. It always helps to have some back-up choices in case those below are already sold out. You can also add my Top Wine Picks to your custom shopping list […]
Pizza Pleasures in the Park Paired with a Crisp Sparkling Wine or Rose
August 15 is a big day of celebration in Italy. On Ferragosto, Assumption Day, Italians leave the big cities and head for the beaches and mountains to indulge in great food and family fun. Let’s join the celebrations and organize a picnic of tasty Italian fare right here in Canada. We’re going to prepare a delicious and easy Italian pizza, surround it with a platter of Canadian cheeses, and pair them with Italian wines. The beauty of pizza is that it’s great at room temperature. Make life easy on yourself and prepare the pizza the day before the picnic. […]
Zinfandel and Spicy Barbeque Sauce Make a Terrific Wine and Food Match
By Shari Goodman You can quickly make a complex and intense homemade barbecue sauce that sizzles. Simply blend all ingredients, then add smoke and meat, and you’ll have a license to grill. Sip some Zin with this ‘Que. Redemption Zinfandel 2007 ($21.95, LCBO) is peppery and full of blackberries worthy of tasting on its own, but it can easily battle it out with a steak. This bottle is from the Sonoma County in California where Zinfandels have a well-earned reputation. Barbeque is a summer ritual: gathering around the grill, catching up with friends and sipping something sippable. It’s quick, easy […]
BC is a terrific food and wine vacation spot: tips on wineries, restaurants, hiking, sailing
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. […]
Chimichurri Flank Steak Fajitas with Peppers and Manchego Recipe Paired with Catena Malbec 2008, Argentina
Chimichurri Flank Steak Fajitas with Peppers and Manchego Paired with Catena Malbec 2008, Argentina Chimichurri sauce is an essential part of Argentinean cuisine found on every dinner table. There are many variations on the recipe but the key ingredients include fresh parsley, garlic and vinegar. Some cooks add more garlic, some more chilies and others blend in fresh cilantro. Either way, this versatile sauce is a delicious accompaniment to grilled fish, chicken, chorizo sausages and especially steak. When it comes to pairing this steak with wine, my first choice would be malbec. Look for a malbec with lots of ripe […]
Voodoo Vintners: Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers by Katherine Cole
Voodoo Vintners Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers Katherine Cole, who writes wine columns for the FOODday section of The Oregonian newspaper and MIX magazine, has just published her first book entitled Voodoo Vintners: Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers. It’s a terrific read and delves deep into the heart of biodynamic winemaking and farming. It’s also the first of its kind, not just because of its focus on Oregon, but also because of Katherine’s vibrant and insightful style. Her approach is so entertaining that you won’t even realize how much you’re learning about wine, including the more esoteric aspects of biodynamic farming, which […]
Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb Recipe Paired with Grant Burge The Holy Trinity 2007, Australia
Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb Paired with Grant Burge The Holy Trinity 2007, Australia French cut rack of lamb, encrusted with a blend of pistachio, herbs and Dijon, is the perfect partner for Grant Burge The Holy Trinity 2007. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, the wine offers lots of intense fruit with a touch of pepper and spice. Fine tannins and good acidity allow the wine to stand up to the richness of this dish giving a full lingering finish. Serve the lamb with a side of herb roasted new potatoes. Serves 4 ( 2 ribs per person) […]
Finding the Best Cellar Wines in the Vintages Releases
Wine Logic for Cellar-Worthy Wines By Gaby Israel “WineLogic – where buying wine makes sense…” With so many incredible wines out there, are you confused as to what to buy? Should these be wines that got 90+? Should these be wines for cellaring? Should these wines have a good Quality to Price Ratio (QPR)? Does your wine budget require planning? If you answered ‘Yes’ to all or most of these questions, then this column is for you. Thinking of having 6 people over for dinner: you want to start with white and continue with red? (1 bottle can serve 5-6 […]
Stunning BC red wines from Cabernet and Merlot plus Robust Carmenere, Syrah, Pinot Noir from Chile in the August 6 Vintages Release of Wines
The August 6 Vintages Release features some terrific wines from Chile: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, carmenere, syrah and pinot noir as well as incredibly rich BC wines made from cabernet and merlot blends. There are also some robust red wines from California and the Rhone Valley, France. You can get all 62 wines that I’ve selected from varying prices, scores, food pairings, regions and styles. Make sure you pick some back-up choices from the full list in case some of these below are sold out. You can also put my Top Wine Picks into your custom shopping list by clicking on the little […]
Pairing Wine and Stages of a Relationship from Heartbreak to Courtship
I had fun recommending these wine pairings with different stages of a relationship for Curve Magazine… Though Natalie MacLean is about as sensitive to her wines as the average parent is to her children, she still manages to tackle this seemingly snobby, daunting and inaccessible subject with a lighthearted sense of humor that other wine writers sorely lack. Poetic but still down-to-earth, MacLean’s writing is as addictive as her subject itself. Her journey in pursuit of great wine began with an introductory wine appreciation course, and has since brought her to vineyards around the world, as well as to the […]
