Meander along the roadways of Ontario’s wine regions to discover small craft wineries, stunning contemporary new facilities and the beauty of sun-drenched vineyards. Be welcomed by passionate winemakers, owners, sommeliers and winery staff anxious to share their craft. In the tasting room, swirl, sniff and sip acclaimed vintages to discover the unique signatures of the winemaker and the pleasures of the perfect pairing. You’re guaranteed to want to take a selection home with you. You can win a three-night stay in Niagara this fall to attend the Shaw Festival with a private tour, dining and wine country visits. You […]
Fill your fall with seasonal vegetables – and cheese
Fall may mark the return of shorter days and lower temperatures – but it’s also a great time to rediscover hearty dishes such as soups, stews and chowders. If you’re lucky enough to have a vegetable garden, you’ll know that a whole host of vegetables come into season at this time of year. Broccoli, pumpkin and celeriac are extremely versatile fall vegetables, while cabbage, onion and carrots are available year-round – but generally reach their peak in September and October. These ingredients make excellent fare for soups, stews and risottos, and with a little imagination, you can add a creative […]
Give Thanks for Ontario Wines: Food & Drink Magazine
In the fall issue of the LCBO’s Food & Drink Magazine, I’ve chosen eight of my favourite Ontario wines for fall meals and Thanksgiving dinner. Lucy Waverman has developed some extraordinary recipes to pair with these wines. Pick up your copy soon … although there are half a million copies published, they go fast! Let me know what your favourite Ontario wines are. Cheers, Natalie What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with a bumper crop of our own Ontario wines? With such a wide range of styles, there are lots of choices for every dish on your holiday table, […]
Baked Barbecue Pineapple Chicken
This sweet and tangy dish is a great dish for the family or for entertaining guests and is a great way to cook those thighs. The homemade barbecue sauce especially will keep them coming back for more. Baked Barbecue Pineapple Chicken Serves: 4 Developed for Chicken Farmers of Canada by Nancy Guppy, RD, MHSc 1 1/3 lb (640 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8 pieces) 14 fl oz (398 mL) diced tomatoes, canned 1 cup (250 mL) fresh pineapple, diced 2 Tbsp (30 mL) brown sugar 1 ½ tsp (7.5 mL) Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp (15 mL) […]
New Wine Reviews for September 4
Number of Wines Recommended: 56 Review date: September 4, 2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – 21 wines under $20 – Best value white: French white with floral and peach notes $11.95 – Favourite white: Glorious BC white with pretty floral and pear notes for Asian cuisine 93/100 – Best value red: Dense, rich red from France for prime rib $14.95 – Favourite red wine: Robust Italian red that will age well for 15 years, pair with braised meat 93/100 – Best value rosé: Classic Tavel, bone-dry, perfect for roast chicken or turkey $15.95 – Favourite […]
Eat, Pray, Drink: Top 5 Wines to Pair with the Book & Movie
I’ve read the book, but have yet to see the movie. In the meantime though, I’ve thought of 5 terrific wines to drink while you’re reading the book or watching the movie (I guess you’ll have to slip a bottle into your purse/man purse for the latter if you’re going to the theatre). Have you got a wine to suggest? Cheers, Natalie 2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, D.O.C., Valdadige, Italy: We’ve got to have an Italian wine given the “Eat” part is in Italy, and this wine is fantastic with pizza! Lovely aromas of lemon, white melon and chives. […]
Introducing Vintners 2
Balderson Cheese, Canada’s award winning leaderin premium aged Cheddar has a new and interesting cheese offering for lovers of great wines and great cheese. Today’s consumers are becoming increasingly interested in home entertaining, preparing special meals and serving Cheese plates. Our Vintners Cheddar provides an easy choice to fill this need as well as to highlight the excellence of Canadian Cheddar for special occasions. Vintners Cheddar now comes in a Gift Box that contains one piece (280g) of the Vintners Red and the Vintners white in a striking gift box presentation making it idea for Christmas gifts, house warmings, appreciation […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 60 Review date: August 21, 2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – 19 wines under $20 – Best value white: Mouth-watering German Riesling for jumbo prawns, mild curries $15.95 – Favourite white: A rich, peach-layered white for glazed ham, chicken 92/100 – Best value red tied: Robust plummy Aussie Shiraz for meaty pizzas, hamburgers $12.95 – Best value red tied: A Frech Syrah with loads of berry flavour $11.95 – Favourite red wine: Rhone Valley’s robust king of wines that will age for decades 96/100 – Best value rosé: Dry Provencal Rosé […]
Free BlackBerry Wine App: New Storm 2 and 9500 Series Approved
We recently got approval for the Storm 2 and 9500 series free wine mobile app for BlackBerry! The app also works on all other BlackBerry devices and operating systems. If you’re an iPhone or iPod Touch user, we’ve got an app for you too and we’re currently working on a Droid version. All other smartphone can use the mobile site, which has been customized for their phones. We’re on an aggressive development path with the apps: lots more feature over the next few months. Stay tuned! Cheers, Natalie
The white wine for the occasion
Nothing goes better with Canadian cheese than a good glass of red wine. Or does it? While red wine is the obvious pairing for most cheeses, the right white wine can offer a crisp alternative, especially for bringing out the full flavour of soft cheeses. As a general rule, light white wines pair well with mild cheeses, while fruitier whites pair with pungent cheeses. For the intense flavours of blue cheeses, try a sweet dessert wine, such as Canadian ice wine. You should also match like-with-like in terms of acidity: a high-acid cheese such as Canadian Feta will pair wonderfully […]
