Here are two video on the art of wine tasting...I am hoping there is something here for everyone.
Check in later this week for Wine and Karaoke!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
My Lighthearted Friend Riesling
I have had a few people ask me to recommend a wine for the person who doesn't like wine. I was trying to remember the first wine I started drinking and after many text messages with my best friend, we came up with nothing. We know it was white and cheap and that we bought it at the grocery store in Taiwan. The only wine that stood out in both of our minds was Australian Bush because the name makes us giggle.
For the novice wine drinker, white is way to go. My recommendation would be a Riesling. Anyone who says they do not like Riesling is lying. It is just so delicious. I think Billy Munnelly put it best:"Riesling always feels lighter and livelier than most other whites. It’s friendly and lighthearted – perfect for events when the wine needs to give everyone a good time." I have agree, maybe that's why Riesling and I are such good friends, we are both lighthearted.
For those of you who are reading to learn about wine you should know the Riesling grape originates from the Rhine region of Germany and has been cultivated since the 1400s! Wow, that is one old grape! The Riesling grape is very versatile and can produce wine that runs the gamut from dry to very sweet to sparkling.
For a nice local pick try the Cave Springs Riesling. This is one fun wine and I promise a good time will be had by all!
For the novice wine drinker, white is way to go. My recommendation would be a Riesling. Anyone who says they do not like Riesling is lying. It is just so delicious. I think Billy Munnelly put it best:"Riesling always feels lighter and livelier than most other whites. It’s friendly and lighthearted – perfect for events when the wine needs to give everyone a good time." I have agree, maybe that's why Riesling and I are such good friends, we are both lighthearted.
For those of you who are reading to learn about wine you should know the Riesling grape originates from the Rhine region of Germany and has been cultivated since the 1400s! Wow, that is one old grape! The Riesling grape is very versatile and can produce wine that runs the gamut from dry to very sweet to sparkling.
For a nice local pick try the Cave Springs Riesling. This is one fun wine and I promise a good time will be had by all!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Can I Offer you a Glass of Fortified Wine?
One of the greatest things about visiting friends is that they often have wines that you normally won't buy. So when I was recently offered a glass of fortified red wine, how could I say no?
Unfortunately my wine knowledge up to this point does not include fortified wine. And even more unfortunate was the fact that my host had little experience with fortified wines also. We spent sometime speculating about what it could be. Before we plunged into the unknown wine, we decided to run a quick Google search to find out what we were getting into.
A wine that is fortified has a distilled alcohol added to it, usually brandy. The alcohol is added before the end of the fermentation process which kills the yeast and leaves the sugar. And voila you are left with a sweet dessert wine.
Upon this discovery, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. I am not that crazy about dessert wine and the the atmosphere wasn't really really calling for a dessert wine, but in the name of the blog I tried it.
It was a beautiful deep maroon and I loved the tears of wine a.k.a the wine legs a.k.a the church curtains a.k.a the the way the wine coats the glass. All wines will do this but a dessert wine does it best.
In the end, the fortified wine had a really nice rich fruity taste but after about an ounce I was happy to switch to some homemade Gewurztraminer. It may not have the legs, but the lower sugar content won't leave in me tears the next morning.
Tears of Wine
Unfortunately my wine knowledge up to this point does not include fortified wine. And even more unfortunate was the fact that my host had little experience with fortified wines also. We spent sometime speculating about what it could be. Before we plunged into the unknown wine, we decided to run a quick Google search to find out what we were getting into.
A wine that is fortified has a distilled alcohol added to it, usually brandy. The alcohol is added before the end of the fermentation process which kills the yeast and leaves the sugar. And voila you are left with a sweet dessert wine.
Upon this discovery, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. I am not that crazy about dessert wine and the the atmosphere wasn't really really calling for a dessert wine, but in the name of the blog I tried it.
It was a beautiful deep maroon and I loved the tears of wine a.k.a the wine legs a.k.a the church curtains a.k.a the the way the wine coats the glass. All wines will do this but a dessert wine does it best.
In the end, the fortified wine had a really nice rich fruity taste but after about an ounce I was happy to switch to some homemade Gewurztraminer. It may not have the legs, but the lower sugar content won't leave in me tears the next morning.
Tears of Wine
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Fuzion Time
It's Saturday night, I am poor student and I want a glass of wine. That means it is Fuzion time. For those of you who don't know about this wine, which made it's first appearance at the LCBO in the summer of 2008, take $7.45 and buy a bottle. That's right, $7.45. As the economy crashed this Argentinian wine made it's appearance. It soon became the hot wine of 2008 as it flew off the shelves quicker than LCBO could restock them.
Because I am not a wine snob, I believe that you can get a decent bottle of wine for a good price. This is a decent wine, if you don't believe me just Google Fuzion and read the many articles about it. Billy's Best Bottles by Billy Munnelly describes the Shiraz-Malbec as "smooth, soft, with spicy sweet vanilla flavours. A knock-off of Aussie Shiraz!"
On Saturday, we had the Shiraz-Malbec and the Chenin Blanc. I preferred the red, but as we have learned that may of been due to the mood I was in. I find the Shiraz-Malbec to be very smooth. From my research, Malbecs are very "fruit forward" and I have to say with the Fuzion I can taste the fruit! Woohoo! My my palate has become more refined! I have also learned that Shiraz is more peppery. I may have missed the pepper in this wine...
Overall I had a great night with Fuzion. I got to have a cheap and tasty glass of wine and a night dancing. And let me tell you I was dancin'! What more does a girl need to love life?
Here is a list of other wines that won't hurt the wallet. I have not tried all of them, but I do see a challenge coming on...
WHITE
1. Cantina Tollo Rocca Ventosa Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2007 (Italy), $7.80
2. Dopff & Irion Crystal d'Alsace Sylvaner 2006 (France), $12.45
3. Jacques & Francois Lurton Les Fumées Blanches 2007 (France), $11.45
4. Leaping Horse Chardonnay 2007 (California), $12.30 in Ontario
5. Peninsula Ridge Inox Chardonnay 2007 (Ontario), $12.95
RED
1. Gabbiano Chianti (Italy), $13.95
2. KWV Roodeberg (South Africa), $13
3. Marcus James Malbec 2007 (Argentina), $9.25
4. Strewn Rogues Lot Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Ontario), $12.95
Because I am not a wine snob, I believe that you can get a decent bottle of wine for a good price. This is a decent wine, if you don't believe me just Google Fuzion and read the many articles about it. Billy's Best Bottles by Billy Munnelly describes the Shiraz-Malbec as "smooth, soft, with spicy sweet vanilla flavours. A knock-off of Aussie Shiraz!"
On Saturday, we had the Shiraz-Malbec and the Chenin Blanc. I preferred the red, but as we have learned that may of been due to the mood I was in. I find the Shiraz-Malbec to be very smooth. From my research, Malbecs are very "fruit forward" and I have to say with the Fuzion I can taste the fruit! Woohoo! My my palate has become more refined! I have also learned that Shiraz is more peppery. I may have missed the pepper in this wine...
Overall I had a great night with Fuzion. I got to have a cheap and tasty glass of wine and a night dancing. And let me tell you I was dancin'! What more does a girl need to love life?
Here is a list of other wines that won't hurt the wallet. I have not tried all of them, but I do see a challenge coming on...
WHITE
1. Cantina Tollo Rocca Ventosa Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2007 (Italy), $7.80
2. Dopff & Irion Crystal d'Alsace Sylvaner 2006 (France), $12.45
3. Jacques & Francois Lurton Les Fumées Blanches 2007 (France), $11.45
4. Leaping Horse Chardonnay 2007 (California), $12.30 in Ontario
5. Peninsula Ridge Inox Chardonnay 2007 (Ontario), $12.95
RED
1. Gabbiano Chianti (Italy), $13.95
2. KWV Roodeberg (South Africa), $13
3. Marcus James Malbec 2007 (Argentina), $9.25
4. Strewn Rogues Lot Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Ontario), $12.95
Monday, February 15, 2010
Valentine's Day...By the Numbers
Stats Canada offers a fun breakdown of holidays by the numbers . Here is what they had to say about Wine on Valentine's Day...By the Numbers.
A glass of wine
$5.4 billion — The value of wines sold by wineries, liquor stores and agencies in Canada in 2007/2008, up 7.3% from the previous year.
425.3 million litres — The volume of wine sold at wineries, liquor stores and agencies in Canada in 2007/2008, a 4.9% increase. The growth in sales of imported wine was more than twice the growth of domestic wine sales.
62% — The proportion of the volume of sales of red wine (including rosé wines) relative to white wines sold in Canada. Three-quarters of all red wines sold in Canada were from other countries, compared with just over 62% of white wines.
15.0 litres — The per capita consumption of wine in Canada in 2008. This represents 20 bottles (750 ml) per person aged 15 and over in Canada!
$312 million — The value of sales of sparkling wines in Canada in 2008. Canadian products made up less than a quarter of this amount.
18.6 million litres — The volume of sparkling wines sold in Canada in 2008
I can't wait to see the look on people's faces when I bust out these new fun facts: "Did you know that three-quarters of all red wine sold in Canada is from other countries? That is really a shame when we have some great red wines from the Niagara Region." Oh yeah, one more pretentious wine fact to wow people with.
Anything here surprise you? Let me know what you think and share you Valentine's Day wine stories!
A glass of wine
$5.4 billion — The value of wines sold by wineries, liquor stores and agencies in Canada in 2007/2008, up 7.3% from the previous year.
425.3 million litres — The volume of wine sold at wineries, liquor stores and agencies in Canada in 2007/2008, a 4.9% increase. The growth in sales of imported wine was more than twice the growth of domestic wine sales.
62% — The proportion of the volume of sales of red wine (including rosé wines) relative to white wines sold in Canada. Three-quarters of all red wines sold in Canada were from other countries, compared with just over 62% of white wines.
15.0 litres — The per capita consumption of wine in Canada in 2008. This represents 20 bottles (750 ml) per person aged 15 and over in Canada!
$312 million — The value of sales of sparkling wines in Canada in 2008. Canadian products made up less than a quarter of this amount.
18.6 million litres — The volume of sparkling wines sold in Canada in 2008
I can't wait to see the look on people's faces when I bust out these new fun facts: "Did you know that three-quarters of all red wine sold in Canada is from other countries? That is really a shame when we have some great red wines from the Niagara Region." Oh yeah, one more pretentious wine fact to wow people with.
Anything here surprise you? Let me know what you think and share you Valentine's Day wine stories!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
For Valentine's Day
This has nothing to do with my quest to be pretentious. Just a Valentine's Day video from my favourite blog.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Drinking for Charity
We jived the 50's away. We twisted through the 60's. We discoed like no others in the 70's. We moonwalked across the 80's. We head banged like Axel in the 90's. It was a busy night for my friends and me. On Saturday night we took part in Niagara College's Dance the Night Away. An event that was put on by the Event Management students to benefit the Many Hands Project.
One of my favourite activities is “drinking for charity”. Helping other while dancing and drinking wine, is a good night in my book any day. Upon arriving at Club Italia I bought my drink tickets and pondered the wine choices. My options included an Italian Merlot or Chardonnay or a Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot gris. I work at Club Italia and from experience know I don't really like the Italian wines. They are ... too old (meaning dry, bitter and a little boring). Also, we live in a region that makes great wine and should support this industry. Earlier in the night I had a vodka tonic, so logic told me I should have a Pinot gris.
I really enjoy Pinot gris. It's light and fun and doesn't take it's self too seriously. From what I have learned it is a wine that should be drank young. None of this sitting in a cellar for years waiting for it to get better. In case your wondering, if you buy a bottle of Pinot grigio it's the Italian form of Pinot gris. Add that to your list of “pretentious knowledge”.
If you have an event where I can "drink for charity", drop me a line and I will be there to support your cause!
One of my favourite activities is “drinking for charity”. Helping other while dancing and drinking wine, is a good night in my book any day. Upon arriving at Club Italia I bought my drink tickets and pondered the wine choices. My options included an Italian Merlot or Chardonnay or a Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot gris. I work at Club Italia and from experience know I don't really like the Italian wines. They are ... too old (meaning dry, bitter and a little boring). Also, we live in a region that makes great wine and should support this industry. Earlier in the night I had a vodka tonic, so logic told me I should have a Pinot gris.
I really enjoy Pinot gris. It's light and fun and doesn't take it's self too seriously. From what I have learned it is a wine that should be drank young. None of this sitting in a cellar for years waiting for it to get better. In case your wondering, if you buy a bottle of Pinot grigio it's the Italian form of Pinot gris. Add that to your list of “pretentious knowledge”.
If you have an event where I can "drink for charity", drop me a line and I will be there to support your cause!
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