GIVEAWAY: Unforgettable Niagara-on-the-Lake

Savvy Company is at it again, this time with One Unforgettable Taste and Buy, May 28, at the newly renovated and re-launched Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum.

This is a not-to-be-missed event featuring some of my favourite Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries like Colaneri, Lailey Vineyards, Palatine Hills, Pondview and many more. Savour, sip and shop, all in one place!

I have TWO tickets to give away for this stellar evening. Post a comment below with your name and email address; random draw will be held this Saturday, May 25.

Good luck!

Wine Wednesday: So tasty I lost track

The slogan is "Charitable Giving Never Tasted Better" and I tell ya, the organizers and participants of Bon Appetit have nailed it.

The bash was held once again in the spacious and well-organized Ernst & Young Centre (formerly the CE Centre in 2012; will they have another name change for the 2014 edition of the show? We shall see.) And once again I enjoyed FAHbulous company with one of my favourite wineaux/foodie/supermoms, who, like me, saw this as not only a fun (and most definitely well-deserved) night out, but a mission to discover the next new, tasty morsels Ottawa could offer.

(Clockwise, from top left: Grayson McDiarmid, the sommelier-turned-soda-jerk of Harvey and Verns; Spearhead Brewery; a plateful of yum from Lunch, the Flour Shoppe, Stone Soup Foodworks and Muskoka Brewery; Rosewood Winery & Meadery; more yum from Sala San Marco)

#janeswine: Australia

Tonight I joined a few of my fellow Algonquin sommelier grads for a tasting of Australian wines at Jane's house. I dubbed it #janeswine on Twitter, a wineau-inspired version of #janeswalk, which had been taking place all over North America over the weekend.

(Jane's Walk is a series of free guided walking tours designed to increase the average citizen's understanding of, and appreciation for, the architecture, art and cohesive living environment of their own neighbourhoods. Me and the girls opted to enrich our understanding of, and appreciation for, our favourite vinous libations instead. But I think next year I will don the runners for one of the local Jane's Walks and explore what is, I'm sure, an eye-opening side of Ottawa.)

Back to the tasting.

Wordless Wine Wednesday: #indulgePEC redux

In between March's #indulgePEC and an upcoming jaunt to the County in May, I couldn't resist the opportunity to 'visit' with some of my favourite winery folks last week at Savvy Company's sold-out County in the City event. Many thanks to Debbie and her Savvy team for a great night out!

A few fine samples from Savvy Company's second annual County in the City
April 18, 2013 - National Arts Centre - Ottawa, Ontario

West Coast sippin'

The annual California Wine Fair was back in town again this past week. This time around, I actually stuck to a plan (and was very responsible with my tasting, thank you very much—had to drive, after all. Now, if I could just figure out how to do a clean spit into the bucket, I might save a few shirts ... and my dignity ...)

Loads of good things (and new things) to try at this year's show:

Schramsberg 2009 Blanc de Noirs (North Coast) - Pale orange-salmon colour; light strawberry notes with a soft mousse and a tangy, tart finish.

Ca'Momi NV Ca Secco - A bit of bubbly done with an intriguing blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, muscat, riesling and gewurz. The aromas burst forth with hothouse florals in full bloom, but the palate is pleasantly light and airy, with a smidge of residual sugar evaporating on a cropped finish. Big fan of the label, too (photo at left).

Primal Roots 2011 White Blend - Expect this one out on the LCBO's general listing sometime this summer. Fascinating blend of colombard, viognier, riesling, gewurztraminer. Lily of the valley and orange blossom giving way to a bright citrus character that is emphasized by the wine's surprising acidity. The long finish is luxurious and perfumed. Easily my favourite white of the day.

Chalk Hill 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma) - Muted flint and grapefruit that flares up in the racy, tangy mouthfeel. Crisp, bracing citrus finish. The chardonnay was a surprise, done in a ripe Meursault style with light oak and a refined vanilla scent.

Benovia 2011 Chardonnay (Russian River) - I don't normally adhere to the premise that big ticket prices = better wines, as I've tasted my share of overpriced yet sub-par juice, but in the case of Benovia, the cost reflects outstanding quality. This wasn't a standard Cali chard overwrought with oak. It was spicy, nutty and creamy, with a firm streak of acidity and plenty of the grape's characteristic fruit showing through.

Benovia 2010 Pinot Noir (Russian River) - The pinot was all soft berry, with a bit of chalkiness to it and a slightly sour cherry finish. It wasn't an overly fruity pinot, certainly not in the typical California-style, and showed the delicate balance of a wine that's been handled with remarkable care.

Dreaming Tree 2010 Crush Red Blend (North Coast; L310391 $16.95) Dreaming Tree is the collaborative efforts of musician Dave Matthews (yes, that Dave Matthews) and winemaker Steve Reeder. With a moderate-to-high alcohol content, this blend of merlot and zinfandel ain't no slouch. Juicy-sweet raspberry, round tannins and easy drinkability. Think of this as a go-to BBQ wine for burgers, steaks and such.

Carol Shelton NV Black Magic Late Harvest Zinfandel (Sonoma County) - For a heavy-hitter dessert wine without resorting to port, pull a bottle of this out. From vines planted in 1918, this long-hanging blend of zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon is all about black-and-blueberries on the nose, heavy on the alcohol and full of raspberry jam, chocolate and the brûléed part of that famed creamy dessert.

Family Circus in Montréal

Remember them? Billy, Dolly, Jeffy and PJ? My mum had a Family Circus treasury all about them on vacation. The cover had been torn off and the dog-eared pages were slowly disintegrating from many readings, mostly of my doing. I was too young to get some of the more grown-up humour, but there were a few visual puns that had me giggling because they were oh-so-true. Like this one: