On June 20th I attended a Vinho Verde trade event in Toronto which was organized by Vinho Verde. Vinho Verde is a wine region in beautiful Northern Portugal perhaps best known for its crisp white wine. As far as trade shows for wine the venue was great but were there some opportunities missed? Given myContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine and Travel: Vinho Verde’s Missed Opportunity?”
Category Archives: Food
RKS 2023 Wine: A Douro White: Três Bagos
We see very little white wine from Portugal’s Douro region here in Toronto. Red is king there but it is not a quality issue. Could it be “the curse of the high reputational wine”. As far as table wines go the Douro produces the highest quality reds so has that frightened off wine drinkers fromContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: A Douro White: Três Bagos”
RKS 2023 Wine: Paringa Estate 2019 Mornington Peninsula Shiraz: An Affordable Côtes-Rôtie?
When I saw the Paringa Estate 2019 Mornington Peninsula Shiraz having just under 5% Viognier added to it I thought perhaps it might be somewhat similar to a Côte-Rôtie of the Northern Rhône in France where Viognier is added to the Shiraz in very small quantities. Côte-Rôtie is very dear in price. I have twoContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Paringa Estate 2019 Mornington Peninsula Shiraz: An Affordable Côtes-Rôtie?”
RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong
Is there an offensive launched by Portugal’s Alentejo region these days in Ontario? Is the Douro taking it on the chin? Alentejano reds completely outnumber whites and while they may utilize mostly indigenous grapes the Alicante Bouschet grape features predominantly in the red blends. Alicante Bouschet is a cross of Grenache and Petit Bouschet crossedContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong”
RKS 2023 Wine: Simple Vin de France Chardonnay with a Viognier Twist
This Novellum 2021 Chardonnay has an intriguing twist to it. Although 100% Chardonnay it has been aged on Viognier lees with a small proportion of oak ageing. You might want to think of lees as spent yeast cells sort of a goopy gook? Viognier is vastly different than Chardonnay being more perfumed and full ofContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Simple Vin de France Chardonnay with a Viognier Twist”
RKS 2023 Wine: Greek Assyrtiko from the Peloponnese
It is thought by many the top of the Greek Assyrtiko pyramid is the island of Santorini. But the price of Santorini Assyrtiko is beyond the budget of many. So we scale down the pyramid to an Assyrtiko from the Peloponnese. Aroma: Citrus, guava with a tiny streak of pineapple. Palate: Lemon, lemon curdContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Greek Assyrtiko from the Peloponnese”
RKS Tea Meister: Hysson Green Tea from Gorreana in the Portuguese Azores
I attended “Wine and Travel Week” in Porto, Portugal in February. The takeaway was that wine is only a gateway into tourism. Yes wine and wineries are a great attraction for many but broaden that experience to include, gastronomy and local cultural sights and you have “wine tourism”. This is the reason so many wineriesContinue reading “RKS Tea Meister: Hysson Green Tea from Gorreana in the Portuguese Azores”
RKS 2023 Wine: In Pedigree far Above the Roadside Wine in Tuscany
It has been over 15 years that I was last in Tuscany and staying some 20 minutes from Montepulciano a visit there was mandatory. A beautiful medieval town with stunning views of farmlands below and the Val D’Orcia. On the road there we discovered a cantina with two huge barrels inside with local wine. OneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: In Pedigree far Above the Roadside Wine in Tuscany”
RKS 2023 Wine: Italian Merlot Could be the Change You Need!
It is not frequently we encounter Italian Merlot as a single varietal in Canada. So we have a chance now with a somewhat unique Terre Magre Merlot from Friuli. Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry and cola with some intensity. Palate: A robust aroma for a wine does not always equate with a robust wine! Not muchContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Italian Merlot Could be the Change You Need!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Biodiversity Organic Wine: Confessions of a Rat!
Here we have an organic red blend from the Maipo Valley in Chile consisting of 58% Carmenère, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has aged a year in French oak barrels. Aroma: Raspberry, blueberry, blackberries and root beer. I can detect some acidity on the nose hoping it will beContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Biodiversity Organic Wine: Confessions of a Rat!”
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