I managed to snag a couple of samples courtesy of Stag’s Hollow in the Okanagan. Finding any wines from British Columbia at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is rare as finding Ontario wines at the SAQ in Quebec! The first is a 2018 Syrah from the Okanagan Valley. It has a black cherry colour.Continue reading “Stag’s Hollow from the Okanagan in British Columbia”
Category Archives: Wine
A Little Birdie Told Me“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”
Where you may wish to cry is for Argentina’s hunting down of political dissidents and their murder and disappearance between 1976-83 those days hopefully will never return to Argentina although this butchery currently exists in Iran and Myanmar. Moving on the more cheerful matters we try a Ben Marco Malbec from the Valle de UcoContinue reading “A Little Birdie Told Me“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina””
A Couple of Portuguese Reds
I had the great fortune to be invited to the Dão region of Portugal for a wine tour a few years ago. The Portuguese know very well how to arrange these tours. We lodged at a hotel in Viseu and made our forays into beautiful wine country each morning returning home in the late afternoonContinue reading “A Couple of Portuguese Reds”
Sardine Memories: Portugal’s Vinho Verde Wines and My Sardine Blues
Vinho Verde is in the Minho region just north of Opporto and actually some of the Minho juts into Spain. Vinho Verde can be made from 25 grapes or a combination of them. Traditionally these wines were so acidic you could see a slight fizz to the wine. Over the past few years they haveContinue reading “Sardine Memories: Portugal’s Vinho Verde Wines and My Sardine Blues”
Mighty Moschofilero From Greece: One of Europe’s Most Underrated White Wines
I discovered this wine several years ago while in Thessaloniki, Greece. I mention the name here and most people have never even heard of it which is a shame. It is an easy-going wine reminding me of a cross between Gewurztraminer, Viognier and a Riesling. Troupis Winery is one of its better producers so weContinue reading “Mighty Moschofilero From Greece: One of Europe’s Most Underrated White Wines”
Black Pig of Alentejo with some Alentejo Wines!
I recall purchasing a Trinco Bolotas red from the Alentejo region in Portugal a couple of years ago in a Porto supermarket on sale for about $6.00 Canadian. I took it home and kept it in the cellar for a few months to calm down its travel shock. And I purchased it here in TorontoContinue reading “Black Pig of Alentejo with some Alentejo Wines!”
Uruguayan Tannat!
Yes there are over 270 wineries and counting in Uruguay. Vines were first brought to the country by Basque immigrants. The signature grape of the country is the tannic Tannat. More Tannat is grown in Uruguay than anywhere in the world. God bless the so very adventuresome Liquor Control Board of Ontario for taking aContinue reading “Uruguayan Tannat!”
Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. South Africa
We here in Ontario are certainly familiar with Niagara’s Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay, Rosé, Gewurztraminer and Riesling all jolly well top end. How about their Pinot Noir? Having visited the winery within certain lockdown periods their Pinot Noir is good stuff! So let us get the cockfight going here with a sharp clawed Flat RockContinue reading “Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. South Africa”
Battle of The Pinot Noirs: Canada vs. The United States
We saw in the New Zealand vs. Canada fight recently there was a draw. In this corner from Pelee Island Winery in Ontario, Canada a Vinedressers 2017 Reserve Pinot Noir weighing in at 13%. On the nose a very familiar raspberry and red cherry aroma with a hint of blackberry all contained in a pureContinue reading “Battle of The Pinot Noirs: Canada vs. The United States”
Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. New Zealand
In this corner at 14% we have a contender from New Zealand from a veteran winery called Thornbury from the Central Otago region in New Zealand’s South Island. Wine fans you may know that New Zealand can be a top-quality producer of not only Sauvignon Blanc and now increasingly Pinot Noir. The nose suggests aContinue reading “Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. New Zealand”
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