Robert K. Stephen Wine reviews – Page 7 – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS Wine: Drink Chile Toronto 2022: Where is Chile Heading?

After an almost three-year hiatus from in person wine exhibitions it was to Drink Chile 2022 Toronto at the Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto. I was in with the media at 1-4 and the general public followed from 6:30-9:00. It was sponsored by Wines of Chile and Prochile. So where does Chile think it isContinue reading “RKS Wine: Drink Chile Toronto 2022: Where is Chile Heading?”

RKS Wine: Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery’s “House of Nations”

Located in St Davids Ontario just a wee bit up from the corner of Four Mile Creek Road and York Road lies Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery. The tasting room is located in an historic building known locally as the House of Nations and officially as Woodruff House. It was originally built by David Secord inContinue reading “RKS Wine: Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery’s “House of Nations””

RKS Wine: Is Gamay on the Comeback Trail in Ontario?

Gamay was hot a decade ago in Ontario full of promise and hope but as “fads” go they can fade. Gamay seemed to fade but in the past few years it would appear to be gaining steam. Cave Spring Vineyards is well known internationally for its Rieslings that receive generous ratings in the Wine SpectatorContinue reading “RKS Wine: Is Gamay on the Comeback Trail in Ontario?”

RKS Wine: Niagara Red Blends: Nyarai Cellars Soars Above the Mundane

In Niagara to review an inn and some restaurants this month I managed to speak with a few people in the wine trade and it was empowering to hear they agreed with a fundamental point I have with Niagara red blends. In Niagara Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are almost best retired as incapable of makingContinue reading “RKS Wine: Niagara Red Blends: Nyarai Cellars Soars Above the Mundane”

RKS Wine: Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer 2020 Grand Réserve

Many will say Alsace vints the best Gewurztraminer. A few years ago I may have agreed with that statement until I tried Gewurztraminer from Mayhem Wines and Meyer Family Vineyards in British Columbia’s Okanagan. The trouble is that the British Columbia wines are small batch hence reach a small audience. Pierre Sparr is a bigContinue reading “RKS Wine: Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer 2020 Grand Réserve”

RKS Wine: Tirana Tigress and Penniless Pensioner Back in Toronto

After hoodwinking the Russians in Operation Payback Lola Frieberg aka Tirana Tigress and the Penniless Pensioner wisely decided to head back to PP’s home in Toronto a luxurious penthouse The Lonsdale on Avenue Road with a huge wrap around balcony and a view of the campus of Upper Canada College. If the Russians ever gotContinue reading “RKS Wine: Tirana Tigress and Penniless Pensioner Back in Toronto”

RKS Wine: Not a Corporate Lawyer, Accountant, Neurosurgeon, Corporate Executive, Overpaid Professional Athlete or Cardiologist? Welcome to Delicious Brutality!

If you are not a “hot shot” it is certainly possible to discover a quality wine at a proletarian price. I mean my friend the Penniless Pensioner would guzzle Chateau Latour with his Boulud Burger in Manhattan and think nothing of paying $1500 as “chump change” for a bottle of Bordeaux First Growth. With aContinue reading “RKS Wine: Not a Corporate Lawyer, Accountant, Neurosurgeon, Corporate Executive, Overpaid Professional Athlete or Cardiologist? Welcome to Delicious Brutality!”

RKS Wine: Listening to Customers: Canada Pricing Itself Out?

A couple of months ago at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario I encountered two gentleman shopping for a backyard wedding reception. They asked me what might go with the salmon which was one of the foods for the backyard wedding barbeque. Earlier in the year I had received some samples from a BC wineryContinue reading “RKS Wine: Listening to Customers: Canada Pricing Itself Out?”

RKS Wine: A Tidal Wave of Price Increases for Wine: Chile Remaining Affordable

If you have seen the latest Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s October 22 Vintages release catalogue you may say WTF has just happened! Prices are obscene. This makes the wines of Chile most compelling from a price and quality perspective. Most Chilean wines appear to be rated by James Suckling a hero it seems toContinue reading “RKS Wine: A Tidal Wave of Price Increases for Wine: Chile Remaining Affordable”

RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner and The Iranian Drones: Operation Payback

I received yet another Skype call from the Penniless Pensioner currently residing in Tirana Albania at 4 a.m. Toronto time. The poor fellow was distraught as Lola Freiberg aka the Tirana Tigress had been arrested by the Albanian Interior Ministry police and was in the notorious Tirana Prison for Hardened Criminals. What the charges wereContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner and The Iranian Drones: Operation Payback”