i've been busy

I've been busy celebrating four year olds and spending time with family and sitting on airport runways waiting for ice to melt, sigh - 'tis the way of our immediate future. I have been drinking however! Nita and I launched our new blog. It's a podcast thing. If you have time some day, give us a listen, or you can find us at www.imbibery.blogspot.com. It's the kind of thing you can have going in the background while you do the dishes, or prep dinner, hence it's not demanding listening. We'll be drinking wine, talking about it, pairing it with some food and, of course, drinking along the way.

weekend wine buy: megalomaniac homegrown riesling

A little homegrown for the weekend. Dave discovered this bottle - he's a lover of white wine - and we've had quite a few bottles since. Don't let the name put you off (I'm pretty sure it's meant to be sarcastic); the wine is very approachable. The label is actually meant as a tongue-in-cheek poke at those Cellared in Canada wines.

Megalomaniac is the 'retirement' project of John Howard and if you get to Niagara sometime, I reccomend a visit to the John Howard Cellars. Aside from the obvious reason to go there - the wine - the view is incredible and the cellar is a lovely space.

A portion of all wine sales goes to the Kids' Health Link Foundation.

In the glass: green apple and sweet grapefruit with a gentle nudge of something floral; a not quite light wine with a little body to it but a crisp, juiciness on the finish. At first I thought this must be a Riesling with a little something else blended into it, and sure enough there's a touch of Riesling icewine in the bottle. It's nice, and interesting, and quite easy to sip. Perfect for this time of year as a starting place for dinner parties. This would pair nicely with appetizers ($12.95).

Riesling's native home is along the banks of the Mosel and Rhine rivers in Germany, but the grape has a happy home in Niagara soil. The cool climate we have is conducive to the crisp acidity that makes drinking a Riesling so enjoyable.

nudity and short stories and celebratory wine

In September, on my birthday actually, I submitted a short story to a contest that was being held by Naked Girls Reading, a Michelle L'Amour project. I then promptly forgot about the contest, because that's much healthier than obsessing and, well, I don't actually ever assume I'll win these things. And in fact I didn't win that thing, in a manner of speaking.  Patty Templeton won for her short story "The Two Annies of Windale Road". If you hit up her blog you can find a nice write-up on Michelle L'Amour as well as some more of Patty's wittiness. Much to my excitement though, I discovered that my short story made it alongside four other finalists and was read, out loud, in a room full of people, by a gorgeous naked woman!!! Now how exciting is that? I have never read any of my fiction out loud to anyone, so for a first airing of my prose, I consider this the absolute tops. My only regret is that I couldn't be there to experience it first-hand.

I will be running directly to the liquor store today to get something appropriate with which to celebrate. By all rights I should drink it naked I suppose (hmmmm naked girls drinking, oh that could just get messy).

Thank you Naked Girls Reading. You made my year!!!

There are excerpts of the finalists' stories here:
http://nakedgirlsreadingblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/literary-honors-excerpts/

wine and the vegetarian meal

I have friends. Yes. I do. Some of them can't eat nuts, some of them are celiacs, some of them are allergic to fish, and some of them are vegetarians. I love to cook for them all. Having a culinary challenge can be a blessing; having restrictions forces creativity.

I recently had friends who don't eat meat for dinner, so while creating a vegetarian meal isn't all that difficult, I turned my efforts to wine pairings with the meal. Sometimes pairing wine with vegetarian food can be a challenge, especially if you are a fan of big, red wine. The lack of animal fat - unless you are incorporating cheese - can create texture challenges, and often there are more sugars and spices in vegetarian fare making the meal somewhat complex.

For a red wine pairing try vegetables that have been puréed to play up their creamy side, or roast them to get more texture into the meal. Sides like polenta, risotto, and pasta have a silkiness that pairs with fuller-bodied wines, and some vegetables are just naturally creamy like avocado and eggplant. Be careful of big tannic wines, especially around legumes which can have a gritty effect in the mouth. I stewed onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms in red wine (to accentuate the red wine side of things), and scooped that over meatless polpettes. Remember, if your meal is overly-complicated with spices to keep the wine simple, like an uncomplicated Merlot, or a fruity Shiraz.

Here are a few combinations to try:

Chardonnay and Corn
Syrah and Roasted root vegetables
Pinot Noir and Beets
Sparkling wine and Eggs
Sauvignon Blanc and Asparagus
Sangiovese and Tomato

weekend wine buy: wayne gretzky merlot

I'm on the hunt for fuller-bodied red wine from Ontario after a recent conversation with friends about Ontario reds - more details on that at a later date. So here's something to sip on this weekend - from the great one. I'm not much of a hockey fan (I had to check the spelling of Gretzky) but I try not to be a snob about these things, and I think I remember Rachelle saying she tried this, and liked it.

In the glass: this isn't just a straight-up fruity Merlot; there's a little complexity to this wine. Sure it's fruity: cherry, blackberry, plum, but it's got a definite earthiness to it - that I quite like - mingled in with some tobacco and floral notes. Medum-bodied on the palate with some soft tannins and a big fruity finish ($15.75).

How do you feel about buying wine with a famous person's name attached to it?

newsy things

I recently received a notice that The Foreign Affair Winery is hosting a tasting with a meal at Divino Wine Studio on November 24th. I LOVE these wines and unfortunately will be out of town that week, but if you are available, here's what's going to be offered - considering the quality of the wines and the delish food at Divino, this is a great deal at $105 including gratuities and tip.

Riesling 2008
Baby arugula topped with prosciutto wrapped pears, Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings, honey lavender vinaigrette

Chardonnay 2008
Oven roasted pumpkin risotto with Taleggio cheese and topped with toasted walnuts

Conspiracy 2008
Deconstructed eggplant ratatouille layered with local goat cheese and fire roasted tomato sauce

Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Beef shortrib & oxtail duo braised in an aromatic tomato and red wine sauce on a bed of seasonal root vegetables

Cabernet Franc 2007
Piatto di Formaggi-An assortment of Italian DOP cheeses, dried fruits, toasted nuts, honey and crostini

Dolce
Rich Dark Chocolate Tart with red wine poached cranberries and candied fleur de sel pecans

Wednesday, November 24th from 6:30 - 9:30. For information and reservations call 613-221-9760 ext 30 or email: bookings@divinowinestudio.com

In keeping with good Ontario wine:

Last Sunday, at the Ottawa Wine and Food Show, I tried a few sips of Colaneri's Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer. This is their first vintage - they've been growing and supplying grapes to winemakers for years - and my first thought was that this is a great start. They don't have any offerings at the LCBO, yet.

And if you're looking for some food to go with that wine:

Marysol, from She Eats Bears has just opened a lovely little café in Hull: 60 rue Bégin. It's across the river, but a short drive and worth the trip. I did have a little nibble the other day and brought home some great frozen pizza dough, but if you are interested in further accolades, I couldn't say it any better than has already been said:

Rachelle Eats Food
Eva's Food World
The Twisted Chef

Now, if we could just get her to start serving wine.

grill 41

Last week I sipped and nibbled my way through some offerings at the recently opened restaurant in the Lord Elgin Hotel, Grill 41, named for the year that the hotel was built.

The food on offer was great: roast beef; chowder; an array of cheese; fried macaroni and cheese croquettes that were oh - my - good; scallops; gnocchi... I'm getting that full feeling just writing about it. What I was really interested in though, was the wine, and looking around I saw things like this:

and this:

What's not to like? I started with a glass of Prosecco, moved on to a Pinot Grigio, and then a glass of lightly oaked Chardonnay after which I finished up with a warming glass of Syrah from the south of Italy, and by then it was time to toddle off home. Needless to say, there was a nice array of wines offered and I'm happy to report a showing of Ontario wines. I particularly liked the Chardonnay which was from Peller Estates. I'm looking forward to going back and having some time to peruse their wine list in more detail. Stay tuned...

weekend wine buy: argento pinot grigio

Change. We all handle it differently. Some of us embrace it, some of us are instilled with fear at the mention of the word. I had a boyfriend once who became so distressed over me constantly moving the furniture that he began to nail pieces to the floor. I guess it's safe to say I was better at change than he was. Back then anyway. I like to think I'm still pretty good at going with the flow - which might be why I've chosen to live in a house in constant renovation mode - but what happens when you have been living in the same house, surrounded by the same things for thirty-five years and then you decide it's time for change? We're moving Jack from his long-time home into a smaller, closer-to-us space tomorrow. It has me thinking about presence of mind. Changing views after so many years could be refreshing, or it could be distressing, I think it all depends, in part, upon being comfortable with the here and now.

In a way, wine is about being in the moment. Few things translate a time and a place so immediately. A layering of time culminates when someone puts a glass to their lips; savouring the aesthetic experience of a mouthful of wine is practice for learning to be in the moment.

This particular bottle will be a great wine to feed a group of people. It's very easy-going and after a day of moving boxes it will be refreshing and thirst-quenching. Thanks Bethany for pointing me to it.

In the glass: a luscious frutiness on the nose with red apple, apricot and pineapple; supple and full on the palate with a flash of grapefruit all perked up by some acidity on the finish. This wine has some body to it which makes it easy drinking ($9.95).

ottawa wine and food show

I wasn't going to go. I really wasn't. I was interested in Rod Phillip's presentation on wine through the ages, but I couldn't bring myself to go to the Show on Saturday. Last year was the first time I had been to the Ottawa Wine and Food Show and I made the mistake of going mid-afternoon on Saturday. I couldn't believe how crowded, and hot, and perfumy the place was. All I could do was stand close to a wall and gasp for air. Sorry. I must be getting old, or fussy, or something. I mean, I am THRILLED that so many people are so enthusiastic about wine in this lovely city of ours, but I just don't want to be tasting wine with ALL of them at the SAME time in the SAME room.

How was it then that on Sunday at noon, there I was swirling and sniffing along with the best of them? Well, I'm easily persuaded when it comes to wine. Friends suggested a quick run-around and 'what harm could it bring,' I thought? I could always leave if things got crazy. Oh how happy I am that I was a brave drinker and gave it a try. The crowd was completely manageable, and I had a few tasting highlights that were worth the effort! Like the wines of Long Island, New York. Halleluja!

Robert Ketchin, the Trade Representative for the New York Wine & Grape Foundation took me for a little talk and a tour through the reds. My first impression of these wines was that they are very versatile. By that I mean they are in the medium-bodied range with nice depth of flavour, but not overly alcoholic or powerful, so I'd be happy having a sip on a Saturday night, or pairing a bottle with a meal. Long Island is just south of Manhattan and juts out into the Atlantic. The vines grow on an ancient raised seabed; this imparts a slightly salty component to the wines. That probably doesn't sound too appealing, right? Who likes salt in their wine? There's nothing wrong with a little salinity in your glass, in fact many Italian wines have this quality to them. It makes them very food friendly and I find it adds a nice dimension to the wine. Merlot is the dominant red grape growing on Long Island right  now and a few of these wines were showing the ability to age a few years. If I remember correctly the LCBO was going to taste these while they were in town, so we might see them in the future, and for those of us who are planning a trip to New York over the holidays, well... we know what we'll be drinking when we get there.

A sip from this bottle from Sonoma made me very happy as well.

A little heady for a Pinot Noir, but that's a nice thing if you like a smooth, supple, fruity wine. It's readily available at the LCBO for $24.95 and I'm going out to get some for Christmas entertaining.

So, here's a note for next year for those of us who are too old, or too mellow, or too grouchy? to deal with the masses: I know for sure there is a window of opportunity to hit that Show early on Sunday and not feel rushed, or crowded.

wine and chocolate

One spooooky night, not so long ago, I opened the door to find a little princess dressed all in pink and lavender frills. She looked up at me from behind her large brown eyes, her tiara perched atop fluffy blond hair, and with confidence announced the obligatory 'trick or treat'. Then with a quick little inhale and barely just under her breath - as though she dared to hope - she followed up with: 'I like chocolate things'. For an instant, as her words hovered in the air between us, we were connected, this little princess and me. 'Me too' I said, and then handed her three chocolate bars from the wooden bowl. And just to be sure she understood: 'they are all chocolate' I assured her. She thanked me ever so sweetly and was off into the night, her mother trailing at a safe distance.

Chocolate, I know one person who doesn't like chocolate - go figure - but I'm pretty sure the whole rest of the world loves chocolate. My friend Lisa likes chocolate, so when we made a dinner date, I pulled out a trusty recipe for a simple chocolate cake - thank you Chocolate and Zucchini - and that was dessert. Choosing a wine was a little more complex. Chocolate isn't so easy to match with wine. It's a bit like cheese: the texture, quality and style can vary widely. And it's usually sweet, so it needs a wine that won't fall flat after a mouthful of sugar. I took the safe route and opened a bottle of port. Rich, and full, and fruity with a little mocha quality to it, this makes a great match for desserts, and chocolate.

I always have a bottle of this in the house. Sometimes on a dark winter's night it's just the thing, and it's a deal at $17.75.

Le Fondant au Chocolate de Tante Amélie
from Chocolate & Zucchini

3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
5 3/4 ounces dark chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup flour

-Line a round cake pan (9 or 10 inch) with parchment
-Combine the sugar, water, chcolate, and butter and simmer on low until melted and the sugar is dissolved
-Let cool for 5 minutes
-Whisk the eggs into the melted chocolate
-Add the flour and whisk until well combined
-Pour into cake pan
-Bake in a bain-marie at 350F for about 30-35 minutes
-Allow it to cool and top with whatever you like: jam, sprinkled sugar, caramel, nuts.

Note: A bain-marie is just a hot water bath. I use a large roasting pan. Once the batter is in the cake pan, I put the cake pan in the larger roasting pan and then fill the roasting pan with water until it reaches near the top of the cake pan, then pop it the oven.

weekend wine buy: wild horse canyon shiraz

Sometimes a bottle of wine can be a girl's best friend. You know, when you are alone in the house, and it's chilly and dark outside, and there's really nothing to do but curl up on the couch, give in to the mid-week, work-day blues, crawl into your favourite stretchy clothing, and warm up the deep-fryer (yes that's right, we get the deep-fryer out about twice a year and when we do we fry up everything in sight for a few days and then we are done with it for another six months). It's on nights like these that a bottle of wine is just what's needed for company.

The Wild Horse Canyon people have labelled this bottle as being from the West Coast Appellation. I'm not sure if that's a real appellation, or if they've just coined a phrase, but the grapes for the wine do indeed come from British Columbia, Washington and California. I found it on the VQA shelves in the LCBO and didn't realize it wasn't a Canadian wine until I got it home (sometimes I shop with my eyes closed, just to make things interesting). Who knows how many BC grapes are in that bottle, but the label isn't trying to hide anything, so you've got to give it to them for being creative. For the price, it's not a bad drink if you don't mind a bit of oak in your wine.

In the glass: dark and plummy with some definite overtones of oak; bitter chocolate and liquorice round out a smooth-sweet (oaky) finish ($12.95).

I had it with fried potatoes - not recommended, although not terrible - all the ketchup threw it off. I've been thinking of vegetarian food and cheese courses lately and this might be a good red wine for some cheese.

Those west coast folks, they like to do things in their own way. Think of it as like having a cowboy in your glass.

sun, ocean, mountain, grape

From the sun comes the energy to produce fruit; from the ocean comes cooling breezes and fog to retain acidity in the fruit; from the mountains comes a variety of growing sites with which to experiment; from the earth comes nutrients and characteristics that impart goodness and flavour to the fruit, put it all together with a little human intervention, and we get wine as it is made in Sonoma. Ta da! Nature, that was the topic of Sonoma In The City, a recent lecture and tasting of wines from the Californian region where I learned that the varied topography, in many ways, defines the wines of Sonoma.

It‘s been weeks since I’ve been to this tasting. I’ve been lazy. I sat on the couch all afternoon on Saturday instead of working at my computer, and this morning I slept in until eight o’clock. Maybe it’s the changing light, but whatever the reason I’m not fighting it. The memories of these wines however, hasn’t faded. I’m not the world’s fussiest wine drinker, but I can tell you that they were all great. Hand-chosen by the Sonoma County Vintner’s Association each for their unique attributes: one is organic; one comes from a winery with a long-standing history in the region; one is a lesser-known grape made in a unique way; one is from a small production winery, these wines are no doubt a fine cross-section of what is possible in Sonoma.

Most of what was featured during the lecture is currently not available at the LCBO except a few bottles from both Rodney Strong Wine Estates, and Landmark Vineyards. If however, you ever get the chance to try a Viognier made by Thomas George Estates, or a sparkler from Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, say YES. Bethany has a few tasting notes on her blog if you are interested in some of the individual wines.