Climbing Everest

This coming Sunday, November 1st, I will be climbing Everest for the 3rd time.

Not this Everest

But this Everest… Virtual Everest!

Virtual Everest is an event put off by the Arthritis Society to raise money and awareness.  And this will be by 3rd year participating.  It’s one of my favorite charitable events, and I always finish my accomplishment with a hot bath and… (you guessed it)…a glass of wine.   There are many wines to choose from when you finish climbing Virtual Mount Everest.

Of course Mount Everest is the King of Hills!  So what better way to celebrate than Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Shiraz.  A great value at under $20, and a nice spicy flavorful Shiraz from Australia.

Mount Everest is 29,029 feet above sea level, and every time I see the world sea, I think of the Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir that my friend Anthony and I shared last Christmas.

Sadly, our local liquor store hasn’t had it back in stock since, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  Hands down, the best Pinot Noir wine I have ever tasted.  Southing refers to the South facing bluffs found on the estate vineyard in the beautiful Santa Rita Hills in California.  It’s a complex and elegant Pinot Noir with hints of smoke on the nose and aged in 100% French Oak, and 55% of the barrels are brand new.  I rated it as one of my favorite wines from last year.

Speaking of Pinot Noir, Edmund Hillary is credited as being the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest, and here he is pictured with his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, after reaching the Summit on May 26, 1953.   Hillary is from New Zealand and as many of you know, New Zealand puts out some spectacular wines, especially Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

One of my favorites is the Whitehaven Pinot Noir from Marlborough.  This is no wimpy Pinot Noir, it is robust with flavor.  Gorgeous aromas and flavors of dark cherries and charred oak, this super food friendly wine comes in under the $25 mark.

Here’s a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and the Saint Clair Family Estate vineyard.  I love this particular Sauvignon Blanc, because there are not so much of the green asparagus flavors you find one some Sauvignon Blanc wines, but more tropical fruit and passion fruit flavors.  I love this, and had the chance to meet the winemaker this past year Kyle Thompson.

My new wine of the week is…..

A Canadian beauty… the Angel’s Gate Merlot from the Niagara Peninsula region.  Even if you don’t think you like Merlot, you should give this a try.  It’s not dominated by juicy plump plum flavors, it has more tannic structure and spicy notes.  Winning double gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships, you’ll understand why with its beautiful fruit flavors enhanced by subtle oak.

Well that’s it for me for this week.  Sharing some pictures from last year’s event.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene