Monthly Archives: July 2019

 

I didn’t have a wine blog last weekend because I was home on vacation, and while I was there I attended my 40th high school reunion.   It is hard to believe that we all graduated high school 40 years ago.    I had the chance to reconnect with friends that I went through my school years with and it was the most wonderful time.   Many of them I haven’t seen in years.

My friend Paula and I reminisced about a school trip we took in Grade 6, when we were 12 years old, to Northwest River Labrador.  Susan and I talked about the joys of her becoming a grandmother recently,

My friend Jackie’s daughter got married recently and all of us had things to share but the underlying theme was how happy we were to get together and have a drink.   Sadly, I had to leave a little early and we were just getting into the wine really good.    I didn’t take any pictures of the wines that evening but I will share a couple of good wines I had while on vacation

My dad was intent on buying me a bottle of wine while I was home visiting, so I chose this one.  Here in Nova Scotia, we can get Dada #2, and it’s a staple in my wine rack because it’s a really good organic Argentinian Merlot at $15 a bottle.  What a treat it was to get #1 while I was home, which is a blend of 50% Malbec and 50% Bonarda.   Although Bonarda is not a very well known grape,  it was planted about 3000 years ago in the Padana region of Italy but nowadays most of the Bonarda in the world is grown in Argentina.   Great wine for about a $15 price point.

And now for my wine of the week…

I love Spanish wine.   I also love the Grenache grape, or as it is known in Spain, Garnacha.   Grenache, or Garnacha, was once mostly used as a blending grape especially in France with Syrah and Mouvedre.    I love how more and more wine makers are taking the chance and having Grenache (Garnacha) the star of the show. This particular wine is mostly Garnacha with some Carignan blended in.   Gorgeous flavours of cherry and raspberry with some vanilla from the toasted oak.   A fantastic wine for just $16 a bottle.

Here’s to great friendships and good wine, may they always go together!

Till next week, cheers

Darlene

 

 

 

 

 

I’m officially on vacation and a little later today I’m flying to my hometown of Corner Brook Newfoundland, on Canada’s East Coast.   Visiting family, attending my 40th High School Reunion and maybe even enjoying a glass of wine.  (or 2?).   Corner Brook is located on Newfoundland‘s west coast, and is very picturesque.   Very close by would be the famous Marble Mountain ski hill and we’re also only about 45 minutes from Gros Morne National Park.  Thought I would share a couple of more pictures.

 

For me it’s also a chance to enjoy some of my favorites, that I can’t get here in Nova Scotia.  It may be a small island but the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation has done a wonderful job with wine selection.  My colleague Marc is asking me to bring back this wine.

Although Nova Scotia does carry a big selection of Las Moras wine from Argentina, they do not carry this beauty.  It’s the Las Moras Pacha-Mama.  This Malbec is easy to drink, and easy on the pocketbook at $16 a bottle.  Check for it in your favorite wine store, I think it’s a great value wine.

I know when I’m home, my family will get me to cook up a feed of barbeque ribs, they always do.   Doing barbeque ribs is an artform, the secret being ‘slow and low’, and this will be my wine of choice.

The Seghesi Zinfandel from Sonoma County is splendid.  Seghesio planted its first Zinfandel vines back in 1895.  Winemaker Edward Seghesio says his grandmother’s favourite word was “Pazienza”, which means patience.  I’m so sad this is not available where I live, but I do look forward to the treat when I go home.    If you see it, try it and let me know if you love it as much as I do.

And now for my wine of the week….

It’s summertime and that means I’m drinking more white wines then I do the rest of the year.  I always keep a bottle of Pinot Grigio in my fridge because a lot of my friends that come to visit love Pinot Grigio.  Beringer makes one of my absolute favourite steak wines, so I couldn’t wait to try this Pinot Grigio.  It’s refreshing and light with crisp flavours of pear and citrus and at $12.99 a bottle, it’s one of my new favourite finds this Summer!   This is truly a steal of a deal.

I love Karen from the television show Will & Grace.  There will be no wine blog  next Saturday as I will be in Newfoundland and travelling.

See you in two weeks

Darlene

 

 

There is a heat warning in effect for Halifax, as there is in many parts of the world.  And although I love a glass of wine as much as anyone, and most days two, don’t forget the water and I encourage you all to stay safe.  Extreme heat is no different than extreme cold, in that you have to be very careful, because it can be dangerous.  Stay safe and stay hydrated.

Now back to why you visit this site each week, wine!

I tend to drink a variety of beverages during a heat wave, including local craft beer and I’ve been known to imbibe with a vodka soda as well.  I find them refreshing.  I also tend to drink more white wine, including this beauty from Canada.  Winemaker Howard Soon is so good at what he does and I love the Pinot Gris he created.  Pinot Gris is different than Pinot Grigio, in that it doesn’t have the acidity the Grigio does.  It’s a very easy to drink refreshing wine with tropical flavors and hints of pear.  A great wine for smoked salmon, delicate fish or your favorite pork tenderloin.

As you know, I’ve have been doing a lot of wine tastings lately, and I always get asked about a red wine that a regular white wine drinker might enjoy.  I always say Pinot Noir or Beaujolais.  Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape which features ‘candied’ flavors.  Honestly, when you sip it you will taste flavors of candy.  And a Beaujolais wine is served very chilled, so white wine drinkers tend to like that.  Keep in mind with this heat wave, please do not serve any red wine at current ‘room temperature’.  Heavens, 30-degrees is too warm for any wine.  Red wine should be served anywhere from 11-degrees to 18 degrees at the absolute maximum.  So please put your red wine in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes.  Or you can do what I do, and keep it in the fridge and take it out about 20-30 minutes before I go to serve it.  I had a couple of glasses of wine with a great group of friends last night, and one lady bought her wine and it was so warm I encouraged her to chill out a little.   She thought room temperature was room temperature no matter what the room temperature was.   Remember, it’s the room temperature of the old underground wine cellars hundreds of years ago in places like France and Italy.

And now for my wine of the week.  It is a wine I enjoyed for the first time this past week in a long time….

This Corbiere from Gerard Bertrand is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, and is from France.  It is so well made and so easy to drink.  It’s also $3 off right now, and a steal of a deal at just $16.99 a bottle.  Great for Summer BBQ!

I have to say hello to one of my American readers and fellow wine blogger who is always amazed at the prices of wine here in Eastern Canada.   So while I’m rejoicing at paying $16.99 a bottle for this wine, Allison will probably be able to get it for half that.   Allison writes a wonderful wine blog under the name ‘Okie Wine Girl’ and you can find it at http://www.okiewinegirl.com.  Check it out!

Have a great weekend everyone.  Till next week, Cheers

Darlene