Monthly Archives: November 2019

Tomorrow is December 1st.  So many wine memes, so little time.  I always try to end off my blogs with a chuckle from a good wine meme.  And there are a lot of good ones out there.  So tomorrow being December 1st, I thought I would have a little fun with this blog.  I’m going to share some of my favorite wine meme’s, and a few favorite wines.

The meme that probably got the most likes from my social media posts was this one, featuring Karen from the television show ‘Will & Grace’.  I’m pairing it with one of my favorite finds this past year in a white wine.  The Liano from Umberto Cesari in Italy is a great wine under $20.  It is a blend of Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc from the Rubicone region.  I have brought this wine to several wine tastings this year, I just love it.  It’s got some great body from the Chardonnay, so it can hold up to meaty dishes, but the Sauvignon Blanc really ads some nice acidity, so it’s not dull and flat on the palate.

There’s another meme I’ve used recently that said ‘my abs are hidden underneath my love of wine”, but this one featuring Winnie the Pooh really hits the spot some days.  I’m going to pair this meme with a sparkling wine, a Spanish Cava.

Personally, I’m not making through the holidays without a sparkling wine, and neither should you.  Spanish Cava is a great value, this wine is just $21.99 here in Nova Scotia.  Spanish Cava is a great way to enjoy a great sparkling wine without breaking the wallet.  It’s crisp and refreshing, and a great way to say ‘Hello’, which is what Hola means.  It also makes a great Christmas gift.  Speaking of Christmas Gifts….

Honestly, I’ve never  been told I’m hard to shop for.  After all, everyone knows where to buy wine.  Pairing this meme with a wine that is still a staple in my wine rack.  The Anciano Tempranillo from Spain, that comes in a bottle beautifully wrapped in gold netting, aged for 7 years, and is priced at $14.99.  Hard to beat the value on this wine, and the great wine inside the bottle.

And for my wine of the week….

I bought this wine in Italy when I was there almost 3 years ago and decided this week I needed to treat myself.  While in Italy, I was very blessed to have lunch and a wine tasting at the San Felice Winery, which is a beautiful restored vineyard that was once a town.  The owners bought the town and restored the beautiful buildings in the town and created a winery.  The church, as part of the property, goes back to the Etruscan era, which is 8 thousand years BC.  The history is amazing, and so is the wine.  It’s a bit of a treat here, as it does sell in Nova Scotia.  I paid $13 Euros for the wine in Italy, which is about $20 Canadian.  The wine sells for around $45 here, so it is a treat.  But this year if you want to end the year with a treat wine, may I recommend this one.  It is smooth and delicious and was the wine featured at the beginning of the movie ‘Hannibal’, the follow up movie to Silence of the Lambs.  Anthony Hopkins is seen drinking a glass of wine, and the bottle on the table in the movie is this wine.  Not only is it a treat, but there’s a great story to tell your guests.

And on that note, have a great weekend. Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

 

 

 

I didn’t write a wine blog last weekend as my brother-in-law suffered a heart attack last Friday and I was with my sister at the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit over the weekend and in the early part of the week.  It’s been a crazy week.  Let’s talk some wine.

This past week we celebrated National Zinfandel Day, it was Tuesday November 19th.

I love Zinfandel.  Archaeological evidence indicates this grape dates back to 6000 B.C., and is said it has been enjoyed by Popes.  It arrived in California in the 1850’s during the California Gold Rush.  Lodi California is considered the home of California Zinfandel, however many parts of California are creating outstanding Zinfandel wines.  Also known as Primitivo in Italy, this wine is flavorful and full-bodied and the perfect partner for any meat done on the barbecue.  Let’s have a look at some of my favorites.

You mention Zinfandel, and the #1 wine people think of the most is 7 Deadly Zins.  Getting its name from the 7 different locations the Zinfandel grapes are harvested from, this is considered the flagship Zinfandel.  Even when I was telling my co-workers about a Primitivo I recently tried, his first response was ‘Compare it to 7 Deadly Zins’.  Jammy fruit with hints of hickory smoke and vanilla.  Classic!

I can’t get this Zinfandel here in Nova Scotia, but its a definite purchase when I head home to Newfoundland for a visit.  Winemaker Andy Robinson creates a beautiful wine from Sonoma County in the Napa Valley.  Given 91 Points by Wine Spectator magazine, this is worth the $33 price tag.

Four Vines Zinfandel hails from the Central Coast California which runs from Santa Barbara to Monterey Bay.  Their slogan is ‘We make interesting wines for interesting people’.  The slogan represents all different people from different walks of life including Cowboys, farmers, artists and rebels.  Sadly, they stopped carrying it here in Nova Scotia, so if you see it, give it a try, and let me know what you think.

This is my ‘go-to’ Zinfandel, another beauty from Sonoma County, Kenwood offers a tremendous value at just $22 a bottle.  Kenwood started producing Zinfandel in 1970 and it’s a little unique because its 97% Zinfandel, 1% Merlot, 1% Petite Sirah, and 1% Syrah, so it’s a very interesting wine to drink.  I love it because of the complex layers and the great price point.

And now for my wine of the week….

We head to Italy to try a brand new wonderful Primitivo.   Salento is a region if Puglia in the southern part of Italy.  This medium-bodied wine, which I shared with friends last night, and one of the comments was “this is easy to drink”.  And that’s what good wine is all about.  It is in the $18 range so it’s a great wine at a great value.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

 

Hey, Christmas is coming, and if the rest of the year is any indication, it’s coming fast.  This time of the year brings extra financial responsibilities for many people, Christmas parties, extra food, extra liquor, and of course presents.  It’s a time when finding fabulous wines at great prices is more important than ever.

For my first wine, I am going to stay locally and tell you about Tidal Bay.

Tidal Bay was created by the Wine Association of Nova Scotia to reflect the terroir of Nova Scotia.  It is our signature wine.  It is the perfect compliment to seafood, but I like it with just about anything.  I was at a  dinner party last week and one of the ladies made the comment she had tried Tidal Bay but didn’t like it much.  She was shocked to discover most wineries in Nova Scotia put out a form of Tidal Bay and they are all different.  They have guidelines they have to follow, but they are all a little different.

Last night my friend Arla bought the Jost Tidal Bay.  I think this is the very last one I had yet to try of all the Tidal Bay wines from all the different vineyards in Nova Scotia.  Personally,  I like them all.  The 2  pictured above, the Saint Famille and the Blomidon Tidal Bay.  They sell for about $21 a bottle here and go great with seafood, chicken, appetizers, and salads. The Jost sells for $20.

For my next wine, we are going to look at a spectacular value.

So many of my friends drink Pinot Grigio, and there are many reasons I love this wine.  First of all, it’s an elegant dry wine that is crisp and refreshing and very food friendly.  Also, it’s always one of the best values in the wine store.  Take this Canaletto Pinot Grigio from Italy for example, it’s $13.99 a bottle.  This wine pairs well with pasta dishes, white meat dishes, fish or delicious all on its own.  If you love white wine, and haven’t tried an Italian Pinot Grigio yet, run don’t walk, to the liquor store now.  You’ll love it.

If you’re looking for a tasty red wine that’s easy on the wallet, pick up this Spanish beauty.  It’s on sale right now here in Nova Scotia, so you’re only going to pay $12.99 a bottle.  It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo in an easy to drink medium-bodied wine.  The title, Liberado, was inspired by Spain’s transition to a democracy in the 1970’s, celebrating Spanish people’s newfound liberties.  With the temperatures dropping, if you’re looking for a great red wine that pairs well with your comfort food, give this one a try.

I’m so excited to share with you my wine of the week…

First of all, I love the packaging.  Second, this is a fantastic wine that is under $15.  I was at Fred & Arla’s the other evening, and they opened this bottle of wine.  I immediately went and got one… ok two, but who’s counting.  Primitivo, or Zinfandel as it is known outside of Italy, is delicious and one of my favorite reds.  This wine hails from Salento Italy, which is directly on the heel of the boot.  It is rich and smooth with notes of plum and hints of tobacco.  This wine is also designated organic.  Did I mention it’s under $15.

It’s a long weekend here in Canada.  I do have to work on Saturday, but I think I’ll find time for a glass….. or two.  Like I said, who counts them on the long weekend.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

I was just looking at a list of my previous posts, when I noticed that I have written 492 wine blogs to date. This is wine blog number 493!  The reason I’m telling you this, is that sometimes I wonder what I’m going to write about. Sometimes the ideas come really easy, and sometimes on Saturday mornings I sit here with my cup of coffee and struggle with the topic.  The reason I started writing a wine blog, is that I’m very adventurous when it comes to trying new wines, and I wanted to share great tasting wines at good value to those a little hesitant about spending money on wines they weren’t sure about. For this one blog, where I’m struggling a little, let’s start there.

I’ve tried two wines recently from the Saint Roch Family.  Jean-Marc Lafage and his wife Elaine both own the property and are the main winemakers for the estate.  The white is Grenache Blanc and it’s a very dry wine perfect for food pairing.  Flavors of floral and citrus and believe it or not, this wine is aged in concrete for the most part.

The red wine from the family is a blend of Syrah and Grenache.  These wines hail from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France and they do a fantastic job with Grenache.  Remember, Grenache is the main grape used in making Chateauneuf du Pape, which starts at about $50 a bottle and increases from there.  Both these wines, the red and the white, are just $19.99 a bottle here in Nova Scotia, making them a tremendous value.  I love finding great wines under $20.

An article I read this past week, started with the statement, ‘Spanish Cava is dead’!  It certainly got my attention as I love Cava.  I will say I don’t believe Cava is dead.  The article hinted that high priced quality Cava was dying, in favor of lesser priced sparkling wines like some Cava’s and Italian Prosecco’s.  Here’s my thought of that.  If someone is going to fork out the money for an expensive quality sparkling, they are probably going to buy from Champagne, France.  In my opinion, Cava’s and Prosecco’s, will always have a place in the world, because many people want to enjoy a good sparkling without paying hundreds of dollars.  Just like there will always be room in the world for a Rolex watch and a Timex watch.  Spanish Cava’s tend to be a couple of dollars more expensive than an Italian Prosecco, because many of them are made in the traditional method.  Which is time consuming and ensures quality.  This Cava is the Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Brut Cava, Brut signifying that it is not sweet, but dry.  It is $23 a bottle and I have brought this to many wine tastings, to show people you can get a traditionally made Sparkling that is affordable to everyone.

And now for my wine of the week…

The picture is a little dark, my apologies.  It is the Lignum Vitis Frappato Shiraz from Italy, and as you can see it is under $20.  This is made from a grape I’ve never written about before – Frappato.  Frapatto is a red Italian grape variety planted primarily in Sicily.  My friend Fred loves red Sicilian wines, so I’m hoping he’ll try this one.  This is a great wine with juicy jammy flavors and hints of dark chocolate.  I can honestly say I think it was my first time drinking Frappato and I liked it.  Although, I have had several wines from Sicily while visiting my friends Fred and Arla, so I’m going to have to start taking pictures.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Till next week, Cheers

Darlene