Monthly Archives: November 2020

One of the things I have missed about 2020, were the wine tastings I was doing. I loved doing the wine tastings for a couple of different reasons. I really loved meeting new people, and fellow wine lovers, One of my most favorite parts were getting people to try new wines. Wine is not cheap, so most of us are not too adventurous in the wine store. It’s way too expensive to take the chance on something you may not like. At the wine tastings, I’ve also met several spouses that ‘weren’t into wine’ but sipped along. These were fun, because most times they would end up finding a wine they really liked. Are you fairly new to wine? Let me help take away some of the mystery and hopefully make it a little easier to enjoy my favorite beverage.

When I do a wine tasting, I tend to bring 6 wines, in different styles. I always bring a sparkling wine. Did you know that most people think sparkling wine is sweet. It seems here in Canada, our first introduction to sparkling wine was Baby Duck.

I don’t know about your house, but in my house, it wasn’t Christmas Dinner unless Mom & Dad bought out the Baby Duck. How many of us had this as our first taste of wine? Launched in the 1970’s, it once dominated the sparkling wine market. Not any more. Sparkling wine doesn’t have to be an expensive Champagne, it can be a crisp, food-friendly foray into deliciousness. Take this one for example.

When starting out with Sparkling wine, start with an Italian Prosecco or a Spanish Cava, like this Hola wine. You never tend to pay more than $20 for a bottle of this wine, which is made in the same method as traditional Champagne. These delicious wines are a great way to start any get together or dinner party. They are perfect with appetizers, whether you are serving, cheese, oysters or a salad. You would have a hard time finding an appetizer that doesn’t pair well with a good dry sparkling wine.

Most people dip their toe in the wine world by starting with white wine. Great wine doesn’t have to be expensive and this wine is proof of that. This is one of my favorite white wines, La Vielle Ferme is a French white wine that comes in under $15. I know buying French wine can be a little intimidating, because they don’t always put the grape varietal on the label. For whites, Chardonnay is a big heavy wine, tends to be aged in oak. Something like a Pinot Grigio is lighter, crisper and hasn’t seen oak.

So many people I meet, who drink white wine, would also love to expand into red wine. Here’s the biggest complaint I receive about red wine from white wine drinkers. The temperature. People tend to serve their red wines at ‘room temperature’. Well, in the Summer, the room temperature in my house tends to be about 26 degrees, and that is way to warm for any wine. On average, our rooms temperatures tend to be in the 20’s. Still way to warm for any wine. Room temperature was designated as the room temperature of the underground wine cellars, which were about 55-degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 13 – 15 degrees Celsious. Put your red wine in the refrigerator. And if it’s there a little long, take it out 20 or 30 minutes before serving. You’ll be amazed at how many of your friends will ‘love’ red wine once its served at the proper temperature, or even a little chilled. Start light with a Pinot Noir, or a Beaujolais (Gamay grape) or a Valpolicella and then work your way to the heavier reds of Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.

My wine of the week was a big bold Shiraz. So, a cute story to start

My sister Jackie and her husband came for a visit this past week. We had such a great time. She lives in my hometown of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Her son is going to St. FX University here in Nova Scotia, so I am getting to see her more often. Her husband Craig, did some chores for me.

My brother in law Craig was kept very busy, so on Wednesday evening, we were going to do a big feed, and Craig wanted a glass of red wine. I was saving this wine to share with someone special, and couldn’t have picked a better person.

In 2012, just before I was transferred to Halifax, I had the opportunity to meet Wolf Blass, as he was visiting St. John’s, Newfoundland. I bought a couple of bottles of 2008 Gold Label Shiraz, two I gave away as gifts, and two I kept for a special occasion. I had opened one not long after this. It was very good. And I saved the other one. This was worth the wait! I was waiting for an opportunity to open it and share, and this seemed like the perfect day. So, this wine had a screw cap, had been bought 8 years ago, and was actually bottled 12 years ago. Living proof a screw cap can age a wine, some say as good as a cork does. The wine was aged in both new and seasoned French oak, and because of the high tannin content in Shiraz, that is a wine that ages very very well. This was spectacular, and if critics gave this wine 93-points after a couple of years, aging it turned it into a 95 or 96 point wine. Spectacular. If you see a Gold Label in the wine store, buy one or two, and keep one for a few years. You’ll love it.

Have a great week. Cheers

Darlene

Join your hosts, Richard Arnold of Atlantic Tours & Travel and Sommelier Darlene Myers for your Taste of Bordeaux cruise adventure. 
*Book before December 30, 2020 and receive Complementary Onboard Gratuities, an Early Booking Savings, in addition to “Travel Waiver Plus Protection” valued at $175 per person , there are free gratuities right now and an early booking bonus. Total combined Savings of almost $800 per person*

I’m taking a trip to Bordeaux, France in 2022, would you like to come with me? In a previous blog, I had mentioned I have partnered with Atlantic Tours and AMA Waterways for a River Cruise through the spectacular region of Bordeaux in April of 2022. I had met one of the owners of Atlantic Tours at a wine tasting in 2019 and we became friends. He came up with the wonderful idea of working together on some wine trips. YAY! Who doesn’t love a good wine trip. And after 2020, we all need something to look forward to.

We are still hoping to do a wine trip to the Niagara region of Ontario in June of 2021, but we will have to see how things are with the global pandemic. I am still hoping this wine tour goes ahead, because it would be spectacular. Check out the details here.

And here’s a snap shot of where we are staying at Niagara Falls. I mean, you know you want to come with us!! We are doing a stop in Old Quebec City, we are doing a tasting at Caves Du Chateau Montmagny Winery, and the 1000 Islands Dinner Cruise, all part of this trip. Wineries we will be visiting include Wayne Gretzky’s & Trius, just to name two. Fingers crossed it’s a go.

But back to Bordeaux, we are having a sip and sail Webinar. It’s free to register and you can register here. You’ll find out about River Cruising, which I have never done before. You’ll also find out about this particular River Cruise to Bordeaux. And we will probably enjoy a sip of wine in the process. What have you got to lose? It’s a free webinar, it will be informative and fun, and we’ll drink some wine, all at the same time.

Let’s talk some wine!!

I tried this wine a few weeks back, but never got a chance to include it in a previous blog. I really want to, because it’s not often you can find enjoyable wines under $11. The La Baldoria Sangiovese from Puglia, known as the bread basket of Italy, also known for its Olive Oil, is 100% Sangiovese grapes and a great match for anything tomato sauce. Whether its pizza or pasta, if you are serving up some Italian food that features a tomato sauce, this wine is definitely worth trying.

Speaking of bread…

I grew up in Newfoundland, and my Mom made the best homemade bread in the world. We always had homemade bread, and being kids, thought store bought bread was a treat. Years after moving away, one of my biggest regrets was not learning how to make homemade bread from my Mom. So, there’s nothing like a pandemic to change all that. I started making bread, and consulting with my Mom over the phone. The first couple of loaves were a little crumbly, but bit by bit, I’m happy with the results. There really is nothing like the taste of homemade bread

If I get home for Christmas though, I will take a lesson from the master! She will be 86 years old in January and doesn’t make bread anymore. But she does buy it from a wonderful local bakery. Yes, that’s my bread with a batch of beef barley soup I made in the slow cooker for the first time. That recipe is here. Cost efficient delicious soup, perfect for the cooler weather.

Now for my wine of the week…

I was watching the election results from the U.S. with some friends Tuesday evening, and we opened this wine. I have had the Smoking Loon Zinfandel, and I love it, but tried the Cabernet Sauvignon for the first time. We really enjoyed it. Usually it’s $17 a bottle, but right now it’s $15 a bottle, and as my friend Maggie said “This is really good wine”. And that’s what most people like in a wine. A really good wine at a really affordable price. That’s what makes me happy.

Here in Nova Scotia, we just carry the two reds, but for my white wine loving readers, they do make several white wines as well. Including a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc and an unoaked Chardonnay. The company slogan is ‘Why fly when you can soar’! These wines are based out of California, and if I had access to more of them, I would try them all.

Well that’s it for this week. Till next week, Cheers

Darlene