Monthly Archives: September 2023

Is it just me or did September seem to go by at 100 kmh in a 20 kmh zone. My apologies for no wine blog last week, I had to work last Saturday. Tried some new wines in the past couple of weeks, including my new favorite white wine. Can’t wait to tell you about some new wines.

First, let me share a recipe with you

I eat a lot of rice, but recently discovered noodles. I’ve tried a few different kinds, including Pad Thai noodles, but so far these are my favorite.

In addition to the noodles, I added chicken, onions, bell peppers and unsalted peanuts. My homemade sauce was so simple. I like making my own sauce, I get to control the sodium. It’s made up of low sodium chicken broth, sesame oil, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, cornstarch and salt and pepper. I added pepper mostly because there is salt in the hoisin sauce, in the soy sauce and in the chicken broth.

Now I get to tell you about my new favorite white wine.

I get together with a group of friends most Saturday nights to play a game of Rummikub. So much fun. So my friend Joan bought this wine and it is amazing. This is the Casasole Orvieto from Umbria Italy. If you look it up at your local liquor store, the first pairing is Asian cuisine. So the noodle dish above was made on Saturday morning and because Joan left what was remaining at my place, I enjoyed this wine with the above noddle dish. This wine is fantastic and priced at $18.84 a bottle, spectacular deal. The wine is medium bodied on the palate with gorgeous notes of tropical fruit and pears. There is a little hint of sweetness on the tongue that makes it perfect for any Asian cuisine, cheese, and pasta dishes. I loved it.

In addition to puzzles, I love to read. Just finished this book By Sue Watson and I’ve read several of her books. Love a good suspense novel, and my friend Arla, who is an avid reader, provides me with all kinds of great books. And there is nothing better that goes with a good book, than a good glass of wine. Meet Bu Sangiovese from Italy. This is also available for my Newfoundland friends. It’s on sale here in Nova Scotia right now, priced at $13.79, but even at regular price of $16 it’s a great deal. Full bodied, fruit forward with spicy notes, I really enjoyed it. And I really enjoy a good deal.

I would like to take a moment to recognize today is National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day honors both the Survivors of Residential schools and the children who never got to go home As an Indigenous person myself, I think this is such an important day to recognize the horrors these children suffered, and the suffering of their families.

That’s it for this week. Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

Here we are, another Hurricane Day in Halifax. Some people have their storm chips, I have my own version of a storm survival kit. We had a power surge earlier, just as I was making coffee. Eek! Thankfully it came back on a few seconds later.

The winds have started and my boss, who lives in West Bedford, has already lost his power. There are currently 118,000 homes in Nova Scotia without power, with the strongest winds yet to come.

Ok, let’s get back to that storm survival kit. What’s your favorite storm wine?

In my quest to find a replacement for Canyon Road, I really like the Vivo Robusto Red on the left. At $12.75 a bottle, there’s always one in my wine rack. This past week I found its sister wine on sale, like $3 off. Normally $17.50, this wine is on now for $14.50 so run out and buy a few, because it’s really good.

I have stocked up on this Cabernet, it’s a beautiful fruit forward wine with soft tannins. It was smooth and so easy to drink. LOL Like many wines.

Before I go, I have to tell you about my favorite aioli.

That’s a chicken kebob under that sauce. Carmelized red onion, chicken, red and orange peppers. Grilled. The aioli contains

• Miracle Whip – you can use mayonnaise, I like the tanginess of Miracle Whip
• Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
• Hoisin Sauce
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime juice
• Garlic powder

Whisk that in a bowl, and I use that stuff on everything. It is so tasty.

I know its not a wine meme, but I saw this on Facebook this past week and laughed so hard, I wanted to share the laugh.

Stay safe friends, till next week, Cheers

Darlene

Nothing like a weekend to make some pour decisions, pouring wine of course. Hard to believe for our second weekend in September there’s a heat wave warning for today. Piss off humidity, it’s September. Time for cool crisp days, sweater weather.

Whatever you’re pouring this Fall, whether its white or red, feel free to pass along your favorite wine.

Let’s start with this one.

Zenato is putting out some spectacular wines. They are responsible for a 96-Point wine under $25, almost unheard of. This Valpolicella Ripasso was spectacular, and I named it my Wine of the Year a few years back.

The Cormi Corvina Merlot from 2018 has been in the bottle for 6 years, so aerate it or do what I did and swirl it lots.

When I opened it, and took a sip, I knew right away it needed a little time to breathe. If a wine tastes a little boozy, or even a little harsh, that is a sign that it needs to breath. Because I had it in the glass, I did a ‘manual aerate’. I had a big glass and I swirled it aggressively, basically aerating it. What a difference it makes. This wine went on to have gorgeous flavors of black cherry, plum, fig, and dried cherry. Brand new to our liquor store here and priced under $25. I had it with a stuffed butterfly pork chop.

Sauteed onions, celery and carrots and added blue cheese in the bread crumbs along with some Newfoundland savory. Yummy. Grilled and smoked, it was quite tasty.

Here’s another great wine at a great price.

This wine received 94 Points as a best value wine, priced at just $15 a bottle. This beautiful Sangiovese from Italy has gorgeous flavors of cranberry, tart cherry and oregano. Beautiful wine at a great price.

A moment of cuteness before I go

This is my 88-year old Mom with Maggie, in a pink bow, and my nephew’s new puppy, Lexi. Just cuteness overload.

Enjoy September, and have a wonderful weekend. Till next week Cheers

Darlene

Hello September 1st. I know some people will tell me to sit my pumpkin spice ass down, but we are entering my favorite months of the year. I absolutely love Fall in Nova Scotia and all of Atlantic Canada. I love these upcoming 4 months.

Have some super adorable cuteness to share

Regular readers will remember my nephew Riley. He’s about to start his 4th year at St. FX University. Well, his older brother Brady bought a puppy from Coastal Breezes, the same breeder Maggie came from, and Riley picked it up last weekend to bring it to Corner Brook.

My sister Jackie is taking care of Lexi till the end of September. Such a cutie, and she got to visit me last weekend. You can definitely see the resemblance from when Maggie was a puppy. They have the same Mom.

Ok, that’s your dose of cuteness for this Labor Day long weekend. Let’s talk some food and wine.

You met my friend Arla in last week’s blog, and Arla and her husband Fred bought me back some Trader Joe’s spices. (They are all so good). Here’s the new one, Citrusy Garlic.

This is so good. If you get the chance to visit a Trader Joe’s, you won’t be disappointed by any of the spice blends. This is a Cuban style Citrusy Garlic

Awesome on chicken

And absolutely to die for on chicken wings. I really love it on vegetables too. I’ve tried it on asparagus and cauliflower. It is a blend of garlic, lime oil, lime juice, onion powder, salt, and red pepper-plus bay leaves, coriander, cumin, cilantro, black pepper, oregano, cilantro, basil, lemon oil, marjoram, and parsley to round it out. Dynamite. I know, we can’t get them here, but you can take the ideas to make your own.

Tried a couple of new wines in the past couple of weeks. This is the wine I had last night, to kick start the long weekend.

The Sea Sun Pinot Noir is not any wimpy pinot noir. From the first sip from the deep rich color in the glass, it was delicious. From one of the most famous wine families in California, the Wagner Family, who also created the fabulous Caymus line of wines. This is so good, and not nearly as expensive. It’s on sale here right now, priced at $27 and worth every penny.

Run out and get one of these before they are sold out. I believe they are on sale right now, I am trying to think if it had a yellow tag, and stores have limited inventory. This is a gorgeous blend of Grenache, Syrah and Monastrell from Spain. Delicious at a great price.

Ain’t that the truth. Going to take a moment to wish the happiest of birthdays to my sister and best friend, Jackie Simms. She’s funny and smart and only drinks twice a year, on her birthday and at her Christmas party. Have fun tonight Jackie, wish I could be there.

That’s it for me for this week. Have a safe wonderful long weekend, and thank you for taking some of it to read my wine blog.

Cheers, Darlene