Category Archives: Wine

The Last Blog! (For A While)

I have some news to share, which I will get to a little later in the blog. But first….although it’s not the last day of January until Tuesday, it is the last weekend of January 2023. I always found January the longest month of the year. The holiday day in this month is the 1st and then it tends to be 30 additional days of bad weather usually, however, this 28th day of January, looks like this in Halifax.

This was taken yesterday evening from my patio. Except for one snowfall last Friday, it’s been a pretty green January. Ok, enough about the weather, let’s talk some wine.

Over the Christmas season I tried a few new wines that I haven’t had the chance to tell you about them yet.

Chile continues to put out some great wines and the Chateau Los Boldos is a great example of this. The Tradition Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and the grapes come from vines that have aged at least 60+ years. Leathery and spicy, this wine is priced at the amazing amount of $15.99. Great for hamburgers, beef, & charcuterie boards.

Staying in South America, let’s head to Argentina. I think I had this one when I was home in Newfoundland for Christmas. Priced under $20, this Cabernet is on sale in Nova Scotia right now. Rich with peppery notes, it’s a great Cabernet Sauvignon at a great price.

Ok, so for my news. I thought long and hard about including this in the blog, but I thought I owed it to my regular readers about a potential break in my blog writing (and my wine drinking)

On November 25th, I got diagnosed with colon cancer. Since then I have been poked and prodded, LOL, but honestly, lots of tests and scans. On Monday, I start both chemo and radiation at the same time. My first round is 5 weeks, Monday to Friday 5 days a week, both chemo and radiation. Although they told me I can have a glass of wine if I feel like it, I don’t know how much I’ll be sipping. And since fatigue is the #1 side effect I’ll be feeling, I can’t guarantee I’ll be in the mood to write a weekly wine blog. I’ll play it by ear. After the first 5 weeks, I’ll be scoped and scanned again to see if the tumor has shrunk enough to operate to remove it, or if more chemo is needed.

I would like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you that has come along for any part of my wine blogging journey, which I started doing almost 12 years ago. I’ll give you an update on my next blog.

Take care

Darlene

Happy New Year

Here we are, the very 1st day of 2023, and a special edition of my wine blog. I just got back from 10 days in Newfoundland, and it was a great Christmas and a very quiet New Year for me. I was in bed by 10:30 p.m. It’s been a couple of weeks, and I was in the mood to write a new blog. The last blog was on Saturday December 17th and that Wednesday I headed for my hometown.

I had to drive because the price of airline tickets were atrocious, at around the $2200 mark. So I took the night crossing and when I got off the next morning, I was greeted by snow, lots of snow. That was a big of a white knuckle drive, and I’m thankful for the 18-wheeler in front of me clearing the way. I had to get out and take a picture. I got there the morning of the 22nd, and December 23rd is a very special day in Newfoundland. It’s called Tibb’s Eve, and it’s a time to celebrate. The tradition started in Newfoundland because starting Christmas Eve you were with family for the next few days, so it was a chance to party with friends.

It also happened to be a Friday and my sister threw a Tibb’s Eve party for her staff and friends and family. This wonderful 9 piece band volunteered to play, and they were fantastic.

You could say the party went to the dogs. Maggie was well behaved as a guest.

There was lots of dancing, my nephew Riley was home from St. FX University and we had a great time. I was designated driver that day.

Saw a few friends over Christmas, even my adopted nephew, Ryan. Ryan lives in St. John’s now, and is so much fun. He is basically the unofficial son of my sister Jackie, even my Mom called him her adopted grandson. He also has good taste in wine.

We were playing games and Ryan bought this wonderful Riesling one evening. It’s been a while since I had a Riesling, and this one was absolutely wonderful. I had forgotten how much I love Riesling, and this one was so good.

The Moseland Ars Vitis Riesling is a Riesling out of Germany. Priced in the $20 range in Newfoundland, it was dry with a hint of sweetness, and gorgeous flavors of pear, apple and peach. An absolute perfect wine to pair with spicy food, Thai food or any Asian cuisine. And it comes in a gorgeous bottle that would also make a great gift.

I hope you had a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Me, I had a quiet one. I was in bed by 10:30 p.m. and had the best night sleep in a long time. There were some late nights in Newfoundland, so I’m trying to get back on track. I did however, enjoy a glass of wine that my nephew Brady gave me.

My nephew Brady was also home, so the whole gang was home and it was wonderful. Brady always seems to give me a bottle of wine for Christmas, and this was the selection for this year. He’s a big hockey fan and once he says Wayne Gretzky’s name he really wanted me to try it.

The Wayne Gretzky Winery was one of the wineries we had planned to visit during our planned tour of the Niagara region we were trying to pull off in 2021. Twice it had to be cancelled because of Covid restrictions. We are hoping to do it eventually. This was a full bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, medium to full-bodied and not overly oaky. I found it delicious and priced under $21.

2022 had some great ups and a few challenges. 2023 will bring some challenges to me personally as I fight some health issues. My wish for you is a wonderful 2023 with all the good health and happiness that it hopefully brings. Find joy in the small things.

Next week is my favorite wines of 2022. Cheers

Darlene

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I’m willing to bet you sang the title of this blog. It’s that time of the year, Christmas party season!

This is my work family, or I should say a portion of them. Because of some other commitments, some people had to miss the Christmas party, and we missed you. And they are my family here in Halifax. I am so lucky to work with some of the greatest people in the world. For those of you that don’t know, wine is a bit of a hobby for me. I started studying to become a Certified Sommelier to meet new people when I first moved to Halifax. I work at 2 local Radio Stations here in Halifax, Q104 & 96-5 The Breeze. That’s what pays the bills, and I love what I do. We had our Christmas party Thursday night and it was one of the best ones ever.

So when I got there, my friend Anthony was drinking the Pinot Noir, and I joined in. This is the Pinot Noir we were drinking that evening.

Anthony was saying he didn’t have a lot of experience drinking French Pinot Noir, but if you see Bourgogne, or Burgundy in the wine store, it’s Pinot Noir in the bottle. This wine had a gorgeous dark color, and was very tasty. Hints of cherry and herbs, and no sharp edges or tannins. We continued drinking this wine all evening, and they served prime rib that night, and it was a dream pairing with this wine. The Puy de Dome is a great Pinot Noir that sells for $24.

I’m trying to slow down this month. I love the month of December, homes are decorated so nicely, the inside of my home looks warm and cozy and I love my Christmas decorations. And the month is flying by way too fast. Plus, I’m way behind. I don’t have all my Christmas shopping done, which is a first for me. And I have a lot of wrapping and baking left to do. Whew. It’s a good thing there is wine.

I’ve had people tell me that they don’t like Zinfandel, because it’s too ‘jammy’. That is one of the notes that you often see associated with Zinfandel. Well, this is for all you people who don’t think you like Zinfandel. This is Peeps Old Vine Zinfandel. I was telling Anthony that in a blind taste test, I wouldn’t have guessed Zinfandel. It was clean on the palate, a bold flavorful wine, but not the ‘jamminess’ usually associated with Zinfandel. I loved it. At $23 a bottle, I’ll be having this again.

I know many of us are feeling this way this month. LOL Tis the Season

Enjoy every day in December. Cheers

Darlene

It’s Beginning To Look….

You guessed it… it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I know it’s not December yet, but it’s hard to avoid. This week if you go out, you’re going to hear one of two things, Christmas and/or Black Friday.

One of the things I enjoy most about this time of the year, are the get togethers. Let’s face it, the Christmas parties start around the 1st of December. If you’re invited out this holiday season, maybe I can help with some wine ideas to bring along, which will make you the hit of any party.

I don’t care what the occasion is, you can’t go wrong giving a nice sparkling wine. I always have one in my wine rack.

Normally I have a Prosecco, which I love over the holidays. Especially when you make it a Mimosa. Plus Prosecco and Spanish Cava are excellent sparkling wines, that are super affordable. This Champagne was a gift, and I’m saving it for a special occasion because it’s pricier than most wines I write about in this blog. I have had this Champagne before, and it’s lovely and light and perfect for a special occasion. Gorgeous light flavors of toast, pear and apple, and the Brut tells you it’s very dry, not sweet.

A long time reader of my wine blog, Jean from Ottawa came for a visit last week. She bought some amazing wines, and here’s one we tried.

The Strata Cabernet Sauvignon is out of Australia, and it’s a gorgeous blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Petite Verdot. It’s a medium-bodied Cabernet that is easy to drink and the price is easy on the wallet, just $15.99 a bottle. It will definitely have a home in my wine rack again.

I have a confession to make, I love Hallmark Christmas movies. And this is by far my most favorite movie so far this year.

3 Wise Men & A Baby was one of the funniest movies I’ve seen. Great movie for the entire family, so when I went to our local liquor store last week and saw this, I just had to buy it.

If you look closely at the label you will see this wine, called Jingle, and at the top you will see Hallmark Movie Channel. So is there a more perfect wine when watching Hallmark Christmas movies? I don’t think so! And the wine was good too. Really good. It’s a California Cabernet Sauvignon with hints of holiday spice. Delicious, and priced under $19. There’s also a Jingle Sauvignon Blanc available for my white wine loving friends and readers. Hallmark Channel Wines were handcrafted by the winemaking team of Evan and Andrew Nelson – recently named 2020 Wine Enthusiast’s ‘40 Under 40 Tastemaker’. Give it a try, you won’t regret it.

As we start planning Christmas parties and get togethers, please don’t drink and drive, and please don’t text and drive, I see way too many people doing that here in Halifax. Stay safe.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

Wine Me Up & Watch Me Go

My work sister Violet, gave me this t-shirt this past week. It absolutely made my day and I can’t wait to wear it. So I’m dedicating this week’s wine blog to this awesome saying. Her sister customizes t-shirts and made this one. I love it.

I have a confession to make. My profile picture was taken about 8 years ago. Hair was longer and during the start of the pandemic in 2020, I decided to go au naturel and short. I am in the process of changing over my profile pictures. I do not take a good picture, every time I smile, my eyes disappear, LOL.

This was taken Thursday at work by my friend, and fellow wine lover, Anthony. Ok, let’s talk some wine.

Thursday evening, my work family and I attended a dinner, and on the table was this wine. Any time you’re at a work event, and the wine is 90-Point wine, well you have to try it. It also happens to be the first Argentinian wine that carries the Bodegas De Argentina Certified Sustainable Seal on its label. This Malbec was fabulous and sells for $19 a bottle here in Halifax. It was rich and full-bodied and I could really taste the terroir of the Mendoza region of Argentina, kind of an earthiness. I hope that makes sense.

This wine was also on the table, and I love this white wine. Not only is it good, it’s one of the best values you can get. Same goes for the red.

Il Padrino Pinot Grigio comes in a 1-litre bottle for about $17. It’s fresh and crisp and has lemony and citrus flavors. You get a few extra glasses of delicious wine, and it doesn’t break the bank.

And last but certainly not least….

My friend Anthony and I were talking about how much we love Cabernet Franc, and although he is not a huge Cabernet Sauvignon fan, I am. So when I saw this blend for the first time, I had to pick it up and give it a try. It’s priced at $20 and it’s not a heavy wine. I was kind of surprised that it was more medium bodied, because both Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc tend to be more full bodied wines. And the oak did not over power. To any readers in Ontario, it’s only $14 there. (insert eye roll here) We pay way too much for wine here on the East Coast.

I would just like to take a moment to recognize Remembrance Day yesterday and say a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who is serving, and who has served in the past. I loved this when I saw it, ‘We don’t know you all, but we owe you all’.

Have a great week.

Darlene