Niagara-on-the-Lake Taste and Buy Event - Ticket Draw!

Savvy Company's One Unforgettable Taste & Buy event is coming up.  Not sure if you have heard of this annual tasting event before, but it promises to be fantastic.  It features 27 Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries, including some of my faves, like Lailey Vineyards, Marynissen Estates and Pillitteri Estates Winery.  I don't get down to the Niagara region very often, so I am looking forward to tasting what's currently on offer, much of which is not available or only irregularly available through the LCBO.  Also, many of the winemakers will be pouring samples of their not-yet-released 2012 vintage.  This is going to be a great chance to taste some neat stuff and buy a bottle or two.  And to top it all off, it is being held at the new Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum.  Should be a cool venue....

Did I mention that I have a pair of tickets to give away?  Ya, that's right.  Send me an email at tipmytumbler[at]gmail[dot]com by noon on Thursday, May 23rd, and tell me about your favourite Niagara-on-the-Lake wine.  I'd love to hear what you're drinking from NOTL.  For every recommendation you send me, you will be entered in the contest to win the tickets....the lucky winner's name will be drawn late in the afternoon of Thursday, May 23rd.

 
Now let me tell you about a Niagara-on-the-Lake wine that I like.  Pillitteri Twenty-Three Sauvignon Blanc 2010 ($15.95) is just about the most perfect wine for a lovely spring day like today.  It is crisp and refreshing, a nice dry wine loaded with aromas of ripe apricot and melon, as well as some herbaceous grassiness, and a bit of lime pith on the palate.  A perfect sipper on this warm and sunny afternoon.

Tell me what you are drinking from Niagara-on-the-Lake....I look forward to hearing from you! 

66 Gilead Gin

While in Prince Edward County last month, we visited 66 Gilead Distillery.  It is located just outside of Bloomfield, its property dominated by a beautiful old house.  Behind the house are a couple of old barns in which various interesting vinegars are made and beautiful wine barrels are fashioned, not to mention the new shop in which all the distilling magic happens.

 
66 Gilead opened a few years ago, producing various vodkas based on different ingredients, like whole wheat and rye, as well as a shochu.  Rum and whiskey are in the works too.  But let's talk gin.

The fragrance the 66 Gilead Loyalist Gin hits you immediately.  Knocks your socks off, actually.  Aromas of juniper are in the forefront, followed by fresh citrus, pine and floral notes.  Fantastic and clean tasting.  Perfect in a Killer B.

The recipe is straightforward: gin, lemon juice, and Thai chile and pepper infused simple syrup (check out the recipe on Saveur).  It will knock your socks off...

California Wine Fair 2013

While the weather at this time of year tends to be unreliable, the California Wine Fair is invariably a good time.  It takes place every year at the beginning of April, time and again proving to be the perfect opportunity to taste the offerings of various producers from the golden state.  You can be sure that you will find the tried-and-true bottles from well-know wineries rounded out by the appealing wares of smaller companies.

I started with old favourites this year...in fact, I beelined straight for the Birichino table as I walked through the door.  I mean, why pretend?  I have a small love affair going on with Birichino's wines, they are distinctive and tasty, and I don't get the chance to sample them as frequently as I would like.  As expected, their Vin Gris 2012 was fabulous, its light aromas of strawberry and lime conjuring daydreams of backyard barbeques in the dead heat of summer.

The Malvasia Bianca 2011 is my fave though: its floral, lime, lychee and orange zest notes are just so pleasant and appealing.  And I would do almost anything to get my hands on a bottle of their Saint Georges Pinot Noir 2011, but I have been told by a reliable source that it is unavailable.  I may have to do some extended research to see if I can dig some up someplace.  My guess is that the interwebs might know where I can locate a bottle or two.  As a side note, the LCBO does not carry Birichino wines, but you can often find them at SAQ.  Not that I am condoning cross-border wine purchasing or anything.

I also discovered some new loves.  One new-to-me producer is Elyse Winery.  I enjoyed their C'est Si Bon 2009 blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.  I found it quite juicy, its raspberry and eucalyptus flavours nicely balanced by a firm acidity.

Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010 was a nice surprise.  I am not a huge fan of this varietal, but this bottle appealed to me.  The typical Chardonnay characteristics of tropical fruit, vanilla and butterscotch are heartily supported by a lemony acidity on the palate.

Guenoc's Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Lake County was a pleaser too.  It has a beautifully smooth mouthfeel, with pineapple, grapefruit and banana following through on the palate.

The California Wine Fair visits various cities across Canada, always stopping by Ottawa at the beginning of April, but there are also dates in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, not to mention Calgary and Halifax.  Bringing a little California sunshine when we need it most...

County in the City - Ticket Draw!

So all this talk of Prince Edward County peak your interest?  Wanna taste some yummy County wine but can't spare a weekend away just yet?  Well, good news...Savvy Company is hosting "County in the City", an opportunity to taste wines from a number of PEC producers right here in Ottawa.  The event takes place April 18th at the NAC.

Aaaaaaand....I have a pair of tickets to give away!!!  Seriously.  If you are interested, send me an email at tipmytumbler[at]gmail[dot]com by noon on April 3rd.  That afternoon, I will put all the names into a hat and pick one lucky winner.  Woot woot!

Thanks to Debbie at Savvy Company for supplying the tickets!

Update 03/04/13:  The draw is closed now...thanks to everyone who participated!

Prince Edward County

I need to tell you about Prince Edward County.  I visited the County for the third time this past weekend, making the road trip with my partners-in-wine, Holly and Bethany.  The County is one of the fastest growing wine-producing areas in Canada and it is just a two and a half hour drive from Ottawa or Toronto.  Along with its burgeoning wine scene, the County is a culinary destination as well as an artist's haven.

We traveled to the County to participate in #indulgePEC, a weekend wine and food extravaganza organized and hosted by John Squair of Sandbanks Estates Winery and Jeremiah MacKenzie of Taste the County.  Along with several other writers from Toronto, Whitby and Ottawa, we stayed at Angeline's Inn in Bloomfield, a comfy little place with the most pleasant and accommodating hosts.  The Inn's bistro, The Hubb, started our adventure off with County Mimosas paired with fantastic homemade donuts, the stuff of my dreams.

Now, to the wines.  After noshing a melty cheesy bacony sandwich at the Agrarian, we headed to an exclusive wine tasting showcasing the bottlings from Karlo Estates, Lighthall Vineyards, Rosehall Run Vineyards, Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard, and Sandbanks Estate Winery as we nibbled the awesome charcuterie made by Seed to Sausage.  While I enjoyed many selections from each wine producer, here are some of my faves:

Sandbanks Estate Winery French Kiss 2010: A lovely Cabernet-Merlot blend with aromas of ripe red cherry, earth, dried savoury and cedar, all coming together smoothly on the palate.  Tasty tasty...

Norman Hardie Pinot Noir 2011: I have had the opportunity to taste Norman Hardie's wines before and they never fail to impress.  This Pinot Noir boasts cranberry, dark berries, earth and eucalyptus, with a light and juicy mouthfeel.

Norman Hardie Cabernet Franc 2011: I don't usually go for Cab Franc, but this one I like.  Floral, dark berry and plum characteristics are balanced by solid tannins.  It would be perfect at a summertime barbeque...

Karlo Estates Quintus 2010: Fruit-forward and jammy in aroma and flavour, this vino is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot nuanced with minerality, leather and tobacco on the palate.

Lighthall Chardonnay Reserve 2009: This was my first experience tasting Lighthall wines, and I have to say that I liked what I tasted.  The Chardonnay has all that you would expect from the grape variety - aromas of banana, pineapple, butter and cinnamon, but it is well balanced with a lively acidity and light mouthfeel, so so easy to drink...

Lighthall Gewurztraminer 2011: This off-dry Gewurz would be fantastic with curry or Thai food all thanks to plentiful pear, honey, floral and spice aromas.  I hope to be found indulging in a bottle on the deck in the summer sunshine...ah...one day...when this blasted winter ends.

Lighthall Pinot Noir 2011: A nice light Pinot Noir this is, with strawberry and herbaceous aromas, maybe a little smoke, and solid acidity and tannin on the palate.  I drank it with pretty much every course I ate on the Countylicious menu at Pomodoro on Saturday, from the deep-fried gnocchi to the shrimp-bean-fennel salad to the eggplant rotolo and everything in between.  Mmmm...

It was a whirlwind weekend, punctuated by terrific wine and lots - lots! - of fabulous food.  There is so much more to tell you about, but it will have to wait until next time...

By the way, if you are interested in trying wine from Prince Edward County but can't make it there just yet, Savvy Company is hosting "County in the City" on April 18 in Ottawa.  Check it out.  Then plan yourself a weekend getaway to PEC....

Castillo de Monseran Garnacha

So I just noticed that I tend to write a whole lot about white wines on tip my tumbler.  Odd, considering I drink much more red than white, especially at this time of year.  The first step to leveling the balance is to tell you about my house red.  This is the my go-to weeknight wine.  When I need a little something to go with my pizza or pasta, beef stew, pulled pork sandwiches.  Or just when I feel like sipping a comfy red on a cold night.

Castillo de Monseran Garnacha 2011 ($9.95): simple, yummy, and oh so easy to drink.  Available all the time.  Always in stock at the teeny tiny LCBO not half a kilometer from my house.  Fits my budget.  Nicely fruity, sour cherry and raspberry, some cedar and tobacco and a little spice.  Not too tannic, freshly acidic, pairs well with lots of dishes, especially the hearty comfort food I am eating these days. 

May stroll up to the liquor store now, need a bottle to drink with tonight's dinner of maple baked beans.  Mmmm...

Alsatian Pinot Blanc

I'm not a winter person.  I don't ski.  I don't skate.  I spend most of January hibernating...hiding under a warm blanket in my living room, sipping wine by a roaring fire.  Sometimes I stare out the window, forlorn and brooding over thoughts of the sun's rays on my skin, sipping cocktails on the back deck.  My back deck is currently lying under two feet of hard-packed snow.  It will be a few months before we can fire up the barbeque again, but until then, I intend to whine.  

Speaking of wine (ha ha), I recently realized that I had too many bottles of Alsatian white wine in my little cellar, possibly about to languish.  I like wine from Alsace.  The whites produced there are exactly the kind that I like - light, crisp, fragrant - and they are typically inexpensive.  Whenever released at Vintages, I usually make an effort to pick up a bottle or two, which has led to the odd abundance in my collection.

So like any normal person would do (right?), I decided to have an Alsatian Pinot Blanc showdown.  On the right, there was the Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc Reserve 2010 ($14.95) and on the left, the Joseph Cattin Pinot Blanc 2010 ($14.95).  The Pinot Blanc by Pierre Sparr has fragrant notes of pomelo, apple, and mineral, along with floral and petrol aromas.  It is a bit oily on the palate, pleasantly so, and is medium bodied.  In contrast, Joseph Cattin Pinot Blanc is much lighter, crisp with aromas of gala apple, lime pith, honey and orange blossom.  I preferred the latter of the two, however I would be quite happy to find either of these lovelies in my tumbler.

Just as a side note, Alsace is a small wine-producing area in the north east of France, separated from Germany by the Rhein river.  It is known for its crisp aromatic white wines, made from grape varieties like Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer, however a smaller quantity of red wine is also produced, based mainly on Pinot Noir.

I still have a couple more of these bottles in my cellar, begging to be opened soon.  I wonder what the next winter showdown will bring....