Oct 26 2010

an apple a day – what about wine?

Category: Wine tasting — winepost @ 10:26 pm

It’s cold and flu season, and I’ve been hit by the germ wave something fierce. As illness seriously impedes my ability to drink wine, let’s just say I’m not a happy camper about it. But it got me thinking about the old adage of ‘a glass of wine a day’ as being good for one’s health.

So what did I do? After I returned home from the doctor’s office, I let my fingers do the walking – and Googled it. Not surprisingly, there’s a ton of information floating about on the interwebs about booze and germ fighting.  Some wine folks have chimed in on the subject, too. Someone asked our friends at Wine Spectator about the merits of drinking wine while affected by a cold; internet news in the UK is talking wine and cold prevention; a fun site called the New Scientist dishes the dirt on wine’s cold-fighting possibilities as well as busts the myths about colds (some of the reading is rather, um, yucky – proceed with caution).

However, many seem to be using data from research in Spain – a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology; that drinking red wine may indeed be beneficial in fighting the germ fight. Good news for us wine lovers. Yet despite my rather regular intake of the good stuff, I still managed to get sick. I blame wine-resistant germs.

Now that I’m learning about the glass-of-wine-a-day theory (or more, depending on how you dice the stats), I’m inclined to get a little more specific – say, which wine. Remember, the study said red wine appeared to have more effect. This means it’s time for a new list: the Top Five Glass-A-Day Red Wines list. There’s no criteria for the list, other than these are some of my favourite reds to be found in the Okanagan. And since it’s my list, makes sense it would be my faves.

The Top Five Glass-A-Day Red Wines List

Disclaimer: there is no proof that drinking any of these wines will help you reduce your chance of catching a cold. But that’s not the point, is it? Give it a go and see if you manage to keep those germs at bay, because although staying home from work to sleep on the sofa sounds like fun – it’s really not how I like to un*wine*d.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some germ fighting to get back to.

Cheers!

Jeannette

PS: That guy on the intro page for Poplar Grove? It’s John Clerides from Marquis Wine Cellars, sticking his nose in a glass of great BC wine. After 25 years in the wine biz, he knows his stuff. I’ll drink with him again any day.

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Oct 18 2010

BC Harvest 2010

Category: Wine tasting — winepost @ 7:51 pm

The late, great harvest – or something like that.

It’s been an interesting year in the world of viticulture – an early warm March followed by a cold, wet June meant delays in plants springing to life and bearing fruit. It all translates into a slightly delayed harvest for our BC grape growing and winemaking community, from Vancouver Island to the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan. No matter where they are, viticulturists and winemakers are doing their best to play along to the funky beat put out by Ma Nature this year.

On Twitter, the talk has been fun and playful – even optimistic. Maybe it’s because the players who’ve been in this game a while took the right steps early in the year to help mitigate any potential issues. Follow the #BCHarvest2010 hashtag for news about this year’s bounty from your favourite social-media savvy BC wineries.

Some of the top Tweeters in the Harvest conversation are: Sandra Oldfield, winemaker at Tinhorn Creek; Bradley Cooper, winemaker at Township7; Dwight Sick, winemaker at Stag’s Hollow; Crystal Froese at Dunham & Froese; and the folks at Herder Winery. There’s plenty of tweeps (Twitter Peeps) chiming in on the harvest, and since conversation is what Twitter is all about, it makes a great place for people to connect with our winemakers and grape growers for honest interaction.

Harvesting is different at every site. I didn’t know much about mechanical harvesting until I spent some time with Andrew Moon, viticulturist at Tinhorn Creek. That in itself is an education; the guy’s in love with what he does, so if you get the chance to chat with him about anything vineyard, be prepared to invest some time.

New technology means mechanical harvesters have developed in leaps and bounds – so much so that the equipment is pricey for anyone with fewer than 200+ acres. In the meantime, smaller vineyards can contract or lease the equipment from a select few; not many of our local vineyards and wineries have enough acreage to justify even leasing the equipment. Between the 50 acre Tinhorn vineyard and the 100 acre Diamond Back vineyard (located on the Black Sage Bench), Andrew has enough grapes on hand to play with the big toys.

Andrew makes the decision to machine or hand harvest based on what’s in the best interest of the grapes. And the technology is so good that he can dial-in to have the machine leave behind what’s not wanted – unripe clusters or anything with a spot of trouble. When hand harvesting, pickers are usually paid by the bin – the incentive to be more selective just isn’t there. Another perk of the machine harvest is efficiency: often the harvester can be out, working and done by 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning, getting multiple bins to the ‘crush pad’ in time for a day-long date with the winemaker and cellar team.

Despite what nature had in store for the growing season, our BC growers and winemakers seem to be happy with what they’re harvesting. And when that happens, chances are we’ll be happy when it comes time for us to pour ourselves a glass to un*wine*d with. I’m betting on our talented folks to get some delicious flavours out of 2010 – just you wait.

Cheers!

~ Jeannette

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Oct 09 2010

putting the grand in finale

Category: Wine tasting — winepost @ 4:59 pm

I visited over 60 wineries last night – all within walking distance of one another.

Seriously, it happened. For real. And there were hundreds of people there with me, which made it pretty damn fun. Someone (Johnston Meier Insurance) even offered to give everyone a ride home who had drank a wee bit too much (the new 0.05% alcohol law thing). That’s sweet.

My fella and I – along with multiple hundreds of other people last night – attended the Valley First Grand Finale Consumer Tastings at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. It’s the fall wine festival closer, and it’s an absolute blast.

With well over 60 wineries in attendance (I heard rumours that there were up to 80), the Consumer Tastings puts the grand in finale. Festival winners are pouring their wines – often poured by the winemaker her/himself – and food stations offer something to nibble while you swirl, sniff and sip your way around the room.

If you like what you taste, chances are it’s there for purchase in the retail store the festival folks have set up at one end of the room. Where else can you browse award-winning BC wines with a glass of the stuff in your hand? Yeah, thought so.

The best part of the Grand Finale Consumer Tastings? It’s not over. Tonight’s the last night – get a ticket while you still can.

Here’s just a few of my faves from the night:

  • Seven Stones 2008 Pinot Noir: Newly released, this is beauty in a glass. Soft strawberries with a strong, mineral backbone. You’re going to want to spend some time with this one.
  • Spierhead 2008 Vanguard: Say hello to our new Okanagan wine friends with a glass of something wonderful. They just opened their doors in July, and are located in Kelowna. Fruit for this big red blend comes from the Black Sage Road in the south. Only 119 cases made.
  • Cassini Cellars Chardonnay: The unoaked version is a lovely example of what this grape can express without the time spent in barrel and is a fave with many. I enjoy it, and I’m an oaked chard lover. My fave is the Reserve which sees oak and has that delectable quality which only comes from a gentle wine making hand.
  • Orofino 2008 Beleza: These people make good booze. I tasted the Beleza a few months ago, and something wasn’t speaking to me then. Fast-forward to last night and damn, that’s good wine. Proof that wine in the bottle is literally a living, breathing thing. A substantial red blend which requires food and very, very good friends. Let it sleep a while, too.
  • Painted Rock 2007 Red Icon: Lieutenant Governor award-winner, taste bud pleaser and over-delivering big wine. I’ve been watching (well, tasting) how this sultry number has been doing over the last few months, and it’s only getting better.
  • Kraze Legs ‘The Bee’s Knees’ 2009 Pinot Blanc: Hello, surprise. Clean and crisp, the freshness of this little one is all about the acid – and I promised to not speak wine-speak here, but when you feel that clean taste cut across your taste buds I want you to know that it’s due to picture-perfect acids (if there is such a thing). Lovely. Yum.
  • Stag’s Hollow 2009 Con-Fusion: I bought a bottle. Enough said.

Get out there and taste some wine. You’ll thank me for it. While you’re there, be sure to grab a Safe Ride Home if needed – we want you safely tucked away in bed to dream sweet dreams.

What a great way to un*wine*d for a long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Jeannette

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Oct 04 2010

crushing on food – and new wine releases

Category: Wine tasting — winepost @ 6:51 pm

I’ve got a new food crush.

A food crush (as I define it) means you’re smitten with the food made by a particular chef – which translates into wanting to kidnap said chef and hide her/him in your basement so they can make delicious meals, just for you. And if you’re familiar at all with my 140 character musings on Twitter, you’ll know that I have a few of these crushes.

First, there’s the radio crush I have for a particular CBC Radio announcer. In the Okanagan dining scene, I’ve established a fairly public food crush on a chef at a Summerland establishment. After last night’s Gourmet and Grapes held at Cabana Grille in Kelowna (sponsored by Terasen), I’ve a few new food crushes – and met/got reacquainted with a couple of great wines.

While Cabana executive chef Ned Bell got his Iron Chef game on against chef Roger Planiden, the space at Cabana was divided into a myriad of food/wine paired stations – each hosted by a great chef and guest winery. Oh MY.

Highlights:

  • Duck risotto, and a wild salmon/organic apple tartare, prepared by Wild Apple Manteo executive chef Bernard Casavant – paired with Arrowleaf Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris respectively
  • Cheese (cheese!), including local Poplar Grove Tiger Blue and two from Quebec (brie from Montreal…mmmm) – paired exquisitely well with the consumer choice award winning Gewurztraminer from The View; easily the best pairing of the night
  • Halibut with a yummy whipped potato concoction and vanilla butter on fresh greens by Eldorado executive chef Michael Lyon (I wasn’t a fan of the reisling wine pairing – the sweet vanilla in the sauce brought out a sharp acidic note in the wine, which was unfortunate)
  • Although the Sablefish was gone by the time gal pal Allison Markin and I weaved our way to the final station, we didn’t bemoan the loss as we tucked in to some delectable seared venison courtesy of Passa Tempo executive chef Jeremy Luypen – paired with Blue Mountain Gamay or Brut (I choose the bubble – always choose the bubble). As it was the last stop, Chef also treated us to a delicious chocolate pate with to-die-for whipped topping that remains unknown to me. When it tastes that good, I don’t need details.

So yes, I have a new food crush or two. Looks like we’ll have to expand the basement to fit a couple more chefs. As for that culinary throw-down? Chef Roger took away the spoils while Chef Ned – gracious host that he is – awarded his foodie colleague with a flight for two anywhere in Canada that WestJet flies.

Fall Wine Fest – new wine releases

I promised to keep our readers (the eight of them I have) up-to-date on new Fall Fest wine releases. As I’m only one person, I need to go about this blitz-style to hit as many wineries in one spot as possible. The best way to do that during Festival is to attend a large tasting event. This year, I’ve managed to get to Festival of the Grape in Oliver. Staggering distance from my house, fortunately.

Eau Vivre: Pinot Noir. The 2007 sold out (understandably, as it’s yummilicous), so wine maker Andrew has released the 2008 vintage. This one’s gonna win stuff. Get it while you can.

Tinhorn Creek: 2007 2Bench Red. It’s wine maker Sandra’s inaugural vintage of a big red blend – with Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot. 2008 will see the introduction of Petit Verdot and Malbec, but for three years after that the Malbec will go awol as they lost their Malbec in the flash-freeze of 2009. The ’07 is remarkable. Put it in your cellar and let it sleep, if you can. It’s got staying power. You’ll curse me while you’re waiting for it, but you’ll thank me afterwards.

Fairview Cellars: Iconoclast. This is wine maker Bill’s swan song, and if you know anything about Bill’s cabernet sauvignons of the past you’ll know that I’m talking BIG goodness. Extremely limited production – one barrel’s worth of wine only. Not your average wine, in the best possible way. I asked him to put one aside for me until I can get to the winery – it’s THAT good.

Township 7: 2006 “The Black Dog”. Let’s start with this – 40 months in new French and American oak barrels. That’s not a typo; it’s FORTY months in barrel. Oh-my-freakin’-word. 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 1% Syrah. With only 54 cases released – and 114 bottles sold in ONE DAY at the winery, immediately after release – this is going to fly out the door before you know it. I grabbed what bottles I could, and although it’s tasty right now I know it’s a good one to let sit in the bottle for a decent amount of time. If I can forget about it that long. The label says it best. “Share with the most deserving friends and cook them something wonderful.”

So now you know what I know. More wine release info will come your way as soon as I hear about it. Please feel free to add your own – we love to hear about what BC wine you’re drinking. After all, the best time to un*wine*d with a glass of something yummy is the minute you think about it – and can get to the bottle.

Cheers!

~Jeannette

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