Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  I hope the sunshine is finding you and giving you hope, like it does me, that the warm weather is just around the corner…

It was a good week for your Girls Go Grape blogger –  I ended a 16-year chapter of my life in the advertising and publishing industry only to have a meeting immediately prior to ‘handing in my phone’ with a great contact who has a potential business partnership opportunity for me.  Yay!  More to come – still in the early meeting stages but I am flattered nonetheless.  Then, the week got even better!  I had sent an email to the BC Wine Authority letting them know who I am and asked what their process is around becoming a VQA Wine Quality Assessor (a volunteer position that is responsible for ensuring BC VQA wine quality and reputation).  As luck would have it, I met their qualifications and there was one spot available for their two weekend workshop that is the mandatory first step.  So – I am off to the Okanagan this weekend and the next to learn all about wine ‘faults’ and how to very specifically identify these faults in wine.  I am still kind of pinching myself at the timing of everything…yes – one door closes and many others open up.

On to the wine of the week…I was in the mood for a big red wine so I went downstairs and selected La Stella’s ‘Fortissimo’ 2008 from Osoyoos, B.C.  I had purchased this bottle of wine last October when I went up to the Okanagan Wine Festival.  I was hosted by the wonderful Mike Kosaka and Wade Martin and joined in a flight tasting that had just started.  Pretty much everything I tasted at La Stella blew me away and the experience was excellent.

The ‘Fortissimo’ was my favourite in the flight.  It is a ‘Super Tuscan’ blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese…delicious.  In the glass, La Stella’s 2008 ‘Fortissimo’ is a deep, vibrant ruby-red colour.  On the nose, aromas of dusty earth, oregano and dried herbs, cherry, raspberry, some delicate oak and sweet spice.  I could have kept smelling this glass of wine for hours!  On the palate, ‘Fortissimo’ has a pronounced flavour profile with tastes of all the aromas in the glass – truly an exceptional flavour with elegance and complexity.

La Stella’s ‘Fortissimo’ is medium plus in alcohol at 14.2% abv. and medium plus in body.  The tannins are well-integrated and refined and the wine has a nice, bright acidity that I love in a red…thank you, Sangiovese!  This lovely wine has a long, lingering finish and is a beautiful expression of a ‘Super Tuscan’ wine from La Stella.  This is a ‘Hell Yes’ wine – absolutely!

The ‘Fortissimo’ 2011 from La Stella has just been released at $35 per bottle.  A great bottle of wine you can enjoy now or put down for the next 3 – 5 years.

That is it for me this week!  I look forward to giving you some fun details about my first ‘tasting’ workshop this weekend in next weeks’ blog post.  As always, I welcome wine questions – so don’t hesitate to ask!

Enjoy!

XO
C

Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  What have you been up to this gorgeous summer we have been having?  Do tell and, of course, let me know about any wine discoveries you have found this season!

It feels like my life has been on constant green light for well over a month now…with my trip to Paso Robles and Santa Barbara with the blogging conference and now just back from 10 days in Oregon visiting the Willamette Valley and it sub-regional AVA’s…whew!

The trip was fantastic as I combined the wine touring and interviews I set up with some great camping with my family both in a tent on the coast of Oregon in a stunning state park called Beachside and then up into the Willamette Valley to experience a yurt for the first time.  The two locations could not have been more opposite and the balance between the two made me appreciate each for what it has to offer.

We headed out in our Volvo packed to the gills on Wednesday, July 23.  My sister-in-law Laura and brother-in-law Peter joined us for the adventure in their awesome Westfalia VW Van.  We got to Salem, after experiencing horrendous traffic, and were ever so thankful to pull up to the hotel.

The next morning, I headed out for my first interview of the trip with Ted Casteel, founder and current vineyard manager of Bethel Heights Vineyard.  I was greeted by Ben Casteel, winemaker, and Mimi Casteel who is Ted’s daughter and is the viticulturist and general manager.  This winery is exceptional and family focused.  My interview with Ted provided great insight on the LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) certification he took part in creating.  I then had a wine tasting and walked away with a few bottles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that were divine.

Next, I headed down the road to St. Innocent Winery.  I didn’t have an interview set up but did a flight tasting and met their tasting room manger, Liz, who was most accommodating.  Again, I didn’t leave there empty handed.  I am excited to taste what these energetic wines will taste like after 5-7 years of aging…I will keep you posted!

It was time for Beachside and our camping trip started.  I was able to relax and go on ‘vacation mode’.  Watching our daughter Mackenzie fly a kite on a white, sandy beach and grinning from ear to ear was a memory I will forever cherish.  She loved everything about camping and met so many friends, namely a little girl named Payton from Oregon, and her lovely family.  We also met a great family from Vernon, B.C. who threw a frisbee with Mackenzie and listened intently as she told them she lived in New York.  There was a great conversation around the campfire that night when Kevin and Lisa recounted the tales Mackenzie told them…I will never look at a crosswalk the same way again!

Back up north to Champoeg State Park (pronounced shampoo-y) where we encountered intense heat and our first yurt.  This park was more quiet as there was no wind or waves to listen too – I found myself missing the energy of the ocean and the wind…good to know.  The yurt was rustic, to say the least, and I think we are a tent family after all…However, the bike trails along the Willamette River were spectacular and easy to ride.  Mackenzie’s confidence on her bike grew tenfold and by the end of the trip, she was racing around wearing her helmet and a dress and looking incredibly French.

I had my second interview of the trip with Adam Campbell of Elk Cove Vineyards located in Gaston, Oregon.  They won the Wine & Spirits Winery of the year in 2013 for good reason.  Adam and I had a nice, relaxed interview and I learned that he and I share a love of Alsatian varietals – yay!  Their wines are incredibly site specific and I was given a private seated tasting flight of their single vineyard and reserve Pinot Noir as well as a glass of sparkling 1999 Pinot Noir to start things off – talk about VIP treatment!  And, I found my rosé of the trip here along with stunning Pinot Noirs.  Did I leave empty handed? Absolutely not.  I will be coming back to this winery again and again.

My final day of wine tasting was up into the famous Dundee Hills and my sister-in-law Laura accompanied me.  We had a ball.  We visited Erath Winery and did their flight and enjoyed the Pinot Blanc.  Then, onto Lange Estate Winery, where I didn’t spend enough time so I will need to go back again.  I tried my first ever rosé from Sangiovese here and liked the fullness of flavour.  Finally, we went to Domaine Drouhin for a tasting of three wines with Dyane Savino…absolutely delicious.  I loved the Chardonnay Arthur 2012 and their Edition Rosé.  Let’s just say I found more than a few new favourites this trip!

Thank you to all the wineries mentioned that treated me so well!  This holiday vacation was just what I needed to unwind, taste great wine, and, most importantly, be with my family.

That is it for this week – don’t forget to tell me if you have found a new favourite this season!

XO
C

Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  I hope your week has been terrific for you.  I am finally settling in from the crazy month of July…she was a busy one, indeed.  My beautiful sister, Jessica Campbell, turned 40 on August 5th and she and her love, Stephen Diebolt, put on a perfect celebration this past Saturday evening…a truly wonderful night for a truly wonderful woman.  Family and friends, a warm summer day and great wine all made for happy evening.

Speaking of wine, this week I have my notes for you on the ‘Speed Blogging’ presentation at the Wine Blogging conference I attended in Santa Barbara.  This fast and furious seminar is one of my favourites of the conference and this years participants did not disappoint!  We had 5 minutes with 10 wineries who rotated from table to table pouring tastes for us to sample and giving us a quick rundown what they wanted us to know…

What follows is an exact transcript of what I wrote down during the ‘Speed Blogging’ event:

Main & Geary Zinfandel 2012 – 89% Zinfandel and 11% Syrah smooth 14.5% abv. spent one month in American oak. Dry Creek Valley. $10 – good value. An exclusive wine to BevMo.com

Cornerstone Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Franc 5%. Oakville AVA $150 a bottle.  This is a ‘lay-down’ wine and needs 10 years to develop. Sweet vanilla notes on the nose and silky tannins.  Beautiful.

White Hart Winery Pinot Noir 2012 – sustainably farmed, 42 year old vines.  McIntyre vineyard.  Named winery White Hart because he swore he saw a purely white deer.  Lay down for 4 – 5 years.  Neutral oak. $24 per bottle. Nice flavour, hints of lavender. 

Banfi – Centine Rosso Toscana 2012 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. I like this affordable, everyday red.  $12.  Nice minerality.

Georgia Wine USA – Georgia the country, not the state…an odd presentation of several wines.  Too much information in too little time. Overwhelming and no cohesion. Tried Saparavi grape variety: sour and unappealing.  They grow 23 – 30 grape varieties in this country.  Next…

Aridus 2012 Syrah – grapes from Russian River Valley and wine is made in their custom crush facility in Arizona.  Family business.  $35. Big flavour – not sure I like it though…

Charles Krug Peter Mondavi Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. $75 for a bottle. Nice and bright – I like this one…not too heavy or big.  Has some Petit Verdot and Malbec in the mix. Unique micro-climate growing condition.

Ottimino Estate 2011 Zinfandel – means ‘little eight’ 14.2% abv. Cool climate Zinfandel from 3 AVAs: Russian River Valley, Green Valley and Sonoma Coast. Nice aromas, produce between 2,500 – 5,000 cases.  Dry farmed.  2000 was the first vintage.  Zinfandel only.

Casey Flat Ranch (CFR) – CFR Estate Red 2011. Retails for $40. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 1% Viognier (co-fermented with Syrah like Côte Rotie) 2,000 ft. elevation in the mountains of Napa. Working longhorn cattle ranch as well.  Great balance of acidity and tannin – would be amazing with beef. Age 4-5 years. 69% new oak. Laura Barrett winemaker.  This is a great wine.

Gypsy Canyon – The Collector’s Pinot Noir 2012 Retails for $110/bottle. Only 100 cases made of this wine.  I am in heaven – this is, by far the best wine of the flight, if not the day.  Absolutely divine and I would like some more!  Silky, balanced, complex and just gorgeous to drink.  Deborah Hall, owner and winemaker, may well have the most beautiful hands I have ever seen.  

Deborah Hall’s beautiful hand

‘Speed Blogging’ is really quite thrilling as every person in the room is straining to hear what the presenters are saying and, at the same time, focus on their own tasting skills and write it all down – and in a hurry!  My favourite of REDS was Gypsy Canyon’s ‘The Collector’s Pinot Noir’ – if you have an opportunity to try this stunning wine – please do … it is worth every penny.

That is it for me for today.  Next week, I will have my notes for you on my ‘Speed Blogging’ day with the white wines I was presented.  Please keep your comments coming!

Enjoy!

XO
C

Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!

I hope you are keeping well and getting into the holiday spirit that is sneaking up VERY quickly!  At our house, the Christmas carols are playing already and we couldn’t be happier!

So, with this merry season in mind, I have for you my annual ‘Top Picks for Wine’ Christmas shopping list – The Reds:

• Norante Terra Degli Di Majo, Italy $13.99  A fantastic expression of Italian Sangiovese at a great price.  This is an easy drinking, light red wine with lots of bright, cherry notes.  Great for entertaining and a wine for the masses, potluck dinners or a casual pasta night. Yum.
• Tabali ‘Reserva’ Limari Pinot Noir, Chile $17.29 I was introduced to this great wine at Cornucopia earlier this month. A cool climate example of Pinot Noir with restrained yet juicy flavours – it has great acidity and structure.  Very good value for money. (Currently on sale at the B.C. Liquor stores for $15.29!!!) Start the car!
• Bertrand Saint Chinian AOC Languedoc/Roussillon France 2012 $22.99 Wow, this blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre is big and delicious  with loads of flavour and happiness in the glass.  A perfect gift for someone looking for a wine adventure.  Very good and full bodied – a wine to curl up with.
• Domaine De Cébène ‘Les Bancèls’ Faugères AOC, France $27.99 A blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache, this award winning and highly acclaimed organic wine is one to savour.  From the Languedoc/Roussillon region of France (yes, I like this region), it is a great gift for the wine geek on your Christine, whoops, I mean Christmas list. Let this wine open up before serving.  It can cellar for three years.
• Schug Pinot Noir Carneros, USA 2013 $36.99 Here is a lovely expression of how well Pinot Noir can do in the right location in California.  Delicious and complex with a fantastic silky finish. Can be aged up to 5 years. Quite dreamy.
• Clos Du Soleil ‘Signature’ Similkameen Valley, B.C. VQA 2012 $39.09 A stunning example of this Similkameen Valley superstar winery – a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This beauty can cellar for 10 years – a wine for the collector on your list or yourself because you have been so darn good this year!

All wines on this list are available at the B.C.L.D.B stores but it is always a good idea to check online first before heading to your local store.  Next week, I will be back with some great white wines.  Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!

XO
C

Hello again!  Yes, I am back – twice in one week? What? Yes!  This time, I am talking red wine with the highlights of the Vancouver International Wine Festival‘s ’25 Wines Under $25’ wine mingler event benefitting the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.

I had such a phenomenal week celebrating Canada’s 150 birthday – British Columbia wines shone brightly and I sampled some delightful Ontario and Nova Scotian wines as well. Uruguay made its first appearance at the festival with Bodega Garzón and it was announced that Spain and Portugal will be the featured countries of the 2018 VIWF – olé!

The excitement was palpable as wine lovers lined up on Saturday evening – ticket in hand ready to find a few new favourites…

The Wine World was here!  The talented Ann Sperling of Sperling Vineyards.

With 25 wines to swirl, sip and savour – highlights of the red wines include:

• Bodega Garzón Colinas De Uruguay Tannat 2015 – juicy and great tasting, Uruguay’s rock star grape, Tannat, shines with vibrancy and freshness.  A definite wine to try if you haven’t already. $21.49
• Sperling Vineyards Market Red 2015 – this is a fantastic wine from Kelowna, B.C. A blend of Marechal Foch and Pinot Noir that is sure to delight. $15.99
• M. Chapoutier Les Vignes De Bila-Haut Rouge 2015 – yes, you have seen this wine on my lists before – for good reason.  Hand harvested, this is a fruity blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan – I continue to be a fan. $15.79
• Carpineto Dogajolo Toscana Rosso IGT 2014 – where have you been hiding? A young Super-Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Juicy, fruity and mouthwatering, this Italian wine is a bottle full of fantastic.  $17.29
• Bodega Renacer Punto Final Malbec 2015 – here is a very good Malbec from Argentina. Full to the brim with notes of tobacco and plum, this is a crowd-pleasing wine indeed. $16.99 (On sale for $14.99 until March 4th at B.C.L.D.B. stores) Whoot!
• Familia Castaño La Casona Monastrell 2014 – this is the one I was teasing you about on social media…Bright, juicy and easy to drink, this Spanish wine will forevermore be a part of your ‘go-to’ reds.  $8.99 ( Yes, you read that correctly!)

Whew – some fantastic gems on this list indeed.  If you haven’t attended the Vancouver International Wine Festival and would like to dip your toe into what the experience is like – I would strongly suggest this very popular wine mingler.  As I said, it is also a fundraiser for the Bard on The Beach Shakespeare Festival so you can pat yourself on the back while you taste some great wines at a great value.

Enjoy!

XO
C

Best of the holiday season to you – I hope you are finding some calm and quiet during this busy week…

To save you a bit of that all too precious time, I’ve got you covered with a red wine shopping guide for you and the wine lovers on your list:

• Casa Santos ‘Confidencial’ Reserva Tinto 2013 Lisboa, Portugal – This is one of my favourite ‘finds’ this year in the red wine category.  Bright and alive with over 10 grape varieties, this field blend of Portuguese grapes is pretty darn incredible. ‘Confidencial’ boasts a good amount of acidity and juicy cherry fruit notes topped with vanilla and chocolate. $15.99
• Bleasdale ‘Second Innings’ Malbec 2015 Langhorne Creek, South Australia – If you have someone on your list who likes a well-rounded, fruit-forward red wine – this is the one to buy.  Aged in new and seasoned French oak, this Malbec is full of ripe plum, crushed raspberries and whipped mocha notes. $16.49
• Le Calvane ‘Quercione’ Chianti 2015 Tuscany, Italy – Here is a great wine for the wine adventurer or the Italian wine drinker in your life.  This structured and well made Chianti is made with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo grapes and tastes like fresh cherries and a dusting of freshly ground black pepper. $17.99
• Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2015 BC VQA Osoyoos, British Columbia – Cabernet Franc really shines in the Southern Okanagan and Bordertown’s 2015 vintage is a shining example of what the region is capable of. This full-bodied red is nicely balanced and full of sweet chewing tobacco, cinnamon, and blackberry flavours. $19.99
• Vasse Felix ‘Filius’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Margaret River, Western Australia – For the Cabernet Sauvignon lover on your list, here is a wine that over delivers. With a lengthy finish and structured flavour profile of blackcurrant, sweet cedar, and dried sage, there is a reason that Margaret River is one of the best places in the world to grow and craft exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. $27.99
• Domaine de Cébène ‘Les Bancèls’ 2013 Faugères, Languedoc-Roussillon, France – From the increasingly popular region of Faugères in the South of France, the grapes from this estate are organically farmed and crafted by winemaker Brigitte Chavalier.  This is a delicious blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre that express an elegant flavour palate of cassis, black cherry, lavender, white pepper and fresh blueberry. $27.99
• Tantalus Vineyards Pinot Noir 2015 BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia – For the B.C. wine fanatic on your list, Tantalus Vineyards’ Pinot Noir is a top choice. Refined and textured with notes of strawberry, plum, violet and a hint of sage, this an elegant and admired Pinot Noir. $27.99
• Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine Zinfandel 2014 Lodi, California – Big, bold and beautifully smooth, here is an excellent wine from the Zinfandel capital of the world.  Sumptuous flavours of vanilla, plum jam, blackberry, nutmeg and a dusting of black pepper come through in spades. $29.99
• Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2014 Napa Valley, California – I had the distinct pleasure to visit Stags’ Leap winery and meet the winemaker, Christophe Paubert, last month in Napa Valley.  I was introduced to a beautifully crafted Petite Sirah that happens to be available here. This is a decadent wine full of blackberry, vanilla spice, clove, lilac, jasmine and white pepper notes that will age for another 10 years, minimum.  A wine to impress. $46.99
• Clos De L’oratoire Des Papes Chateauneuf Du Pape 2014 Southern Rhône, France – Fresh, juicy and fragrant, this Rhône blend drinks beautifully now and will continue to develop with some cellar aging for another five years. Bright flavours of wild strawberry pie, blackcurrant, cedar and baking spice make this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre classic blend an excellent gift. $50.99

Stags’ Leap winemaker, Christophe Paubert

I hope this red wine buying guide assists you in your holiday shopping and takes some of the guesswork out of what to buy for whom.

All of these wines are available through the B.C. Liquor Stores but do check their website for your nearest locations’ availability.

I will be back next week with a list of sparkling wines to ring in the New Year.

Enjoy.

XO
C

Did you think I was going to forget?  Never!

I am a ‘make a list’ type of gal and I actually enjoy putting these babies together each year to make your holiday shopping decisions easier.  This year, I am kicking things off with my red wine selections.

I have a few that would be great for entertaining, some for gift giving and others to secretly purchase for yourself and savour when you have some well-deserved ‘down-time’.  All selections are available through the B.C. Liquor stores but do check for your closest location online HERE.

GGG’s 2019 RED Wine Shopping Guide:

• Argento Selección Cabernet Sauvignon Argentina – The first time I tried this yummy red, I was quite impressed.  It is full of deep red fruits such as ripe cherry and raspberry alongside a whiff of green bell pepper.  This Cabernet Sauvignon has great acidity, tannic structure and tastes SOOOO much more than the $12.49 it is on sale for right now!  Seriously, this is a ‘wait, what?’ situation!
• M.Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages ‘Les Vignes de Bila Haut’ Languedoc/Roussillon, France – It is no surprise that M. Chaptoutier has once again found his way onto one of my wine lists.  For good reason – solid quality wines, expertly crafted, and delicious to drink. This is a dark berry beauty made from the Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grape varieties.  Think blackberry, blueberry, violets and white pepper as you think of the many ways to pair this delicious wine. $14.99
• Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Tuscany, Italy 2016 – Put your hands up if you LOVE Chianti Classico!  I do! Here is a fantastic bottle of Sangiovese that would make a great gift for the wine adventurer in your life.  This stunner has it all – gorgeous flavours of black cherry whipped together with ‘Almond Roca’ – I told you.  It is bright and velvety at the same time. Swoon. $26.99
• Bartier Bros. Syrah B.C. VQA 2017 – Syrah has become the new ‘darling’ of British Columbia – for good reason.  If you have a wine lover on your list who loves his or her B.C. VQA wines, this is one to purchase. Crafted by Don and Michael Bartier, these two brothers consistently deliver excellent wines from their Oliver, B.C. vineyards. This Syrah is dense and delicious with flavours of blackberry, currant, black pepper and a lingering finish. $29.99
• Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon 2016 – There are wine purists and then there are Pinot Noir purists.  If you fall in to the second category, then search no further for a beautifully made example.  This lovely wine is seductive with cassis, ripe cherry, plum and a top note of vanilla.  It has bright acidity yet many layers of lingering flavour. On sale for $29.99
• Poplar Grove ‘The Legacy’ B.C. VQA 2015 – Here is a beautiful red wine for all of you B.C. wine lovers.  This Bordeaux-style wine from the Okanagan Valley is crafted with five of the red Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and tastes as complex as it sounds.  It is big, rich and bold with flavours of chocolate, ripe black cherry, and cassis.  This is an excellent wine that can be cellared for another 10 years. $55.99
• Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 1.5 L 2016 – Are you looking to impress someone special? Well, do I have a treat for you…this red wine is made using an ancient winemaking technique called “ripasso” which consists of introducing a part of Valpolicella wine, produced the preceding autumn, onto Amarone wine marc in March. Wine lesson 101 is now complete.  Can you imagine showing up with this magnum of delicious Italian wine and a boatload of knowledge?  Talk about hero/heroine for the day! This harmonious and elegant wine is full of raspberry, red cherry and red currant flavours with a hint of mocha on the finish. $59.99
• Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, California 2017 – Have you heard of Paso Robles?  Wine and Paso Robles have been connected since 1797 and this wine region has been turning heads ever since.  This is a highly rated wine – we are talking 95 points (if you care about that sort of thing) and it is, in my opinion, an incredible value.  Wines from this region do not get the same attention as ones from Napa or Sonoma but it is winemakers like Austin Hope that are changing this around. Flavours abound and range from lush vanilla and black cherry to salted caramel and mocha in this glorious bottle of wine. $69.99

Enjoy!

XO
C

While my love affair with French wines will never fizzle and fade away, there is another country whose wines excite my palate and make me smile.  We are talking about Italy!

When David and I got married in 2007, my wine knowledge went as far as, “Ohhh – this is really delicious. Or, “Ohhhh – I do not want to have another sip of that!” Our honeymoon was one month touring around Italy with the first stop being Venice. We fell in love with the city, the people and getting lost down tiny alleyways.

During our month in Italy, we spent time in Verona ( I think for two nights ) where we met a lovely lady who invited us to her home and offered us a glass of ‘red wine’ (again – my vocabulary at the time). Verona exceeded all of my expectations and I am drawn to this region and know we will return again.

When I am in an adventurous wine mood and cruising through the wine shops and liquor stores I visit, I usually end up in the ‘Italy’ section.  For one, I don’t know nearly enough about Italian wines so I feel I can expand on my knowledge when I purchase a new bottle.  And, truth be told, I am seldom disappointed with my selection as is the case with this weeks’ choice.

Monte del Frà Bardolino 2018 Veneto, Italy DOC is a cheeky little number full of flavour and crunch.  It is bright ruby red in the glass and it almost looks electric (in a good way). It is a zippy blend of native Italian grape varieties – 65% Corvina, 30% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. The vineyards are planted on terrain that was shaped by glaciers and live in mineral-rich terroir which is beautifully expressed in this wine.

The flavour profile is bright, dry and full of red cherry, fresh strawberry and raspberry fruit alongside a top note of dusty clay minerality and a finish that is reminiscent of dried oregano and black pepper.  There are crunchy tannins and a good amount of balanced acidity – talk about a perfect pairing for your tomato-based Italian dishes!

Monte del Frà Bardolino is an incredible value at $16.99 at your local B.C. Liquor Stores.

Enjoy!

XO
C

What pairs with your favourite movie? Other than popcorn? Wine, of course!

The ladies and I all chose completely different movies and paired each with an equally fascinating wine.

Please check out this fun episode for our selections.

What’s your favourite movie? What would you pour yourself as you settle in to watch it? Let us know!

Happy weekend to you!

XO
Christine

My daughter and I took off for a week in Palm Desert to coincide with spring break from school. We rented a friend’s place at the Palm Desert Resort and Country Club. The two-bedroom unit was perfectly appointed for us, and one of the 20 pools was about 30 feet away…!

We headed to Trader Joe’s to stock up for the week. Of course, I wanted wine to sip and enjoy during our vacation. My challenge was purchasing wine I had not tried or heard of before. Also, I wanted them to cost less than $20 US.

Wines and Results in Order of Sampling:

Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Chardonnay 2021 Paso Robles, CA $7.99 – On the nose, bruised apple, a hint of pear and honey but the overriding impression was a ‘synthetic’ wine. It smelled ‘flat’ in the glass and was the opposite of expressive. On the palate, it wasn’t great. I couldn’t find the residual sugar online, but there was a fair amount. I am often wary of the term ‘Petit Reserve’; it can be misleading and a marketing ploy. It was one of the worst-tasting Chardonnay wines I have sampled. Epic fail. Not a great start to this experiment!

Mark West Pinot Noir 2021 Central Coast, CA $9.49 – On the nose, aromas of plum and cherry. It was good, not complex or nuanced as I like my Pinot Noir to be. The palate mirrored the plum and cherry aromas alongside vanilla, cherry and crushed raspberry flavours. An easy-sipping Pinot Noir that is a great value. I can’t find anything of this quality in B.C. for under $20. A slam dunk wine for $1.50 more than the Chardonnay. Ok, maybe this idea wasn’t so silly…

Raeburn Chardonnay 2021 Sonoma County, CA $15.99 – On the nose, notes of fresh apple and pear alongside nectarine and apricot with a dusting of vanilla. On the palate – a pleasant surprise. Flavours of oak, tree fruits, and a nutty finish. A well-made Chardonnay. Sustainable winery. This wine impressed me. The most expensive in the group. Getting somewhere now…

Gaetano D’Aquino Chianti Riserva, Italy $5.99 – Aromas of dried oregano, cherry, and sunbaked clay are on the nose. Great acid, integrated tannins, is balanced and expressive on the palate. Super value wine! Paired perfectly with BBQ beef burgers. Best value for money and taste so far. Hurray!

Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 2022 $7.99 – On the nose, crazy intense aromas of gooseberry, white grapefruit, and a hint of grass and hay. On the palate, classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with loads of grapefruit flavours, yellow bell pepper, straw, and lime peel. Tart and fruity. A good value indeed.

Rancho Viejo ‘Reserva’ 2016 Rioja Navarra, Spain $6.99 – On the nose, aromas of black cherry, red cherry, plum, dusty earth, whisps of mocha and vanilla. On the palate, all the red and black fruit flavours shine through; medium-bodied, great structure and exp. This was a ‘late entry’ into my selections. I was chatting with the checkout fellow, and he commented on my wine selections. He asked if I had heard of or tasted this Rioja before, suggesting I throw it into the mix for $6.99. Thank you, kind sir. This was indeed the winner of my self-induced wine challenge.

If/when you are at Trader Joe’s, you now have a few wines to search for and those to avoid.

Christine