The Apple of my Wine Get ready to bust out the BBQ, because its finally grill season. Mmm, I can practically taste the sizzle of tender steaks and juicy ribs, waiting to be devoured. Nothing says spring is here like a backyard BBQ. Best enjoyed with your friends and family over burgers, sausages and Canadian Cheese. Just don’t forget to leave room for dessert, or a scrumptious snack, like Spiced Apple with Canadian Brie. This light snack is sure to be a hit with its simple ingredients locally sourced from the farm. Slice up some apples with a dash of […]
Fruit & Wine
Smashed Raspberry and Feta Salad with Slow Press Chardonnay
Smashed Raspberry and Feta Salad Cue your tastebuds…Slow Press Chardonnay wine creates an entrée salad, as beautiful as summer itself. Sweet & tender leaves of butter lettuce are tossed with Slow Press Chardonnay Wine Raspberry Mustard Dressing (Chardonnay, olive oil, grain mustard, fresh smashed raspberries, honey, seasonings), ribbons of sugar snap peas, fennel, matchstick carrots, salted sunflower kernels, sweet bites of fresh (raw) golden corn and creamy feta. Prep Time: 15-20 minutes Portions: 1 salad Serving Size: 4 servings Ingredients: ¼ C + 1 Tbsp – Slow Press Chardonnay wine¾ C – extra virgin olive oil14 each – raspberries, fresh, […]
Fontanafredda Makes a Barolo for Every Palate
Fontanafredda Vineyard Priya & Alex, A Vine Romance It was a whirlwind visit for Danilo Drocco, winemaker at Fontanafredda in Barolo, Italy. He swept into Toronto for a lunch and dinner, only to rush back to the vineyard the following morning as they are deep into harvest season and as he said, “My job is to talk about Nebbiolo, but more importantly, to make Nebbiolo.” Alex was especially thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with Danilo as the 1974 Barolo was the first ‘big’ (read “expensive”) bottle of wine he had ever purchased as a gift for his father. […]
Mrs. Beachley’s Mulled Wine: A Heart-Warming Holiday Drink
Sponsored Post While Mulled Wine is known by many names and enjoyed the world over–the Swedes call it Glogg; the Chileans Candola and the Dutch Bisschopswijn–this heart and tummy-warming beverage is best known for its British heritage. Mrs. Beachley’s Mulled Wine pays homage to the 1861 classic “Beeton’s Book of Household Management“, the go-to manual for how to run a home in Victorian England. In that book and in the 150 years since its publication, a wealth of usage occasions and mulled wine pairing ideas, have emerged. Whether you enjoy Mrs. Beachley’s out of a thermos at the outdoor rink […]
Mozzarella with Hot Capicollo, Melon, Tomato, Basil & Black Olives Recipe Paired With Gabbiano Pinot Grigio
Mozzarella with Hot Capicollo, Melon, Tomato, Basil & Black Olives Recipe Serve with Gabbiano Pinot Grigio Ingredients Galbani Mozzarella, sliced Cantaloupe melon, sliced Watermelon, sliced Tomatoes, sliced Red onions, julienne Capicollo, sliced Basil, hand torn Sundried Black Olives Olive oil Balsamic glaze Directions Arrange on a plate all the fruit and vegetables, sprinkle the olives and season with the salt and pepper then a drizzle of olive oil and a few drops of balsamic glaze and the basil leaves, place the sliced Capicollo in the middle and serve. This recipe and wine pairing is provided courtesy of Gabbiano Wines […]
Garden Variety Wines: The Best Bottles for Outdoor Dining
By Rebecca Meïr-Liebman of Chef & Somm Spring and summer means outdoor parties – casual barbecues to white-glove garden soirées – and there’s a perfect wine for every al fresco occasion. Flip Flops and Fine Wine – The BBQ When food is smoky and beefy, you might automatically think of an oaky Cabernet Sauvignon, but let’s not forget how hot and humid it can be, so a nicely chilled, oaky white wine or slightly chilled lighter red – may be just the thing! An oaky white – think Norman Hardie Chardonnay or La Crema Chardonnay will complement smoky, grilled chicken, […]
Cheddar Orzo Salad Recipe Paired with Red Wine
Cheddar Orzo Salad The only thing scary this Halloween is not having tried this tasty Cheddar Orzo Salad. This salad comes packed with flavour from the bold characters of the Canadian Smoked Cheddar to the refreshing green Swiss chard. This salad is so delicious even the trick-or-treaters will want a taste! To get the best ingredients I shop local – right down to the cheese I use. Right now I’m obsessed with the intensity of Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar and love how it tastes mixed with orzo, grapes, and chicken. To top it off I pair it with a […]
Grilled Fruit Salad, Bocconcini, Mint Recipe and Dessert Wine
Harvest in the Flavours This Season Fresh fruit abounds this summer. So when I came across this light and refreshing recipe for Grilled Fruit Salad with Bocconcini and Mint, I knew I had to try it. Jam-packed with juicy fresh fruits and fresh Canadian Bocconcini cheese, your mouth will water just thinking about it. A fruity recipe like this calls for a fruity wine. Rossignol Estate Iced Liberty Blossom is a sweet wine from Prince Edward Island that is made with three different kinds of apples. Another great match is Clos de Caveau Fruit Sauvage, a sweet, yet […]
Bites of Bliss – Holiday Cheese Hors d’Oeuvres Recipes and Wine Pairings Make for Festive Evenings
GOUDA ALL WAYS Holiday eating usually means large meals and I love the occasional feast as much as the next wine writer. But I also appreciate meals that give me a break in the middle of banquet season and still deliver sparkle and flavour. Let’s organize an event with no main course and enjoy tasty morsels of deliciousness: hors d’oeuvres! They’re perfect for a supper party because they can be eaten over a long period of time, delight the senses and still leave room for wine and conversation! So let’s have a great evening of appetizers and cheeses paired with […]
Avocados & Wine
For such a mild-tasting fruit, the avocado has a racy reputation. In its native Central America, the avocado was an aphrodisiac, thanks to its pear shape and creamy flesh. Avocados found their way to California in 1871, where about 90 percent of today’s U.S. crop is grown. The two most widely cultivated varieties you’re likely to find in the grocery store are Hass and Fuerte. Hass avocados have a pebbly skin that starts out green and ripens to purple-black, while Fuerte avocados are green with a smoother skin. The flavor difference is subtle: Hass avocados are smoother with more oil […]
