Awatere River vineyards Photo: David Skinner By David Skinner When Peter Jackson decided upon his native New Zealand to serve as middle earth for his rendering of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, nationalistic nepotism served him less than the splendor of the rich and varied landscapes found in his home islands. The films depicted rugged terrain and lands carved from the mountains by the relentless influence of wind and water and there is still a sense of that primal constitution to the landscapes that now support modern viticulture in the “Shaky Isles”. Marlborough The South Island […]
New Zealand Wine
Fresh from Oyster Bay: Hawke’s Bay Pinot Grigio
Fresh from Oyster Bay: Hawke’s Bay Pinot Grigio Step out in the middle of the day on a classic New Zealand’s summer: the brightness is beautifully intense, and sunshine plentiful. But stay about a little, until nightfall, when you feel the land chill quickly, creating one of the longest growing seasons on earth. The cool climate of places like New Zealand results in a slow, almost methodical ripening of the grape. As the warm days edge the grape toward ripeness, the cool nights capture its flavour. Day after day, night after night, this process results in the unmistakably vibrant, fruit-forward […]
A Dionysian Tasting with Thornbury Wines Winemaker Simon Fell
Recently, Canada’s top wine writers gathered in the nation’s capital for a comprehensive tasting of Thorbury wines with head winemaker Simon Fell. You can watch our Live Video Wine Tasting on Facebook right here. David Skinner Wine & Travel Columnist, Outdoor Magazine In New Zealand the wine trail always seems to lead to one of Villa Maria’s cellar doors. The flagship brand is represented by over 60 labels but founder, Sir George Fistonich, has been adding other great regional wineries to the family with quality and diversity driving his search for excellence. Thornbury, one of the more […]
Video: Clark Smith on Why Some Wines are Like Angelina Jolie
What a terrific chat with Clark Smith, Winemaker and Author! Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Our guest this evening has created a firestorm in the wine industry, dividing winemakers and wine lovers around the idea of wine manipulation. Clark will explain how some of the hottest new technologies help winemaking, and how splitting the atom changed the way we make wine and altered our perception of what a white wine is supposed to be. Clark Smith has spent four decades as a winemaker, author, inventor, musician, and professor to the wine industry around the world. […]
Tasting Wine Out in Left Field with this New Zealand Winery
Last night, we were joined by special guest winemaker, Richard Painter of Te Awa Wines, helping us pair food with New Zealand wines. Click the arrow on the video above to watch our chat. P.S. Want to know when we go live next Sunday with our special guest? Tune in here for our Facebook Live Video Wine Tasting: www.nataliemaclean.com/live Click on the “Follow” and “Like” buttons on this page to get notified when we go live. We’ll be simultaneously broadcasting on Facebook Live, YouTube Live Stream and Twitter Live Video via Periscope. You’ll find upcoming and past Live Tasting Videos […]
Salmon Dill Crepe Recipe Paired with Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Salmon Dill Crepes Paired with Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc By: Shari Goodman When you need a break from the busyness of the holiday season, it’s nice to catch up over a delicious but deceivingly simple make-ahead brunch. I used to think crepes were too difficult to make home. I thought of them as something special to be ordered when dining out. But I’ve discovered that although the first crepe often ends up in the garbage, a batch of crepes is easy to make and impressive to serve guests. You can make the crepes ahead of time and store them layered […]
Orange, Poppy Seed & Apricot Loaf Recipe Paired with Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio
ORANGE, POPPYSEED & APRICOT LOAF Sunshine can be fleeting, particularly in the depths of winter, which makes the bright spring flavours of the stunning 90 point Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio an absolute delight! Limited stock is now available at the LCBO so get your hands on some while you still can, and then pair it with this beautiful orange and apricot loaf. It’s incredibly moist, with crunchy poppy seeds topped with fragrant apricots and an orange glaze; the perfect accompaniment to a splash of Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio. Welcome to spring! Orange, Poppy Seed & Apricot Loaf Recipe […]
Tiger Prawns Recipe Paired with Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc
Sponsored Post by Nobilo Wines Prawns are such a quick and easy starter for any meal, especially with the addition of a perfumed cauliflower puree that has a soft cloud-like texture and a peppery warm salad. This makes for the perfect entertaining dish. The citrus notes of the Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc marry well with the prawn and delicate hummus flavors. Recipe Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc Pan seared Black Tiger prawns, cauliflower hummus, warm leek & rocket salad. Ingredients The Tiger Prawns 30 black tiger prawn tails, de-veined and tail shell removed 3 tablespoons grape seed oil Sea […]
Kim Crawford Cocktail Recipe: Kim Spritz
KIM SPRITZ Sponsored Post by Kim Crawford Wines A new twist on an old favourite, the Kim Spritz offers the refreshing appeal of a spritzer with the unmistakeable, mouth-watering acidity of Kim Crawford’s Sauvignon Blanc. Ingredients: 4 pieces cucumber 1/2 oz. liquid cane sugar 1/2 oz. yuzu juice 4 oz. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 3 oz. Perrier Method: Lightly muddle the cucumber, liquid cane sugar and yuzu juice in a shaker. Add the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and ice. Shake vigorously 8 to 10 seconds. Filter into a big glass filled with ice. Top with Perrier. Stir, garnish with a […]
Kim Crawford Cocktail Recipe: Pink Kim with Fresh Raspberries
PINK KIM Sponsored Post by Kim Crawford Wines Renowned for turning the world’s expectations into something beautiful and unordinary, Kim Crawford is mixing things up with Sauvignon Blanc infused cocktail recipes. These fabulous Kim Crawford’s signature cocktail recipes are sure to add a dose of glamour, and just the right amount of sparkle, to your next soirée! PINK KIM With its sunset pink colour and its floral bouquet, the Pink Kim is the perfect choice for a girls’ night out on the deck. Ingredients: ½ oz. lemon juice ½ oz. lavender syrup 1 pinch rosemary 3 fresh raspberries 2 drops […]
