Pinot Around the World
When we hear the word Pinot, we think of the red Pinot. But did you know that the Pinot’s – Noir, Gris and Blanc are genetically identical? It’s complicated I know, but if you were test their DNA, you would find that it’s the same. Pinot gris and pinot blanc are mutations of pinot noir. Like humans, over time our DNA experiences mutations and slight changes. The same goes with grapes. Over time there are changes and mutations that occur. Larger or small grapes. Skin thickness may vary, or the shape of the lobes on the leaf. No longer clones, or exact replicas of one another, but rather biotypes – the same grape with slightly different characteristics. So even though they are genetically identical, can these grapes be called the same thing? Absolutely not as they all make wines that are dramatically different from one another! The grapes look different, they behave differently in the vineyard or/and on different soils and they make extremely different wine! It’s not all that complicated. When we start to investigate vermentino, pigato and favorito, three genetically identical white grapes of Italy, then let’s talk complicated! But let’s not go there right now. That is for a different post!
Pinot Noir
Most of us are more than familiar with Pinot Noir, and that fact that is grown almost everywhere in the world, with some places more famous than others. The royal home of Pinot Noir is certainly Burgundy, with cult wines such as DRC (Domaine Romanee-Conti) and La Tache, that are made in such few quantities that those of us who have tasted these wines can count ourselves lucky indeed. If you’ve ever had the privilege of tasting DRC or La Tache, I’d love to hear your experience! I am NOT one of those people! Other cool climate areas like Central Otago in New Zealand, Monterey in the Central Coast USA, the Willamette Valley in Oregon and Canada’s Okanagan Valley in British Columbia are certainly putting themselves on the map with Pinot Noir. Let’s not forget about Champagne either! Pinot Noir plays a major role in the blend of many Champagne houses, and in some instances the solo role. Burgundy is clearly the leader in Pinot Noir, given the fact that it is the only red grape grown in the Cote de Nuit of the Cote d’Or The grape Pinot Noir itself, is a thin-skinned grape which would therefore produce lighter, lower tannin, and medium body wine. It’s difficult to grow because the clusters are always very tightly packed making it susceptible to rot and other diseases; also splitting of those thin skins increases the hazard of rot. It typically has fresh flavours of strawberries, raspberries and cherries – essentially, descriptors are firmly in the red fruit camp. As the wine ages, it can develop a bouquet of dust and barnyard; and with the use of oak, create further complexities with age. To get a sense of Pinot Noir from different countries, here a few examples of good ones to sink your teeth into and try! The Willamette Valley in Oregon sits around the same latitude as the Burgundy region of France, along with similar soil structures, makes it an ideal place for growing Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir from Oregon can run the gamut in price from reasonable to premium priced.
Some Pinot Noir to try that won’t put a dent in your pocketbook are:
Jadot Bourgogne – FRANCE: this négociant house has property all over Burgundy with wines made from grapes sourced from all over the Cote D’or, to the small grand cru areas. But this little burgundy is classic Pinot with those dusty ashy notes layered underneath the strawberries and cherries. $ 22.99.
Gray Monk Pinot Noir – CANADA: from one of the originals of the Okanagan Valley, the fruit is sourced from some of the best vineyard sites in the Okanagan. Fresh, fruity and quaffable, this is a great bottle to make a foray into Pinot Noir if you’ve never had any before! $22.99
Penner Ash Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA: While this Pinot is not at the low end of the scale, it’s certainly not at the high end either. It is made with fruit sourced from some of the more renowned vineyards of the valley along with other quality vineyards to give this wine a signature red cherry, cedar spice with that touch of earthiness. $40.99
Greywacke Pinot Noir- NEW ZEALAND: Winemaker Kevin Judd was using ambient/native yeasts long before it was trendy and as the former winemaker at Cloudy Bay, he started making his own premium, beautifully balanced wines. These are more complex due to the use of new oak (40%) so expect to find more ripe fruit and denser tannins (not that you could get super dense with Pinot!) For those that love a good Cru Beaujolais, the Greywacke Pinot Noir would very much be on par. $41.99
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Like Pinot Noir, most countries are making pinot gris, with many producers thinking that if they have one, it’s a sure sell. Many don’t realize that Pinot gris is a mutation of Pinot Noir. And some also don’t realize that Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are essentially the same thing. Grigio means grey in Italian while gris means grey in French. They both mean a ‘grey’ Pinot, which can also look a bit pinkish or a lighter blue on the vine. Some might argue that grigio and gris are different, which of course they can be depending on how they are vinified. Italy is of course the leader in pinot grigio with all styles coming from the Tre Venezie, or delle Venezie areas meaning the grapes are sourced from a very broad area. Mountainous pinot grigio, made in Alto Adige are some of the best given the higher altitudes essentially giving the wines crisp fresh acidity. Then there is Alsace, an amazing wine region, but largely forgotten. Here, pinot gris is a thing of beauty and meant to be aged. I had the opportunity to attend a vertical tasting of the single vineyard Humbrecht pinot gris and it changed my world. I had no idea pinot gris had such an astounding ability to age! If you’d like to find out more about the age worthiness of Alsatian pinot gris, you can read about it here. We should all start drinking more Alsatian wines! Canada too, does an excellent job of Pinot Gris, with many wineries in the Okanagan Valley producing points worthy pinot gris. Here are some noteworthy pinot grigio/gris to get your hands on!
Dal Cero “Ramato” Pinot Grigio – ITALY: likely one of the best selling ramato style pinot grigio. Ramato means copper as the juice rests on the skin for a short time to give it that orange colour. Aromatic with fresh fruity notes of peach and mango, this is the perfect patio wine. Around $19.99 CAD
Gray Monk Pinot Gris – CANADA: One of the original wineries in the Okanagan Valley, the pinot gris is consistent year after year with great acidity levels and notes of pear and stone fruits. Around $22.99 CAD
Zind-Humbrecht - FRANCE: Serious pinot gris for the collector, if you can get your hands on any of these wines from single vineyard sites, do it. You won't regret it! Their 'basic' pinot gris in Canada will run you around $32 a bottle. The Grand Cru Rangen de Thann is the most southerly of vineyards and overlooks the village of Thann. The Clos Saint-Urbain houses the Urbain chapel where processions take place every year. It's a historical site to be sure where the pinot gris favours the ancient limestone soils. Yields are low and whilst the Riesling is picked first, the pinot gris can be subject to botrytis, yielding richer, fuller-bodied wines. The Clos Saint Urbain Rangen de Thann pinot gris would be so worth it, if you can find a bottle, will run you about $150 CAD.
Pinot Blanc/Bianco
Pinot blanc/bianco is a further mutation moving from grey/blue/pink tinged grapes of pinot gris to a white grape. It can be a subtle wine, but it has spread its wings and found homes in both the Alsace region of France and in Northern Italy. Not only some stunning ageing expressions in Alsace but also used in the production of Crémant, the sparkling wines of France made outside of the Champagne region. In Italy, you'll find wines mostly in the Alto Adige region where they will be fresh, minerally with strong peach and pear aromas and flavours. Again, Canada's Okanagan valley has embraced this grape and has several great examples throughout the valley to try. In Germany, it's known as Wiessburgunder, and has a rich round feel in the mouth along with those stone fruits reminiscent of its relative pinot gris.
Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc - CANADA: Always consistent, it's their signature wine with great acidity, freshness and fruitiness. Around $23.99 CAD
Trimbach Pinot Blanc- FRANCE: Another big name for Alsace, it's always well- balanced, dry and perfect for appetizers! You can find it for around $30 CAD
Bender PINOT- GERMANY: Andreas Bender knows a thing or two about wine. He's been making wine in Germany since he was 13. This original wine combines Grauburgunder (pinot gris) and Weissburgunder (pinot blanc) to make a delightfully full-bodied wine full of pears, citrus zest and lemon cream. Of course, with balanced acidity, this is a stunning wine that won't last long once tasted! Around $23
Care for a Pinot? Check out the world of Pinot Noir and its mutations! Prost! Cheers!
Mar 7, 2020 at 12:52 PM
PermalinkCooperatives: Not Always a Negative! Introducing Produttori del Barbaresco
Miriam-Webster describes Cooperation as:
1: the actions of someone who is being helpful by doing what is wanted or asked for: common effort. E.g We are asking for your full cooperation.
2: association of persons for common benefit established trade and economic cooperations. This is what we’re talking about with our #ItalianFWT!
In a nutshell, to cooperate, means to work together, pulling together your resources, knowledge and expertise to make the best possible outcome.
Barbaresco is a small village in Piemonte in Northern Italy. Like its famous sister town Barolo, it also is known for growing world class Nebbiolo, but the world might say it’s the ‘queen’ to Barolo’s ‘king. Although the wines might be more approachable due to vines growing at lower elevations, and its closer proximity to the Tanaro river to help regulate temperatures, there are some very fine examples of powerful, structured, fullbodied and age-worthy wines coming from Barbaresco. In their youth, Nebbiolo from Barbaresco may be easier to drink with softer tannins, delicate fruit and perfume; it doesn’t mean that they are by any means, less quality or not as important!
In small places like this, land is at a premium and producers who may want to make wine from their grapes might not be able to because they wouldn’t have enough to sell. So, why not join forces with other growers/producers around you and still make great wines, but in greater quantities? Thus the cooperative makes sense.
Produttori del Barbaresco was Founded in 1958, by the local village priest who recognized the fact that the only way small properties could survive was by joining their efforts. Previous to this, grape growers sold their grapes to producers in Barolo for their wines. The priest gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. From its humble beginnings making the first three vintages in the church basement, Produttori del Barbaresco has grown to a 52 member co-operative with 250 acres of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation and an annual production of over 500,000 bottles. Its vineyards amount to almost 1/6 of the vineyards of the area. The beauty of this arrangement is that each member is in full control of their land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with the skill and dedication they have honed over generations. I don’t know about you, but it sounds like win-win to me!
And the Cooperetiva has continued to be one of the greatest producers of the area
Unlike Barolo’s 11 villages, (and single vineyards within each), Barbaresco has four; the village of Barbaresco itself, along with Nieve, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d’Elvio. Within these villages are cru vineyards, and in the best years, the cooperative will make wine from nine premium sites: Asili, Rabajà, Pora, Montestefano, Ovello, Pajè, Montefico, Muncagota, and Rio Sordo. Keep in mind that all of these wines are only made from ONE grape. That’s pretty impressive in itself to have a cooperative dealing with only one grape, which speaks to the power of Nebbiolo.
Since I work in a retail wine store, I will speak to the wines that we have here: two cru wines and the Langhe Nebbiolo – all wines made by Produttori del Barbaresco, or what we affectionately know them as – PdB.
2013 was a great vintage in Piemonte with a very warm summer and a temperate fall, which resulted in full ripeness of the Nebbiolo grapes. Since 2013, some exceptional vintages have followed (both the 2015 & 2016 vintages were stellar) and as a result, if you are a points follower, these wines have traditionally garnered quite high scores.
I won’t get into all the single vineyard wines the PdB produces, but I will talk about two in particular: Produttori del Barbaresco Rabajà, and the Montestefano.
The Rabajà vineyard is 3.7 ha with a Southwest exposition (cool mornings, warm evenings) with a total of nine owners to the vineyard. No new oak on this, but 36 months in the large neutral oak barrels and one year in bottle. The total production is just over 17K total bottles, and they even bottle a few magnums too! And the price won’t break the bank either! In Canada, we sell single vineyard wines for around $C85
Loads of red cherry, and that beautiful red rose floral note that is so synonymous with Nebbiolo. Some lovely clove spice notes on the palate along with more red fruits and hints of licorice and leather even. The tannins are super smooth and that high, high acidity would lend itself to a number of local cuisine that the Piemontese are known for! Simply Outstanding! In my travels in Piemonte, I always look forward to my first dish of tajarin, (say Tah-yah-REEN) the long egg pasta served with ground meat (often veal or pork or a combination of the two), sometimes just mixed with sage and butter, and very often truffles grated on top, which as we know, famous in the region! Sooo good, and a dish that honestly, I never get tired of eating when I’m in Piemonte!
The Montestefano vineyard is 4.5 ha with a south facing exposure. Incidentally, the ageing protocol is the same for all the single vineyards. There is a total of six owners for this vineyard and production is around 6500 bottles. (Please note, I did not taste this wine, but the professional reviews are solid). If you’re looking to not spend that much money, for half the price (under $40 in Alberta) the Langhe Nebbiolo is also a good choice. The grapes in the bottle come from a selection of grapes from the estate owned vineyards inside the appellation. Still amazing quality, and the wine is juicy with red fruits and smooth tannins-2017 being another great vintage in the region.
Feb 3, 2020 at 12:26 PMWines To Warm From the Inside Out
It seems every year about this time, we have a cold snap, and we are rendered immobile for a week or two at a time, usually between the dates of December 26-to around mid-February. We got lucky this year and enjoyed a mild December and even January started out relatively balmy…until Saturday. Temperatures fell to -26C (for my American friends who speak Fahrenheit, that’s -14.8F) That’s during the day. Tonight, it will plummet to -38C. I know that when we get to -40C, it’s the same in Fahrenheit! In other words... freaking cold. Schools are still in session, city transit still runs, and if our cars our “plugged in”, they start with ease. We learn to adapt here. Big hoods, long underwear, boots that come up to our knees especially made to withstand the harsh cold tundra, scarves, bulky mitts…you name it to wear to keep warm, we own it! It’s business as usual, and unless you CAN’T start your vehicle, you’re at work at the required time!
I don’t know about you, but when it’s this cold, I don’t want to go anywhere. As soon as the time clock dings after my eight hours, I’m heading home to change into my cozy jammy bottoms, and hunker down under a large, thick blanket with the TV on and a glass of my favourite full-bodied red. If I had a fireplace, that’d be stoked too! .
So what’s in your glass if you’re in a place that gets so cold your nose hairs freeze? Here are four recommended selections that are sure to warm you from the inside out!
2015 Tridente Tempranillo- Spain
From the Gil Family Estates, the Bodegas Tridente winery, located in the Castilla y Leon territory in Northwest Spain, makes this massive tempranillo from old vines cultivated on very sandy soils covered with gravel in a hot area of the Duero Valley. The grapes are small (old vines will eventually give smaller and smaller berries and/or yields), with loads of concentrated flavours of black cherry and black berry. It’s also aged in French oak for 15 months, so it also has huge aromas and flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg spice, along with dark chocolate. At a whopping 16%abv, it’s almost like drinking port, and sure to warm you up nicely!
SR $26CAD
2016 1000 Stories, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Zinfandel – United States
This Zinfandel is bursting with field berry fruit flavours, and then made more complex with the addition of ageing in ex American bourbon barrels. In order for a bourbon to be labelled as “Kentucky Straight”, it requires (among other things), to be aged in a NEW charred American white oak barrel, that is only used once. After the bourbon gets put into the bottle, the barrels are obsolete. But not to worry, used barrels are a great commodity to other areas of the liquor industry, specifically this winery, which in the past, used to neutralize the flavours before using the barrels, but now, they are used to add those complex flavour nuances that come from the bourbon itself previously aged inside the barrel. This 1000 Stories wines uses small lots Mendocino fruit with ageing first in traditional French and American Oak before being transitioned into the bourbon barrels. The charred, smoky vanilla from the bourbon barrel merges with the dried fig, dried cherry, plum and cigar box of the wine to create an overall warming sensation that is sure to have your senses tingling!
SR $26CAD
2014 Nugan Estate Alfredo Dried Grape Shiraz- Australia
Alfredo Nugan, originally from Spain, went to Australian in the late 1930’s with a vision to create a great new life for his family. Of course, the name Nugan Estates is now synonymous with successful enterprise Down Under. Now in its third generation, this Spanish family is maintaining family traditions and sharing passion for good wine. Like the amarone style of Italy, a portion of the Shiraz grapes were dried on specialized racks to increase flavour intensity and concentration. Maturation took place in both American and French oak for 18 months giving this wine further structure and intensity. Dense ruby colour, you’ll find warming aromas of cherry, plum, chocolate and herbaceous notes, while your palate will be enticed by further warm and rich flavours complemented by the velvety smooth tannins at the finish. This wine will no doubt put a fire (the good kind) in your belly!
SR $29CAD !
2010 Cantine due Palme Selvarossa- Italy
Salice Salentino is a region in Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot that grows mostly Negro Amaro, a red grape that has multiple personalities – some of the best rosati is made with this grape, yet it also yields rich, dark red wine! This wine has “Terra” on the label, and only the best vintages of Selvarossa are marked with this. Ancient negro amaro vines are hand harvested from the red clay soils, and also like the amarone style, a portion are sent to the drying racks to increase flavour concentration. With the addition of malvasia nera to soften the harsh tannins, the combination of appassimento fruit and fresh fruit are blended together, with time first in French oak barriques, then finished in stainless steel to preserve freshness. The end result is a rich, thick, full bodied wine that is most assuredly able to warm you from the inside out with aromas and flavours of ripe cherries and plums, along with hints of vanilla, and the classic negro amaro spice and shoe polish!
SR $35CAD
Buy your wine on your way TO work, so you can go straight home after work to hunker down and enjoy your wine! Stay warm people!
Jan 13, 2020 at 6:45 PMThe World of Italian Wine
Where Do I Begin?
Traditionally, other than pinot grigio, moscato and prosecco, the world of Italian wine is largely misunderstood and honestly, intimidating. Yes, those that follow scores will undoubtedly understand Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone and Barolo, but what about the unsung hero grapes like aglianico, verdicchio, negro amaro or nerello mascalese?
When I was studying Italian grapes, there was 690 registered grape varieties in Italy, with about another 470 identified but not yet registered, which totals over 1000 grape varieties in one country alone. To this point that number on both counts has likely risen. There is more than probably over 700 registered grapes now, and perhaps a few more identified, which still leaves us at that staggering number. No wonder Italy is confusing.
I often get asked by many, “I want to start trying Italian wine, where do I start?” This is a perfect topic to start the year off, and many new people to this group reading our posts/tweets will have a whole list of wines they’d like to try, made with Italian native grapes!
When I go the Vinitaly Trade Show in Verona every year, I make it my mission to try as many native grapes as possible, or to revisit some of the more rare ones that I can ONLY taste in Italy! Grapes like ortrugo, moscato rosa, pelaverga, durella and lagrein are not often seen in market, but are incredibly fun and educational to try when in Italy!
To start your foray into Italian wine, let’s start with something fun!
Brachetto – native to Piemonte, the grape grows mostly around the town of Acqui area and will have Brachetto d’Acqui on the label. This wine was never meant to be sparkling (the still, dry versions are spectacular) but the frizzante style has made it incredibly appealing and sellable. The frizzante style has also helped put Brachetto on the map, so to speak. One of the few aromatic red grapes, it’s like drinking red berry fruit cocktail, with rose aroma and fizz! Delightful! Perfect for those that want something besides moscato and as a dessert wine, it pairs beautifully with chocolate covered strawberries!
La Gironda is proud of their area of Monferatto/Nizza, where some of the best wines of the world are made! They are a completely sustainable vineyard with no herbicides/pesticides, hand harvesting, and reduced consumtion of environmental resources! That’s the whole package folks, and ALL the wines from their portfolio are simply amazing. If you have a chance to find them in your market, I highly recommend trying ALL of them!
White wine (other than those mentioned above J) from Italy is often a tough sell. I must confess that before I started really studying wine, all Italian white wine tasted like bitter almonds, but this was because I didn’t understand the grape and didn’t know what I was looking for! This is a myth. There are some white wines that offer a great deal of complexity in the glass the different flavour profiles. The other myth is that white wine doesn’t age. Period. I know this is a myth because I’ve had a LOT of Italian white wines with significant age on them and they were beautiful, complex and stunning. One such grape is Verdicchio
Verdicchio – from the Marche region on the Adriatic coast, labels will have Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi or Verdicchio di Matelica. There is a difference in the flavour, with Jesi being closer to the sea and grown on hillsides, whereas Matelica is mountainous and cool, so the wines tend to be more mineral and austere with higher acidity. Both of these have lees ageing though, which is what sets Verdicchio apart. Lees is the dead yeast cells, and after the yeast has finished changing the sugars to alcohol, it falls to the bottom of the barrel as lees. The lees stays in the wine and stirred in to add texture and mouth feel to the final product. Verdicchio is one of the few wines that has the ability to age. No small feat for white wine. I have tasted Verdicchio back to 1998 and the acid structure is still incredibly high, but the typical flavours of pears, yellow apples (and yes, almond) have changed to a rich butterscotch and sponge toffee aroma and flavour. And like any white wine with age, dark in colour.
Lorenzo Marotti Campi of Marotti Campi wines, showcases several Verdicchio in the portfolio, but when I have chardonnay drinkers approach me for something different, Lorenzo’s Salmariano Verdicchio is always the first wine I think of! With 20 % aged in oak barrels and the other 80% done typically in stainless steel with lees contact, it’s got the best of both worlds in freshness and mouth feel. The stainless ageing keeps it fresh and lively, yet the small amount in oak gives it the warm, glycerol, full body, rich mouth feel that often comes from drinking full bodied white wines – a perfect foray for the chardonnay drinker to try something Italian!
Carricante – This, my friends, is another ageable Italian white grape! Carricante you say? Where the heck is this from? If you’ve heard of Mount Etna and have had either white or red from the region, you have most assuredly had Carricante! Labeled Etna Bianco, there can be an additional 30% of a grape called cataratto, but the best of Etna Bianco, are 100% carricante and a must try Italian wine! Normally I would talk about the red grape of Mt Etna (because it happens to be my favourite), but recent trip to Sicily and the Mt Etna area, gave me a view through the microscope of this fabulous region. Wines from Sicily are hot, hot, hot right now, but none moreso than the grapes of Mt. Etna. Carricante can grow up to 1000m, yet still ripen in these cool, mountainous temperatures.
Pietradolce is a winery on the northern slopes of Mt Etna, which as one might think, is cooler than other parts of the mountain. It’s also one of the more prestigious areas, so wines coming from the northern slopes seem to have a certain caché about them. Their 100% Etna Bianco wine is eye catching because it is the bottle with “scribbles on the label”, which represents the explosive energy of the volcano itself! (the red has red scribbles and the rosé, pink, making these bottles easily recognizable). Using a combination of rich local traditions and modern winemaking techniques, Pietradolce is making a name for itself in an area that is becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Jan 3, 2020 at 10:33 AMTis The Season
Not all bubbles are created equal. Many come into any retail store and ask for Champagne, not really knowing what it means. Here’s the lowdown:
Champagne- Can only be called such if it’s made in the Champagne region by the Methode Champenois, or second fermentation in the bottle. Essentially that means the bottle you buy off the shelf is the very same bottle the wine did its second fermentation in. If you see Blanc de Blanc, it’s made with 100% chardonnay grapes. Blanc de Noir means there’s red grapes in it – pinot noir and Meunier. These are the classic Champagne grapes and each provides something tasty to the bottle. Champagne is expensive though, due to its extensive ageing (minimum 36 months) on the lees (the dead yeast cells that give texture and taste to wine)
Crémant – We’re still in France, but outside Champagne, it’s called Crémant. These beautiful sparkling wines are made in the Loire Valley, Alsace, Burgundy, Limoux and even Bordeaux (although rare) with grapes such as chenin blanc, pinot blanc, riesling and the indigenous grape mauzac (Limoux). These are typically great sparklers at great price points, but the toasty notes that are present in Champagne, may not necessarily be present in Crémant, because these are typically aged for less time before going to market. With that said, Crémant is a great alternative to Champagne – French without the price tag!
Cava – Welcome to Spain! Another great alternative to Champagne is Cava, coming from (mostly) the Penedes region of Spain, close to Barcelona. Traditionally, grapes used are macabeo, parellades and xa-rello, but more and more we see these wines being made with more international grapes like chardonnay and pinot noir. If you’re looking for something to drink on Christmas morning (a Mimosa maybe?), think Cava! The price points are reasonable, and the flavours are lean, bright and fresh!
Prosecco – The sparkling wine created by the grape glera, coming from the Veneto region or Northeast Italy, it’s taken the world by storm and is at the top of its game. Unlike their counterparts mentioned above, Prosecco is made via the tank method, which means the bubble tend to be bigger and rounder vs. the creamy, delicate mousse of the Champagne, Crémant and Cava. However, its versatility makes it a popular choice amongst consumers. Choose brut style for classic prosecco from the Valdobbiadene hills for a standalone solid sparkling. Choose extra dry from Treviso if you want to create your Aperol Spritz, Bellini or Mimosa. Check out the Prosecco Pyramid by the Prosecco wall, or talk to one of our knowledgeable staff to get in the know about Prosecco!
Methode Ancestrale- Based on the name Ancestrale, one can probably guess that this is an old method of making sparkling, but it is risky and difficult to control. While Champagnes are made with a blending of base wines to produce a house style, then the addition of yeast and sugar in the bottle to kick start the second fermentation, in the Ancestrale method, the primary fermentation process is stopped before completion. The secondary fermentation (still occurs in the bottle) will stop when the yeast has completely finished converting the sugar to alcohol. There’s no disgorgement and there’s no dosage (the extra sugar added AFTER the wine has sat on its lees to determine how sweet your finished product will be: brut, sec, and demi-sec). That’s all clear right? Usually not…there’s typically sediment in any bottle of Methode Ancestrale! J
Petillant Naturel - Pet-Nat for short, has taken the world by storm, and you’ll likely find it in any trendy wine or cocktail bar. It’s like the method Ancestrale mentioned above, but even more natural. It’s often not as sparkly as other sparkling wines, and tends have that certain “funk” to it. It can made with any grape and might even be considered “orange” – another on trend for the millennials!
Sparkling Wine – The truth of the matter is, all countries make sparkling wine, and from every grape imaginable! If you buy it from Canada or the USA, Chile, Argentina, Australia or New Zealand, it’s simply called Sparkling Wine. In fact, some of the Champagne Houses of France have set up shop in the USA, with their house names attached to the area of the USA where it’s made. An affordable option to the champagne name without the Champagne price! The good news is we have ALL of the above mentioned wines in our store! The holiday season is a great time to open a bottle of bubbly, by yourself while watching a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, or with family and friends around the table eating great food, playing fun games, or simply to put a smile on your face! Cheers!
Marcia Hamm
Dec 16, 2019 at 5:41 PM
Two fingers of Whisky please
Whisky, Whiskey, Rye, Bourbon, whatever your preference brown liquor is experiencing a renaissance thanks partly to a renewed interest in classic cocktails and the Millennial generation’s interest in quality craft products.
When people think of Canadian whisky, Rye is what often comes to mind – Canadian Club for example, is known around the world. Rye is a signature flavour even though most Canadian whisky also contains large amounts of corn or other ingredients. Distillers across the country are experimenting with a variety of grains to produce their own signature style whether it is the well-known Wayne Gretzky whiskies or the new to the market delicious offerings from the likes of Two Brewers. Named Micro Distillery of the year, what started as a brewery in the Yukon became a distillery in 2009 and their quality malted whisky has now made its way to Alberta
When you say whisky a lot of people think specifically of Scotch. Scotch – not surprisingly- comes from Scotland. It can be blended – like Johnnie Walker or single malt such as Bowmore and prices can vary wildly for either option. Scotch can be very ‘peaty’ meaning it carries heady aromas of the peat smoke over which the grain is dried. Certain producers, such as Laphroaig are noted for a campfire nose. Blended Scotch has made a huge comeback with premium brands such as Compass Box offering complex well-made whisky.
Whiskey is what the brown nectar is called in Ireland. It is triple distilled and peat isn’t part of the recipe for most producers. Jameson’s owns a massive share of the market thanks to decades of producing a quality product at a reasonable price but top offerings from distillers such as Redbreast with notes of nuts and ginger have added interest to the category.
The biggest growth in the category comes in Bourbon. This corn based, barrel aged spirit originates in Kentucky and while legally it can be called Bourbon when made elsewhere, more than 90% of Bourbon comes from the Blue Grass State. Makers Mark is ubiquitous, but the market has seen an explosion of quality offerings. Michters, Basil Hayden and other small batch offerings may command a higher price tag to offset the cost of production, but it is a worthy investment for your bar. Think caramel and vanilla! Whether you are drinking it straight, on the rocks or in a whisky sour, there is Bourbon on the shelf that will hit the right notes for you at the right price!
Jul 30, 2019 at 11:19 AMCanadian Wine – Big Business and Big Wine!
The Canadian Wine industry estimates it’s worth 9 billion dollars a year. A person could wonder why it seems slow to gain respect in some quarters.
When people from outside of Canada think of Canadian wine they will invariably think of Ice Wine. That’s fair; we make some of the best ice wine in the world. Canadian Ice Wine wins gold medals at international competitions on a regular basis. It’s rich, sweet and delicious.
The Canadian wine scene though has SO much more to offer.
Gorgeous fresh sparkling wine comes from Nova Scotia – Benjamin Bridge has helped to put the area on the map.
Ontario has three distinct wine regions – Niagara, which most Canadians are aware of, Prince Edward County which is producing some lovely wine and Lake Erie North Shore.
Here at Everything Wine we are proud of our selection from our neighbours in British Columbia. From fresh and fun Pinot Grigio to deep dark and delicious Rhone or Bordeaux style reds; the wines produced are as diverse as the province from which they hail.
Even within the Okanagan Valley the wines reflect their region. Crisp whites often hail from north of Kelowna. Whether it’s a well-known established winery such as Gray Monk or one of the ‘newer’ producers like Ex Nihilo, the wines are a reflection of their beautiful surroundings.
Just south of Kelowna the big guns of Quail’s Gate and Mission Hill have spent years earning their reputations. Smaller wineries dot the entire wine route.
On the east side of the lake, Naramata is a hot spot for visitors and for terrific wines thanks to good soil, great exposures and a microclimate that has allowed Nichol Vineyards, Bella Wines and many others to produce surprising wines from the region.
As Highway 97 winds further south past Okanagan Falls to Oliver and Osoyoos, hot summer days allow the grapes to ripen fully. There you’ll find big bold wines from places such as Burrowing Owl, Nk’Mip and Osoyoos Larose
The Similkameen (just west of the Okanagan) is getting a lot well deserved attention and even Vancouver Island is getting into the act with wines from the Cowichan Valley.
Canadian wine is as diverse as the topography and climate from which it comes. If you have not tried any in a while – give it a chance. You’ll likely find a pleasant surprise in one of those bottles.
--RB--
Jun 24, 2019 at 10:51 AMSpring into Rose!
Spring into Rosé
Longer days, sunshine and warmer temperatures seem to just beg for fresh bright wines. Whether it’s to sit and sip on the patio or to enjoy with seafood, turkey or ham, rosé is a perfect spring sipper.
Rosé – Rosado in Spain and Rosato in Italy - is defined by its colour, but that colour can vary widely from pale peach or coral to a rich deep pink.
Virtually every wine region in the world has rosé and the aromas and flavours are as diverse as the grapes used to make to make them.
Red wine gets the vast majority of colour from contact with the skin (most red wine grapes have white flesh). Rosé doesn’t spend long in contact with the skin which limits the amount of tannin present in the wine and results in the paler colour. Longer time on the grape skins results in darker wine.
Some wines are actually a blend of red and white grapes as is the case in rosé Champagne which can be composed of Chardonnay which is a white grape and Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier which are red.
The saignée, or “bleeding,” method produces not just a rosé but a red wine as well. In this process, a winemaker will make a red wine according to standard methods but will, early in the process, remove or “bleed” some of the juice from the tank leaving a more concentrated red wine behind. The product that has been removed is sold as rosé. This practice is less common than the other production methods.
In decades past, rosé in North America was thought of as a gateway to wine. There are still plenty of sweeter, easy drinking pink wines on the market such as ‘White Zinfandel’ or Rosato Moscato, but they’ve given up a lot of the pink market share to wines made in a more traditional crisp fresh style.
Southern France is the heartland of rosé with full bodied wines from Tavel to the classic pink wines from Provence. The primary grape in these classics is Grenache – the strawberry and citrus aromas wake up your palate and are a lovely accompaniment for food. Tavel is rosé for red wine lovers, carrying a bit spice along with the berry fruit.
Rosé is often a great value with stellar bottles under $30 and many quality offerings near or below the $20 mark
Apr 23, 2019 at 9:55 AMTuscany: Beyond Sangiovese
Many of us grew up buying a cheap bottle of Chianti that came in a basket and college kids turned into a candle holder. As the decades passed fantastic wines from the Chianti region made their way into the Alberta market. The wines made primarily from the Sangiovese grapes remain some of the best food wines in the world.
In the mid to late 20th century, some maverick wine makers scoffed at the strict Italian wine rules and began making premier wine with grapes that most people associated with France. Fantastic wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot started to garner rave reviews and loyal fans. Wine critic Robert Parker is often credited with coining the term ‘Super Tuscan’ to describe these special wines.
The Italian DOC and DOCG rules meant some of Italian wines commanding the highest prices had to be called Vino da Tavola – or ‘table wine’. The rules changed in 1992 when the IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) classification was created to accommodate them. Now some of the premier DOCs include Super Tuscans.
Wines such as Sassicaia, Masseto, Ornellaia and Solaia come with big price, but deliver consistently spectacular wine. They age incredibly well and are often a trophy holding pride of place in a fine wine cellar.
There’s good news for the rest of us though. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy these wonderful wines. Antinori’s Tignanello is an opulent Tuscan superstar at less than half the price of the others - blending the traditional Sangiovese cherry aromas with deeper darker fruit from the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Castel’In Villa’s Santacroce is another massive Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Sangiovese that delivers fruit, structure complexity and depth. It’s not priced like most people’s everyday drinker but is less than the cost of a gas fill-up for a big SUV.
Even more budget friendly is the Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo which is both Sangiovese and Merlot resulting in a wine that’s bursting with flavour without completely blowing the budget.
Sangiovese still accounts for more than half of the vines planted in Tuscany, but they are not the only game in town.
Viva Italia!
Mar 13, 2019 at 2:07 PMWines of the Rhone Valley
Winter – the Perfect Time for Wines from the Rhone
The Rhone valley in Southern France is one of our favourite regions here at Everything Wine and More. The full bodied multi-layered wines pair perfectly with a winter stew or a nice roast.
The Rhone is divided into North and South.
The north is dominated by Syrah, the rich blackberry, clove and pepper finish shows exceptionally well in the premier wines of Cote-Rotie. Producers such as Guigal and Cuilleron (among many others) make wine that show both power and elegance. While some can be consumed young, many really shine after years in the bottle. If you are drinking your Cote-Rotie young it will improve with decanting and something meaty to pair.
Also from the north comes the rich black pepper and smoked meat aromas from the stunning Cornas. The region itself is very small but it produces some of the ‘biggest’ wines in the Rhone. Cornas is known for grippy tannin and is another wine that is at its best after some time in the bottle.
Affordable ($40 and under) tasty options from nearby Crozes-Hermitage are a great introduction to the region.
White wine lovers have much to celebrate in the northern Rhone as well as it’s the home to Condrieu, arguably the best expression of Viogner anywhere in the world. The tropical fruit aromas play well with a hint of citrus and some will find gingerbread and allspice. Keep these in mind for upcoming Easter dinner.
In the hotter south Grenache is dominant. From the well-priced Cotes-du-Rhone to the powerful Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache is king of this sometimes underappreciated region. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the Grenache is blended with Mouvedre to give it structure, Cinsault for bouquet and more than a dozen other grapes producing a bold, well-balanced wine. Look for Beaucastel at the top of the market, but there are dozens of other excellent producers in the region. Cotes-du-Rhone is a bargain hunter’s dream.
The whites in the south are most often Rousanne and Marsanne. Often blended together the fatty rich mouth-feel of the Marsanne is well balanced by the more acidic and elegant Rousanne. The wines are medium bodied and often exhibit apricot and mandarin notes.
The next time you think of French wine – think Rhone!
Jan 19, 2019 at 8:09 AM