Category: California

rock’n balance

Thursday 6pm and the phone rings. It’s the driver waiting for me downstairs in front of my office building. I quickly gather my things and jam them into my over-flowing bag. I bend down to tie the shoelaces (that are always coming undone) of my grey and pink cross trainers and quickly walk towards the elevator. I don’t want to keep my driver waiting. Ok, I could get used to saying that. The invitation for the event said to dress for an outside activity. No pumps for me. So there I am, in my jeans and sneakers, sitting in a town car being whisked away for an evening of wine and culinary delights. I had a small taste of what Miranda Priestly’s glamorous life was like; transported to locations devoted to high fashion around New York City…wait, this isn’t the Devil Wears Prada.

Red Rock
Reserve Malbec
2010

As consumers, we’re used to malbec wines from Argentina on the store shelves. California invokes images of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and zinfandel. Well, time to try something new. The 2010 malbec from Red Rock is the first malbec from California to enter the Ontario market.

Owned by the established E.&J. Gallo Winery (gallo.com), Red Rock specializes in varietal reds such as merlot, malbec and pinot noir. The fruit is sourced from various California appellations.

A glass of the 2010
Malbec

“An Experience in balance…In the winery, we take care to achieve a delicate harmony between fruit and hints of oak, balancing body with flavor.” – www.redrockwinery.com

The 2010 Red Rock Malbec contains two other varietals in the mix: petite syrah for tannins and cabernet sauvignon for structure. A portion of the blend was also put into barrel.

“California has traditionally used Malbec as a blending grape but opportunities to showcase this full-bodied varietal are increasing. Malbec is characterized by its deep purple color, smooth tannins, and ripe fruit flavors.” – www.redrockwinery.com

Clever marketing!
Red Rock 2010 Malbec
$16.95

I asked, “Why a red rock?”.  The answer was simple: when you’re looking at a body of water like a river or a pond, it’s those water-weathered, vibrant-coloured rocks underneath that really stand out, wanting to be picked up.

For more information: www.redrockwinery.com

The evening was to remind us of the importance of balance. It’s not just for yoga. In our personal lives, we strive for a balance between work and life. Most often, the scale tips to one side. I prefer the scale to be tipped towards life – especially on weekends. The same concept is definitely applied to wine. You don’t want any one component to overshadow the rest. For example, if the use of oak or high alcohol dominate, the wine might not be enjoyed as much, if at all. It’s kind of like that obnoxious guy who talks loudly on his cell phone in a small space – the environment becomes unbalanced, dominated by hints of loudmouth.


Learning about Red Rock 
Peter Ridel describing
his rock sculptures

The theme for the outdoor activity therefore, was also about balance. We were going to learn how to balance rocks without the use of any tools by Toronto-based artist Peter Ridel. We were taught how to feel for the center of gravity of the stones to find those optimal points of equilibrium. It was actually pretty hard! I see now the purpose of this exercise: balance must be found within… (zen moment).

Soldiers of the night…
balanced soldiers that is

The work by Peter Ridel is both unique and beautiful. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes find these rock formations pop up throughout the city.

rockbalancing.ca

Being by the lake during twilight (thankfully, no vampires), these rock sculptures exhibited a sense of eeriness yet also one of beauty. I wonder what morning joggers along the path would think. All the attendees were encouraged to prepare their own sculptures with rocks provided. With various levels of success, I think people enjoyed themselves with one girl outshining the rest of us.

Chef Neil 

All evening long, the food just kept coming! There were at least 20 different items on the menu prepared by Chef Neil. Many of the dishes were prepared using slate, ceramic and river rock. I thought that was pretty original. Some of the dishes included:

  • Cones of stone baked mini cheese and potato perogies
  • Hot rock seared lamp chop with peppercorn cream sauce
  • Blue cheese and Red Rock Malbec bbq glaze
  • Hot rock oysters
  • Garlic and lemon caressed rock lobster skewer
This gal has achieved balance

At the end of the night, after enjoying deliciously prepared food and a couple of glasses of wine, I received a bag of swag. It included a bottle of the malbec, a wine glass, a red pashmina scarf (perfect for the chilly weather we’re having), a small etched rock that I could call my own and a notepad for when inspiration hits.

The people of Praxis PR (praxispr.ca) sure know how to throw a party. Thanks Brittany! Also a big thank you to E.&J. Gallo Canada. What I liked about the evening was that it was held in a stunning lakeside home. With the downtown Toronto skyline in the distance, the night was a much-need escape from the frantic pace of a busy work week. Small and intimate, it was not your typical wine tasting but it was ever so fun!

My review of the 2010 Red Rock Malbec on WineAlign.
Available at the LCBO in general list for $16.95.
www.winealign.com/wines/25737-Red-Rock-Malbec-Reserve-2010

California Wine Fair 2012

Every year, I eagerly anticipate the California Wine Fair. Located at the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, the walk-around tasting is a great way to spend a few hours discovering this diverse state. It really has it all – sun, surf, tech, stars and most important – wine.

Wines of Grgich Hills
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

This year I had the chance to attend the afternoon event for trade and media. I was excited because I would be sharing the same spit buckets as some of the city’s most respected sommeliers, writers, agents and buyers. You know, spitting wine is actually an acquired skill – one that I have yet to master as I always somehow manage to get whatever’s in the bucket on myself. Bleh.

Alessandro from Profile Wine Group
Pouring J. Lohr wines

The public tasting is always held in the evening. There is a modest entrance fee. I say modest because for the quantity and quality of the wines, it’s well worth it. This event gives you the opportunity to taste some wonderful examples of what California has to offer. This year, there were over 100 wineries participating. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the names before in your local LCBO store:

Profile Wine Group pouring
Signorello wines

J. Lohr Winery
Beringer Vineyards
Roert Mondavi Winery
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Sterling Vineyards
Grgich Hills Estate
Heitz Wine Cellar

… and luckily for us, the list goes on!


Tara Colaneri of Colaneri Winery
and Ontario Winemaker of the year –
Andrzej Lipinski

An event like this can be quite over-whelming as there are just too many wines to physically try.  You can’t do it all. Well, you could try but probably wouldn’t get very far before being head first in one of those spit buckets. Trust me, I learned the hard way one year.  That’s all I’ll say about that. What I recommend is to do some research on the participating wineries. The list is always posted well before the event. It helps to have a game-plan. Divide and conquer.

Miner Family Winery
2008 Wild Yeast Chardonnay

On the hunt for varieties other than Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it didn’t take long to stumble (maybe not the best term to use for a wine-related post) upon the other darlings of California such as Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. Of course, what I always start with is some sparkling wine. This year, it was the bubbly of Gloria Ferrer. Sparkling wine is a great way to prepare the palate for a taste-a-thon.

Flowers Pinot Noir is
always a hit

Having spent quite a bit of time there for work, I’ve developed quite the affinity for California. I had the opportunity to visit many wineries in Santa Barbara County, Sonoma County and Napa Valley. Hopefully on my next trip, I’ll explore Paso Robles – home of some fine Zinfandel and various Rhone varietals.

Zaca Mesa 2009 Viognier was
 a great new discovery

California is a state with approximately 1300 km of coastline. The state’s topography and soil variances leads to diverse growing conditions which of course come out in the wines. The cool air from the Pacific ocean acts like a giant air conditioner for vineyards – especially those closer to the coast. Plenty of sunshine to properly ripen the grapes, cool fogs and breezes from the ocean to cool them down – this is why the state can have such a flourishing wine industry.

http://www.discovercaliforniawines.com

Whenever I visit a particular California wine region, I always find the people to be warm and welcoming. They’re excited to share not only the wine, but the passion and knowledge that goes with it.  It really is quite infectious. Sure, some regions can be slightly more touristy than others but I can guarantee that you’ll always have an enjoyable visit.

Dierberg Family of Wines

California is usually at the forefront of research and innovation. Did you know that the state actually grows 100 different grape varieties? Experimentation with winemaking techniques, technology along with flexibility in creating unconventional blends is like none other in the world.

The wines of Peju

The growers and winemakers are also leading the way for sustainable winegrowing practices. That could be a whole other article: Sustainable, Biodynamic and Organic Farming. For brevity’s sake, let’s just say that they’re trying to create products that have the least amount of environmental impact right from practices in the vineyard itself to those inside the winery. Sustainability – from grape to bottle. Just remember, sustainable does not equal organic.

Packed with eager tasters

For more information on sustainable winegrowing in California:

www.discovercaliforniawines.com/sustainable-winegrowing

If you really want to have a great, detailed read about California, check out this webpage by Jancis Robinson:

www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a200808082.html

I urge you to check out the California Wine Fair when it’s back in town next year. In one evening, you can discover what the Golden State has to offer. You can, in the meantime, begin your research by picking up some California wine on your next visit to the LCBO. Coincidentally, one of themes for the current Vintages release is  “California Legends”.

www.calwine.ca
www.discovercaliforniawines.com
www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWines

Learn more about the wines of California
This is a fun show with world-renown wine expert Oz Clarke
and Top Gear’s James Hammond
I’m hooked!
Oz & James’s Big Wine Adventure 
Los Carneros

I have to go to Paso Robles

Zinfandel personifies the culture and traditions of Paso Robles Wine Country. – http://www.pasowine.com

I saw this video today and it just made me laugh! It reminds me of those Old Spice Commercials. The video worked because it put Paso Robles back on my radar. It’s definitely on my list of regions to visit – and soon. My work allows me on occasion to go to Santa Monica, California. Once there, I usually head to the Santa Barbara wine region (featured in the movie Sideways) since it’s only a couple of hours away.  I think it’s time to set some time aside on my next trip and drive up to Paso Robles.

Where is Paso Robles?

Located in the Central Coast region, Paso Robles is between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

What’s it knows for?
I always associate Paso Robles with Zinfandel, however the region also produces a lot of the same grapes you’d find in Spain, Bordeaux, Rhone and Italy. Paso Robles grows more than 40 grape varieties!

What’s Zinfandel?
Also knows as “zin” for short. In general, I haven’t particularly warmed up to this grape variety although I have tasted some delicious examples. They’re just a little more hard to come by. We probably don’t get a lot of the good stuff imported here to Ontario. I’d love to go to the annual Zinfandel festival in Paso Robles. It’s held every March. It would be a great opportunity see what can be done with this grape.

Highlights of this grape include deep, rich ripe berry fruit that can sometimes lean to the jammy side, red licorice, dark chocolate and spice such as black pepper. Zinfandel thrives on heat. It can be a big, bold wine. It’s not for the faint of heart!

For more information on Paso Robles:  www.pasowine.com

In this current release of Vintages, there’s a Zinfandel by McManis Family Vineyards. At $18.95, it’s a basic, easy-drinking example. A good introduction to this grape.

Tasting Note

This bright and fruity wine, with its aromas of raspberry, plum, dark chocolate and red licorice, shows why California is the go-to place for Zinfandel. Dry, very fruity and also quite fresh. Soft tannins give this crowd-pleaser a nice touch of structure. This fruit-forward dynamo is ideal for gourmet hamburgers, sausages or meat pies. (VINTAGES panel, Oct. 2011)

My Birthday with Beringer

Laurie Hook and myself

I recently celebrated my birthday and what better way than to spend it tasting Beringer wines with the head winemaker herself! Happy birthday to me!  Hosted by Wine Align, the event was located at the trendy Yorkville restaurant Sassafraz. The event was featuring wine with tapas-style food. Ok, tapas it was not. It was like a five-course dinner! The food was delicious and there was a lot of it. Good thing my dress was stretchy.

Love the place setting

The chief winemaker for Beringer is Laurie Hook. She made the tasting very casual and really gave us a sense of Napa throughout the ages. She’s a real history buff so she described what the Napa Valley looked like millions of years ago geologically speaking and what makes it so unique. She discussed everything from the growing of the grapes to the wine making methods at Beringer. After the tutored tasting, she made sure to go to every table to talk to people. She was super. No attitude and very approachable. 🙂

Fancy Shmancy!

Wines Tasted:

2009 Nappy Valley Chardonnay
2008 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay

2009 Napa Valley Pinot Noir
2008 Napa Valley Merlot
2008 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A surprise on the menu: 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon
Some examples of what treats were on the menu:
* Spice rubbed lamb chops with olive jus
* Buffalo mozzarella and aged asiago ravioli, tomato basil broth and chiffonade of Swiss chard
* Seared beef tenderloin with shallot confit pommes royale, sauteed shitake and asparagus fricasse, lobster butter
Lobster butter?! I love these two on their own…and now, combined! 

Delicious Food…yum

It was such a great way to spend my birthday. At the end of the tasting, Executive chef, Bradley Macdonald, came upstairs to see how we liked the food. Of course, we all clapped. The food was delicious. We asked him how he liked the wine. When he said that he wasn’t allowed to try any on the job, we made sure that the situation was rectified. He joined us for a glass. What really topped off the night was the celebrity sighting downstairs in the restaurant: Collin Ferrel, Bruce Willis, Jessica Biel and Ethan Hawk sitting at a table. They were in Toronto filming Total Recall. I heard that the Beringer winemaker, Laurie, gave the table  signed bottles of wine. 

Beringer Website:
www.beringer.com

I strongly urge you to join Wine Align. It’s an online community where you can get tasting notes on what’s in the LCBO and read both reviews of professional critics and regular people.
www.winealign.com

Take me to the Central Coast…again and again

I found myself in California on business in early February. How I wish it were for wine business!  I took a small day trip from Santa Monica to the Santa Barbara region located approximately 2 hours away. If you’ve ever seen the movie Sideways, then you’ve had a nice introduction to the area since the movie was filmed there.  This being my third time in Santa Barbara County, I wanted to explore some new places but of course, making some familiar stops along the way…
Lake Cachuma 
Gorgeous isn’t it? This is Lake Cachuma. The picture was taken along the slower, scenic 154 highway entering the Santa Ynez Valley. You can also take the 101 that brings you more into the heart of the region. There are some cute towns nestled around the region. The Danish village of Solvang is a must!

Santa Barbara County is one of the coolest wine growing regions in California because of the fog and ocean breezes that flow into the valleys. The growing season is long, so the grapes have a long hang time on the vine, allowing the flavours to develop and gain complexity. There are five wine appellations in Santa Barbara County.  The major ones are Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, and Santa Rita Hills, with Los Alamos Valley and Happy Canyon being the lesser known appellations.

http://www.sbcountywines.com/

Even though this region is known for fantastic Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah, you will find many delicious wines made from other varieties.

Some other resources on the region:

http://www.staritahills.com/

Some video footage of the day:
Byron
The first stop of the day was in Los Olivos. I call this the Town of Tasting Rooms (even though most of the towns in the area have many tasting rooms). It’s also the town where one of the most famous scenes from the movie Sideways takes place. The famous “I’m not drinking any &*!^ merlot”. It was filmed in the Los Olivos Cafe which is located in the heart of the town. It’s convenient to taste wines here in the town if you can’t make it out to the wineries. My main purpose this day was to visit the tasting room of Byron. The winery doesn’t have a tasting room so you need to come to the town to taste the wines. I purchased a bottle of their Pinot Noir.

This is a neat site if you want to find out more about the locations filmed in the movie Sideways: http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/sideways.html

I’m sure that the people in the area are tired of hearing about this movie. But, it’s just one of those things. It really helped put the region on the map.  I didn’t make it to Solvang on this trip. I did visit it a few months ago and it really is a fun little tourist trap. It’s the cutest town.

Foxen “wine shack”

Back to the wine shack! I always love coming back here. Foxen has two locations: Foxen 7200 (the 7200 is just the address of the shack) and then a new facility just up the road. The shack is where you can taste their Bordeaux and Cal-Ital style wines (Italian varieties with a California flair). The newer facility is where you can try their  Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs,  and Rhone-Style wines.  Speaking of the movie Sideways, this is where they filmed the scene of Jack and Miles helping themselves to full glasses during a wine tasting at the Foxen 7200 location.

http://www.foxenvineyard.com/

Dierberg
Next stop, Dierberg.  This winery was the highlight of my day. Not only because it was a new discovery, but also because everything I tasted, I loved. I took a chance and blindly tried something new!  If in the area, make sure to drive along Santa Rita Road. It’s the scenic route in Santa Rita Hills, much like Foxen Canyon road between the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria regions. I visted three wineries in the area. They were: Dierberg, Melville and Alma Rosa. Out of the three, Dierberg was my favourite. I bought a bottle of their 2007 Vineyard Chardonnay.


Wine lovers at Alma Rosa

 
Other wineries in Santa Rita Hills:

Tasted some nice Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Met some wine-loving, fun people at this winery and had some laughs. Sampled Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.

Along Foxen Canyon Rd.
This is a typical view when driving along Foxen Canyon Road. I wish the camera could have actually captured the beauty of the surroundings. Sure this picture is nice but I can’t describe how amazing the scenery is in person. Rolling hills, funny looking trees, cattle and horses grazing…the mountains in the background. I love this area because it’s so rustic.

I could go back to the Central Coast again and again…
Maybe on my next trip to California, I’ll do the Paso Robles region – Zinfandel country!

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

Going Sideways …

I recently made a trip out to California for work. I know, lucky me! I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to get to sunny Santa Monica a few times a year. I left just at the right time as Toronto was calling for a snow storm. Being in Santa Monica in late February was a real treat. It was sunny and warm with flowers beginning to bloom. I could get used to that kind of winter.  For a few years now, I’ve always wanted to visit the Santa Barbara wine country. This region was featured in the movie Sideways. Every time I was in the LA area, my plan of visiting the wine region was put on hold due to fires around the Santa Barbara. It seemed that California was always burning when I was there! This past trip, it seemed that luck (and nature) were on my side. Santa Barbara is about 2 hours or so from Santa Monica and then another half hour inland to wine country. The drive up to Santa Barbara is really gorgeous. You will go through the Malibu Canyon where windy roads and steep cliffs await you. Then you’ll find yourself driving along the ocean coast where on one side, you’ll see the snow covered mountains and on the other side, restless waves crashing against the beaches.  The most beautiful of all the wine trails in the Santa Barbara wine region is the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail (Foxen Canyon Road). It’s one of the more scenic routes and has some great wineries along the way.
We started our journey at the small town of Los Olivos. Note that when coming to this area, make sure that you have enough gas as finding a gas station around here can be challenging. Los Olivos is a cute town full with tasting rooms and cafes. All the wineries of the area have tasting rooms here in the town just in case you can’t get out to the wineries themselves.
 
Driving along the Foxen Canyon wine road, my eyes opened wide as I took in this picturesque area. It was pretty spectacular. There were rolling hills with sharp contrast between the green of the grass and the blue sky. The landscape was barren with funny looking trees and cattle grazing. The pictures attached to the end of this post really don’t do this region justice. It felt like my husband and I were the only two people in the whole area as it was so quiet. We took the top down on our red Mustang convertible and soaked in the sunlight. We had such a relaxed, slow-paced day. Driving along the road, we really took our time to take in the sunshine and enjoy the scenery. At each winery visited, the people were laid back and cheerful. They were eager to share the history of the area and the wines with us. The tastings were usually no more than $10 plus you could keep the glass as a souvenir. The tasting fee was usually waived if you purchased a bottle. This region is well known for Rhone-style wines as well as for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It would have been great to have continued driving all the way out to the Paso Robles region. That will be for the next trip!

Wineries visited:

Curtis Winery
http://www.curtiswinery.com

“We specialize in Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and other artisan Rhône-style wines from Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Here, we put down roots as one of California’s first wineries dedicated exclusively to Rhône-style wines. Since then, nothing has changed. We still live for Rhônes.” – Curtis website

 I liked everything I tried! Since this was my first stop, I had to be conservative in my purchases.  I ended buying the 2005 Mouvedre from grapes grown in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Foxen 
http://foxenvineyard.com

“If you don’t know FOXEN,
you don’t know Dick . . . or Bill.” – Foxen Vineyard website

Haha! I just love that quote above. I love it as much as I love the wines coming out of this winery! This winery actually has two locations. One location is the new solar-powered winery and tasting room. Here, Burgundian-style wines are featured such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  The other location is located up the road and is now called Foxen 7200 (because the address is 7200 Foxen Canyon Road). This is where the famous Foxen “shack” is located. I remember seeing the tasting bar in “Sideways”. I can’t believe that I was there! It really is a shack! This location has wine for tasting that focuses more on their “Bordeaux and Cal-Ital-style” wines. We were given some snazzy anchor temporary tattoos too. 🙂

Riverbench Winery
http://www.riverbench.com

Located in the Santa Maria Valley, this winery is creating some lovely Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I purchased the 2007 Estate Chardonnay. I preferred the Estate to the Reserve. A week later, I was enjoying the bottle with a few friends and it was a great success.

“Riverbench Vineyard was established in 1973, when its first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes were planted on the property. For years since then, some of the most renowned wineries in Santa Barbara County have purchased our fruit for their own wines. Over time Riverbench has become a prominent name for high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Santa Maria Valley.” – Riverbench Winery website

Kenneth Volk Vineyards
http://www.volkwines.com

“At Kenneth Volk Vineyards, our main focus is on vineyard designate wines from Santa Barbara. We understand the importance of terroir, unique soil, and the sea influence in this region, which is gaining renown for its cool climate and ideal growing conditions.
Our second focus is on Bordeaux varietals from Paso Robles. These quality wines boast ripe fruit flavors and are suitable with a variety of cuisine.” – Kenneth Volk website

I purchased the Kennth Volk 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon made from some of their vineyards in the Paso Robles region. What was interesting about this winery is that they had a wine made from the Tempranillo grape variety which is normally seen only in Spanish wines. It was delicious.

Byron Wines
http://www.byronwines.com

“You are on the eastern edge of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. The temperature is mild, the wind is steady and the terrain is gentle and rounded. In the winter these hills are tinted gold and raw sienna. In the summer they are all shades of green. Our wines are a reflection of their surroundings. Every time you taste one of Byron’s wines you are surrounded by the flavors, textures and scents that can only come from here the Santa Maria Valley.”  – Byron Wines website

We ended our day back in Los Olivos at the Byron tasting room. Wines from another winery called IO were also available here for sampling and purchase. I believe that the founder of Byron started IO. We ended up buying the IO Nielson Vineyard Viognier 2007. It was delicious! I’m really into Viognier right now. My wine rack is seeing an increase in the number of bottles filled with this yummy grape.

I think 5 wineries in one day is a great effort! I am definitely planning another trip out to this region. It was visually breathtaking and mouthwatering delicious. These are the wineries that I hope to visit on that next trip:

Qupé
Rancho Sisquoc
Fess Parker
Blackjack Ranch
Cambria
Firestone
Fess Parker

Also, the town of Solvang, a cute Danish-inspired town. It’s a must!

Visit the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail:
http://www.foxencanyonwinetrail.com

For more information about the Santa Barbara Wine Region:
http://www.sbcountywines.com

I just had to throw this in:
http://www.santabarbaraca.com/sideways

Yes that’s right! You can tour every location from the film “Sideways”.  I have to do that next time I’m in the area.

In my honest opinion, I found the geography of the Santa Barbara wine country to be more beautiful than both Sonoma and Napa. Maybe I’m just a more rustic-kind-of-gal. Sure, you don’t see the grand estates like you do in Napa but this region is breathtaking in a different way with fantastic wines to back it up. Sadly, I didn’t run into Miles…maybe next time! I also drank some wonderful Merlot. Shhh.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

Tasting Notes – Nov 15, 2009

This week I didn’t really do any formal tastings but I did have some enjoyable wines, two of which happen to be wines that I’ve been meaning to try anyways. Lucky day!

St. Francis Chardonnay 2007 $19.95
I discovered this wine from Sonoma last year which would have been the 2006 vintage release. I loved it…people loved it. The cases were flying off the shelves at my local wine shop. This year, the wine is just as good. However, it does have a heavier oak flavour than last year. If you love that big, buttery, oaky California Chardonnay then you’ll enjoy this wine. The grapes were sourced mostly from the Russian River valley and the wine aged in both French and American oak. This wine is full-bodied, creamy and feels like golden butter going down. But don’t let the oak scare you. It’s not so full of oak that you can’t enjoy the fruit.

Pierre Amadieu La Grangeliere Vacqueyras 2007 $21.95
This wine is from the Southern region of France, specifically, the Rhone. I think this is one of my favourite wine regions. Vacqueyras is located not to far from the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape village. I find that wines from Vacqueyras and Gigondas are nice alternatives to the more expensive Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Although, Gignondas wines can be a bit on the expensive side nowadays. This wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. 50% of the wine was aged in new oak and you can really tell by the intense aroma.

Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir $23.95
A friend of mine opened this for us girls during a small house-warming get together. Let it sit for a few minutes just after opening and you’ll be delighted. It’s a nice Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Too bad I accidentally knocked over a glass. I hope the floor enjoyed it. This wine is medium-bodied with all those flavours typical of a Pinot Noir such as strawberry, cranberry and cinnamon spice. Oregon is known for their fabulous Pinot Noir. Next time you’re in your wine shop, see if you can find something from this region. I don’t think that you’ll be disappointed.

I love the NightLife

Last week, I attended a wine event (I know, shocking!) brought to you by the iYellow Wine Club (a free wine social club in Toronto so sign up!). This event featured wines from Napa, California. The night started off with a bang as I acquired a head injury even before entering the event. My head made friends with a large metal door. A perfect way to soothe a head bump is wine of course and I certainly was on my way to the right place. The event took place in the historic Great Hall, on Queen Street West. I love this area of Queen Street. There are so many galleries and interesting stores…not to mention good restaurants.

http://www.thegreathall.ca

I love the way the Great Hall was decorated for the evening. Dj Dinamo and Dj Sam EfSharp Flemming were playing some good tunes (as usual, I busted a move on the dancefloor after a few…um…samples). There were 20 wineries sampling their wines at this event. I have to say that the wines that stood out for me this night were the Syrahs and the Sauvignon Blancs. Of course, there was plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon to go around! No California wine show would be complete without the great King Cabernet Sauvignon.

The setup for the evening was one which had all the wineries along the perimeter of the hall, allowing people to freely mix and mingle. There were tables in the center, along with tasty bites to eat. Angela, the lovely lady behind the iYellow Wine Club was sporting some great boots. I love her sense of style. Great taste in wine and fashion go a long way in my books.

The picture to the left is one of Angela and myself showing off our boots at the end of the event. Below is yours truly taking a break from dancing. This time I had some fellow wine tasters join me!


For myself, the wines that stood out were:

Chimney Rock Elevage Bordeaux Blend
This wine is made in the tradition of wines from the right-bank of the Bordeaux region.
www.chimneyrock.com

Peju Sauvignon Blanc Persephone Vineyard 2008
Interesting fact about this wine is that the grapes are harvested in three stages of ripeness to create a complex blended wine.

Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Persephone Vineyard 2005
www.peju.com

Cuvaison Pinot Noir 2007 Los Carneros
One of the only few Pinot Noirs of the night, but always a pleaser.
www.cuvaison.com

Frias Syrah 2006
I have a bottle of the 2005 in my wine rack. I can’t wait to drink it. The 2006 was also super.
www.friasfamilyvineyard.com

John Anthony Syrah 2006
The winemaker himself was pouring the wines and I enjoyed tasting each of them!
www.javwine.com

Toronto is fortunate to have dedicated organizations like the iYellow Wine Club to bring these types of events to the city. I love California wines and the NightLife event provided a way to showcase the region.

For more information on Napa Valley:
www.napavitners.com

Maybe one day I’ll be blogging from Napa! I can’t wait.

Event Alert!
The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is coming up in a few weeks here in Toronto. It’s always a lot of fun. Sadly, I won’t be pouring wines this year. I’ll be on the floor tasting! 🙂
For more information: http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca

Purchase VIP tickets with the iYellow Wine Club and save money on the VIP evening:
http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/2009/10/gfwe-iyellow-vip-green-room.html

This year, the wines of Portugal will be featured. See you there!