Hockey and beer, how about a glass of vino instead? Why not try “Hat Trick” Red or White, ready to please your palate!

Toronto: The iconic Hockey Hall of Fame was the place to be Jan 30th, 2012 for the official launch of a line of hockey inspired wines, “Hat Trick Red” and “Hat Trick White”.

The idea is based on the tradition of the “Hat Trick” where a hat trick occurs when a player scores three goals in a single game, culminating with fans throwing hats onto the ice from the stands. Pretty cool idea and as the “Hat Trick Red” and “Hat Trick White” are each produced from 3 red grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz)  and 3 white varieties (Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Chardonnay)  by 3 winemakers ( Scott McGregor, Jason Roller and Tom Green) from the state of the art, Niagara-on-the-Lake winery, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits.

The winemakers of Hat Trick wines

The “Hat-Trick Red” and “Hat- Trick White” sell for $12.95 per bottle and are available within Ontario at the LCBO, Diamond Estates “The Winery” in NOTL, Diamond Estates “The Wine Stire”n Cliffside Plaza on Kingston Road in Scarbrough, in a variety of local retaurants and bars and on line at www.diamondestates.ca/shop The wine is also available in Alberta.

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FREE Champagne Opener! Special offer for the month of June 2012

Tired of the same old thank you gifts try something personalized, exclusive, stylish and  bound to impress your friends and clients.

Stunning Icebag Chiller and Carrier. Perfect for summer gift giving as a thank-you, hostess gift or just because!

The Ice bag, perfect for every occasion and location,from your favourite bottle of wine, vodka or soda, from the deck at the cottage, to the deck of the boat, to the beach, a picnic or simply the poolside, your favorite bottle of wine, safe and portable will be chilled to perfection where ever you may be. Makes a great hostess gift too, wrap your bottle in style, with this fashionable and functional wine chiller. Every hostess will love it! And so will you! Place the bottle in the Ice bag, add fresh water and ice cubes, wait for a few minutes and enjoy! Made in France.

 Just $6.95 per IceBag! Available in 12 fashion colours. Shop here.

https://thewineladies.com/index.php/shop/wine-buckets-icebags/ice-bag


Gift with Purchase – Month of June

For the month of June we have a special offer, “Gift with Purchase”. All purchases valued over $100.00 will receive a Swiftturn Champagne Opener FREE  as an added bonus (Value $15.95) https://thewineladies.com/index.php/shop/corkscrews-cutters-pourers/swiftturn-champagne-opener

Swifturn Champagne Opener

Let us help you create a very special gift for you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojWFBaxuQks

Wrap your gift inan IceBag that doubles as a wine cooler too.

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Niagara-on-the-Lake beckons…our boisterous, fun loving group for our Shimmer of Gold Icewine Tour.

First stop, Royal York Hotel, Toronto… all aboard, let the adventure begin! “Wow, this is quite the mode of transport” comments one of our guests as she boards and surveys the luxury limo bus, (NCT, carrier of the stars, we are all stars today) with perimeter seating, the aroma of freshly brewed premium Reunion Island Columbia  Las Hermosas coffee wafting through the air, an oversized basket loaded with an assortment of fresh crisp apples and a totally decadent tray of cupcakes awaiting  you. Delish by Coveted Cakes, choices included, the Blackout Cupcake, Red Velvet, and for those on a strict regime, Carrot with cream cheese icing and of course the ever popular non fattening banana. Right…

We welcome all our guests, which include our TWITTER contest winners, father and son, so happy to be with us, and we are off.

It is not long before the group is sharing stories, joking and having fun, “that sure didn’t take long” we think to ourselves, and that… our friends was the way of the entire day! So on the road, with the first bottle of sparkling wine already poured, we officially welcome our clan and give them the low down on how the day will proceed.

Mary-Ann, of Oakville, expressing herself

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Niagara-on-the Lake beckons…our boisterous, fun loving group for our Shimmer of Gold Icewine Tour.

First stop, Royal York Hotel, Toronto… all aboard, let the adventure begin! “Wow, this is quite the mode of transport” comments one of our guests as she boards and surveys the luxury limo bus, (NCT, carrier of the stars, we are all stars today) with perimeter seating, the aroma of freshly brewed premium Reunion Island Columbia  Las Hermosas coffee wafting through the air, an oversized basket loaded with an assortment of fresh crisp apples and a totally decadent tray of cupcakes awaiting  you. We welcome our guests, which include our TWITTER contest winners, father and son, so happy to be with us, and we are off.

 

Coveted Cakes, Blackout Cupcake, Red Velvet and for those on a strict regime we have Carrot with cream cheese icing and of course the ever popular non fattening banana. Right….

 

It is not long before the group is sharing stories, joking and having fun, “that sure didn’t take long” we think to ourselves, and that… our friends was the way of the entire day!

 

So on the road, with the first bottle of sparkling wine already poured, we officially welcome our clan and give them the low down on how the day will proceed.

 

Mary-Ann, of Oakville, expressing herself

 

First stop, the iconic Inniskillin, the “icebreaker” if you will, excuse the pun, that won the “Grand Prix d’Honneur  award in Bordeaux, France in 1991, for their Vidal Icewine, the first truly significant international medal won by any Canadian winery. A truly VIP experience awaits us.

 

Next….Niagara-on-the-Lake, transformed into a wintry wonderland, will be the place to play, to have lunch, reacquaint with history, shop, eat and drink!

 

 

Fast forward, Lou Puglisi, former Grape King, 2008-2009 with PondView Estate Winery will charm the guests and dazzle the palate, charismatic gentlemen dressed in War of 1812 ‘garb” for the Bicentennial will share the history, and one of the guests on our tour, David Johanns entertainer/composer/pianist will take the microphone and control the ivories on the piano at the “Warm Up” station, giving the extremely  talented performers a much needed break. WOW… our group rocks! And it’s only lunchtime!

 

 

 

 

 

Our second winery on the itinerary, Reif Estate Winery, with the family tradition in winemaking going back twelve generations, now that’s experience! An array of five wines to sample will tantalize our palates from a dry Riesling to a luscious Vidal icewine.   Our final destination Colonari Estate Winery, beautiful, both inside and out, family members will greet us to one of the more recently opened wineries, steeped in Italian tradition, a Romanesque style, grand winery specializing in Appassimento, Recioto and Ripasso style wines.

 

The day unfolds into one that surpasses expectations, friends are made, experiences are shared, stories and laughter fill the bus between stops of enjoying stunning wines and  delectable foods.  Our three wineries, all unique share their expertise, their wines, embrace our guests with passion and the individual experience especially created for them.

 

Here now our experiences at each of our host wineries.

At Inniskillin we were greeted by friend and Inniskillin Ambassador Extraordinaire, Public Relations Director,  Debi Pratt.  For those of you who know Debi, you’ve got to know we are in for a special treat, for no-one has the passion, the knowledge and the personality that is Debi, who also by the way we later learn was Miss Inniskillin 1975! (the year Inniskillin got its license, the first winery in Ontario after prohibition)

 

A brief visit to the vineyard, where still hanging are four rows of the Vidal grape, Debi’s “media rows” as she calls them. All other grapes have been harvested, predominantly mechanically, which we learn is a good thing. Minus 10 degrees celcius is the temperature winemaker Bruce Nicholson  likes to pick, although VQA regulations dictate minus 8 be the minimum.

 

Inside the Founder’s Hall, we chat about the Riedel Vinum Extreme Icewine Glass, created in 2001, jointly with George Riedel, Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, co-founders of Inniskillin. Later in the barrel cellar, we will witness the impact of this perfect vessel from which to enjoy icewine.  To the cellar we descend to a beautifully set table. A “joker” glass (so called in the wine business, just a regular wine glass) on our left with two icewine glasses and a sparkling wine glass beside.  Debbie begins to explain the significance of the proper glass when we are interrupted by a gallant gentleman, stylishy dressed donning his signature, a perfectly placed hat! Donald, “The Donald” , we like to call him, co-founder of Inniskillin walks in. We welcome Donald with hugs and great to see you, and he is off, not leaving, but beginning his passionate recount of the development of, the importance of and the lessons in appreciating the icewine glass.

 

 

Bottom line, the unoaked Vidal Icewine 2010, our first wine, sampled in the joker glass to start is transformed in the Vinum Extreme, with the wine engaging not just the tip of the tongue (the initial contact point for the wine with the joker glass, as well as the most sensitive point to sweetness). The perception of sweet was intensified with the joker, while the Vinum Extreme allowed for the wonderful acidity to come through, showcasing the balance of, and beauty of the icewine.

 

Most delish coffee in town, Reunion Island, sustainable, fair trade Best of the Best.

 Most delish coffee in town, Reunion Island, sustainable, fair trade Best of the Best, with the  Gold Star coffee maker BUNN my Café. Our choice for our morning cuppa java! $40.00 off discount with “wine ladies” code, use when checking out. SO worth it, try it, you’ll love it!

 

Click here to order

 

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Pleasing your Valentine as easy as 1-2-3!

The perfect way to a woman’s heart with 3 things she loves….chocolate, shoes and wine.

Visit our on line store for easy, no fuss shopping. Its’ as easy as 1-2-3!

SAVE 15% on all orders  on these selected items between Jan 23rd-Feb 14th, 2012 ( Discount does not apply on wine sales)

The perfect Valentine’s date….A sultry, seductive wine and chocolate evening presented in a beautiful,sexy stiletto shoe!

#1 CHOCOLATE

Brix – the first chocolate specifically blended to compliment wine. At their root is single origin Ghanaian chocolate, known for its red fruit tones, mixed with the highest quality confectionary chocolate. The result is a blend so pure in flavor that it actually enhances those nuances found in great wines, without confusing the palate.

Brix Chocolate Collection Gift Box Set of 4 Assorted – $27.50 Shop here and SAVE 15%

https://thewineladies.com/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=33&category_id=7

BRIX Chocolate Ciollection Gift Set

What is it about chocolate that incites such pleasure? Is it truly an aphrodisiac? Yes, in fact several components in chocolate have been linked to mood and potential “aphrodisiac” effects releases the same chemical in the brain that is produced when you fall in love.

Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality.

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The Oakville Awards For Business Excellence, Nominees Announced Jan 19th, The Wine Ladies nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year!

Oakville, Ontario: Jan 19th, 2012

Last night a sparkling reception was held at the Holiday Inn Oakville Centre for the nominees of the 17th annual Oakville Awards for Business Excellence. Over 45 excited and proud nominees from various walks of business life were announced. The nominees will compete in six categories for the Awards for Business Excellence including; Oakville’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Oakville’s Restaurant/Hospitality/Tourism Provider of the Year, Oakville’s Small Company of the Year, Oakville’s Large Company of the Year, Oakville’s Professional Service Provider of the Year, Oakville’s Community Builder of the Year.

Our congratulations to all OABE nominees and a toast to all of your success!

We, The Wine Ladies are also proud nominees for Entrepreneur of the Year. Thank-you so much for the honour!

The winners to be announced at the spectacular gala to be held March 7th, 2012. For tickets: www.oabe.ca

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Drink now, or later? You might ponder of the red wines in your cellar…

Drink now, or later?

You might ponder of the red wines in your cellar…

At one of the wineries on our icewine tour last Sunday the question came up of aged wines… When to drink and not to drink.  Certainly not all wines are made for aging, with over 90% being made to enjoy within 1-2 years or as soon as you get home with the bottle. But there are those that can, and do live on for decades. Tips for Typical long lifers?

Opt for certain grape varieties or blends if looking to cellar your bottle; possibilities include big Barolos, or other wines made with the Nebbiolo grape, Bordeaux, big California Cabernets,  Syrahs from the Northern Rhone, great quality Shiraz such as Penfolds Grange to name a few…

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Sparkling Icewine

Sparkling Icewine…the perfect wine for any occasion.Ask The Wine Ladies January 2012

Dear Wine Ladies,

I was thinking of bringing a Vidal icewine to mark the occasion of a friend’s first movie role but then learned there are also sparkling icewines. What are they like and would this be an appropriate wine to bring? Are they served chilled like a regular white wine?

Beth

Whitby, Ontario

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