Barolo has been called the “king of wines,” and the “wine of kings.” Ceretto’s 2008 Barolo “Zonchera, Today’s Wine Pick.

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The Wine Ladies www.thewineladies.com Daily Wine Pick: Thursday, June 13th, 2012

Ahh…. Barolo has been called the “king of wines,” and the “wine of kings.” It is regarded as one of the world’s best wines and is made from only the very best Nebbiolo grapes, grown in Italy’s Piedmont. We had the pleasure to sample an array of Barolos at a recent tasting in Yorkville at One Restaurant. One of our highlights was meeting Federico Ceretto, charming and passionate about the family owned Ceretto, that has been making wine for more than 80 years. Located in the Langhe region of Italy the family is most well known for being among the first to produce single-vineyard wines beginning in the 1970’s.  The Ceretto name has become synonymous with estate-grown produced wines and has set a benchmark for quality among both Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Today we celebrate Ceretto’s 2008 Barolo “Zonchera”.

Please see our short interview with Federico Ceretto as we tasted this delectable Barolo.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgLGIEuc0co

Made from 100% Nebbiolo, this wine is considered one of the family’s historic labels as it was first produced by Riccardo Ceretto in 1962, fifty years ago. A classic Barolo, harmonious and velvety, with good balance, acidity, approachable now but with a lifespan of upwards of 15 years. A real treat, fit for a “king”!
Ceretto 2008 Barolo “Zonchera”, classic, harmonious, velvety, delish.

Available in Ontario through Halpern Enterprises  http://www.halpernwine.com

India’s Grand Polo Tradition Takes Toronto. HRH Princess Diya Kumari and the fashions of House of Valaya.

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There was a time during the British Raj when it was wildly popular for India’s elite to attend the “Season”. Attending sporting events as social outings such as Polo matches, known as the “Sport of Kings,” was commonplace in those days. The ladies were especially excited to come out in the latest couture, eat the most decadent of food while sipping the finest drinks.

This weekend, in Toronto at Alliston Polo Field in Egbert, Ontario a Polo exhibition match was held featuring the Royal Jaipur Polo Team led by Mahraj Narendra Singh of Jaipur against the Toronto Polo Club. In attendance as well was HRH Princess Diya Kumari as well as top Indian couturier J.J. Valaya.

Sunday evening a spectacular Royal event of dinner, fashion and culture with the House of Valaya was enjoyed by all. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the House of Valaya. J J Valaya showcased his exclusive collection at the Liberty Grand, June 10th in Toronto. He is an iconic name in South Asian fashion, known for his creativity and style.  Watch the Fashion show finale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j0swsizrFk

A spectacular dance was one of the highlights of the evening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J_gKtIpBtg

Tweet and win! #SpotTheWineLadiesMobile and win prizes! June 22nd, 2012! LCBO Queens Quay LCBO BBQ FOR CAMP OOCHIGEAS

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Spot The Wine Ladies wine mobile TODAY Friday from 11:30am to 2:00pm at LCBO Head Office employee parking lot Cooper Street at Queens Quay Boulevard East (two blocks east of Yonge Street immediately east of the LCBO Queens Quay store, next to Loblaws)

and WIN a  Shoe LaLa Wine Shoe Holder and Stopper set https://thewineladies.com/shop-the-wine-ladies?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21&category_id=15

 

All you have to do is…..

1. Spot the van

2. Take a picture

3. Tweet your pic with #SpotTheWineLadiesMobile

We’ll pick a winner from all the tweets at random today and announce it here. Good luck everyone!

Hints:

Date: Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Time: 11:30am-2:30pm

Place: LCBO Head Office employee parking lot Cooper Street at Queens Quay Boulevard East (two blocks east of Yonge Street immediately east of the LCBO Queens Quay store, next to Loblaws)

WHERE:    LCBO Head Office employee parking lot  Cooper Street at Queens Quay Boulevard East (two blocks east of Yonge Street immediately east of the LCBO Queens Quay store, next to Loblaws)

 

LCBO BBQ FOR CAMP OOCHIGEAS RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 22 — HELPS SEND KIDS WITH CANCER TO CAMP

LCBO and its suppliers are presenting the 21st annual Queens Quay barbecue in support of Camp Oochigeas on Friday, June 22.  An earlier date for the annual event was postponed due to rain and high winds. This fundraiser is open to the public and all proceeds go to Camp Oochigeas, a year-round camp for children with cancer.              

LCBO President & CEO Bob Peter and the Queens Quay store staff will present Andrew Irvine, Vice Chair, Camp Oochigeas Board of Directors, with a cheque for $160,217 representing the anticipated proceeds from this year’s barbecue and donations from suppliers participating in year-round LCBO in-store tastings. The LCBO and its suppliers have raised more than $1.2 million for Camp Oochigeas in the last 20 years.

Fundraising activities include skill-testing games and a silent auction table with some 300 items, including vacation packages, electronics and unique gift baskets. There will also be live music.    

Located on a private lake outside Rosseau, Ontario, “Camp Ooch”, as the kids affectionately call it, offers eight weeks of summer camp for children affected by cancer. It also provides weekendsat camp throughout the fall and winter, day camp programs and year-round programming at The Hospital for Sick Children and Ooch Downtown, its urban camp facility in Toronto. Camp Ooch is the only residential camp in Ontario to provide on-site chemotherapy and blood transfusions.  

WHERE:    LCBO Head Office employee parking lot      

Cooper Street at Queens Quay Boulevard East (two blocks east of Yonge Street immediately east of the LCBO Queens Quay store, next to Loblaws)

WHEN:   Friday, June 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cheque presentation at 12:45 p.m.

Multiple layered Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter’s Jane Hunter Sauvignon Blanc 2011. Our wine pick for today.

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The Wine Ladies www.thewineladies.com Daily Wine Pick: Saturday, June 9th, 2012

Enjoy the multiple layers of flavour coming through with this Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. Hunter’s Jane Hunter Sauvignon Blanc 2011 delivers big and bold with citrus and ripe tropical fruit flavours, including guava. Concentrated witha lingering finish. Hunter’s is a family owned boutique vineyard with Jane Hunter being the most acclaimed and awarded woman in New Zealand’s wine industry. Established in the 1970’s Hunter’s www.hunters.co.nz is the only Marlborough vineyard to still be owned by its original family, more than 30 years after being founded. The dog on the label by the way, is that of the Hunter clan of Scotland, but visitors often associated the logo with Commodore, gigantic, but affable St Bernard and then Jane’s gregarious Clumber Spaniel, Paddy. Ernie was the founder of Hunter’s and Jane’s husband of 3 years. Ernie passed away at the age of 37 and Jane courageously took the reins straight away. She is an incredibly accomplished woman and super winemaker.
@TheWineLadies @hunterswines
$19.95 in Ontario.

Bravo! This “heartbreak grape”, soothes the soul and caresses the palate! La Crema Pinot Noir 2010 from Sonoma.

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The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Pick: Friday, June 8th, 2012

Bravo! This “heartbreak grape”, soothes the soul and caresses the palate! La Crema Pinot Noir 2010 from Sonoma. Great buy at $29.95 (Ontario) with loads of varietal character, elegant, good acidity, mid-weight with red cherry and cranberry, floral notes and good oak integration. Pinot Noir, often referred to as the heart-break grape is “risky business”, for the winegrower, winemaker and wine drinker, or at least more so with this grape than most others. This thin-skinned berry is very fickle and demands the utmost attention from the vineyard to the cellar. Says one famous California winemaker Tchelistcheff of Pinot Noir “God made Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot Noir” That’s why Pinot Noirs are usually a little pricier than other reds. We really enjoy this one, on its own or with most dishes including duck, on our plates last night. @TheWineLadies @LaCremaWines

Kaboom! Taste explosion! 2009 Cotes du Rhone Villages Foncalieu La Reserve du Crouzau

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The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Pick- Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

Kaboom! Explosion of rich plum, black currant, raspberry and OMG, spice… and hints of chocolate! That is the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Villages Foncalieu La Reserve du Crouzau from the appellation of Saint-Gervais in the southern half of the Rhone Valley in France. A super deal at $14.95 in Ontario market. http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=Foncalieu+La+Reserve+du+Crouzau&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN Full bodied, hint of spice, yummy!

Saint-Gervais has long been a grape growing area with vineyards, over centuries gradually taking over a huge proportion of the landscape around the village.

Saint-Gervais enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot summers well suited to the red grapes Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre that do well and produce fab, full bodied rich wines. Enjoy.

Join The Wine Ladies as they take to the water for a glorious 3-hour cruise of fine wine, food and adventure!

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Purchase your exclusive ticket here. http://guestli.st/108372

You choose, fish or cruise. Enjoy a memorable evening with us, aboard the luxurious 52’ yacht custom made Sportfish, as we set out on a pleasure cruise where you can choose to sit back, take in the views and savour exclusive wines and apps, or elect to try your hand at fishing where 25 lb salmon are commonplace in these waters. Check out our interview with Captain Andrews here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zue0H_cKWqs

Our skipper Captain Andrews

We’ll start in Port Credit, where a handsome young crewman and a perfectly chilled glass of sparkling wine will greet you. On board a steady stream of delectable hors d’oeuvresand excusive wines await you. As we cruise the waters of Lake Ontario embrace the fresh air and the beautiful vistas of Port Credit, Oakville and surrounding areas.

For the “sport minded”, either novice or avid fisherman, Captain Andrew and his mate are ready to make this fishing experience one to remember! The yacht is fully rigged with the very latest in fish finding electronics and fishing gear.

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New Skinny Iceberg Vodka cocktails are ideal for the calorie conscious.

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Beach season is just around the corner.

Don’t let your quest to shave off those winter pounds rob you of life’s little pleasures.

As the temperatures start to climb and our attention turns to our summertime wardrobe, many may be looking at the effects of a winter of comfort food and dreading the thought of pulling on that bathing suit or shorts and tank top. But getting back to a look you can be proud of need not mean drastic changes to your menu and lifestyle. It’s about balance.

We were thrilled to see that Iceberg Vodka took one of the world’s favourite beverages and created 4 fabulous cocktails. These drinks are ideal for those who are counting calories but still want to enjoy the smooth, great taste of  vodka.

Of course we just had to taste these guilt free cocktails! We had the pleasure of tasting and creating some of these awesome cocktails with Iceberg mixologist Chris MacNeil who concocted these guilt free and delicious martinis. All were fabulous but our favourite the Purity Lemon Martini. All for about 100 calories each! Now thats a calorie bargain.

Watch the show here.

Please read on for all four fabulous “guilt free” cocktail recipes. ( The Icy Cosmo, Purity Lemon, Pomegranate’n Ice and Berry Iceberg Slushy)

 

The Icy Cosmo:1½ oz. Iceberg Vodka, ¾ oz. Cointreau, ½ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. cranberry juice. Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lime.

Purity Lemon:1½ oz. Iceberg Vodka, 1½ oz. Cava, ½ freshly squeezed lemon. Combine all ingredients in shaker, strain and pour into a martini glass.

Pomegranate ‘n Ice:1½ oz. Iceberg Vodka, 3 oz. pomegranate juice. Combine all ingredients in shaker, strain and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with blackberries if desired.

Berry Iceberg Slushy:1 cup chopped strawberries, ½ cup ice, 1 oz. Iceberg Vodka, ¾ oz. Ocean Spray White Cranberry-Peach juice. Place strawberries, ice, Iceberg Vodka and juice in a blender. Blend until smooth and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a strawberry or orange.

Be part of the Iceberg Vodka experience. Follow Iceberg Vodka on Twitter @worldspurestand Like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IcebergVodka to keep up to date about contests, events and other fun stuff with the World’s Purest Vodka

Celebrate Canada Day with a Caesar made with Iceberg Vodka!

Newtopia for the mind, body and soul, is feeling strong, healthy and balanced

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U topia for the mind, body and soul, is feeling strong, healthy and balanced

We discover Newtopia, our singular and fulfilling paths to getting there…

 

Just a few short months ago we were introduced to Newtopia. Always on the look out for new and meaningful ways to help us achieve optimal health, from the inside and out, plus a healthy dress size, we were intrigued with this innovative scientific approach that was based on our genetic codes. Apparently there are certain genes or “fat genes” such as one that has the brain tell us when we’re full, and another that has to do with how efficient our metabolisms are… that once identified can be key to losing those extra pounds and keeping them off.  Hallelujah!

These genes play an important role in determining the kind of food we need, the kind of exercise, kind of supplements, and even how we manage stress.  Hmm…sound interesting? We thought so.  As three sisters we often discussed who got the “good genes” and who got the “not so good” ones with the greater propensity to carry a little extra weight. Well now, we were about to learn that we COULD blame our genes, at least partially on our second helpings…did I really need that second piece of chicken, and/or the multiple trips to the candy store. Having said that, homogeneity of the “fat marker” genes eluded the three of us. Although none of us hit the jack- pot, Georgia came close with only one of the marker genes showing a variation (the geneticist’s lingo), Susanne on the other hand, had all three rear their ugly heads or shall we say molecules, on her double helix. We were in…but wait not so fast, where does wine fit into this lifestyle plan we were about to embark on? “ It is welcomed,” said the founder Jeff Ruby. Perfect! And so our journeys began, with an individual mandate, path and execution, based on what our genetic roadmap revealed.

http://www.newtopia.com/thewineladies

 

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