It’s All Greek To Me! Greece. The Wine Ladies TV explore the wines of Greece with Boutari.
Boutari
We are celebrating the Olympics today. The birth of the games which started a long time ago in 776 BC in the exquisite country of Greece. The games back then allowed for all the countries to compete. If at war a truce was enacted so that the athletes could travel in safety to participate. The Olympics today haven taken a 12 century sabbatical were rekindled in 1896 in Athens. Greece have now transitioned to a global competition. More than 80 countries at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics ( out of 195 in the world) participated. We thought it would be fitting to find out more about the glorious country of Greece, the history of the games, the myths and legends, the culture, food and of course the wine.
It’s All Greek To Me! Greece. The Wine Ladies TV explore the wines of Greece with Boutari Santorini.
Joining us in studio to explore the origin and the history of the games and to bring the beautiful country of Greece alive for us we were honoured to welcome the Consul General of Greece, Dimitrius Azemopoulos. The ancient Greeks, the Consul General revealed to us, “knew that in order to have a healthy mind you need to have a healthy body.” That Greek philosophy is evident in the beautiful ancient nude statues celebrating the beauty of the body. In fact, stated Dimitrius, “the ancient Olympic athletes competed in the nude which was meant to showcase the form and beauty of a fit body often covered in olive oil for greater appearance of the body.” The Renaissance period , with its classical literature and mythology had a lot to do with the resurrection of the Olympic games.
Today we honour our athletes with gold, silver and bronze medals, but in ancient times the athletes were awarded an olive branch, much honoured throughout Greece, especially in the athlete’s home town, or large sums of money and prizes including vats of the famous Greek olive oil. “Although the truth , myth and legends are often intertwined or lost about the ancient Olympics, the spirit lives on”, noted Dimitrius.
God of the vine, grape harvest, winemaking, wine, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre
Dionysus, one of the twelve Greek gods is the ancient Greek god of wine.
The inspirer of ritual madness and ecstasy freeing one from one’s normal self, by madness, ecstasy or wine.“The wines of Greece have had an exceptional history, in fact the Roman nobility preferred the wines of Greece over those of Rome”, Giovanni Priorello from the Kolonaki Group revealed on the show. There is evidence of wine stored in clay jars as far back as 7000-5000 BC.
Grapes are grown in all parts of Greece, including Macedonia and Thrace, Peloponnessos, Ionian Islands Cyclades ( which includes Santorini) With over 300 grape varieties planted in Greece, the country has a vast diversity of climates throughout from the coolver vineyards in the mountains of Pelopennese to the intense heat such as Crete and Rhodes where the grapes are picked in July. Giovanni stated that, “where before Greek wines were often used as just a house wine, now they are exceptional wine lists made with the wines of Greece”. Wines we tasted on the show available through the Kolonaki Group
1.2008 Boutari Santorini ($16.95) is a wine with a brilliant, pale yellow colour and a pleasant distinctive aroma of exotic fruits. A fatty wine with a very good balance, full taste and long aromatic aftertaste.
2. 2008 Boutari Moschofilero ($14.40) LCBO general list Moschofilero Boutari presents a brilliant, crystal-clear, white yellow colour with grayish tints. A fresh wine with intense floral and fruity aromas, dominated by the aromas of white rose, melon and citrus trees. A well-balanced fresh wine, with intense flavour and long aromatic aftertaste (orange blossom, grapefruit).
Boutari Moschofilero
3. Boutari Agiorgitiko ($12.95) LCBO general list. Deep ruby colour and intense aroma of red fruits marmalade, berry, cherry, accompanied by sweet ageing aroma. On the pallet the wine gives a velvet taste with good structure. Round and fatty with flavours of chocolate, honey and dry nuts.
Boutari Agiorgitiko
4. 2004 Boutari Grand Reserve Naoussa ($18.00). A wine with deep red colour, typical aromatic character of Xinomavro, cedar, olive, tomato juice, spices and mint. In mouth it is balanced full-bodied with good acidity and sweet flavor of vanilla, cocoa, berry surrounded by the oak barrel.
Boutari Grand Reserve Naoussa
Tony Pethakas of Mezes Restaurant which means a “selection of appetizers”. Dolmathes (stuffed green vine leaves).
The proprietor Tony Pethakas of Mezes Restaurant which means a “selection of appetizers” brought in the classic Greek cuisine including Spanakopita ( spinach phyllo pastry, Dolmathes (stuffed green vine leaves), grilled shrimp and lamb chops. This style of cuisine represents the idea of a selection of appetizers or small dishes to taste, nibble and share with friends and family. The food was delicious, refreshing and wonderful with the wines. Opa!
On this week’s radio show….Out of the ordinary,but quite extraordinary!Dining on dirt or in the dark?
The Wine Ladies SPOTLIGHT – Christine Cushing Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tune in every Wednesday “LIVE” at 2:30pm – 3:30pm to The Wine Ladies TV on http://www.thatchannel.com as we host guests from the world of wine, food and the fabulous lifestyle it entails. To listen or subscribe to the podcasts http://www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies.
The Noble Art of Sabrage and a hockey skate?
Dear Wine Ladies, Sabering a bottle of sparkling wine with a hockey skate; how perfect for the winter Olympics this month! I enjoyed seeing that on your show last week with Daniel Speck. My question is about the Cuvee Catherine sparkling rose, or roses in general. How and when is the red wine added to the sparkling wine to give it the colour? Barbara Barrie, Ontario Dear Barbara, When making a sparkling rose, the colour is achieved in one of two ways; most often, it is made by adding a small proportion of red wine to the white or, much less frequently by allowing the skins of the dark grapes to stay in contact with the juice for a brief time. If the rose is made this way it is called “rose de saignee” which means to bleed, in French, the colour of the dark grapes “bleeds” into the juice. In the case of Henry of Pelham’s Cuvee Catherine, grape skin contact with the juice is avoided. Mr. Speck explained “ we only want the best juice from the middle of the berry, we whole cluster press and press fraction from there. Ninety-nine percent of all sparkling rose wines are made by adding an oz. of red wine to the cuvee.” Cuvee Catherine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two of the three grape varieties legally permitted to produce Champagne. (pinot meunier is the third). A greater percentage of Pinot Noir is used giving the wine a roundness, it has good fruit and leans more to the fresher side than the toastier. Rose de saignee sparkling wines, usually with a deeper hue, tend to be richer in red fruit flavours such as raspberries and cherries; they also tend to pair well with foods such as pigeon, duck or lamb To watch Daniel Speck try to open the Cuvee Catherine with a hockey skate check out www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies The Wine Ladies TV Wednesdays 2:30-3:30pm (live on ThatChannel.com): Sisters, business partners, national newspaper columnists, TV personalities and radio hosts, these ladies share their passion for wine, food and living to the fullest and without hesitation. Their motto, “everything in life somehow comes back to the vine,” keeps audiences entertained and informed. Join the ladies every Sunday morning at 8:30am on The Jewel Network ( Jewel 88.5 FM in Toronto, Jewel 98.5 FM in Ottawa, Jewel 107.7 FM in Hawkesbury) as they host special guests from all walks of life on their weekly wine and lifestyle radio show. Watch The Wine Ladies on their web TV episodes “ One Sip At A Time” as they conduct two-on-one interviews featuring leading chefs, winemakers, business entrepreneurs, financial gurus, sports stars and innovators in the entertainment, literary and fine arts communities. Georgia and Susanne have a talent for discussion that’s always fun and enthusiastic . The Wine Ladies philosophy is that “Wine is part of living well, with joy, with good friends and good food, from a simple table wine to a Grand Cru”. To watch and subscribe to the podcasts http://www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies
The Wine Ladies SPOTLIGHT – VINTURI WINE AERATOR
Tune in every Wednesday “LIVE” at 2:30pm – 3:30pm to The Wine Ladies TV on http://www.thatchannel.com as we host guests from the world of wine, food and the fabulous lifestyle it entails. To listen or subscribe to the podcasts http://www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies.
The Cuvée, Ontario’s wine Oscars!www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies TV for a red-carpet week-end!
To view this entire TV show episode and subscribe to our podcast for previous episodes. Check out www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies or check out some of the highlights right here Caption: Oscar’s of the wine industry. The “Oscars” of the Ontario wine industry, the Cuvée Awards now in its 22nd year coming up February 19th-21st is a red-carpet culinary and wine weekend. Like the Oscar’s in Hollywood the talented wine makers and their industry peers select the very best amongst them. A winery competition from all 4 VQA regions of Ontario with 54 participating wineries competing with over 200 wines in the red, white, sparkling and sweet categories. There is no professional award higher than being honoured by one’s peers celebrating excellence in one’s work and passion. The fabulous Cuvée weekend kicks off with the grand Cuvée Gala event Friday Feb 19th, 2010, taking place at the Fallsview Casino Resort with reception, award ceremony and glittering party. Along with the award winning wines, Ontario’s culinary excellence will be on display at the Gala celebrating Ontario’s foremost wine and food celebration. JoAnne Krick was in studio to give us the scoop on the red carpet gala and weekend taking place. Cuvée Weekend tickets are available at www.cuvee.ca or by calling 905-684-8688. Cuvée En Route admission can be purchased separately for $30.00 per person, via the same outlets or at participating wineries on Cuvée Weekend. Ticket and event information, details about each winery’s Cuvée En Route tastings, overnight accommodation packages, and event announcements can all be found on the Cuvée web site, www.cuvee.ca. We had an opportunity to chat and taste some of the splendid wine and food that will be part of the weekend including one of our favorite Niagara Peninsula wineries, Henry of Pelham www.henryofpelham.com. Owned and operated by the 3 Speck brothers, Paul, Daniel and Matthew we were joined by Daniel in studio who led us through a tasting of one of our much loved sparkling wines Cuvée Catharine Rosé, as well as the 2008 Sibling Rivalry featuring a blend of Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer and the signature Henry of Pelham 2007 Baco Noir Reserve. We challenged Daniel to show off his unique sparkling wine sabering technique… using a hockey skate to open up the bottle. Unfortunately after several failed attempts we were forced to rely on the true and steady way of opening the bottle. As always the Cuvée Catharine Rosé was delicious with good acidity and aromas of apple and citrus and paired beautifully with the roasted beet salad made by executive chef Roberto Fracchioni of the Millcroft Inn and Spa http://www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft/default.htm that was also in studio working his culinary magic. Roberto Fracchioni a veteran of many years of the Cuvée Gala will also be on hand this year preparing some of his signature dishes as well. Next on the culinary schedule was a Seared Scallop Sofritto prepared not to rival the 2008 Sibling Rivalry but to enhance it like one big happy family. The Sibling Rivalry tasted like a sun vacation of lime citrus, apple freshness and a dash of lychee fruit. Following that,Daniel explained that the Baco Noir is to Canada as the Malbec is to Argentina and the Shiraz is to Australia… our signature wine. The Baco is a hybrid red wine grape variety produced from a cross of Vitis Vinifera var. ( Folle Blanche, a French hybrid grape) and an unknown variety of Vitis Riparia ( an indigenous North American grape species). Concentrated plum, rich palate, jammy but not over down it was a wonderful companion to the White bourbon, Chardonnay and Squash soup we enjoyed as our final course of the show. If you would like to see the show in its entirety go to www.thatvhannel.com/thewineladies . 
Espagne here we come! The Wine Ladies TV! Tune in 2:30pm Wed Feb 10th on Thatchannel.com
Watch The Wine Ladies TV “live” on www.thatchannel.com Wednesday at 2:30pm( new start time). Espagne here we come! We invite you to join us in Spain May 2010 for our wine and culinary tour. Be sure to watch this Wednesday Feb 10th as we reveal the itinerary of this glorious adventure, discover the leading wine growing region of Rioja, tapas, tempranillo and perhaps a little flamenco! Three guests join us in studio to answer any questions you might have. Proprietor and chef of CAVA restaurant www.cavarestaurant.ca Christopher McDonald one of Canada's most respected chefs, known for a creative, first-principles approach to cooking and the relationship between food and wine. Also in studio Toni Batet Collado who promises to bring a taste of the Rioja wine region representing the well known and respected house of Torres. http://www.ibericoswine.com/index-en.php Rounding out our guest list, Brenda Hanson Operations manager of ECO-MOZAIC www.eco-mozaic.com who will bring the scrumptious details of the paths we will take while in Spain from wineries to tapas bars to museums and more. Adios a mis amigos….. until Wednesday If you would like to join us in Spain in May go to www.ECO-MOZAIC.com or call 416 585 2258 and 1 800 267 9339 for details. 
Caption: Proprietor and Chef Christopher McDonald of CAVA 
If you missed last week’s show not a problem. The “Oscars” of the Ontario wine industry, the Cuvee Awards will be our focus this week. Who will bring home the hardware this year? Be sure to watch this Wednesday, for the scoop and a chance to meet some of the stars of the culinary world and that of wine. Joining us in studio Daniel Pelham from the “sibling rivalry” winery Henry of Pelham Family Estate http://www.henryofpelham.com/, award-winning chef Roberto Fracchioni’s exquisitely conceived dishes from Millcroft Inn and Spa http://www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft/default.htm and JoAnne Krick to give us the scoop on the red carpet gala and weekend taking place Feb 19th- 21st, 2010. www.cuvee.ca For a complete podcast of this show and all episodes of The Wine Ladies TV check out http://www.thatchannel.com/TheWineLadies
The Wine Ladies SPOTLIGHT,Winning Colours Stain Remover
Tune in every Wednesday “LIVE” at 2:30pm – 3:30pm to The Wine Ladies TV on www.thatchannel.com as we host guests from the world of wine, food and the fabulous lifestyle it entails. To listen or subscribe to the podcasts www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies. The show is a perfect spot to share with our viewers, listeners and readers our latest discovery deserving of a special mention, an innovative wine accessory, a delectable wine we just tasted , a new spirit, cocktail or beer and much more. Introducing The Wine Ladies SPOTLIGHT! Every week we will pick something special and share it with you! Check out the www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies for a complete podcast from Feb 3rd,2010 “Oscars” of the Ontario wine industry, the Cuvee Awards The Wine Ladies TV!
The Wine Ladies SPOTLIGHT
This week’s SPOTLIGHT….. Winning Colours Stain Remover This week with the Cuvee gala coming up we know inevitably that there will be red wine spilt on someone’s designer dress or rented tuxedo! Not too worry! Wine stains be gone! We felt compelled to share with you a product we learned about last year…. Winning Colours Stain Remover. It’s found in the paint department of most major retailers Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Ace Hardware and more. But don’t let that fool you. Not only does this amazing product take out red wine stains but in fact it takes out over 1000 plus other types of stains too. It really works. It’s eco friendly, 100% natural and works like none other. Simply dab up the excess wine, spray some Winning Colours on the stain and add the secret ingredient… water. Easy on the skin, no fuss and inexpensive. We always carry the travel size in our purse for any wine stain disaster.
For more information on Winning Colours Stain Remover. http://www.winningbrandscorporation.com/ The Wine Ladies TV Wednesdays 2:30-3:30pm (live on ThatChannel.com): Sisters, business partners, national newspaper columnists, TV personalities and radio hosts, these ladies share their passion for wine, food and living to the fullest and without hesitation. Their motto, “everything in life somehow comes back to the vine,” keeps audiences entertained and informed. Join the ladies every Sunday morning at 8:30am on The Jewel Network ( Jewel 88.5 FM in Toronto, Jewel 98.5 FM in Ottawa, Jewel 107.7 FM in Hawkesbury) as they host special guests from all walks of life on their weekly wine and lifestyle radio show. Watch The Wine Ladies on their web TV episodes “ One Sip At A Time” as they conduct two-on-one interviews featuring leading chefs, winemakers, business entrepreneurs, financial gurus, sports stars and innovators in the entertainment, literary and fine arts communities. Georgia and Susanne have a talent for discussion that’s always fun and enthusiastic . The Wine Ladies philosophy is that “Wine is part of living well, with joy, with good friends and good food, from a simple table wine to a Grand Cru”. To watch and subscribe to the podcasts www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies