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 .
We are all set to enjoy a tour of three of Prince Edward County’s award winning wineries, and a much anticipated, relaxing and delightful stay over at the Timberhouse Country Inn located in Brighton. http://www.timberhouse.net
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.
We are thrilled to announce that we are going to Spain in June 2010 leading a wine, culinary and cultural tour to the fabulous Rioja as well as stops in Madrid, Barcelona and more. With only a small group with us (just 30) we will visit wineries, tapas bars, museums and maybe a little Flamenco dancing too. This is an incredible chance to discover the monumental heritage, dazzling environment and to become acquainted with the customs and lives of the Spanish people. Taking this trip to Spain means to live an experience that you will never forget.
For a complete details http://www.ECO-MOZAIC.COM or call 416 585 2258 and 1 800 267 9339.
To view the complete itinerary and prices please Spain Tour. Joining us on the TV show was Brenda Hanson Operations Manager for ECO-MOZAIC www.eco-mozaic.com who highlighted the what, where and when of this 10 day excursion. From the endless attractions and architectural heritage of the Royal Palace in Madrid, to the fertile landscapes forests, mountains, beaches and steep coasts of Bilbao and the splendour of the City of Wine “Marques de Riscal” Winery designed by the famous Canadian architect Frank Gehry we know that this trip will be a celebration of diversity and immense pleasure for the mind, spirit and body. To help bring the fabulous Spanish cuisine to life we were delighted to have Executive Chef and proprietor Chris McDonald of the award winning CAVA Restaurant www.cavarestaurant.ca located in mid-town Toronto wow us with his culinary magic. CAVA in Spanish means, cellars for aging wines as well as sparkling wine where it is made just outside of Barcelona. Chris’s restaurant offers a wide range of wines by the glass and specializes in “small plates made for sharing otherwise known as tapas”, he explained. Tapas are a cultural phenomena in Spain whereby friends and family get together, share a small bite and a drink and are meant as a precursor to the main meal. Chris prepared some classic tapas dishes for us to share including a delicious Octopus dish (Pinchos) with two kinds of peppers and olives from Spain served at room temperature as well as the classic Clams with Chorizo with fresh parsley, garlic and butter. Simply divine. We were surprised to learn that Spanish cuisine is typically not too spicy and more on the mild side, one of the exceptions being the spicy Chorizo sausage that accented the Clam dish we enjoyed. All of this was paired with a white wine from the Rioja, made by the famous Spain producer, the R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA WHITE 1989. This wine was impressive, made with the Viura grape variety and already over 10 years old its golden colour still vivid was layered with notes of hazelnut, orange peel and apple. Luscious, almost Sherry like, distinctive and delicious. Toni Batet Collado Export Manager, Miguel Torres, Canadian Market and sommelier explained that Spain is the 3rd largest producer of wine in the world but in fact has the most vines planted throughout the entire world. The Rioja region is located in the north of Spain and is divided into 3 sub areas and was the 1st wine region officially created in the 1920’s. The Tempranillo is the local red grape variety often with cherry notes and spice with aging potential. Next on our tasting truly was spectacular. adventure was to move into the red category whereby we tasted the Torres Ibericos Crianza Tempranillo 2006 http://www.torres.es/eng/asp/nv_ficha.asp?Ficha=producto&Cod=71 . A Crianza is a category of wine is one in which the wine needs to be aged in the barrel for at least 12 months and 6 months in the bottle. Deep coloured with a lovely balance this modern-styled Rioja combines sweet, creamy blackberry fruit with spicy oak. Good acidity keeps things fresh. Chef Chris brought in something quite special, an Ibérico ham also called Pata Negra or “black hoof” to pair with the Torres Ibericos Crianza Tempranillo 2006 . “This is the best of the best, the caviar if you will, made from an ancient race of pigs in the north-west region of Spain’, explained Chris. Carefully looked after and attended to these pigs in the later part of their lives live in the Oak forest feeding on acorns, which gives this special ham a nutty Oak flavour and aged for over 30 months. Only 3 spots in Toronto have this and Cava Restaurant is one. It
For a complete podcast of the show go to www.thatchannel.com/thewineladies Wines we tasted on the show. 1. R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA WHITE 1989 LCBO # 0356352 Price: $59.00 2. Torres Ibericos Crianza Tempranillo 2006 Rioja, Spain Agent: www.familywinemerchants.com Price: $17.00 3. R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA CUBILLO CRIANZA 2002 VINTAGES 692780 Price:$26.95 Price: $ 26.95 Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Ian Bowie, Sam Reid, Bill Perrie, Dave Lawler and The Wine Ladies, Glass Tiger.
Last Sunday afternoon we headed up to Newmarket to the studios of Sam Reid. Sam is the producer and a band member of the iconic rock band GLASS TIGER. No,The Wine Ladies are not entering the world of rock n roll!
We were invited as guests on our good friend Bill Perrie’s weekly radio show,The Pub Radio Show. Bill’s radio show is heard on Saturday at 4:00pm at www.whistleradio.com and again on Monday in the Stouffville area on 102.7 FM at 8:00 pm. This show airs this Saturday Feb 6th at 4:00pm on www.whitleradio.com and again on Monday Feb 8th,2010 on 102.7FM at 8:00pm.
What fun meeting Sam Reid producer and member of this esteemed rock band GLASS TIGER. We also met the talented ,musician Dave Lawler who own and operate SLIP ONE Digital www.slipone.com. The GTA’s newest fully integrated audio/visual surround sound studio.
Both just recently returned from Afghanistan as part of a ‘Team Canada’ program that sees Canadian entertainers and former NHL hockey players provide a positive morale boost to the soldiers serving there. They shared their experiences with host Bill Perrie on the show, “Our mission was to lift the soldiers’ spirits for even a few brief moments”, said Sam Reid. “To show them Canada still cares, and to learn firsthand about what they are trying to accomplish in Afghanistan,” said Sam Reid.
It’s Japanese for sharing. Not our usual beverage of choice, it was a lovely departure for our standard drinking beverage. We don’t think we need to tell you what that might be! SAPPORO is made by Japan’s only beer producing company and we really enjoyed it.
Wine or Beer? Choices, choices!
Albert Pub in Prince Albert. It was great to see that Ian offers not just a choice of red or white in his pub. He offers a nice tidy selection of wine for his patrons that prefer the beverage of the grape. Well done Ian! We brought a bottle of Girls Night Out Chardonnay to share with the group. It was an awesome afternoon with interesting people, delicious beer and great fun.
The Pub Show with Bill Perrie and Glass Tiger.
Twenty Valley’s Winter WineFest, Dori Andrews.
Over 50 wines poured by 29 wineries were enjoyed, “The Jordan Ice Bar has been very successful, but we wanted to create something that is distinctly Twenty Valley – an event that better showcases the variety of premium wines available here”, announced Dori Andrews. The decision proved to be a fabulous one as over 4000 visitors descended on the quaint village of Jordan to enjoy of course Ontario Icewine ( otherwise known as liquid gold) as well as some of Ontario’s best sparkling and premium VQA wines.
We had so much fun that day moving from winery to winery and culinary station to culinary station all to a back drop of local live jazz entertainment, breathtaking ice sculptures and roasted chestnuts all adding to a festive outdoor atmosphere. All of this captured on video here.
Some of the highlights included a visit with wine maker Rob Power from another Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky. Rob shared a glass of Estate No 99. 2006 Shiraz Icewine with us.
Rich and luscious in the mouth it was a perfect start to an already beautiful Canadian winter day with promises of delicacies to be enjoyed all day long.
Sue Anne Staff, the unofficial Icewine Queen.
We were also caught up in the excitement as Sue-Ann Staff otherwise known as the “unofficial official Icewine Queen” appeared brimming with pride with her newly opened winery Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery merely a few months old. Having been making Icewine for years for other wineries she decided to open her own label and has struck a chord with her 2008 Cabernet Franc Icewine. “Come on Sue-Ann pour the wine”, exclaimed Georgia as we enjoyed chatting with this accomplished winemaker and entrepreneur.
President Len Pennachetti takes The Wine Ladies through a flight of Cave Spring Cellars wines.
Donald Ziraldo drops by for a chat
There is a new reason to venture out on a chilly January weekend this year!.29 reasons, in fact. Visitors to the NEW Winter WineFest will be able to sample over 50 wines from 29 area wineries, and this year icewine will share centre stage with some of Ontario’s best sparkling and premium VQA wines.
Shake off the January blues with three days of fabulous food, delectable wines, rocking entertainment and of course a sparkling crowd. The wildly anticipated annual London Wine and Food Show http://www.westernfair.com/shows/winefood.html is back again to rave reviews and keen expectations by one and all.
Beautiful warm smiles welcomed us to the colourful, historical country of Mexico. The all too short trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya intoxicated us with the beauty and brilliance of the long stretches of sandy, white beaches, azure blue water, Mayan culture, grand appointed accommodations, gourmet cuisine and Mexican wine….. believe it or not! Si senor!
What a way to spend a birthday! A grand muchas gracias, to the stunning El Dorado Casitas Royale! www.karismahotels.com