First Family of Wines

De Bortoli Gulf Station Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2013, Georgia’s Wine Pick.

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De Bortoli Gulf Station Yarra Valley Pinot Noir

De Bortoli Gulf Station Yarra Valley Pinot Noir

My wine pick today hails from the Yarra Valley, Australia, the company founded in 1928 is one of  “Australia’s First Family of Wines”, a group of 12 family owned Australian wineries that represent 16 Australian regions across 4 states and have collectively more than 1200 years of wine making experience.

Georgia's Wine Pick

Georgia’s Wine Pick

I discovered this wine while attending an outstanding tasting featuring 11 of the 12  Australian First Families of Wines. I decided then that it was to be a wine pick for me.

The wine is De Bortoli Gulf Station Yarra Valley 2013 Pinot Noir. I bought it for $19.95 and immediately was struck by the silkiness, the complexity and rich texture, it was medium bodied with bright ripe fruit… but not over ripe and with a vibrant acidity, intense in flavor and refreshing at the same time.I really liked this Pinot Noir, a bargain to me for $19.95.

De Bortoli Gulf Station Pinot Noir 2013

De Bortoli Gulf Station Pinot Noir 2013

VINTAGES#: 15511

I really liked this Pinot Noir, a bargain to me for $19.95. Hello to Darrin de Bortoli, 3rd generation,Darrin is the winemaker and we had the opportunity to meet Darrin for a second time at the “speed wine tasting” as they called it… lots of wine so little time. And that is my wine pick.

Listen to my wine review at 3:59 minutes into this week’s radio show.

 

On this week’s show…Calling all Dads out there.This show is for you! We have you covered for your special Father’s Day!
 
Episode 25

Today we’re going to talk about what might be some of your favourite things. How about some lip smacking delicious bold burgers or crunchy flavor filled spicy homemade tacos.  Or to quench your thirst how about a small batch craft beer chock full of flavour. No additives, all natural, just 100% pure delicious.

Or straight from the small,rugged and remote Scottish island of Islay comes the authentic premium single malt Scotch whisky,a wee dram for you lads perhaps?

And for the fine wine,food and film buff we bring you the 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, taking place on Father’s Day weekend where you can choose from a plethora of wine tasting diners, movie premiers, short film screenings, and much more!

And finally the tables are turned on The Wine Ladies when we are interviewed by Laura Wolfe a student who is studying the art of social media and blogging. We give her our thoughts on social media!

Alright so its time now to salute all the Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day, let’s start!!!

 .

Joel Peterson

Ravenswood Besieged 2013, Susanne’s Wine Pick.

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Susanne'sWine Pick

Susanne’s Wine Pick

Joel Peterson, affectionaly known as the “Godfather of Zin.”

With Father’s Day approaching I thought I would pick something that would appeal to Dad’s and their love of the almighty BBQ. I am sure that’s how a majority of Dad’s out there will be celebrating their Father’s Day and we know that Dad’s  love their beef, from burgers to steaks and a rack of ribs.

My pick to celebrate this Father’s Day is a wine that is brand new to our market. It is the Ravenswood Besieged 2013 from Sonoma California. Awhile back we had the  opportunity to meet Joel Petersen,the  founder of Ravenswood several years ago and it was at a BBQ!

Ravenswood Besieged 2013

Red Blend

—VINTAGES#: 414136

$24.95

This wine is a beautiful blend of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Barbera, Alicante, Bouschet, and Mourvedre. The grapes are sourced form 6 different vineyards, including the Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and others.
The wine is big and juicy, fruit driven, ripe red berry with plenty of structuring tannins. Something super special for Dad… $24.95 here in our market.

Listen to my wine review at 3:59 minutes into this week’s radio show.

On this week’s radio show…Happy Father’s Day

Calling all Dads out there.This show is for you! We have you covered  for your special day Fathers Day!

Coming up we’re going to talk about what might be some of your favorite things…like lip smacking delicious, bold burgers or crunchy flavor filled spicy homemade tacos or to quench your thirst how about a small batch craft beer chock full of flavor,no additives,all natural, just 100% pure delicious.Or straight from the small, rugged and remote Scottish island of Islay comes the authentic premium single malt Scotch whisky,a wee dram for you lads perhaps?

And for the fine wine, food and film buff we bring you the 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, taking place on Father’s Day weekend where you can choose from a plethora of wine tasting dinners, movie premiers, short film screenings, and much more!

And finally the tables are turned on The Wine Ladies when we are interviewed by Laura Wolfe a student who is studying the art of social media and blogging. We give her our thoughts on social media!

Alright so its time now to salute all the Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day, lets start!!!

Episode 25

Julien Cothenet of Remy Pannier

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou is the #1 selling rosé in Ontario! Find out why on The Wine Ladies audio podcast….

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Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

We’ll start off by welcoming Export Director Julien Cothenet at Remy Pannier out of the Loire Valley. What better place to start than France well known for its rosés and Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou is the #1 selling rosé in Ontario.

Listen to Julien Cothenet at 4:30 minutes into the show.

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou

On this week’s radio show…Everything is coming up Rosé…Think pink when you grab a drink!

Episode 24 

Rosés are one of the hottest trends in wine,enjoying huge growth in popularity and are definitely getting the respect they are due.Gone are the days of super sweet and sappy pink rosés.

Now when you think pink, think crisp,dry,fruity,delicious and well made wines from most wine growing regions around the world. And so today we salute rosé. It is the perfect time with the warm weather upon us, and to learn more about what makes pink the perfect drink for summer enjoyment and beyond.

Ask The Wine Ladies June 2015 – Why is rosé wine so popular now?

Red Stone Winery

Red Stone Winery to host FILMALICIOUS at NIFF June 19th and 20th

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Paul Pender, acclaimed winemaker at Tawse Winery and consulting winemaker for Red Stone Winery

Paul Pender, acclaimed winemaker at Tawse Winery and consulting winemaker for Red Stone Winery

Paul Pender, acclaimed winemaker at Tawse Winery and consulting winemaker for Red Stone Winery will join us to fill us in on their Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) FILMALICIOUS experience (June 19th) and a little more about this much touted new winery.

Listen to Paul Pender at 45:11 minutes into the show.

 

On this week’s radio show…

Everything is coming up Rosé …Think pink when you grab a drink!

Episode 24

Rosés are one of the hottest trends in wine. They have been enjoying huge growth in popularity and are definitely getting the respect they are due. Gone are the days of super sweet and sappy pink rosés. Now when you think pink, think crisp,dry,fruity,delicious and well made wines. They are now made from most wine growing regions around the world. And so today we salute rosé. It is the perfect time with the warm weather upon us. To  learn more about what makes pink the perfect drink for summer enjoyment and beyond.

Tawse Gamay Noir 2013, Susanne’s Wine Pick.

Power Boating Canada, Two Sisters Winery, Page 1

Power Boating Canada, Two Sister’s Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Newest Kid On The Block.

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Tony Ferreria, Regional Sales Manager for My Gourmet

On this week’s audio podcast…Cooking with Himalayan Salt Stones for healthier, faster and delicious food.

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We move on to food, glorious food! So you have the perfect rosé, but you’re getting a little hungry. What to pair with your rose? We are going to introduce you to a very cool tool, or cooking style,using pale pink Himalayan Salt Stones mined from the mountains, for healthier, faster, delicious dishes.

Tony Ferreria, Regional Sales Manager for My Gourmet

Tony Ferreria, Regional Sales Manager for My Gourmet

You can grill on it, serve on it, chill on it,even bake on it ! Tony Ferreria, Regional Sales Manager for My Gourmet joins us, tell us all about it and shares a few knock out recipes to enjoy with your pink drink!

Listen to Tony Ferreria at 15:50 minutes into the show.

Rose wine

Rose wine

On this week’s audio podcast…

Everything is coming up Rosé …Think pink when you grab a drink!

Episode 30

Rosés are one of the hottest trends in wine,enjoying huge growth in popularity and are definitely getting the respect they are due.Gone are the days of super sweet and sappy pink rosés. Now when you think pink, think crisp,dry,fruity,delicious and well made wines from most wine growing regions around the world.And so today we salute rosé. It is the perfect time with the warm weather upon us, and to learn more about what makes pink the perfect drink for summer enjoyment and beyond.

Himalayan Salt Stone Set with Tray

$99.99 CAD $69.99 CAD

For more information and to buy

Himalayan Salt 3-Stone Set

$59.99 CAD $44.99 CAD

For more information or to purchase.

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou is the #1 selling rosé in Ontario! Find out why on The Wine Ladies audio podcast….

Dog Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012, Georgia’s Wine Pick.

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So we always like to share some of our “The Wine Ladies” wine experiences with all of you. Last week we attended one at the beautiful Bosk restaurant located in the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Toronto. We had the opportunity to meet James Healey who was visiting here from Marlborough. James is one of the two founders of the prestigious New Zealand winery, Dog Point Vineyard and also the former winemaker of Cloudy Bay.

Georgia's Wine Pick

Georgia’s Wine Pick

We had a great time and Nigel Sowman the head viticulturist at Dog Point Vineyard who was also there (loved his accent). As well as Richard Dittmar the VP of Trialto, the agency that represents this winery here in Canada. Between the 5 of us we had some great wine and some great conversation.

James, Nigel, (on the left) Richard on the right) and Susanne and Georgia.

James, Nigel, (on the left) Richard on the right) and Susanne and Georgia.

Nigel Sowman, Georgia and James Healey

Nigel Sowman, Georgia and James Healey

So I am going to follow suit and fill you in on another fave of the day. I am warning you there are not that many cases available. So act fast if you like aromas like juice cherry, raspberry, touches of viloet, touch of earthy flavours and a lively acidity, complexity and good length in your Pinot Noir!

If you said yes, Dog Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 is your wine. Premium price but coming from producers that critics are saying things like “gathering cult status” – James Haliday $49.95.

 

Dog Point Pinot Noir 2012

 —VINTAGES#: 329672   |  $49.95 per  750 mL bottle

Listen to my wine review at 3:35 minutes into the show.

On this week’s radio show…

Discover Washington wines. Make your own wine in time for the holidays. Discover the secret anti aging ingredient and Canada’s most southerly wine region Pelee Island and Pelee Island Winery.

Episode 33

Award Winning Pelee Island Winery, Canada’s most southerly vineyards.

Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Susanne’s Wine Pick.

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So we always like to share some of our “The Wine Ladies” wine experiences with all of you and last week we attended one at the beautiful Bosk restaurant located in the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Toronto. We had the opportunity to meet James Healey who was visiting here from Marlborough and James is one of the two founders of the prestigious New Zealand winery, Dog Point Vineyard and also the former winemaker of Cloudy Bay.

We had a great time and Nigel Sowman the head viticulturist at Dog Point Vineyard was also there (loved his accent) as well as Richard Dittmar the VP of Trialto, the agency that represents this winery here in Canada.Between the 5 of us we had some great wine and some great conversation.

James, Nigel, (on the left) Richard on the right) and Susanne and Georgia.

James, Nigel, (on the left) Richard on the right) and Susanne and Georgia.

Susanne with James Healey and Nigel Sowman of Dog Point Vineyards tasting theDog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014.

Susanne with James Healey and Nigel Sowman of Dog Point Vineyards tasting theDog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014.

Although difficult to choose my favourite among the wines we tasted, I also wanted to pick something that everyone could enjoy right here in our market. As I am such a fan of Sauvignon Blanc. My wine pick this week is the Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from the New Zealand region of Marlborough famously known for its Sauv Blanc. $24.95 in our market. A little more of a premium price, but well worth i. For the few extra bucks I loved the zesty lemon, and the racy acidity, the round texture and long finish, I am down, sold!

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014—VINTAGES#: 677450   |   $24.95 per 750 mL bottle

Listen to my wine review at 3:35 minutes into the show.

On this week’s radio show…

Discover Washington wines. Make your own wine in time for the holidays. Discover the secret anti aging ingredient and Canada’s most southerly wine region Pelee Island and Pelee Island Winery.

Episode 33

Ask The Wine Ladies

Ask The Wine Ladies. Why is rosé wine so popular now?

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Remy Pannier d’Anjou 2014

Remy Pannier d’Anjou 2014

Dear The Wine Ladies,

I have been seeing loads of rosés showing up on the shelves in our LCBO these days. I am just wondering what’s the deal? The last time I had a pink wine was too long ago to remember. I do however recall it was terribly sweet and not to my liking. Has the tide changed in style of roses being made these days? Which grapes are used to make them and are the ones from France the best?

Jennifer, Toronto, Ontario

Ask The Wine Ladies

Ask The Wine Ladies Please submit your questions to info@thewineladies.com

Dear Jennifer

It is definitely time to re-think pink. When looking for a crisp, fruit driven, aromatic, versatile wine to pair with foods, that comes in a range of beautiful shades from light salmon, to peach, pink and even light red.

Gone are the days when rose was synonymous with sweet. The great majority now-a-days are vinified dry or semi-dry responding to the tastes of the more sophisticated wine drinker. The roses of today, though not hugely complex, deliver pleasure for the palate. They are often abundant in fresh fruit on the nose and on the palate, strawberries, raspberries, red cherries, floral notes, hints of spice often characterize them, as well as being crisp and medium to full bodied. Plus they are so versatile to pair with an abundance of foods transitioning well from a white to red depending what’s served on the platter.

True, a plethora of roses are now available in store.

The fact is that sales have soared in the last few years. They continue to charm the wine drinker with their seductive qualities. In terms of France being the go-to region, more specifically Provence traditionally regarded as the heartland for rose. Most of the wine growing regions around the world have responded to the rise in rose. They are now producing some wonderful roses to rival even the most established regions. When it comes to varietals, in Provence the roses are made with a combination of grapes which include Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan just to name a few. Elsewhere winemakers are producing their roses using most any red grape they have planted. This could be Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz (Syrah), Tempranillo, Zinfandel and the list goes on. When it comes to selecting your rose of choice here are a few top shelf ones to consider:

The #1 selling French rose in Ontario is the Remy Pannier d’Anjou 2014 made from the grape Cabernet Franc, a great buy at $13.95, with spicy strawberry, citrus aroma, just off-dry.

Remy Pannier d’Anjou 2014

Remy Pannier d’Anjou 2014

Henry of Pelham Rosé VQA 2014,Niagara Peninsula,$13.95 strawberries and watermelon, crisp and dry.

From New Zealand, Kim Crawford Pansy, made with Merlot, light ruby in colour, strawberries, hints of spice, dried flowers, exuberant, tangy and delightful ($17.00)

But Jennifer as you know there are many others to consider, just jump right in and think pink the next time you’re considering which wine to drink!

Georgia and Susanne

The Wine Ladies

If you would like to learn more about rose wine please tune into our on-line radio show, The Wine Ladies, Taking Life One Sip At A Time, on”Everything is coming up Rosé” Episode 24  launches, Monday June 1st at 10:00am! See you on the air waves!