Tag Archive for: Riedel

Ice wine grapes in barrels

Can Icewine come as a sparkling icewine?? Ask The Wine Ladies

Sparkling Icewine

Sparkling Icewine

Dear Wine Ladies,

I was thinking of bringing an icewine to a dinner party being thrown to congratulate a friend of mine on her newly acquired role in a television series.  A lover of sweet wines icewine seemed like a good choice.I then learned there are also sparkling ice wines.  What are they like and would this be an appropriate wine to bring? Are they served chilled like a regular white wine and are they served in white wine glasses?

Dina, Bolton, Ontario

Ask The Wine Ladies

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

 Dear Dina,

A sparkling icewine would be perfect for the occasion!

Not only does it satisfy with respect to being a sweet wine, but the added fanfare surrounding their opening! The celebratory note of the bubbles will surely be a hit! Sparkling Vidal ice wines isthe most common grape used for making ice wines. It will offer up a delightful blend of tropical fruit flavours, oftentimes of apricot and peach, and with a touch of citrus. Although a superb dessert wine, sparkling icewines also marry well with a variety of appetizers. The delectable flavour is enhanced with a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, perfectly delivered to the palate with the effervescence of the lively bubbles. Serve in fluted glasses and well chilled as you would a sparkling wine or a Champagne.

January 11–27, 2019

For three weekends in January the Niagara region is transformed into a wintry wonderland, in celebration of one of Canada’s most cherished products, Ontario Icewine. The 2019 Niagara Icewine Festival offers plenty for every taste – glamour and indulgence at the Niagara Icewine Gala, unique wine and food pairings at over 40 wineries, and vibrant outdoor street festivals.

If you’re looking for luxury, you can’t miss Canada’s most lavish evening, the Niagara Icewine Festival Gala at Fallsview Casino Resort on January 11. Dance the night away at this all-inclusive evening of elegance, fine wine, and the best in Niagara culinary, with a “Northern Lights” theme.

For the wine and culinary explorer, the Discovery Pass program is your ticket to eight unique pairings at your choice of over 40 wineries across the Niagara Region.

Niagara Icewine Festival audiopodcast Jan 2019 Instagram

On this week’s audio podcast…Drink New Zealand and think the “King of Sauvignon Blanc”,sustainability and the meteoric rise in popularity! Experience the “New Zealand In A Glass 2015” event taking place across Canada.

 Experience the “New Zealand In A Glass 2015” event taking place across Canada. #SauvBlancDay … Buy tickets.

In every glass of New Zealand wine is a world of pure discovery. Join 22 premium New Zealand wineries with over 85 wines at our exclusive annual tasting. Meet the representatives, taste their exceptional wines, and make our discoveries your own. Food stations offering small samplings will be provided to enhance your New Zealand tasting experience.Please join us!

For wine trade please see here.

On this week’s showDrink New Zealand and think the “King of Sauvignon Blanc”,sustainability and the meteoric rise in popularity!

Episode 21

We explore a youthful wine region that has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity.  It is recognized the world over for its commitment to the environment and sustainability. Widely recognized as the “King of Sauvignon Blanc” which has become synonymous with this region,and has recently been awarded its very own Pinot Noir glass for one of its regions by the preeminent 11th generation Austrian glass maker Riedel. We can only be talking about one country and that is New Zealand!

To start things off .. If there’s anyone in Canada that is truly passionate about the wines of New Zealand,and instrumental in the meteoric rise in popularity of these wines it is our first guest,who is Robert Ketchin, the Market Manager for New Zealand Winegrowers Canada for over twenty years.

Listen to Robert Ketchin at 5:53 minutes into the show. 

Great fun at the International Sauvignon Blanc Day April 24th enjoying 18 Sauvignon Blanc wines with 4 delicious types of oysters at Johnson and Sons Oyster House in Toronto. Celebrations started in New Zealand and continued as they traversed the various time zones around the globe ending in San Francisco,Twitter headquarters. #SauvBlancDay

 Our first kiwi caller as they are affectionately known as … Jim Robertson and Jim will share with us a little about the brief history of this youthful region, the role Brancott Estate winery played at the time as well as the significance of New Zealand’s signature grape Sauvignon Blanc.
Listen to Jim Robertson at 21:35 minutes into the show.

We first met Jim back in 2012 and had the opportunity to speak with him on our online talk TV show.Check what Jim had to see on line here.YouTube video

 

Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Available at the LCBO $17.75 per bottle.

Brancott Estate Letter B Sauvignon Blanc. Available at the LCBO $19.95 per bottle.

Peter and Vai Yealands
We’ll then speak to James McDonald of Yealands Family Wines also in Marlborough, to explore the commitment New Zealand has to sustainability, and what exactly that is… we might even hear the story of the dwarfed sheep put to work in the vineyards!

Listen to James McDonald at 35:53 minutes into the show.

Yealands Family Wines, Marlborough, New Zealand, the most sustainable winery in the world. Watch the video here and find out why.

 We chat with Georg Riedel of the 10th generation, world renown Austrian glass maker Riedel who has been making stemware for over 300 years.

Listen to Georg Riedel at 47:45 minutes into the show.

New Zealand wine region honoured in the launch of the Central Otago Pinot Noir glass. Available in Australia/New Zealand in May 2015.

Riedel Central Otago Pinot Noir Workshop with Georg Riedel.

In March 2013, the Central Otago Winegrowers Association host a sensory workshop in the region
attendance from 11 wineries:
Alongside local media, the participants sampled the same wines from 14 differently shaped glasses
instructed to analyse the aroma, taste, and overall flavour profile, to determine the best performing glass.
two glasses stood out above the others: the Vinum XL Pinot Noir and the Vinum Extreme Pinot Noir.
The Central Otago Pinot Noir glass incorporates the best features from these two glasses

Watch the Video here

 Our last call coming from down under is Sue White,proprietor of the multi awarded and highly regarded winery Whitehaven also located in Marlborough, Sue will fill us in on some of the specifics of kiwi wines, what makes them unique, their aromatics, their taste profiles.

Listen to Sue White at 1:04 minutes into the show.

 

Sue White of Whitehaven…Totally,utterly Marlborough to the last drop!On this week’s audio podcast.

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Just in time for the busy holiday season, Miele and Riedel announced last week a joint partnership.

Thumbs UP for Miele Dishwasher and Riedel Stemware. Just in time for the busy holidays!

Having just enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we are quite sure if you are a wine lover as we are, you are all too familiar with this dreaded scene… after a fabulous holiday dinner party a kitchen filled with loads of dirty dishes and an assortment of your beautiful crystal stemware that all needs to be carefully washed by hand, polished and gently put away. Hours and hours of clean-up work.

Well no more, just in time for the busy holiday season, Miele and Riedel announced last week a joint partnership whereby Miele’s history of design innovation and manufacturing technologies perfectly complements the luxurious and revolutionary wine glass design of Riedel Crystal. Riedel glasses have an estimated lifespan of 1,500 washing cycles or on average, the number of washes during a 20 year timeframe when washed properly in a Miele dishwasher. “Riedel’s luxury glassware requires regular, safe and effective cleaning to ensure maximized long-term quality and appearance,” said Maximilian J. Riedel, and “Miele’s expert dishwashers offer superior results and have been proven to exceed standards required when caring for fine Riedel crystal.” It’s an environmentally friendly solution too as one dishwasher load consumes much less water than hand washing dishes. Awesome!

For a complete guide to Riedel glassware care, giving detailed explanations on loading Riedel glasses properly, selecting the best wash cycle, and choosing cleaning accessories visit both RiedelGlassCare.com and MieleGlassCare.com. Thumbs Up by The Wine Ladies!

If you missed last week’s show not a problem, please visit For all The Wine Ladies TV podcasts and archived shows visit TheWineLadies TV Show and ThatRadio.com from anywhere and anytime. Save the Date! Nov 17th!

The Wine Ladies Holiday Mix n Mingle Wine Tasting

Please view video for personal invitation here:

For tickets: Click Here or call 905-338-6797  We’d like to invite you to a very special evening….The Wine Ladies Holiday Mix n Mingle Wine Tasting taking place in the beautiful space at Rumi Galleries located in Mississauga. It is sure to be the party of the season, mix and mingle while you sip on exclusive wines from around the world ( not available at the LCBO or Vintages),and enjoy delectable appetizers created by Executive Chef Lan Hoang of the 3s’s Restaurant. Find like minded palates, whether you’re a fan of California Cabernet, have a soft spot for silky sultry Pinot Noir or simply can’t refuse a glass of bubbly.

The wines will be available to purchase but only by the case so we’re making it simple, meet a mate and mix a case, just in time for the holidays or just come and have a wonderful time, in a beautiful venue, surrounded by stunning art, while you enjoy the sounds of our pianist, the ultimate entertainer David Johanns.  We’ll have prizes and loot bags for everyone too, so kick off your holiday season with us, at The Wine Ladies Holiday Mix and Mingle wine tasting November 17th at Rumi Galleries.

Price: $50.00 For tickets: Click Here or call 905-338-6797

Casa Herradura

Casa Herradura, Mexico’s second oldest tequila distillery founded in 1870.

Casa Herradura

Casa Herradura

Tequila, the fastest growing spirit and wine have a common ground.

So we discovered on our recent visit to the city of Guadalajara. We toured Mexico’s second oldest tequila distillery founded in 1870, Casa Herradura. From the significance of terroir, to the “art” of harvesting, the relevance of natural yeast and the use of oak barrels, the parallels were great. Just as there is a ritual with wine appreciation including nosing, swirling and slurping, so too is there one with this often misunderstood spirit. We learned of other similarities including basic rules of food pairings. As well as the importance and impact of practicing organic methods and being 100% natural. Certainly a trend we are seeing today in our world of wine.

We’d like to share a few of our discoveries starting off with the appellation system or regulations pertaining to “place”.

Just as our wineries must follow the regulations of our VQA, so must tequila producers follow rules set out by their governing body the CRT or Tequila Regulatory Council. Origin of the grapes, specificity of, and minimal natural sugar levels of grapes at harvest are dictated by VQA as are the origin of the agave plant for tequila, predominantly produced in the state of Jalisco. However permissible in five regions including areas in four other states the type of agave, it must be blue and the ripeness of the plant at harvest. As with wine, the relevance of terroir is key with a variety of soils and altitudes ranging from 6600 feet above sea level producing fruity, citrusy and floral notes while lowland, closer to the sea agave offering peppery spicy notes.

Georgia harvesting Agave at Casa Herradura.

Georgia harvesting Agave at Casa Herradura.

With more and more vineyards moving toward organic and biodynamic farming we are seeing the results in better fruit and ultimately better wines.

Casa Herradura also subscribes to this philosophy and practice, being the sole 100% natural distillery in Mexico. The proof was in the vat, sort of speak as we toured the facility, learning that the fermentation was spontaneous, wild yeast with no addition of specific yeast to kick-start or accelerate the process. The various open vats showed the agave juice at different levels of fermentation, with pure juice in the first, a partial transformation in the second, still sweet but with some alcohol, and the final, which we sampled, perfectly dry and still. The factory is meticulously maintained so as to allow for this natural process to take place in the vats. The process continues post fermentation, with Herradura distilling the remaining agave juice twice, cutting the heads and tails during both distillations to leave only the purest tequila for aging.

Our guide, Tequila Herradura International Brand Director Ruben Aceves, Casa Herradura

Our guide, Tequila Herradura International Brand Director Ruben Aceves, Casa Herradura

Stocked exclusively with 200 litre American white oak barrels.

The parallels between barrel use with wine and this complex spirit is once again very evident. Oak chips, larger oak barrels, as available in the wine industry are also utilized in the production of tequila, although not here at Casa Herradura. The small barrels, of varying levels of “toast” are selected to flavour and add complexity just as they are with respect to wine. The duration of oak aging is also a factor, transforming the potential and the flavour.

The highlight of the tasting we enjoyed on the beautiful grounds of the Herradura Hacienda was tequila that had been aged for forty-nine months!

It was the Seleccion Suprema, very dark copper in colour with an intense aroma of brown spice and floral notes, with a creamy and soft finish. It retails in the vicinity of $400.00 per bottle. But what the heck, we heard just recently that three bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1869 went for an unprecedented $232,692 per bottle. Breaking a new record for the world’s most expensive wine ever sold at an auction.

The Tequila tasting at Casa Herradura.

We could go on and on, as we so enjoyed our wonderful journey of discovery with this often-misunderstood spirit. We remarked over and over again, “just like with wine” and felt compelled to share. We’ve only just scratched the surface, as there are many other parallels, so please read on and enjoy.

Importance of stemware
Riedel, The Wine Glass Company, the founder of the “functional” wine glass.  This company has an extensive array of stemware to suit every wine and innumerable specific grape varieties. A glass for all wine lovers needs, has seen fit to introduce a glass specifically designed to showcase tequila.

An elegant slender glass with a tall stem, meant to lift fine Tequila to the level it deserves, to allow it the appreciation and respect of which it is worthy.

Ritual for appreciation

As with wine, nosing, swirling and encompassing the span of the palate is key.
For maximum appreciation of tequila, place your nose in the middle of the glass, and smell. Taste and swirl the tequila to reach all corners of the palate. This allows each area to register the flavour and texture. After swallowing, allow a moment to register the finish.

Food Pairings
Just as there are basic rules for food and wine pairings, so there are for food and tequila.
We asked our Ambassador Ruben Aceves for his thoughts on this. Here is what he said, “Tequila can be paired with any food, the basic idea is just like wine”

Starters and light food with Blanco, the more basic, crisp authentic tequila with subtle cooked agave taste. As with wine, no need to over power a simple, light appetizer with too assertive a flavour and mouthfeel.Main courses with Reposado, meaning “rested” in Spanish, aged for a minimum of 2 months. Could be fish, chicken, seafood or beef. Possibly an Anejo, aged minimum one year in barrels not to exceed 600 litres.Desserts definitely paired with Alejo.

We would like to thank Ruben Aceves, International Director for Brand Development Brown Forman Tequila Herradura México. Reposado is currently available across Canada.

HERRADURA REPOSADO TEQUILA LCBO 452615 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 79.95 Spirits, Tequila 40.0% Alcohol/Vol. Made in: Mexico By: Tequila Herradura S.A. De C.V. Tasting Note Medium amber colour; very peppery nose, spice flavour, wood aged for a relatively mellow finish, interesting finish. Serving Suggestion Try neat or in favourite cocktail.

Georgia eating worms, Casa Herradura.

Tequila and More Show! Win tickets to the Tequila and More Show here!