Between the Vines

Is it a stretch to think my weekend up at Whistler's Cornucopia will contribute to world peace?

2009-11-12T05:47:03-08:00

Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

This year's charity recipient at Cornucopia is Playground Builders, whose tag line reads exactly what it does: "Creating play, building hope."

Playground Builders goes to war-torn regions worldwide and creates safe play spaces so kids can just be kids. When a community's children can safely play, it begins to feel empowered and this empowerment quite naturally leads to a stronger foundation and new, peaceful, possibilities. Let's face it—when our kids are happy, we're happy. It's no different for people in unstable and poverty-stricken areas of the world. And because local labour and supplies are used, an injection to the local economy helps to further bolster the empowerment.

To date, 45 playgrounds have been built in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and the West Bank. And because of its efforts, Playground Builders has been nominated for the YMCA International Peacemaker Award.

Salut!

YVR Wine Bloggers & Sommeliers Group share an evening of no-pressure and no-pretence wine tasting and education

2009-11-11T12:35:02-08:00

Congratulations and a huge thank-you go out to Elizabeth Clinton of Seacove Group and Jeff Bashford of Farmstead Wines (and co-organizers of the YVR Wine Bloggers & Sommeliers Group) for putting together such a fabulous wine-tasting, -appreciation, and -education event…and for letting me volunteer. Many thanks as well to Scott Landon Antiques on Granville Street for opening their show room to the occasion—and us!

It was certainly well worth our drive to Vancouver from Mission for the evening. I enjoyed tasting all the wines and meeting so many wine lovers. And it was great for my husband to see that I am not so unusual in my passion and oeno-geeky-ness.

There were 10 wine stations placed throughout the antiques showroom, each with its own “fundamental lesson” and wines. The lessons were posed as questions:

1. What affect does climate have on wine?

2. Do you agree with the critics?

3. How many different grape varieties can you name?

4. Does Argentinean Malbec taste like Malbec?

5. When was the last time you served a Sherry?

6. Can you describe what a Riesling tastes like?

7. Will a glass of bubbly this festive season be your first this year?

8. Do you consider yourself a red wine drinker?

9. Do you think artisan wines are worth the money?

10. Do you prefer Molson Canadian or Kokanee?

I was pouring at station nine, along with chef and wine aficionado Weston Nawrocki of BeauCharles Wine & Food Consulting. To demonstrate our lesson, we poured the 2008 Rosemount Estate Diamond Label White from Australia and the 2003 Marc Tempe Alliance from Alsace, France.

It was wonderful meeting so many peopel in the flesh, so many folks I've known only "virtually" this last couple of years. And I was glad to finally have a real-live, face-to-face conversation with Paul Rickett, Bowen Island's Wine Guy.

A definite highlight of the evening was when Pamela Clarke, co-founder and Chocolate Spin Meister (yes, that’s her official title) of xoxolat told me her story: She has always avoided wine-tasting events because, as much as she loves wine, and as much as she enjoys it with nearly every meal, she feared wine tastings would be intimidating and full of snobbery with wine experts who are all puffed up with their own self-importance. So when this event was billed as "no pretence," she thought she'd give it a try.

Pamela was so excited—and I mean excited—to (A) find that the billing was true—ours was a no-pretence, educational event—and (B) share a room jam-packed with people who simply love wine and love sharing their collective knowledge and passion.

And, you know what? I think she’ll venture out to more tastings now that she’s seen first-hand that not everyone in the wine world is, well, a snob.

Follow these folks on Twitter:

Salut!

Funny video from Road 13 Vineyards co-starring cellar master Bailey Williamson

2009-11-06T09:23:13-08:00

Scroll down and watch this funny video discussion about Stelvin closures (and other things) from Road 13 Vineyards, co-starring cellar master Bailey Williamson.

My gal-pals and I spent a rainy August afternoon in the Road 13 barrel room, with Bailey taking us through a fabulous tasting. He even taught me how to spit in the drain.

You can view Road 13's other videos here, here, here, and here.

Salut!

Cooler weather calls for hearty wine

2009-11-03T21:51:14-08:00

This piece was originally published in the October 29, 2009 issue of My City, a monthly magazine distributed with the Abbotsford News.

As the days get shorter, cooler, and damper, I tend to pull out and serve my heartier wines with what are, just naturally, more substantial dinners. In my cellar, the heartier wines are typically red. And in the kitchen, the more-substantial dinners translate into almost anything that is roasted, stewed, or braised.

Take this weekend, for example. Pouring rain and falling temperatures meant a roasted rack of pork for our Sunday dinner and a Malbec from Argentina to sip. Read more...

Learn about the fermented grape at this relaxed, no-pretense (but tons of fun) wine-tasting night in Vancouver

2009-11-03T17:21:08-08:00

Do you love wine as much as I love it? Ever wonder why you love it? Have you ever thought, "Gee, I'd sure like to know more, but I don't know where to go or whom to ask?"

Well, my dear, you are in luck!

A group of highly passionate and knowledgeable (but no where near stuffy or staid) wine lovers, bloggers, and sommeliers have joined forces to bring you an opportunity to learn about more than 20 different wine regions, styles, and winemaking techniques as you taste your way through 10 stations and 20+ wines in wine-show style.

At each station, you'll come away with a lesson to help you better understand wine fundamentals. And by the end of the evening, you'll have tasted some 20 yummy wines, found answers to your questions, and gained enough knowledge and confidence to boldly go and pick that next bottle of wine from any specialty liquor store shelf or restaurant wine list.

You will be encouraged to grab a glass of your favourite wine of the night to sip while you mingle and make new friends.

Mark your calendar now for next Tuesday, November 10, then click here for more information and to purchase your tickets.

Only 100 Tickets available—purchase online to receive a $10 discount.

Salut!

Tina Bacon from The Pink Spatula makes goodies that turn even the simplest cup of tea into a special event

2009-11-01T19:34:31-08:00

Tina Bacon from The Pink Spatula, a recent (very recent) grad of the Fraser Valley Self Employment Program, is the maker of quite possibly the most divine miniature sweets you've ever tasted.

When you choose her little lemon yummies, serve some Moscato d'Asti along side them for a perfect afternoon delight. And, if you're in the mood to learn to make these morsels yourself, you can find Tina the pastry chef giving lessons at Langley's Well Seasoned.

Salut!

According to Vay-ner-chuck, a lot of amazing stuff is going on in Ontario and the Okanagan

2009-10-31T13:12:16-07:00

Gary Vaynerchuck tastes a Niagara wine in his Toronto hotel room and says "Canada is going to be a player" in the wine world. Give this a watch and listen and then tell me what you think...

Salut!

Friday night dinner at The Keg in Abbotsford

2009-10-30T21:38:51-07:00

We had an early, impromptu dinner at The Keg in Abbotsford tonight. To start, Rick had a rum & coke and I sipped a single-serving cava as we shared tempura snap peas and asparagus.

For dinner, I had the Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp with prime rib and Rick had a steak with bacon-horseradish cream sauce. Mine was fabulous and Rick proclaimed his as "great."

The wine was a 2008 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec (13.8% ABV) from Argentina, "made from organically grown grapes."

I found vanilla, smoke, dark red fruits, and blackberries on the nose, with rose petals, spice, coffee, and ripe black fruits on the palate. The tannins were soft and the finish was longer than I had expected. This wine, not quite as sophisticated as its sister, the 2006 Reserva, is good and rings in at $33.95 at the restaurant and $15.99 at B.C. government liquor stores.

And our server, Joanna Lumley, was out of this world.

If only all servers could be as professional, warm, and appropriately attentive as this lovely young lady. You'd better hang on to her, Mr. Keg Steakhouse.

Salut!

Harvest report: BC's Okanagan Valley

2009-10-29T21:47:39-07:00

BC is home to five official wine-growing regions or DVAs (designated viticultural areas): Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands. Its most established and arguably most important DVA, the Okanagan, runs long and narrow from the Canada/U.S. border northward 160 km and encompasses Canada’s only bona fide desert and myriad mesoclimates. Read more...

Salut!

Globe in Your Glass: discover new world wine and support Canuck Place

2009-10-23T14:42:00-07:00

What if you could help support Canuck Place Children's Hospice by sipping wine from around the new world?

Well, you can when you attend The Globe in Your Glass on Wednesday, October 28, from 7:00-9:30 p.m at the Pan Pacific Hotel, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver.

Winemakers from Australia, New Zealand, California, and B.C. lead you through what they're proudly calling, "a new world wine discovery."

Tickets are just $25 but attendance is limited to 200 so you should move on this now. I'll be there...come and find me so we can meet!

If you'd like to donate directly to Canuck Place, please click here!

Salut!