April 17th is World Malbec Day and we have an event happening in Ottawa on April 12th as a nod to the global celebration 5 days later.

Follow the story of Argentine Malbec from 1852/53 when the seeds were imported from France just in time to survive the frost, phylloxera and devastation that leaves Argentina as the only country to have original Malbec vines of true French heritage.

Here’s a video overview of World Malbec Day:


Join us in Ottawa on April 12th for Wines of Argentina Tasting Stations!

Here’s a wine and food pairing video with english subtitles:

Hopefully you will add April 17th to your calendar to open a bottle of Argentine Malbec or join us in Ottawa on April 12th for a Wines of Argentina Tasting Stations event 6:30-9pm at Algonquin College, Restaurant International.

Highland Park has won many spirits awards but among the most prestigious was Distillery of the Year by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2007.  Join us for this exclusive Underground Tasting Club event of featuring a tutored tasting and nosing of 4 Highland Park expressions.

Our Whisky Master is Marc Laverdiere, Canadian Brand Ambassador, Highland Park will lead a fun and informative tasting in a cocktail style format.  He will dive into the history of the distillery, the region and the highly respected Highland Park expressions.

Gourmet bites supplied by Murray Street and several guests are having dinner there after as it’s right across the street.

When & Where: March 22, 2012 5:30-7:30pm at Events Instyle venue, 107 Murray Street, Ottawa, ON K1M 5M5

Who this session is for (and not for)? It’s for the positive and open minded.  People who are looking for the opportunity to try 4 Highland Park samples as well as those interested in hearing from an industry expert about how the whisky is made and enjoyed.

If you are intimately familiar with Highland Park you may want to give this event a pass.  If you are looking for a meal this tasting won’t work for you as the drink samples are the stars of the show and only light tasty snacks will be served – plan to eat before or after to make a night out of this.

What: admission includes exclusive training with Marc Laverdiere, whisky samples, product information, and gourmet snacks (plan to have dinner before or after this is a tutored tasting at Murray Street 613-562-7244) all in the unique Events InStyle space.

Tickets limited to 40 and first come first served.

Underground Club Members Only: $45+tax pp underground tasting club members, groovy grapes clients, Events Instyle clients and beam global vips [ Register Here with Promo Code ugtcvip]

General Admission: $75+tax pp [ Register here ]

Not a Member? Compare our 4 membership levels or apply now and you could save $30pp, have your first event ticket free, among other benefits!

Like the event, can’t make the date? Contact Groovy Grapes to schedule a private group version of this event.

Marc Laverdiere, Canadian Brand Ambassador, Highland Park

Despite years of arranging and conducting his own private tastings for friends, Marc Laverdiere had his tongue planted firmly in-­‐cheek when he approached a brand manager at a 2006 whisky festival in Toronto, proposing that he become an official spokesperson for his two all-­‐time favourite single malts.  Several discussions later, in what can only be described as Scotch whisky serendipity, Marc’s charm and encyclopedic knowledge of the spirit earned him the privilege of being named Canada’s Brand Ambassador for The Macallan, Highland Park and The Famous Grouse – brands known around the world for their heritage, sublime quality and unparalleled approach to whisky making.

The Distillery

Highland Park is made today with the same enduring belief and integrity, to the same exacting standards, as it has been since 1798. The established attitude at Highland Park is one of custodianship rather than management, of tradition rather than novelty. That’s not to say the distillery is stuck in the mud – far from it – but innovation is only used when there is a genuine benefit to the whisky not, as is often the way, a benefit to efficiency or profitability.

This approach accounts in some way for the appeal of Highland Park; there is much more to how the remote site of an illicit still became The Best Spirit in the World*. This accolade was no fluke, as we managed to repeat the feat in 2009; it was based on an unbroken tradition of whisky-making stretching back over 200 years. Highland Park is arguably the most respected single malt in the world. As everyone knows, respect has to be earned; our distilling tradition, attention to detail and honesty have combined to achieve just that.

Since being named The Best Spirit in the World (twice), we have also received World’s Best Single Malt for Highland Park 21 year old. The rich, succulent, complexity of this exceptional single malt inspires passion in single malt enthusiasts everywhere. It has balance, character and provenance and, in that, epitomizes all that is great about single malt Scotch whisky.

Event Partners:

The first proprietary bottling of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky was as a 12 year old in 1979. It remains the core expression of the Highland Park range and is a smooth, balanced single malt, with a rich full flavour and a gentle smokey finish.

Duration: 01:54

Like Scotch?  Join us March 22, 2012 for The Scotch Tasting Experience: Highland Park with Marc Laverdiere, Whisky Master / Ambassador, Highland Park as part of the Underground Tasting Club.

The United States Embassy and the United States Foreign Agricultural Service cordially invite you to attend the 2012 California
Wine Fair.

The California lifestyle embodies all the characteristics of a ne wine –vibrant, spirited and full of excitement. We invite you to drink in the famous, sun-kissed wine country of the Golden State and share our passion for liquid sunshine in the bottle.

Raise a glass to California and enjoy a unique opportunity to sample a wide selection of more than 300 premium wines from 90 of California’s top producers (PDF). This is the largest tasting tour of California wines in Canada!

Tickets are $70 for the general public or save $5pp if you are a member of the Underground Tasting Club (free to join here).

Check out this Food Network article where Groovy Grapes co-founder Stacey Metulynsky gives a simple and easy tip on reading a wine label properly. Easy to remember so you won’t have to feel lost next time you pick up a bottle at the wine store!

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Looking to host a wine, beer or spirits tasting? Contact us for some great ideas or try the ideas above for yourself.

We hosted a phone interview with Andrew Jefford this past summer and just had it formatted to finally share with everyone.  For those of you who don’t know this prolific wine and spirits writer please review his bio below or check him out in the world’s best wine magazine The World of Fine Wine.  Watch the video, listen to the audio or download the transcript and share your comments on this blog post.

Download the transcription of this interview with Andrew Jefford if you prefer to read vs. listen (right click link, choose save target as).

Learn more about The World of Fine Wine“>The World of Fine Wine Magazine and how to get your hands on a subscription here.

Andrew Jefford grew up in Norfolk, England, the son of a vicar and the eldest of three brothers. An English degree and postgraduate studies under Malcolm Bradbury at the University of East Anglia were followed by a period as an editor for Paul Hamlyn’s Octopus Books. Then in the late 1980s Andrew saw the chance to combine his passions for wine and writing, and since that time he has worked as a freelance drinks journalist and broadcaster. He has written several books and guides, most recently Peat Smoke and Spirit, a portrait of the whisky island of Islay published in 2004. He has won a plethora of distinctions for his work, including eight Glenfiddich awards and consecutive Louis Roederer International Wine Writer of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007. The New France was awarded the André Simon Award, Lanson Award and Veuve Clicquot USA Book of the Year in 2003. It is surprising that he finds time for what he claims as enthusiasms – family, Bach, Shakespeare, birds, lonely places, swimming, and going to bed.

Wine and food pairing always seems to be a challenge for some people. Groovy Grapes co-founder and the Food Network‘s This Food That Wine co-host Stacey Metulynsky gives tips to decipher easy wine and food pairings in this great video! Check it out to perfectly pair your next dinner!

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Looking to host a wine, beer or spirits tasting? Contact us for some great ideas or try the ideas above for yourself.

When it comes to Icewine, it can be challenging to know the right time to pop open the bottle. And considering the price of Icewine, you definitely don’t want to get it wrong! Groovy Grapes co-founder Stacey Metulynsky explains in her Food Network article how to properly enjoy Icewine. Check it out!

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Looking to host a wine, beer or spirits tasting? Contact us for some great ideas or try the ideas above for yourself.

Daniel Drolet of Ottawa Citizen Style Magazine called looking for some New Year’s Eve party idea inspiration.  He enlisted us as one of his four experts (including a designer, partner planner and chef) to pull together a how-to guide for hosting a swish new year’s eve soirée.

Checkout our list of sparkling wines to try as an all bubbles dinner (thank you Lucie for such great drinks picks and recipe links!).

Stacey hosted a video walk through of how to sabre a bottle of sparkling wine right from our backyard in the video below.

“If there’s ever an occasion to party, it’s New Year’s Eve.

But in the rush to buy, wrap and exchange Christmas gifts, visit with family and digest turkey (and turkey leftovers), there’s not often time to plan the perfect New Year’s party. You know, the one with the fantastic food, delicious drinks, and smartly dressed guests exchanging witty repartee in a stylishly decorated home.

So we asked for some help. Here, in four easy steps, are ideas for hosting a great New Year’s party. Think of it as your smart and savvy guide on how to stylishly drink, dress, design and dine your way into 2012.”

Skillogale Sparkling Riesling NV, Clare Valley, Australia
Vintages 72868 $20

Charming to both the experienced wine connoisseur and the humble bubbly wine lover.  It’s a medium-dry sparkling Riesling.  A great value enjoyed on its own as with succulent seafood dishes.  This is a traditional-method sparkling wine from a well-acclaimed Australian producer. Crisp, smooth and expressive, with recognizable Clare Valley character. Just the right amount of sweetness to make it an ideal aperitif wine or a great match for fresh oysters to kick off a special evening. Try with Fresh Shucked Kumamoto Oysters with Ponzu Sauce (Japanese soy & yuzu lemon sauce). Checkout the Ponzu Sauce recipe here.

Peller Estates Ice Cuvée Rosé, Ontario.
Vintages 113035 $35.20
A well-made sparkling wine that’s finished with a drop of Cabernet Franc ice wine to give it a reddish hue and a pleasant red fruit character. It’s light-bodied and refreshing, with a great sense of the Niagara terroir and a well-balanced peach nectar on the finish. Ideal for richer dishes such as chicken or duck liver pâté with a spiced winter fruit compote.

Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne, France
LCBO 155341 $64.95
This dry, elegant Champagne delivers consistent quality year after year, yet always falls under the radar. On the nose, one finds intense toasted almonds, brioche, pears and candied citrus fruit, which linger through to the finish. Try with Lobster Thermidor.

Blue Mountain Brut, B.C.
Vintages 206326 $32.95
A medium-weight sparkling wine blended from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from one of B.C.’s leading sparkling wine producers. Offers an array of waxy, leesy aromas and flavours that differentiate it from Champagne and are best enjoyed with food. Spendsa relatively long 24 months in the bottle, like decent Champagne. A lovely way to end a meal with an assortment of cheeses.

Katnook Founder’s Block Sparkling Shiraz 2008, Australia
Vintages 53330 $24.95
Opaque ruby in the glass; simply laden with full fruit aromas such as plum, cherry and delicious blackberry, with a hint of minty goodness that delivers just that extra touch of something special to end a holiday meal. Its creamy mousse ripe berry fruit taste makes it a winning combination with a chocolate-based dessert with red fruit condiment.