Groovy Wine Blog & Podcast » Food Network TV Series

Archive for the 'Food Network TV Series' Category

What’s your newest favourite value wine pick?

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Bodegas Castano La Casona Just had a really good question come in about what’s your favourite value wine pick.

Of course value is a matter of opinion but for the purpose of this post I’m going to look at something we’ve tried recently that is the under $10 price range.

I stopped by the Wines of Spain booth during the Ottawa Wine and Food Show and sampled a number of really interesting wines. I was pleasantly surprised by a red wine from the region of Yecla in Spain. The fact that it’s whopping $8.90 is quite amazing. I think it delivers twice the value. The grape is monastrell (or mourvèdre) and it’s typically a blending grape so I haven’t seen many single varietal versions. We picked up a few bottles to have around and it’s a guilt-free go to red for everything from burgers and pizza to braised and bbq meat. Leave us a comment if you pick it up to let us know what you think. BODEGAS CASTANO LA CASONA MONASTRELL LCBO 143743 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 8.90

Posted in Red Wine, This Food That Wine News, Wine Tasting Notes | No Comments »

BBQ Wines Summer 2009

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

BBQ Wine Party As Canadians, I think we all feel the same way when it comes to our fleeting summers - take advantage of the nice weather while we can! So in my family, that means outdoor cooking whenever possible. At Groovy Headquarters, we love our barbeque for grilling, smoking, slow-cooking, and we cook anything we can on it, from fresh produce to seafood to meat. The question is though, what are the best wines for barbeque? I know the answer!

There are a few important things to consider.

First, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again - seasonings, sauces, and cooking method are more important than the protein itself. Because cooking on the bbq adds its own smoky flavour to food, I find that most seasonings and sauces used are bolder and spicier to stand up to the cooking method so that’s really important to consider when choosing your wines. Delicate, light-bodied wines are generally not what you’re looking for. But at the same time, bbq usually also means that it’s hot outside, so you want something refreshing to the palate as well. In most cases, the answer is juicy, fruity wines that are medium to full in body, whether they’re white, red, or rosé.

In the white category - and for these I’m thinking grilled or smoked seafood and fish - some of my go-to choices are Viognier, Grüner Veltliner from Austria, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends, and Spanish Albariño. When it comes to reds, I adore Grenache (and Grenache-based blends), Spanish reds, California Zinfandel, and fruit-forward New World style Pinot Noir. Notice a trend? These are all wines that are medium to full in body, are fruit-forward, have some soft but well-balanced acidity, and for the reds, have medium to low tannins, meaning that they are smooth in the mouth. All these characteristics are important for pairing foods with lots of spice, and with sauces that are sweet, tangy, and/or spicy. These fruity, juicy wines are also a great contrast to the smoky, charred flavour of bbq food.

Of course, I’d be amiss if I neglected to sing the virtues of rosé when it comes to bbq. If you read our newsletter on a regular basis or have attended our tastings, you already know that we try to convert all you non-rosé-drinkers any chance we get, and summer is the perfect time to try once again. If you think that all rosés are made in the same style as White Zinfandel, think again! Most pink wines on the market are dry, crisp, refreshing, and filled with berry fruit flavour - the absolute perfect wine pairing for grilled or smoked food. Like red wine in white wine’s clothing, rosé offers the aromas and flavours of a red wine, in a lighter, more refreshing format that is served chilled to make it even more friendly for al fresco dining. Trust me, if you haven’t tried a rosé yet with your summertime cooking, please do, your taste buds will thank you!

One more piece of advice for you - tasting is better than reading! Join us on July 14th at the Urban Element for a tasting of 8 different bbq-friendly wines, along with some appropriate fare to match. Wine has gone casual for the summer season at the Urban Element, and that means that this tasting will be hosted in a relaxed, cocktail-style format, with food stations set up for grazing, and an Urban Element chef out at the bbq with tips for grilling. Special summertime pricing is also in effect … we hope to see you there!

Posted in Events, Groovy Grapes Articles, This Food That Wine News, Wine Articles | No Comments »

Thinking Pink…

Friday, June 5th, 2009

As a summer of outdoor entertaining, lounging in the backyard, and fresh, seasonal produce looms ahead, I just can’t help it - my mental image of this season features a frosty-cold bottle of rosé resting in an ice bucket, ready to be enjoyed. For those of you who know me, you already know that I’m a die-hard rosé-lover and I try to convert anyone who isn’t. To me, rosé is simply the quintessential summertime wine. It has the berry-ripeness of red wine with the cool, refreshing lightness of a white wine, and for some reason, rows of rosy-hued bottles in my wine fridge just screams “summertime” to me and puts a big ol’ smile on my face.

Next week at The Urban Element, we are celebrating rosé with a special wine-paired dinner that features a variety of rosés from various regions around Ontario. It’s going to be a fabulous summertime feast, featuring dishes to inspire your cooking in the coming months and wines that will quench your thirst and intrigue your palate. Read on for complete event information including menu and wine pairings.

Think Pink! Rosé Dinner
Featuring Chef Candice Butler and Groovy Grapes Sommelier Ilike Csaba
Date: Wednesday June 10, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: The Urban Element, 424 Parkdale Avenue
Cost: $125pp
Reservations: call the Urban Element at 613-722-0885 or email bookings@theurbanelement.ca

It’s time to think pink and appreciate Spring & Summer with a toast to rosé! Join Groovy Grapes sommelier Ilike Csaba to sample and learn about the various styles of rosé and the regions in Ontario that specialize in this popular warm-weather wine. We’ll take you on a gastronomical journey as we explore the incredible food-friendliness of pink wines! This 5-course meal has been created specifically by the Urban Element’s Chef Candice Butler to compliment an impressive selection of VQA rosé wines; bubbly, light, full and sweet. If you’re not already a fully converted rosé-lover, you will be by the end of this experience!

Welcome
Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut (VQA Niagara Peninsula)

Chilled Gazpacho with a Cilantro-Lime Yoghurt
Domaine Perrault Rosé (Navan, Ontario)

Beet Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese, Toasted Walnuts and a Balsamic Vinaigrette
Huff Estates South Bay Rosé (VQA Prince Edward County)

Leg of Lamb atop a Spring Herb Risotto
Southbrook Biodynamic Cabernet Rosé (VQA Niagara Peninsula)

Wild Sockeye Salmon, Warm French Potato Salad, Cucumber Slaw with a Beet & Dill Vinaigrette
Megalomaniac Pink Slip Pinot Noir Rosé 2006 (VQA Niagara Peninsula)

Rhubarb Crumble with a Candied Ginger Ice-Cream and a Caramelized Apple Compote
Cave Spring Select Late Harvest Cabernet Franc (VQA Niagara Peninsula)

Reservations: call the Urban Element at 613-722-0885 or email bookings@theurbanelement.ca

Here’s an excerpt from my book This Food That Wine that talks about what rosé is and why I love
it so much.

Rosé is my absolute favourite summertime, patio-sipping wine. It’s like red wine in white wine’s clothing, with the berry and spice flavours of red wine but drunk chilled down like white wine. It’s crisp, refreshing, fruity, and easy-drinking - perfect for picnics, barbeque, and just about all summertime foods. Not to say that you can’t drink it in the winter too – I certainly do! Rosé is food friendly because of all the things it isn’t – it’s not as heavy as reds, and it’s not as light as many whites – it’s a happy medium, delicious, and affordable to boot.

Rosés, however, tend to be overlooked as a respectable wine style. A lot of people automatically think of the sweet and simple White Zinfandel (although a little White Zin paired with spicy food can be amazing) but the rosés I’m talking about are the dry yet fruity, refreshing yet interesting pink wines made around the world, especially those of Mediterranean regions like southern France and Spain. Canada and Italy make some fine rosé as well.

There are two ways that wine becomes pink. First, you can make a white wine and add a splash of red. Or you can make it only from red grapes. Let me explain … red grapes are actually just red on the outside – the flesh and juice inside is white. When red wine is made, the grapes are crushed and the skins left in with the juice, usually at least for a couple of weeks. This is called maceration. During this time, the skins add colour, flavour, and texture to the wine. So to make rosé, the skins are left in with the juice for only a short period of time to extract just a bit of colour and flavour, leaving the wine a rosy pink hue with ripe berry flavours.

My favourite regions for rosé are Spain and the southern part of the Rhône Valley in France. Spanish rosé is called Rosado, and the French name theirs after the region in which it’s made (including Tavel and Côtes-du-Rhône). Both countries use Grenache as the main grape in the blend, also throwing in some Syrah and Cinsault (in France) or Tempranillo (in Spain). The wines are quite full in body with ripe strawberry and raspberry flavours, and crisp, refreshing acidity. In Canada, you often see grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, or Gamay used in their rosés. They are still fruity, but slightly lighter and tarter in style then the Mediterranean versions. Italy’s rosés (sometimes called “rosato”) are made from a wide range of grapes, but my favourite style is “Chiaretto” which is made in the Bardolino region of Italy using the same three grapes used to make the well-known Valpolicella (Molinara, Corvina, and Rondinella). Chiaretto di Bardolino has a vivid salmon colour, bright berry fruit flavours, and a characteristic bitter tang on the finish.

Posted in Events, Groovy Grapes News, Rose Wine, This Food That Wine News, White Wine | No Comments »

Stacey and Angie Talk Wine and Food Pairing with Food Network Blogger

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Posted in Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes News, This Food That Wine Articles and Tools | No Comments »

Stacey Metulynsky to Appear at an Evening at The Chefs’ Table Fundraiser

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Join Chef Michael Smith and 20 other Food Network TV hosts Saturday August 16 6pm in the Distillery District in Toronto. This charity event supports the Children’s Emergency Foundation.

Stacey and Angie from Food Network TV’s This Food That Wine will be hosting a wine and food pairing station at the gala fundaiser. Buy your ticket here and come by and say hi.

Posted in Events, Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes News | No Comments »

Food Network Food For Thought Blogs This Food That Wine Authors

Friday, December 7th, 2007

This Food That Wine Authors Catherine Jheon of Food Network Canada’s "Food For Thought Blog" recently interviewed This Food That Wine authors Stacey Metulynsky and Angie MacRae during their book tour in Toronto. Have a look at the post on Food For Thought. The blog post covers some wine and food pairing tips and also mentions a contest where you can wine a copy of the book! While you are there have a look at the wine and food pairing tool (Stacey and Angie contributed to the wine and food pairing content).

Posted in Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes News, This Food That Wine News | No Comments »

Food Network TV Hosts Sip and Sample at Sante Festival

Tuesday, February 27th, 2007

Santé: The Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival is one of the world’s truly outstanding wine festivals, featuring amazing vintages, world-famous winemakers, celebrity chefs and spectacular cuisine. It takes place May 5th to 12th in the heart of Yorkville’s hip shopping and dining district.

Chef Angie MacRae and Groovy Grapes Co-Founder/Sommelier Stacey Metulynsky do a live and interactive version of their popular Food Network series, This Food That Wine. Angie and Stacey are ready to entertain you with valuable insights into eight distinct Santé wines, and which foods to serve with each. As they do on the show, your hosts will take the intimidation out of pairing wine with food in a simple, straightforward and relaxed way.

Here are the seminar details:

It’s Easier Than You Think, This Food, That Wine
Park Hyatt Toronto
Saturday May 12, 2007 12:30 to 2:00 pm, $35.00

Posted in Events, Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes News | No Comments »

Win a Wine and Food Party With Stacey and Angie Courtesy of ELECTRASOL

Monday, November 20th, 2006

Check out this new contest courtesy of ELECTRASOL.Â You could win a wine and food party with Stacey and Angie, hosts of Food Network’s This Food That Wine!

Posted in Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes News, This Food That Wine News | No Comments »

How to Read a Wine Label

Tuesday, November 7th, 2006

Region vs. Grape
Just to keep us all sufficiently confused, sometimes winemakers label their wine by the region and sometimes by the grape. Generally speaking, many Old World countries (think European countries like France, Italy, and Spain) label their wine based on region, whereas most New World countries (like Australia, Chile, and the United States) label by grape.Â Read the rest of the article I wrote for Foodtv.ca.

Posted in Food Network TV Series, Groovy Grapes Articles, This Food That Wine Articles and Tools, Wine Articles | No Comments »

Shop for Wine Like a Pro

Tuesday, November 7th, 2006

Ask for Help: If youâ€™re not sure what youâ€™re looking for, ask for help. A good store has staff trained to know about the products they sell and should be able to help you out, and if yours doesnâ€™t, find yourself a new wine store.Â Read the rest of this article I wrote for Foodtv.ca.