Listen in to our discussion on hot summertime wines on CBC’s All in a Day. Host Adrian Harewood chatted with me and Rod Phillips about summertime trends and some great values. 

 

 CBC Radio Interview With Stacey Metulynsky Summer 2009 [13:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read on for our wine picks.

Stacey’s picks:
Cono Sur Viognier ($9.95, LCBO 64287, Chile)
A medium to full bodied white with juicy, ripe tropical fruit flavours and a mouth-filling texture.  Pair it up with grilled scallops topped with Niagara peach salsa.

Freixenet Brut de Noirs Cava Brut ($12.95, LCBO 352369, Spain)
A rosé bubbly that’s crisp, refreshing and food friendly.  Perfect for welcoming guests, or pair it up with chorizo sausage or other simple tapas and charcuterie.

Candidato Oro ($7.95, LCBO 523811, Spain)
A blend of Tempranillo and Grenache creates an easy-drinking, spicy-fruity red wine that’s medium in body and a great match for grilled burgers, sausages, or spiced chicken or pork.

Rod’s picks:
Marques de Riscal Rueda Blanco ($12.35, LCBO 36822, Spain)
Made from Verdejo grapes, this white is fresh but full of ripe fruit flavour - a great choice for summertime.  Pair it with seafood paella, light tapas, or grilled chicken with lemon and herbs.

Remy Pannier Rosé d’Anjou ($11.95, LCBO 12641, France)
Intense strawberry flavour, refreshing acidity, and light body combine in this rosé from the Loire Valley in France that is delicious on its own as well as with any manner of grilled fare - Rod even enjoys it with steak!

Montalto Nero d’Avola/Cabernet Sauvignon ($9.95, LCBO 621151, Sicily)
Big body, big flavour, and perfect for your grilled red meats this summer.  Nero d’Avola is a grape native to Sicily that creates spicy, full-bodied reds that are often priced to provide incredible value.

 

 

 CBC Radio Interview With Stacey Metulynsky Summer 2009 [13:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Camping truly is one of the best ways to get back to the basics – spending time with nature, leaving behind modern conveniences, and cooking over a fire.  But that doesn’t mean you have to skip a delicious meal with the perfect wine pairing, does it? Not if you ask me! 

The most important thing when organizing your camping meals is to plan ahead, packing your cooler wisely with solid ingredients that have lots of flavour.  An easy way to make your campsite dinners taste great is to make a versatile, flavour-packed barbecue sauce in advance that can be stored in a jar and used to season whatever you throw over the fire.  This recipe has a tasty balance of sweet, spicy and sour – perfect to dress up a simple chicken breast , flank steak, or pork tenderloin.  Add to that the intense, smoky flavour of cooking over a campfire and you’ve got yourself a gourmet main course without even trying!

Now to pick the perfect wine.  Since you could use the sauce on just about anything, what you want to focus on is the sweet-spicy-sour flavours of the barbecue sauce.  Because the sauce is tomato-based, you need a wine that has lots of acidity to balance that out, and you definitely need something that has ripe, fruity flavours to stand up to the sweet and spicy elements.  A smooth, fruity, medium-bodied red wine would be perfect.  Try something Spanish made from Tempranillo or Grenache grapes, or Nero d’Avola from Sicily.  Canadian Gamay, Pinot Noir, or Merlot are also great choices.  These will be a perfect contrast to the smoky flavour from the campfire too.  And don’t forget – please, please, please don’t drink your red wine warm!  A slightly cool red wine, especially when fruity and low in tannins, will taste much better than one that’s been sitting in the sun all day.  If you’re short on cooler space, try lodging your bottle underwater in the lake or river for an hour or so to bring the temperature down a bit – just make sure it doesn’t float away!

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when choosing your campsite wines:

• Go for fruity, easy-drinking styles of wine with low to medium alcohol levels – light to medium bodied reds and fuller styles of white that will quench your thirst and satisfy your palate without being overwhelming.
• Look for convenient packaging – screw-top bottles make opening and resealing easy and there are loads of great quality wines under screw-cap available.  You can also find a good selection of wines in alternate packaging that is lighter than glass bottles, including tetra pak, plastic bottles, and cans.
• Don’t break the bank!  Camping is about keeping things simple and remembering how to enjoy the basics.  Great value wines abound in liquor stores, you just need to experiment to find ones that you’ll love.  Look for fantastic values from countries such as Argentina, Chile, Spain, Italy, and of course, locally-produced wines.  And here’s a tip – wines made from grapes that are lesser known (e.g. NOT chardonnay, shiraz, or cabernet sauvignon) can be some of the best hidden values on your liquor store’s shelves.

Please read on for some of our summertime wine picks and enjoy the season!

BEAUVIGNAC VIOGNIER 2008
VINTAGES 525295 | $14.95 | Southern France
This is juicy, mouth-filling goodness with aromas and flavours of peach, apricot, honey, lime, and floral notes.  Pair it up with grilled crab legs with chili-lime butter, smoked scallops with mango salsa, or simple grilled shrimp skewers.

ST. HALLETT SEMILLON/SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
VINTAGES 57687 | $14.95 | South Australia
This is a classic white Bordeaux blend, but the Aussies do it up in their own style with a mouth-watering, fruit-forward punch.  The Sauvignon Blanc adds zesty, citrusy acidity, while the Semillon balances it with softer nectarine and pineapple flavours, along with a medium-full body.  Pair it up with grilled freshwater fish or seafood done simply with lemon and herbs.

LEIRA ALBARIÑO 2007
VINTAGES 115816 | $18.95 | Rias Baixas, Spain
This wine was made for seafood - a perfect balance of ripe fruit flavours like citrus and pear with mouth-filling texture and refreshing acidity.  A great pairing for a fresh summer salad topped with grilled seafood, as well as any manner of tapas off the grill.

PLANETA ROSÉ 2008
VINTAGES 111856 | $16.95 | Sicily, Italy
Made from 100% Syrah grapes, this rosé is summertime in a bottle - fruity and juicy but also crisp and refreshing, this wine is bursting with ripe strawberry and raspberry with just a touch of spice.  Pair with a grilled asian beef salad with ginger and chilies, cedar-planked arctic char, bbq chicken wings, or smoked pulled pork on a bun.

LE BARON RANCH THREE SISTERS ZINFANDEL 2006                                                                       
VINTAGES 119966 | $22.95 | Sonoma County, California, U.S.A.
Zinfandel is California’s signature grape.  This one could prove to be your favourite bbq wine of the season – medium to full in body and bursting with juicy, ripe, mouth-filling flavours of plum, blueberry, toasty vanilla, and smoke.  It’s crowd-pleasing and food friendly with enough acidity to balance out the juicy, jammy fruit. An excellent pairing for bbq meats of any kind, especially spicy, saucy back ribs or homemade sausages from The Piggy Market (www.thepiggymarket.com).

PARÉS BALTÀ MAS PETIT GARNATXA/CABERNET 2006
VINTAGES 114264 | $14.95 | Penedes, Spain
We’ve had the good fortune of visiting this winery, run by a group of amazing people who look after their land sustainably in order to produce the quality organic fruit used to make these wines.  They even have a full-time beekeeper and shepherd to manage the bees and the sheep who help them with vineyard management.  Garnatxa is Catalan for Grenache, and it provides intense, juicy fruit flavours and a supple mouthfeel that make this wine perfect for grilled red meats like beef, lamb, or game.  Try it with some elk from our local Elk Ranch in Kanata (www.elkranch.com).

Looking for ways to entertain friends, colleagues or clients this summer? Contact us for a few ideas.

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!

The summer season puts us all in a festive mood, and with Olympics almost here, we have another great excuse to host our favourite people in our homes for a celebration.  One of the great things about summer entertaining is that we can bring the party outdoors and enjoy the warm weather – this makes for a more casual setting, plus it gives us more space to have people over.  Take advantage of this once-every-four-years opportunity and plan your Summer Olympics party today!  Right click here to download our Olympics Party Planning Guide.

If you haven’t already visit www.goldmedalplates.com to learn more about the culinary competition that kicks off October 15 2008 in Ottawa.

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.  Read the rest of the article I wrote for Foodtv.ca.

Ask for Help: If you’re not sure what you’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 doesn’t, find yourself a new wine store.  Read the rest of this article I wrote for Foodtv.ca.

In bigger restaurants, Sommeliers are often in charge of putting together the wine list, managing the wine cellar, and serving wines to guests in the restaurant. Funny that my title should be Sommelier then, considering I don’t actually work in a restaurant.

In my job, for example, I run wine tastings, teach classes, and write about wine. There are lots of other Sommeliers I know who work as wine agents, at wineries, as wine writers, reporters, and columnists, and even work running wine tours around the world (nice work if you can find it!).   Read my entire article as featured on Foodtv.ca’s food style section.

Another new year is upon us, and what better time than to include in your resolutions a wider wine exploration? We all know Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, Shiraz and Cab, but one of my favourite things about wine is the huge variety in style and flavour that’s available, if you’re not afraid to try something new. Here are some ideas to get you started on your new year’s wine journey.

If you like Chardonnay, try …
VIOGNIER. A grape that originated in France but is now being grown around the globe and is gaining more and more popularity. It’s aromatic and exotic, and has that rich mouthfeel that you know and love from Chardonnay. Some LCBO picks:

Craneford Viognier 2004
Vintages 656652 | $17.95 | Australia

Ironstone Viognier 2004
Vintages 946665 | $16.95 | California

If you like Pinot Grigio, try …
SOAVE. This is another easy-drinking, fruity white from Italy, made from a blend of Garganega and Trebbiano grapes (tip: the more Garganega, the better). Some versions, like Pinot Grigio, are mass produced and uninteresting, but when you find a good one, Soave can be crisp, fruity, and refreshing, with just a hint of complex nuttiness. Look for Classico on the label, including:

Pieropan Soave Classico 2004
Vintages 946848 | $18.95 | Italy

Masi Soave Classico
LCBO 266221 | $12.00 | Italy

If you like Pinot Noir, try …
GAMAY NOIR. This is the grape of Beaujolais in France, and although its image is of a super-light, candy apple flavour, some Gamays can be earthy, spicy, and fruity, very similar to some styles of Pinot Noir. Even better, it does tend to be on the lighter side, making it very food friendly and a great warm weather wine (when spring finally does come, try chilling this red down a bit to make it more refreshing). While many New World Gamays deliver delicious wine, don’t give up on Beaujolais. Ask your liquor store product consultant about the appellations of Beaujolais that offer interesting vinos. Try:

Chateau des Charmes Gamay Noir VQA
LCBO 582353 | $15.95 | Ontario

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages
Vintages 365924 | $15.95 | France

If you like Merlot, try …
CARMENÈRE. For decades, most of the Carmenère growing in Chile was mistaken for Merlot, but these days you can find excellent examples of Carmenère, with smooth berry flavours and deep, rich colour. There aren’t lots of 100% varietal options, but a couple Chilean choices include:

Casillero del Diablo Carmenère
LCBO 620666 | $12.10 | Chile

Morandé ‘Terrarum’ Reserve Carmenère 2003
Vintages 938720 | $13.95 | Chile

If you like Shiraz, try …
MALBEC. Another gem from France, this wine became famous when Argentina began making full, rich styles of Malbec. This wine delivers inky colour that looks as rich as it tastes – lots of spice, dark fruit, chocolate, and black licorice flavours make this wine a strong contender for the powerful Aussie Shiraz. And just wait til you see the price tags on some of them! A couple ideas include:

Norton Malbec Reserve 2003
Vintages 663138 | $17.95 | Argentina

Marcus James Malbec
LCBO 518431 | $8.75 | Argentina

If you like Port, try …
MADEIRA. Madeira is a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name. Although somewhat similar in style to some Ports, Madeira wine has been heated, creating aromas and flavours similar to sweet sherries. I recently had some Madeira with crispy bacon-wrapped dates and it was delish! A great way to warm up on a cold winter’s night, especially with some of your leftover Christmas fruitcake. A great value Madeira to start with:

Casa dos Vinhos Fino Old Madeira
LCBO 027375 | $18.15 | Portugal

The winter season is here and the holidays are just around the corner. That means lots of shopping, celebrating, and entertaining.
What better way to tackle all of those things than with something that can fit almost any category - personal or more general, expensive or lighter on the
pocket book; good for a big celebration or for an intimate gathering, perfect to kick off a party and also to wind down after a long day of errands. What
could this magical all-purpose thing be? Wine, of course.

Wine can be all of those things, but for many, shopping at the LCBO can be a daunting task. The LCBO offers one of the best wine selections available in the world, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, that’s not necessarily a good thing. However, if you keep a few basic tips in mind, then buying wine as a gift, for your holiday celebrations, or just as a winter pick-me-up can be fun and exciting.

Tip #1 - Know your budget. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good bottle of wine. There are lots of great products in lower and higher price ranges.

Tip #2 - Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The product consultants at the LCBO are very knowledgeable and can help you pick the perfect bottle.

Tip #3 - Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you know you love big, full-bodied reds from Australia, try something new from another aisle instead - again, you can always ask the store staff to point you in the right direction.

Tip #4 - Don’t forget to buy yourself a gift! Make sure you add a special bottle to your cart to enjoy once you’re done all your holiday errands!

Still in need of a few ideas? Here are some holiday wine picks from the wine-loving sommeliers at Groovy Grapes:

Seaview Sparkling Shiraz ($12.95, LCBO 644054)
All the things you love in a Shiraz, wrapped up in festive bubbly freshness.

Lanson Black Label Brut Champagne ($39.95, Vintages 041889)
For special celebrations, a great value French Champagne.

Reif Estate Chardonnay Reserve ($16.95, LCBO 252163)
Rich and creamy, this full bodied white is perfect for a holiday feast.

d’Arenberg “d’Arry’s Original” Shiraz-Grenache ($19.95, Vintages 942904)
A versatile crowd-pleaser with classic Aussie style.

Lakeview Cellars Vidal Ice Wine ($19.95, Vintages 522672, 200 ml)
Perfect for gift giving or as a holiday indulgence.

And if you don’t get around to trying new wines this holiday season, then Groovy Grapes has the just the thing for you. On Tuesday, January 18^th,
join us at 107 Fourth Avenue Wine Bar for an evening of tasting Wines that Warm the Soul, the perfect way to wind down after the busy holiday season.
For $30, you will try seven different red wines and munch on delicious nibblies as well.