Dinner with South Africa

www.spiceroute.ca

Last month I attended a small tasting event hosted by WineAlign and RKW Wine Imports. Located at the trendy Spice Route on King Steet, this intimate tasting featured the wines of Charles Back, a pioneer of the South African wine industry.

On a cold day in the middle of winter, I couldn't think of a better way to spend an otherwise drab Tuesday evening. The evening highlighted five wines from the three properties of Charles Back: Goats Do Roam, Spice Route and Fairview.

Table is set for a great night

I was excited to try the wines and to meet the recognized winemaker. I was also looking forward to listening to that South African accent! South Africa looks like such a picturesque place to visit.  Located on the trading route with the East, the region has been colonized by many throughout history. Ships would stop in South Africa to replenish supplies which often included fortified wines. With the influence of the Dutch, English and French, it is rich with history, culture and of course, wine. The wines are often a good value but sadly, overlooked by many. I should feature more of them on the blog.  One thing that was very apparent throughout the evening was that South Africans have both pride and passion when it comes to their wines.

Charles Back and
myself

Charles told us some funny stories about his goats at Goats Do Roam and how they chose what grape varieties would be in the final blends by what grapes they preferred to eat. Those super tasters! He also told us how he with many others protested at the French Embassy when the French government was trying to sue him over the titles of the wines. One example being "Goats do Roam". Get it? Cote du Rhone - Goats du Roam? I wonder if goats were included in the protest. Needless to say, his stories had us laughing the entire evening.

Goats are awesome

Other funny wine labels that are a bit close to their French counterparts:

Bord Doe (as in Bordeaux)
Goat Door (like in Cote d'Or Burgundy)
Goat-Roti (similar to the famous Rhone appellation of Cote Rotie)

Ok, I can see how the French would be a bit perturbed but really, I think it's playful and ultimately a sign of flattery to these classic regions.  I love the hommage to the Godfather with ...wait for it...The Goatfather. Classic!

www.spiceroutewines.co.za

Wow...look at that view!

The food and wine pairings for the evening. Prepare to salivate...

Wasabi-Crusted Shrimp

Goats do Roam
White

2011 Goats Do Roam White $11.95

I just love the label. This wine is a no-fuss sipper. A blend of Vigonier, Roussane and Grenache Blanc. Good value.

Togarashi Crusted Rare Tun

2010 Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc $14.95

Spice Route
Sauvignon Blanc

Lovely Sauvignon Blanc. I don't know why I was expecting a Sauvignon Blanc with grassy notes, much like a typical one we've come to associate with New Zealand. This wine had citrus flavours such as grapefruit along with wonderful acidity. Good body and length. Another bang for your buck!

Crisp Tempura Calamari

"Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the cool rolling hills outside Darling, on the Cape west coast. These trellised Atlantic vineyards are on deep red oakleaf soils, and are amongst the finest Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in South Africa. " - www.spiceroutewines.co.za

"Darling is increasingly regarded as a prime Sauvignon Blanc growing area in the Western Cape. Spice Route’s vineyards on the rolling hills outside this sleepy town are less than 8km from the Atlantic Ocean and its cooling breezes are instantly apparent if one visits the site." - www.spiceroutewines.co.za

Viet Lamb Chop 

Goats do Roam
 Red

2011 Goats Do Roam Red $12.95

Made with classic Rhone varietals which include Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre. Lots of ripe juicy fruit. A hint of spice with smooth tannins. A good burger wine.

Kobe Beef Burger

Fairview Pinotage

2009 Fairview Pinotage $14.95

What is Pinotage?
This is a grape that is unique to South Africa. It's a cross (having two different parent varietals) between the warmer-climate Cinsault grape and the cooler-climate Pinot Noir. I sometimes  find this grape variety to be a hit or miss.  The Fairview was enjoyable.  With ripe black fruit, spice and hints of coffee (I'd like a slim mocha frap please!), it paired well with the Kobe Beef burger.

Spice Route Shiraz

Sorry, no picture of the food! No room left on my phone. Oops.
Note to self, clean up my phone once in a while.

The food paring was Peking Duck.

2009 Spice Route Shiraz $24.95

This was my favourite red of the night. It had such enjoyable fruit, spice and above all, good acidity that helped tie everything together into a well balanced wine.

Charles Back talking about his goats at Goats do Roam

In the current Vintages release (January 21) you can find the Spice Route Chenin Blanc. Give it a try. The highlights from this tasting, for me, were the Sauvignon Blanc and the Shiraz. I think these two varietals express themselves very nicely in the cooler areas of South Africa.  Thanks to WineAlign and RKW Imports for holding such a fun tasting. Looking forward to the next one. I've included a promotional video on South African wine for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

For more information about the wines of Charles Back:
www.fairview.co.za
www.spiceroutewines.co.za
www.goatsdoroam.com

Check out the WineAlign community!
It's a wonderful resource for wines available at the LCBO, right at your fingertips.
www.winealign.com

Bordeaux After Work Party @ Crush Wine Bar

The 4th party!

Crush Wine Bar

We've finally reached the fourth and final installment of the Bordeaux After Work Party series. Held at the popular Crush Wine Bar on King Street in downtown Toronto, it was the largest yet! I'm sad that this series has concluded. I looked forward to heading out after work to the party. It was so much fun to mix and mingle after work at various wine bars around Toronto. This series of events was a fun way to promote the wines of Bordeaux.  Maybe we'll see more events in the near future? Bordeaux After Work Party Part Deux? (wish list!)

Keep those tunes coming dj!

Largest crowd yet!

I don't know if it was because Halloween was in the air and people were in the mood to get out and celebrate, but for a weeknight, this event was packed! It was great to see so many people coming out to try Bordeaux wine. Like the last event at Eight Wine Bar, there was a sommelier station set up so you could sample a taste of each of the wines on the menu before choosing your free glass of your preference.

Le Menu

The way the event worked was the first 100 people would get a drink ticket for a free glass of wine of off of the list of those wines featured for the event. After that, each additional glass was $5. Good deal! 

The mission of these events was to showcase the diverse wine region of Bordeaux. People always associate Bordeaux with $$$$. That's not always the case! Yes, you easily spend a lot of money for a wine from one of the grand Chateaux but there are some terrific wines to be had for not very much money.

Chilling Whites

Sommelier Station

White
2008 Chateau Fontaine $16.95
2008 Chateau Coucheroy Blanc $16.95

Red
2008 Chateau Fayan $18.95
2008 Chateau Timberlay $15.95
2003 Chateau Toumilon $19.95

The Red Lineup

To wrap things up, this series in my opinion, was a great success! Once a month we (the wine-loving public) all got to get together at a trendy wine bar to learn about the delicious wines of Bordeaux. So what exactly did we learn?

1. Wines from Bordeaux are most often a blend of several grape varieties.

2. Whites from Bordeaux are a blend of two grapes:  Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon adds body to the wine while Sauvignon Blanc adds the aroma and crisp freshness.

3. Bordeaux reds can be classified in two categories: Left Bank and Right Bank.

Grab a glass and taste!

4. Wines from the Left Bank are Cabernet Sauvignon dominant in the blend. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned grape that gives structure and in some wines, excellent aging potential.

5. Wines from the Right Bank are Merlot dominant in the blend. Merlot provides the wine with body and that silky softness that we all love.

6. Sauternes is a luscious, delicate sweet white wine made from the Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. It has a unique feature in that a special "rot" called botrytis causes the grapes to shrivel.  The grapes then have extremely concentrated and unique flavour. It's like a piece of heaven. :) Also look for similar wine styles from the Barsac region.

7. Wines from Bordeaux come in different styles and price points. You can definitely find a wine for any budget.

Thank you Bordeaux Wine Council and iYellow Wine Club for hosting these Bordeaux After Work parties!

For more information about Bordeaux Wines: www.bordeaux.com

Like Bordeaux Wine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bordeauxwine

Follow Bordeaux Wines on Twitter: @BordeauxWines

Bordeaux after work @ Eight Wine Bar

The third Bordeaux After Work Party took place this past Tuesday September 20th at Eight Wine Bar. What a civilized way to finish an otherwise boring workday.

The Bordeaux Wine Council has a goal: to spread the joy of Bordeaux wine. These events are co-hosted with the popular iYellow Wine Club and aim to showcase the diverse wines that the region has to offer. Bordeaux wines are not only for the wealthy collectors who spend thousands of dollars for coveted bottles of cru classes. There is a Bordeaux wine for every budget and every taste.

The Bordeaux After Work Party is a series of 4 events. Once a month a downtown venue is chosen for 2 hours of tasting and socializing. This past evening,  the first 100 people to arrive received a free glass from the list of featured wines. Additional glasses were $5.  For yummy wine, that's a deal.

Sommelier station

the menu a la carte

This event had a new concept of a sommelier station. The sommelier du jour was Svetlana.  She was there to give you a small sample of the wines. You could then decide what you wanted to start with at the bar.

Fantastic idea!

Angela Aiello

The evening had a great vibe. The after work crowd sipped away the evening listening to funky beats, socializing inside this cozy venue.  I snapped a picture of iYellow Wine Club founder, Angela Aiello.  She looks like she's having fun! For more information on her events and for future Bordeaux After Work events, go to: www.iyellowwineclub.com

www.cosmotoronto.com/Eight-Wine-Bar

There were 5 wines to try throughout the evening: 3 reds, 1 white and a dessert wine.
All the wines are available at the LCBO. My picks for the night:

Eight Wine Bar

mmm wine

White
Chateau Ferran Blanc 2007 $21.00

A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. Dry white wine showing some oak with orchard fruit flavours. Well balanced and enjoyable. Nice wine for the money.

Red
Chateau de Panigon 2005 $16.95

A solid dry, red wine for under $20.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 2005 is considered to be a wonderful vintage in Bordeaux. This wine had good fruit, tannin and a medium finish. Definitely a crowd pleaser.

Dessert
Chateau Liot 2007 $19.00

A delicious sweet white wine with elements of honey and dried apricot while maintaing nice acidity. Best served cool. The wonderful thing about sweet wines coming from Bordeaux is that many of them are affected with what's called Botrytis or "noble rot". Don't be fooled from the name. This "rot" is a good thing. It shrivels up the berries so the flavours are super concentrated. The Chateau Liot is a nice introduction to these wines of Sauternes and Barsac.

Wine menus

Like 2005, the 2009 vintage in Bordeaux was spectacular. From the reports coming, the wine world is now buzzing about 2010.  While these wines are silently sitting in barrels in France, eager wine drinkers all over the world are awaiting their arrival to the marketplace.

Nicolas from Tannin Fine Wine

Nicholas from Tannin Fine Wine is a Bordeaux expert. I've heard him speak French fluently with the most beautiful accent. Oui, c'est vrai. He was pouring a wine not featured on the list:
Chateau Desvin-Bel Air 2003 $19.95





I'm having a lot of fun at these events! Now how about an After Work Week Party! Or, a Before Work Party...ok ok, just any excuse to have a party. :)

For more information on future events:
www.facebook.com/bordeauxwine

Spring!

Spring has sprung! It's about time.  Figures...the weather is beautiful outside and I'm in bed with a serious cold writing this post. Before I acquired this "plague", I had some wonderful whites that definitely put a spring in my step. Hello patio!

R. Pouillon & Fils Cuvee de Reserve Brut Champagne $48.95

Yummy! I've tried much more expensive Champagnes before and I can tell you that I didn't enjoy some of them as much as this one. This was a delicious dry sparkling wine. It doesn't leave you trying to dissect the complexity of it because it's just really easy to drink. Perfect for any day of the week. If you have a cold, I prescribe this to cure your ailments.

Momo Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $18.95 

Fantastic dry Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. I just love the name - Momo. A dear friend of mine from France calls me "Momo". :) What I love most about this wine is the texture and the finish. It has a great creamy finish that lingers in your mouth. This wine is not your typical fresh-cut grass type of Sauvignon Blanc. It has lots of passionfruit and other fresh fruit aromas and flavours. mmm mmm.

Once I battle this cold, I'll be putting up more tasting notes so stay tuned. What kind of wine goes well with chicken soup? Ahhhchooo!

I love the NightLife

Last week, I attended a wine event (I know, shocking!) brought to you by the iYellow Wine Club (a free wine social club in Toronto so sign up!). This event featured wines from Napa, California. The night started off with a bang as I acquired a head injury even before entering the event. My head made friends with a large metal door. A perfect way to soothe a head bump is wine of course and I certainly was on my way to the right place. The event took place in the historic Great Hall, on Queen Street West. I love this area of Queen Street. There are so many galleries and interesting stores...not to mention good restaurants.

http://www.thegreathall.ca

I love the way the Great Hall was decorated for the evening. Dj Dinamo and Dj Sam EfSharp Flemming were playing some good tunes (as usual, I busted a move on the dancefloor after a few...um...samples). There were 20 wineries sampling their wines at this event. I have to say that the wines that stood out for me this night were the Syrahs and the Sauvignon Blancs. Of course, there was plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon to go around! No California wine show would be complete without the great King Cabernet Sauvignon.

The setup for the evening was one which had all the wineries along the perimeter of the hall, allowing people to freely mix and mingle. There were tables in the center, along with tasty bites to eat. Angela, the lovely lady behind the iYellow Wine Club was sporting some great boots. I love her sense of style. Great taste in wine and fashion go a long way in my books.

The picture to the left is one of Angela and myself showing off our boots at the end of the event. Below is yours truly taking a break from dancing. This time I had some fellow wine tasters join me!


For myself, the wines that stood out were:

Chimney Rock Elevage Bordeaux Blend
This wine is made in the tradition of wines from the right-bank of the Bordeaux region.
www.chimneyrock.com

Peju Sauvignon Blanc Persephone Vineyard 2008
Interesting fact about this wine is that the grapes are harvested in three stages of ripeness to create a complex blended wine.

Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Persephone Vineyard 2005
www.peju.com

Cuvaison Pinot Noir 2007 Los Carneros
One of the only few Pinot Noirs of the night, but always a pleaser.
www.cuvaison.com

Frias Syrah 2006
I have a bottle of the 2005 in my wine rack. I can't wait to drink it. The 2006 was also super.
www.friasfamilyvineyard.com

John Anthony Syrah 2006
The winemaker himself was pouring the wines and I enjoyed tasting each of them!
www.javwine.com

Toronto is fortunate to have dedicated organizations like the iYellow Wine Club to bring these types of events to the city. I love California wines and the NightLife event provided a way to showcase the region.

For more information on Napa Valley:
www.napavitners.com

Maybe one day I'll be blogging from Napa! I can't wait.

Event Alert!
The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is coming up in a few weeks here in Toronto. It's always a lot of fun. Sadly, I won't be pouring wines this year. I'll be on the floor tasting! :)
For more information: http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca

Purchase VIP tickets with the iYellow Wine Club and save money on the VIP evening:
http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/2009/10/gfwe-iyellow-vip-green-room.html

This year, the wines of Portugal will be featured. See you there!

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 08

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! (gobble gobble)
I am very thankful for all the great wines out there. I'm also thankful to all the hardworking people that work so hard with dedication and passion to make these wines that we enjoy so much. This will be a very short post as I'm working off the effects of tryptophan. I recently tried a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Sauvingnon Blanc and New Zealand go together like Shiraz and Australia...or Chardonnay and California...or like turkey and gravy (to keep in the spirit of the holiday).

Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $19.95

What a nice wine for $20. It has that aromatic grass smell, typical of a Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a nice citrus flavour with some hints of tropical fruits. It's fresh and fruity. Good acidity and length on the finish. A wonderful example of how delicious Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand can be. Drink this wine while young (the wine, not you) in order to catch that youthful fruitiness. This wine comes from the Marlborough region in New Zealand where Sauvignon Blanc is king.

http://www.dogpoint.co.nz
http://www.wine-marlborough.co.nz