2016-2017
Events
82) September 16, 2016
The Godfather Part Two: with wines from Sicily
Venue: Ampersand 27
Synopsis:
A few years ago, we screened the first Godfather movie and paired that classic film with wines from the Francis Ford Coppola portfolio. There are few sequels that match the greatness of the original film. The Godfather Part Two is one of those rare gems! The story alternates between the present day efforts of Michael Corleone to consolidate his family's power and flashbacks to the backstory of Vito Corleone's childhood in Sicily and his young mafia days in New York.
This time we'll screen the movie alongside a tasting of wines from Sicily, presented by Hayley McCrae from Vendemmia Wines. Some of you may remember Hayley from her days at Devine Wines and Spirits, where she conducted several of our early events. Selections of charcuterie and cheeses will accompany the wine selections.
83) October 15, 2016
Tasting Wine Like It’s 1999
Venue: Private home
Synopsis:
Reception:
1999 Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Flight 1:
1999 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France.
1999 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Californa.
1999 Mission Hill Oculus, Okanagan Valley, BC.
1999 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France.
Flight 2:
1999 Chateau Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France.
1999 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California.
1999 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia.
1999 Ridge Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California.
Dessert:
1999 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes, France.
84) November 17, 2016
Ten Ways to Love Beaujolais!
Venue: The Wine Cellar
Synopsis: The French wine region of Beaujolais marks the southern fringe of Burgundy where limestone soils give way to granite and Gamay Noir takes over from Pinot Noir as the red grape of the region. Sure, this tasting happens to coincide with Beaujolais Nouveau Day (this light, banana/bubblegum flavoured fruity quaffer is traditionally released on the 3rd Thursday of November), but make no mistake: Beaujolais makes serious, age-worthy, complex and food friendly reds.
This event is a unique opportunity to showcase the region's best wines by tasting all ten of the region's cru villages. From north to south they are: St. Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin-a-Vent, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Morgon, Regnie, Cote de Brouilly, and Brouilly. These ten villages produce the finest wines of Beaujolais, and offer an array of styles that will pair with virtually any food. Heading into the holiday season, in case you're wondering what red to pair with roast turkey, duck, goose, salmon, or beef, the answer is Beaujolais!
Jason Somerville, ISG-certified sommelier, will present the complete portfolio of Cru Beaujolais from producer P. Ferraud et Fils, from the 2014 vintage. Cheeses will be provided for accompaniment.
85) January 28, 2017
Value Wines and Comfort Food from Italy
Venue: Private home
Synopsis:January in Edmonton: cold, dark, gloomy, and debt-laden from holiday shopping and indulgence! It's a time that calls for comfort from a warm kitchen and wine that's easy on the budget. Time for another bang for the buck event! Home cooked Italian comfort food, paired with a selection of wines from nearly every part of the boot! Italy is a great source of value-priced food-friendly wines that over-deliver with unique and regionally-specific flavours.
Antipasti:
-Salumi (charcuterie)
Sparkling: Nino Franco Rustico (Valdobbiadene) $25
Primi Piatti:
- Risotto con funghi (risotto with wild mushrooms)
- Insalata mista (salad)
White wine flight:
-LaVis Storie di Vite Pinot Grigio 2015 (Trentino-Alto Adige) $18
-Tedeschi Soave 2015 (Veneto) $20
-Lunae Vermentino 2015 (Liguria) $22
Contorni:
- Peperonata (ratatouille)
- Gnocchi ai pomodori (gnocchi in tomato sauce)
Red Wines first flight:
-Matteo Correggia Barbera d'Alba 2013 (Piemonte) $23
-Matteo Correggia Roero Nebbiolo (Piemonte) $25
-Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2014 (Tuscany) $26
Secondo Piatto:
- Rigatoni con brasato di manzo (Braised beef on rigatoni)
Red Wines Second Flight:
-Umani Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Jorio" 2012 (Abruzzo) $24
-Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo 2010 (Puglia) $25
-d'Angelo Sacravita Aglianico 2013 (Basilicata) $21
Dolce:
-Tiramisu
Dessert Wine: La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti Bricco Quaglia 2014 (Piemonte) $20
86) February 25, 2017
Blind Bargains vs Blockbusters: Napa Valley edition
Venue: Private home
Once a year, we pit value priced wines against premium priced wines from the same grape and/or region in a blind tasting to see if those pricey bottles are worth the price of admission. This year, we focus on a region that has produced a succession of great vintages recently, but is notorious for hefty price tags (especially with the exchange rate in recent years).
Three flights of wines will be presented.
Flight One: three Chardonnays: Chappellet (midprice), Lewis (premium), and Hess Collection (inexpensive) with the Lewis as group fave and the Hess second!
Flight Two: three Meritage blends:Blackbird Vineyards Arise (midprice), Cameron Hughes Lot 325 (inexpensive), and Blackbird Vineyards Paramour (premium) with the group fave being the value-priced Cameron Hughes!
Flight Three: three Cabernet Sauvignons: Beringer Napa Valley (midprice), Caymus Special Selection (premium), and Louis M. Martini Napa Valley (inexpensive, with the Caymus blowing the others away!
87) April 8, 2017
WOW! Wines of Washington
Venue: Private home
Synopsis: We've explored Oregon and California fairly extensively in the past couple of years and now onward to the other major wine producing US state, Washington. Here, aromatic white wines, Merlot and other Bordeaux varietals, and Syrah are the leading products.
Whites:
Trust Riesling 2013
Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills Chardonnay 2013
Eroica Riesling 2014
Meritage Blends:
Longshadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Longshadows Pedestal Merlot 2008
K Vintners The Klein 2012
Syrah:
Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah 2012
Gramercy Cellars Syrah 2011
K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah 2012
88) April 28, 2017
A Terroir Specific Tasting with Howard Soon
Venue: Sandhill Winery
Wines:
2016 Hidden Terrace Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
2012 Vanessa Vineyard Similkameen Valley Merlot
2014 Sandhill Estate Merlot
2013 Sandhill Small Lots Barbera
2014 Sandhill Small Lots Sangiovese
89) April 28, 2017
Wine Blending Seminar with Cynthia and David Enns
Venue: Laughing Stock Vineyards
With glass pipettes and graduated cylinders in hand, Cynthia and David facilitated a blending seminar using components of their award-winning Bordeaux style blend, Portfolio. We used varying proportions of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec to create our own custom blends, then compared our creations to their newly released 2014 Portfolio.
90) Aprill 28, 2017
Blind tasting of wines made with and without AromaLoc technology.
Guest speaker Dr. Dick Jones
Venue: Watermark Resort, Osoyoos
91) April 28, 2017
An evening with John and Virginia Weber of Orofino
Venue: Watermark Resort, Osoyoos
Course One: Mixed Greens and Arugula paired with Hendsbee Vineyard Riesling 2015
Course Two: Pan Seared Okanagan Sockeye Salmon paired with Gamay 2016
Course Three: Duck Confit paired with Beleza 2013
Course Four: Pork Sausages, Wagyu Beef Meatballs, and Two Rivers Natural sirloin paired with Scout Syrah 2014
Gelato and house made macarons
92) April 29, 2017
Tasting at Meyer Family Vineyards with sommelier Kami Lee Robb
Wines:
-NV Methode Traditionelle Extra Brut Single Vineyard, Okanagan Falls (70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir).
-2011 McLean Creek Road Chardonnay, Single Vineyard, Okanagan Falls
-2015 Micro-Cuvee Chardonnay Single Vineyard, Okanagan Falls Unknown Clones
-2013 Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir Single Vineyard, South East Kelowna, Mix of Dijon and German clones.
-2014 McLean Creek Road “Old Block” Pinot Single Block Old Vines, Okanagan Falls.
93) April 29, 2017
Cave Tour and Portfolio Tasting
Seven Stones Winery, Similkameen Valley
94) April 29, 2017
Clos du Soleil Magnum Miniverticals and dinner
Venue: Clos du Soleil, Similkameen Valley
Dinner provided by Joy Road Catering
Wines:
2016 Rose
Capella 2012, 2013, 2014
Signature 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013
Saturn 2013
Food:
1) Pissaladiere with homemade puff pastry. A salad of mixed young greens
2) Similkameen asparagus, Hokkaido scallops, house made barrel aged white wine vinegar beurre blanc, prosciutto shavings, tarragon, chervil and chives, radish and celery.
3) Braised beef cheek with black pepper, Bordelaise sauce, lardons, little onion cups and roast beet, wild nettle and barley risotto.
4) Poached pear stuffed with Upper Bench blue cheese, Similkameen Apiary honey, vanilla bean caramel.
95) May 27, 2017
Seven Deadly Zins (well actually nine…)
Venue: Private home
Synopsis: With barbecue season upon us soon, it's time to think about what wine pairs with grilled steaks, slow cooked ribs, sausage, even smoked turkey legs! What can stand up to the bold flavours, including sweet rubs and marinades? No time for wimpy wines! We're heading into Zinfandel territory! The wines in flight one are intended to show the lighter, fruitier style of Zin, and the second flight more serious, structured and age-worthy Zins.
Reception:
Hendry 2014 Rose – Napa Valley
Flight one:
Hendry 2011 Block 24 Primitivo, Napa Valley
Kettle Valley Great Northern Zinfandel 2013, Similkameen Valley, BC
Four Vines Biker Zinfandel 2012, Paso Robles
Klinker Brick Old Vine 2013 Zinfandel, Lodi
Flight two:
Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2012, Sonoma
Seghesio Cortina Zinfandel 2013, Dry Creek Valley
Bedrock Old Vines 2013 Zinfandel, Sonoma
Hartford Old Vine Zinfandel 2011, Russian River Valley