Discovering Vinho Verde

Recorded at Napoli’s Cafe and joined by Bassel Khalil  Wines in this episode: Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore $20.95 https://www.lcbo.com/en/santa-margherita-brut-valdobbiadene-prosecco-superiore-687582  Paired with Zuccini Fritti and Calamari Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio  $20.95 https://www.lcbo.com/en/santa-margherita-pinot-grigio-106450  Paired with Bruschetta  Santa Margherita Rosé 2021 $19.95 https://www.lcbo.com/en/santa-margherita-rose-25752  Paired with Linguine Di Pesce  Santa Margherita Chianti Classico 2019 $22.95 https://www.lcbo.com/en/santa-margherita-chianti-classico-2019-91694  Paired with Spaghetti Bolognese and Veal Picatta 

Did you know that... Canada is the #1 consumer of donuts in the WORLD!!! Japan is a close second Canada consumes over a billion donuts a year. In 2017 if you stacked donuts consumed in Canada next to the CN tower. Those donuts would have dwarfed it. Wines in this episode are: Aveleda Vinho Verde, $13.00, LCBO#: 5322 Pale lemon with citrus, herbs, apple and slightly spritzy. Paired with a lemon torte.  Gave the wine more bubbles and sweeter. Errázuriz Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc, $15.00,  LCBO#: 263574 Floral, Citrus, Grass Also paired with the lemon torte.  Crust of the torte came through really well and gave the wine kind of a wintergreen taste. Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais AOC, $19.95, LCBO#: 212480 Dark ruby colour with great tastes of young berry fruit & cherry aromas. Paired with a blueberry macaroon.   Hob Nob Pinot Noir Pays D'OC, $15.05, LCBO#: 184069 Bright ruby colour with tastes of smoke, cherry and beets. Paired with a Cranberry-Oatmeal cookie

Merlot is a super friendly grape that pairs easily with most foods. Les Jamelles Merlot Pays d'Oc $15.35, LCBO#: 245324 A deep ruby colour with forward dark fruit aromas that include black berries, currants and cherries; medium body, easy drinking.  Tastes of dark fruit, licorice and black olive. Made In South of France Las Mulas Merlot Reserva Organic $15.50, LCBO#: 454868 Deep ruby with purple highlights; the nose offers upfront aromas of cassis, herbs and spices; the velvety palate is dry, light to medium-bodied with moderate acidity and tannins with concentrated flavours of cassis and herbs followed by a medium finish.  Floral, Cassis, Herbal Made In Central Valley, Chile Broadside Cellars Margarita Vineyard Merlot 2018 $24.95, VINTAGES#: 22642 Intense aromas of baked black cherry, red berries, star anise and mace are deliciously fruit-forward on the nose of this bottling. The wine lands with a ripe quality on the palate, offering that rich and dark-cherry and mulberry character, but also presenting white pepper and minty tarragon.  Pair with a pizza. Made In California, United States

Pinot Noir and Popcorn is a classic pairing for any night with a movie or the game. We made popcorn on the stove using a big pot and hot oil then added butter and a good amount of salt.  Don’t use microwave popcorn because the traditional methods will give you a much better pairing with the wine. Bouchard Père & Fils Pinot Noir Bourgogne $24.30 LCBO#: 605667 Pale ruby colour; dark fruit and beetroot, vanilla, underbrush and juniper aromas; dark fruit, earth and mushroom on the palate with a long finish. Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir Marlborough $20.05 LCBO#: 146548 Clear ruby red colour; raspberry, beetroot and red fruit aroma with an herbal and earthy touches.  We also found tastes of cherry Twizzler and blueberries. Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir $25.95 VINTAGES#:  130989 Polished and refined, with upfront cherry and strawberry notes. 

Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world.  This episode explores the difference between a Pinot Noir from France, New Zealand and Ontario. Bouchard Père & Fils Pinot Noir Bourgogne $24.30 LCBO#: 605667 Pale ruby colour; dark fruit and beetroot, vanilla, underbrush and juniper aromas; dark fruit, earth and mushroom on the palate with a long finish. Paired with four cheese sandwich on garlic bread with strawberry marmalade Works well with Tofu Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir Marlborough $20.05 LCBO#: 146548 Clear ruby red colour; raspberry, beetroot and red fruit aroma with an herbal and earthy touches.  We also found tastes of cherry Twizzler and blueberries. Paired with chicken quesadilla and salsa or salty roast beef Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir $25.95 VINTAGES#:  130989 Polished and refined, with upfront cherry and strawberry notes.  Paired with toasted ravioli and marinara sauce

Carmenère is a grape from Chili that offers tremendous value and variety.  Food pairings included garlic chicken and ribs with a generous amount of Kansas style BBQ sauce. Root 1 Carmenere Colchagua, $14.20 Red plum, black fruit and spice; dry, medium-full bodied with flavours of plum, black fruit and spice with soft, supple tannins; medium finish. PKNT Carmenère Reserve, $12.00 Clear ruby red; floral, black olive, chocolate and spice notes; medium-plus body; black olive with hints of chocolate and spice flavours; medium ripe tannins in medium length finish.  Paired with salty, garlicy chicken. San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Carmenère 2019, $19.95 A delicious ripe red fruit juice with rich herbal notes.

You may have walked right past bottles of Vinho Verde and never noticed. In this episode, Paul explains this unique form of wine from Portugal.   It is a very well priced type of white wine that will be easily loved by all. Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Loureiro, $10.05.  The best selling vinho verde worldwide. Pale colour with a light effervescence. Dry, crisp and fresh with a clean finish. Low in alcohol and quite refreshing. Try with sushi or fish and chips. Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde, $13.50.  Pale lemon yellow with green highlights; aromas of nuts, grapefruit and herbs; extra dry, fresh and lively, with a slight spritz, steely mineral notes as well as flavours of lime, herbs and a cleansing touch of yeast on the finish.

One of the best selling wines in the United States finally comes north. The Twisted Cedar wine brand is wholly owned by the Cedar Band of Paiute Indians, one of five constituent Bands of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. Very aggressive pricing for the quality of these California wines. Twisted Cedar Chardonnay, $18.95.  Aged for 10 months in French and American oak. Expect tropical fruit flavours, toasty oak, and vanilla. Twisted Cedar Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.95.  Look for cherry, plum, cassis, chocolate, and oak notes. 

You may have your favourite types of wines that you buy all the time. This episode explores some grapes that you may not be familiar with, but you should be trying. Cesari Costa di Rose Rosé 2020 (Sangiovese)  Easy-drinking rosé with an effervescence of fresh red cherries. Nestor Avarino White (70% Trebbiano – 20% Moschofilero – 10% Roditis)  Citrus fruits. Chateau D'Aigueville CdRhone Villages Red AOC  (Grenache/Syrah/Carignan)  Smoke, juniper, tobacco.  Really becomes smooth after being opened for a couple of hours. Pascual Toso Limited Edition Malbec.   Spice, pepper, solid fruity finish. Sortilège Maple Cream.  Canadian whisky, pure maple syrup and fresh dairy cream.

Its been a tough year.  This may be the time to splurge on a couple of items. Products in this episode are... Tommasi Graticcio & Lugana, 2 x 750 mL bottles make a great gift.  The red is Tommasi Graticcio Appassionato which has dried fruit, herb and nutty flavours.  The white is Le Fornaci Lugana which is a blend of the same Turbiana grape from two vineyards with very different soil compositions.  Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Red Duo, Nerello Mascalese Blend, 2 x 750 mL bottles from volcanic soils.  A very complicated taste of red fruits with spicy cinnamon and nutmeg.  Carpineto Chianti Classico 2019 Sangiovese Blend in a 3000 mL bottle!  A classic Tuscan style that pairs perfectly with food. Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016 in a 1500 mL bottle.  This is a beautiful rich, layered Amarone with lots of fruit that will drink like an older wine