Finding Vino Toastmasters

Oyster Bay meets Finding Vino

White Wine November 22, 2016 Leave a comment

oysterbay Name of Winery: Oyster Bay Marlborough Winery

Name of Wine: Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Region: New Zealand, Marlborough

Grapes: Not Documented

Characteristics: Lively penetrating fruit

Look: Velvety

Smell: Hints of fruit

Taste: Crip with hints of gooseberry, kiwi, passion fruit

Finish: Dry, Smooth

Food Pairing: This wine pairs well with any kind of cheese, fruit and a bit of spice. The pairing that was presented was in keeping with the time of year (Thanksgiving) while still featuring the foods that go best with the wine. Slightly sweet crackers with cranberry and almonds were offered with a mild cranberry cheese from England that some said tasted like cheese cake. As a second snack, ground turkey was mixed with baked sweet potato, ginger and orange zest for a baked turkey fritter.

Embocadero Red presented at Finding Vino

Blog, Red Wine, Wine October 6, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – Bodegas Pedro Regalado Winery
San Pedro Regalado is a wine co-operative founded in 1958 in the Ribera del Duero region. Combined efforts reap greater rewards than what each winemaker would if working individually. All of the grapes are sourced from the small co-operatively owned vineyards around the village of La Aguilera and many of the vines are 100 years old.

Name of Wine – Embocadero.

Region – Spain.

Grapes – Tempranillo.

Characteristics – This incredibly powerful Tempranillo spent 14 months aging in new French oak.

Look – Dark burgundy.

Smell – Amazing aromas of wood smoke, mineral, spice box, incense and blackberry make up the nose.
Taste -Similarly dense and plush flavours of dark fruit and spice are present on the palate.

Food Pairing – To go with the red wine: an apple base appetizer using ginger gold apples (an ambrosia or other hard apple would work). Core and cut into slices. Placed in a lemon bath. Extra lemon shaken off to prevent the apple slices from turning brown before serving. Appetizer was prepared by placing apple slices on the bottom of a tooth pick, topped by a half slice of black forest ham and a sizeable piece of bacon cheddar.

Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc set the mood at Finding Vino

Blog, White Wine October 6, 2016 Leave a comment

Name – Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc

Region – Okanagan Valley; Naramata Bench District

Description – Wine is intensely fruity and aromatic with great complexity and balance consistently clean, crisp and fresh

Aroma – Mineral, pear, ripe apple, and floral aromas

Body – medium-bodied

Taste – Crisp and clean with a smooth texture and notes of peach and green apple infused with a flinty-smoky essence

Attack – Open with pear and apple skin notes followed by mouth-watering tropical fruit and pear notes

Finish – Zesty

Food Pairing – This Pino Blanc wine goes well with a lighter type cheese, swiss, goat or fontina cheese on a light cracker. Quiche Lorraine or asparagus quiches make a great pairing also.

Relax Cool Red makes for a chill evening at Finding Vino Toastmasters

Blog, Red Wine August 23, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – Unknown

Name of Wine – Relax Cool Red

Region produced in – Rheinhessen Region, Germany

Types of grapes in wine – Dornfelder

Characteristics of wine – Sweet, simple

Look – deep and rich red

Smell – fruity, black cherries and plums

Taste – not too sweet, not too dry, lively acidity, fruity but not too grapey

Finish – smooth

Food Pairing – The wine pairs well with appetizers and cheesy food.

Why not try a food that is more popular with Canadians than with any other nationality – Kraft Noodles! It fit the theme of the meeting which was ‘Remember When’. Several attendees agreed that it reminded them of their youth when they were at college or university and Kraft was convenient, although few said they are fans of it nowadays. We experimented by serving half the people a version made the traditional way with milk and margarine, the other half received Kraft made with mayonnaise. The traditional version was voted the best by a large majority.

Cava Mas Fi Brut Serves Up Winners At Finding Vino Toastmasters

Blog, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine July 21, 2016 Leave a comment

Name: Cava Mas Fi Brut

Region: Vilafranca del Penedes Estate, Catalan country of El Penedes; municipality of Torrelles de foix40 km south of Barcelona, Spain

Grapes: Macabeo 35%, Xarel.lo 40%, Parellada 25%

Colour – straw yellow color with green tones

Appearance – bright; elegant & balanced Spanish sparkling with fine bubbles,

Aroma – soft aging aroma with signs of flower, ripe fruit & citric; white flower & citrus scents dominate the nose

Body– shows good weight & mouth feel

Taste – palate offers fresh stone fruits & pleasant creamy flavors

Attack – a complex, structured palate

Mid-Palate – extremely vivacious in mouth compensated with a pleasant elegance & equilibrium; with papaya, thyme & baked apple flavors

Finnish – medium long & smooth on the finish

Food Pairing — Pairs with salads containing fruits (especially apples, grapes, and pears) or nuts, pasta and rice dishes, fish, spicy foods, poultry and white meats. Also pairs well with lamb, stews, and carpaccio. This wine also goes with desserts or enjoyed as an aperitif.