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The Perfect Pair — Anselmo Mendes With Western Family Choice Cooked Shrimps

Name of Winery – Anselmo Mendes

Name of Wine – Quinta da Aveleda

Region produced in – Vinho Verde, Portugal

Types of grapes in wine – Blended with 60% Loureiro, 30% Trajadura and 10% Alvarinho.

Characteristics of wine – Fresh tropical fruit flavours and no oak make this wine a real nice summer afternoon drink.

. The presence of citric and white flower aromas is quite evident

Certified: Award Winner 2014

Look – Pale lemon yellow with green highlights;

Smell –aromas of green apple, grapefruit, and perfume; dry, fresh and lively, with a slight spritz,

Taste – light, crisp and aromatic -sometimes sweet

Food Pairing – The Portuguese wine goes really well with fish and sea food. I chose the Western Family choice cooked shrimps and for contrast some candied smoked Salmon.

The Grape Grinder Pinotage Showcased At Finding Vino

Blog, Red Wine May 5, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – The Grape Grinder

Name of Wine – The 2014 Grinder Pinotage

Region produced in – Swartland, South Africa

Types of grapes in wine – 100% Pinotage – (a unique South African crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault)

Characteristics of wine – Medium bodied with well-integrated medium tannins and red fruit. Great structure. Awarded silver medal at 2015 International Wine and Spirits Challenge.

Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89-90 points

Look – Ruby Red

Smell – Coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, vanilla, hickory and toasted oak character.

Taste – Cherry, Blackberry and carob on the palate. Big flavor.

Finish – long

Food Pairing – Pinotage never has the elegance of a fine burgundy, but it will go with the same sort of dishes as a more robust, rustic Pinot Noir. Suggested pairings are: grilled meats, smoked or pulled pork, French Bistro selections as in baked pasta or pizza, strong cheddar or blue cheese, fruits as in figs or blueberries, vegetables as in peppers, portabella mushrooms and dark chocolate.

Served at our meeting on May 3:

1) Small slice of meaty pizza, which brings in the flavors of meat, cheese and has a French Bistro feel

2) A piece of strong cheddar cheese; Balderson – Vintners Cheddar Cheese, extra old

3) Fruit selection of grapes and dried figs

4) A treat of a piece of Coffee Crisp Chocolate bar, thereby complimenting the coffee and the chocolate of the wine.

Fun Wine Diabolica White Wine Sets A Festive Mood At Finding Vino

White Wine, Wine April 11, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – Diabolica Wines Vancouver

Name of Wine – Diabolica White Wine

Region produced in – Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada

Types of grapes in wine – Unique blend of several white wines including: Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Viognier

Characteristics of wine – The Unique blend of several white wines including: Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Viognier brings a tropical fruit flavor (pineapple, mango balanced with green apple, orange blossom honey with a citrus and light spicy finish, all of which encourage another long sip.

Look – Light to pale golden

Smell – The aromatics on this wine are a result of the expressive Viognier and Muscat that first greet you and lure you in.

Taste – Citrusy elements with a nice mouthfeel come from the Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.

Finish – The wine exudes with tropical fruit like pineapple and mango. Musky peach, green apple, and orange blossom honey round out the flavour spectrum with a crispness that makes you want to lick your lips. Yes, it is tempting.

Food Pairing – Pairing is best with sea foods or a spicy dish. As the name suggests, it’s a great fun time (party) wine rather than a serious wine, this wine is all about a having a good time.

The food pairing of choice was spicy vegetarian samosas. The spice and the warmth of the samosas provided a nice contrast with the chilled, sweet wine. The comparison was delightful. As beef doesn’t pair particularly well with white wine we chose vegetarian. The vegetables and rustic potatoes went really well with the various fruit flavors in the wine.

Three Thieves Red Wine By Rebel Wines Perfect Combination With Grana Padano

Blog, Red Wine, Wine April 11, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – Rebel Wine

Name of Wine – Three Thieves – see website http://www.threethieves.com/

Region produced in – California – Napa Valley and Sonoma County

Types of grapes in wine – blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Sirah, 2% Zinfandel

Characteristics of the wine – LST

Look – displaying characteristic green flavors like bell pepper, eucalyptus and mint

Smell – spicy fruit

Taste and Finiish– ends to be more fruit-forward and more mellow, with rich dark fruit notes of blueberry and blackberry as well as earth, dust, mocha and cedar.

Food Pairing – It’s superb with porterhouse steak, braised pork belly, hearty lamb stews, portobello mushrooms, grilled burgers and hard strong cheeses.

The cheese was Grana Padano from Italy. This variety has been produced for around 900 years. Grana means grainy because it is dry and grainy. It can be aged up to 2 years, the longer it is aged the more granular it becomes. It is a hard semi-fat cheese. Strong tasting, it complements and balances the strong flavoured wine.

Any strong flavoured red meat pairs well with this wine. For a change we had fresh sliced corned beef which was very tasty, nothing like the corned beef from a can. It worked very well with this wine.

Painter Bridge Chardonnay A Surprising Wine At Finding Vino

Blog, White Wine, Wine March 11, 2016 Leave a comment

Name of Winery – J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

Name of Wine – Painter Bridge Chardonnay

Region produced in – Arroyo Seco and Monterey County – The Chardonnay for 2014 Painter Bridge was grown in the Central Coast of California from the appellations of Arroyo Seco in Monterey and San Benito. Both areas are cool and windy, producing flavorful and richly-textured wines.

Types of grapes in wine – 92% Chardonnay, 8% Viognier

Characteristics of wine – The Chardonnay was fermented in older French oak barrels to enhance the palate richness while retaining the natural fruit flavours. To enhance the floral and citrus fruitiness of Painter Bridge Chardonnay, a touch of Viognier from Monterey County was added to the blend.

Look – Pale yellow

Smell – Floral with hint of natural fruit flavours

Taste – Citrus fruitiness

Finish – Delightfully full-flavored with pretty, forward fruit aromas creating a pleasant, quaffable Chardonnay.

Food Pairing – Due to the wide range of styles, Chardonnay has the potential to be paired with a diverse spectrum of food types. Enjoy as an aperitif with toasted baguette slices with brie cheese, or with roasted chicken or trout almondine.