Drink your way through Billy’s Best wine book – a bottle or two at a time. Follow the instructions and you’ll be a wine wizard by Easter. New lessons are posted every Wednesday. Looking forward to hearing about your ‘homework’!
Lesson #3 Does the situation call for the old wine camp or the new?
The old wine [...]
Italy Does Modern
Traditionally Italian wines are labeled by region but there’s a movement to start using grape names, especially well known ones, when the production is aimed at the expert market. Are you ready to try some Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah – Italian style?
The Abruzzo province is the ‘outlet store’ for Italian red wines. Rock [...]
Cabernet and Merlot originated in France, and they’re still going strong in the Bordeaux region. A cool climate and French wine culture produces a somewhat light and lean edition of these grapes – very different from the Aussie or Chilean efforts. The Bordeaux expression refreshes and invigorates the palate – what’s known as the bistro [...]
Niagara’s Daniel Lenko winery has released a special edition ‘Rainbow’ label of his 07 Unoaked Chardonnay $19.95 (called Chardonngay). A great everyday white that spans the refreshment and easy sipping categories. A dollar from each bottle goes to AIDS research.
The Lenko family were one of the first to plant vinifera grapes in Beamsville so all [...]
For many, Merlot is the nice guy of the red wine world. A smooth, warmhearted wine with the comfort of a favourite couch or sweater. Relaxation wine. Merlots from warm climates can be particularly seductive with ripe plummy flavours and chocolate-like richness.
But not all Merlots are crafted alike. Italian editions are lightish with a gutsy, [...]
