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The 41st Vancouver International Wine Festival glorious week-long event came to a close on Sunday, March 3. This premier food and wine event featured 160 wineries, 16 countries, 54 events, shared 1,450 wines with 25,000 participants and attendees. This year, the theme was “Dream Big: California Style” with 53 wineries from the Golden State. We enjoyed a sumptuous winery lunch at Lift Bar & Grill at Coal Harbour featuring food-friendly wines from Chile and Argentina and enjoyed pours at International Festival Tasting Room inside the Vancouver Convention Centre.

One of the featured wine tasting booths was the Napa Valley Cultivating Excellence. It featured vertical tastings of different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted. This emphasizes the differences between various vintages. For example, we enjoyed the sharp contrasting difference of the young 2016 Sirah vs 2012 older, smoother Robert Biale Vineyards.

Since there were so, so, so many wines to taste and choose from, this year I focused on California Chardonnays and Organic Wineries. It was exciting tasting the differences between oaked and unoaked vs neutral oaked. Unoaked wine is more likely to be lighter-bodied than its oaked wines, with more fresh fruit flavours and less of any cedary, toasty, vanilla character.

California Chardonnarys

BERINGER VINEYARDS I NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of concentrated apple, mango and ripe pear flavors that are intensely spiced. Tastes plush and creamy, aromas and flavours of tart citrus lead with hints of white pear, delicious apple and a bit of lemon meringue and toasted almonds. A buttery finish is mouth-filling and rich tasting.

BONTERRA ORGANIC VINEYARDS I MENDOCINO COUNTY, USA – CALIFORNIA: Organic Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of green apples, pears, and citrus. 70& of the juice is fermented in a combination of French and American oak, which is allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation to create a rich, creamy wine with just a touch of new oak spice. The remaining 30% is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the crisp fresh fruit flavours. Tastes of neutral oak for these fresh fruit characteristics. Tastes of minerality that is both bright and clean and vibrant tartness and lemon zest.

GALLO SIGNATURE SERIES I NAPA VALLEY / SONOMA COUNTY / MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of reshly baked bread and honey (this is a true expression of our Russian River Valley terroir). Tastes full-bodied palate has delightfully bright flavors of crisp apple, ripe peach, lemon meringue and honey, while the long finish has hints of caramel and ginger.

GIRARD WINERY I NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: Russian River Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of stone fruit, orange zest and oak spice turn into vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Tastes of quince, pear and juicy white peach flavours with supple palate weight, and integrated acidity and minerality to round out the refreshing but substantial finish.

HAHN FAMILY WINES I MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Monterey County Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of subtle notes of pear, peach, lemongrass and green apple with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. Fermented in French oak barrels with a mix of 25% new, balance neutral oak that is less smoky.  Energizing tastes of tropical fruits, pear, and peach with hints of toffee and oak wrapped in balanced acidity with a creamy, long finish.

HALL / WALT I NAPA VALLEY / SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Walt Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of ripe grapefruit, lemon tart and preserved kumquats with touches of honeysuckle, beeswax and allspice. Tastes Medium-bodied, with great intensity of citrus flavours with a racy line carrying the fruit to a long, zesty finish. Barrel ageing 40% New French Oak.

JOEL GOTT WINES I CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA: Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of white peach, papaya and honeysuckle with hints of lemon and jasmine. Tastes of bright fruit flavours, leading to a round mouthfeel on the mid-palate and crisp minerality on the finish.

KENDALL-JACKSON I SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of tropical flavours such as pineapple, mango and papaya, with citrus notes. aromas of vanilla and honey. Tastes fruit-forward, complex with a hint of toasted oak and butter.

LA CREMA I SONOMA COUNTY / MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of Apricot, lemon, gala apple, subtle oak and spice. Tastes of lemon drop, white stonefruit, yellow plum and honeydew melon. It is richly textured and concentrated with balanced acidity that drives a lingering finish. This is a heady Chardonnay with aromatics that develop over time in the glass.

LAKE SONOMA WINERY I SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 – This Quails’ Gate Estate Winery 100% Canadian owned vineyard down in California offers aromas of heady white stone fruits, Asian pear and a hint of Meyer lemon blossom and buttery shortbread, with underlying crushed stone minerality. Tastes of generous white peach, zesty citrus and a kiss of warm baking spices and marzipan, with well balanced, juicy acidity. Barrel ageing for 18 months for a soft, creamy oak structure and concentration.

Also Loving – Wines from around the world:

STAGS’ LEAP WINERY I NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: Napa Valley Viognier 2017 – Aromas of classic stone fruit and citrus blossom characteristics, with hints of lemon meringue and white pepper. Tastes of racing acidity and a steely minerality which adds to the wine’s crispness and complexity. Layers of white peach, hints of lemongrass and raw almond, are plentiful on the palate, leading to a very long elegant, delicately floral spiced finish for a silky mouthfeel and roundness on the palate.

BODEGA ARGENTO I MENDOZA, ARGENTINA: Reserva Chardonnay 2017 – Aromas of fresh citrus fruits. Tastes full-bodied wine in the mouth with clean fresh flavours of grapefruit and pineapple complemented by mineral notes. The finish is persistent and refreshing, with a rich texture and crisp acidity.

DOMAINE BOUSQUET | MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – Aromatic intensity of tropical fruits, pear, coconut and vanilla. Tastes of notes of green apple and pear with light tones of mild spices and jasmine. The soft and creamy palate provides a good volume and a refreshing acidity. Well rounded oak and candy flavours remain to the end. The wine is 100% Chardonnay, aged in French oak during 10 months and then 10 months in the bottle. Made from organic grapes from Estate vineyards located in Gualtallary, Tupungato at an altitude of 1200 meters (4000 feet) above sea level, one of the highest points in Mendoza.

TAHBILK WINERY I VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Viognier 2018 – Aromas of subtle rose petal and citrus blossom. Tastes well structured with stone fruits, cinnamon and ginger spices, with a delicious textural oiliness that is enlivened with a vivacious acidity. This wine is fresh and youthfully exuberant!

DEINHARD / SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERG I VARIOUS, GERMANY: Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Grünlack Spätlese 2017 – Aromas of remarkably fresh citrus fruit of lemon, apricot, pear and minerals. Tastes of long finsihed mineral with crispy acidity balance.

SEVEN TERRANCES I MARLBOROUG, NEW ZEALAND: Sauvignon Blanc 2018 – Aromas of vibrant fruit aromas of ripe gooseberries, citrus fruits, red pepper and passion fruits. Creamy tastes of grapes and stone fruits.

MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE I OKANAGAN VALLEY, CANADA – BC: Legacy Collection Perpetua Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of bright fruit. Incredibly fresh acidity tastes highlight the notes of pear, lime and hint of oak.  The wines were fermented and aged on fine lees for 15 months in a combination of concrete eggs, stainless steel and French oak barrels. 26 barrels produced.

QUAILS’ GATE WINERY I OKANAGAN | VALLEY, CANADA – BC Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2016 – Aromas of tangerine zest, orange blossom, dried sage and buttery shortbread. Tastes very well balanced with alluring fruit aromas, refreshing acidity and lingering stony minerality.

NK’MIP CELLARS I OKANAGAN VALLEY, CANADA – BC: Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2016 – Aromas of harmonious layers of honey, baked apple, sweet citrus and apricot. Tastes of liquid silk texture that leaves a soft finish on the palate.

The Vancouver International Wine Festival 2020, the host country/region will be “Vive la France!” – wine focus on all things French!

Vancouver International Wine Festival 2019 by the numbers:

• 25,000 admissions in 2018 (97% of all available tickets were sold)
• 16 countries, 160 wineries, 26 venues
• 54 events (including tastings, seminars, winery dinners, minglers, lunches, and brunches)
• 50 participating restaurants, hotels, and caterers
• 1,450 wines
• 725 at International Festival Tastings
• 146 additional wines at Trade Tastings
• 575 at special events (dinners, seminars, etc.)
• 42,000 bottles sampled and/or purchased
• 82,000 wine glasses used
• 450 volunteers

 

I was invited by Vancouver International Wine Festival.

 

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SO VERY SMOOTH. BEHOLD THE NEW TEAVANA^TM/MC BLACK SESAME TEA LATTE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY IN CANADA

Starting today (March 5) Canadians can enjoy a delicious new addition to the Teavana Tea Latte line-up the new Black Sesame Tea Latte is available only at Starbucks stores across the country

Building on Canadians’ love of tea, Starbucks Canada is continuing to drive innovation with the introduction of an exclusive new drink available on March 5. Introducing the Teavana Black Sesame Tea Latte. It’s the first addition to the popular Teavana Tea Latte line-up introduced in Canada last year.

Inspired by black sesame ice-cream and halva, the luxuriously smooth Black Sesame Tea Latte packs global appeal. The handcrafted drink features bold black tea steamed with milk* and a rich, black sesame sauce. The result is a subtly-sweet, nutty flavour profile. A signature black sesame praline, made with black sesame seeds and caramel bits, is sprinkled on top for a deliciously crunchy finish.

“We’ve harnessed the magic of black sesame to create a rich, nutty sauce to bring out its fullest flavour potential,” says Lindsay Maclachlan, director of food and beverage, Starbucks Canada. “The subtly-sweet notes of blacksesame pairs perfectly with our black tea to deliver a delicious drink that will appeal to customers interested in new ways to enjoy tea.”

The Teavana Tea Latte Line-Up

Last year, Canada was the first market in the world to introduce an innovative way to enjoy tea with the launch of Teavana Tea Lattes. The drinks are all handcrafted from finely-ground, premium whole tea leaves instead of tea brewed from a bag. The powdered leaves are blended with steamed milk and sweetened with cane sugar**. The result is a full tea flavour with a luxuriously smooth texture that’s been described as ‘cashmere’ or ‘a hug in a cup’.

The Teavana Tea Latte line-up now includes:

• BLACK TEA: Sourced from India, Kenya, & Sri Lanka; the flavour is bold and rich.
• MATCHA TEA: Sourced from Japan, China, and Korea; this new blend features subtle floral notes and a rich vegetal taste, with a sweet lingering finish.

• ROOIBOS TEA: Sourced from South Africa, this naturally caffeine-free herbal tea features a vanilla, honey-like aroma, with hints of caramel and malt for a slight sweetness.

• BLOSSOMING ROSE: Inspired by Japanese sakura tea, this drink delivers a true rose profile without being perfume-y. It pairs well with the natural red-hue of rooibos tea but can be added to black or matcha as well. The rose syrup is reminiscent of rose water with added rhubarb bitters and a hint of strawberry jam. Hibiscus crystals are sprinkled on top for a fabulous floral finish.

• BLACK SESAME (NEW): Starbucks new luxuriously smooth Black Sesame Tea Latte is a handcrafted blend of bold black tea steamed with milk* and a rich black sesame sauce to deliver a subtly-sweet, nutty flavour profile. A signature black sesame praline, made with black sesame seeds and caramel      bits, is sprinkled on top for a deliciously crunchy finish.

*Black Sesame Tea Latte is customizable depending on dairy preferences.

**Each drink is completely customizable depending on dairy and sweetener preferences.

SIPPING ON A CLOUD
Also new is Starbucks Cloud Macchiato beverages featuring whipped cold foam made by combining 2% milk (or a dairy alternative) with Cloud Powder (think meringue!) and a hint of flavor. The whipped cold foam is then topped with espresso and finished with Starbucks signature caramel drizzle cross-hatch. Macchiato means “marked” in Italian, and the espresso shots “mark” the whipped cold foam. The name Cloud refers to the texture of the finished product. Starbucks Hot and Iced Caramel and Cinnamon Cloud Macchiato beverages are available beginning March 5 at Starbucks stores across Canada and the US.

ABOUT STARBUCKS

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.ca and the Starbucks Newsroom at www.news.starbucks.com.

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Host like a star with these new deliciously addicting dips from SPUD.ca and Be Fresh! As Chef Paul McGreevy joins their team as the new Director of Food, he has also recently come out with two dips – the Mayan Pumpkin Seed Dip and the Envious Ed Dip that we are crazy about! These dips go virtually with everything. They are great with some pita chips (we recommend these for crunch and rigidity); spread them over toast, or add a scoop to top your salad!

The Envious Ed Dip: A delicious alternative to guacamole and avocado! Made with edamame beans and has a bright zesty flavour profile. We like it alone with chips or spread on top of toast with a fried egg!

• Ingredients: edamame beans, olive oil, kale, lime juice, water, jalapeno, garlic, salt, black pepper
• This product travelled 5 km to reach the warehouse.
• Features: Canadian, Gluten Free, Vegan/Dairy Free, Wheat Free

Mayan Pumpkin Seed Dip: This is my favourite dip of 2019 so far! I could eat the whole package myself! This dip also has a zesty profile with a subtle earthiness from the pumpkin seeds. I love all the different textures and added herbs!

• Ingredients: pumpkin seeds, sunflower oil, red onions, lime juice, jalapeno, parsley, cilantro, salt, garlic, orange flavour (alcohol)
• This product travelled 5 km to reach the warehouse.
• Features: Canadian, Gluten Free, Vegan/Dairy Free, Wheat Free

Shop now and get $20 OFF your next SPUD.ca delivery! Promo Code: INSTANOMSS

Pin the above image to your Healthy Snack Recipes board to bookmark this page. We are so excited to share our recipes with you!

About SPUD.ca

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery, or SPUD.ca, is an online grocery service operating in British Columbia and Alberta that predominantly focuses on selling organic groceries. SPUD.ca deliveries fresh local groceries directly to your front door with a minimum purchase of $50 minimum for free delivery!

More: Raw Bar Recipe | Earl Grey Hot Chocolate Recipe | Phnom Phen Chicken Wings |ACTIFRY BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH GARLIC CHILI RECIPE

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Wine and Chocolate: The Perfect Pair this Valentine’s Day

Make the best of the occasion with Lakeview Wine Co. 

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s time to pair up the most savoury tastes and enjoy the occasion with loved ones.

Chocolate and wine are two bold tastes that complement each other exceptionally well, especially when paired based on flavour and body. The sweeter a wine is, the sweeter the paired chocolate should be, which is the same for higher cocoa content in chocolate and stronger, red wines.

“There are so many ways to pair wine and chocolate, and often times most pairings will taste great, but finding a wine that complements your favourite chocolate well will give you that wow factor,” says Gillian Minaker, Sommelier at Lakeview Wine Co. “It’s great to experiment with pairings but following the general rule of pairing sweeter chocolate with sweeter wine is the best way to find that perfect match.”

Throughout the month of February, oenophiles and sweet tooths alike can come together to enjoy Days of Wine and Chocolate. Across the Niagara region, wineries will host wine and dessert pairings every weekend for passholders to taste and enjoy. More than 20 VQA wines will be offered throughout the month and paired with chocolatey dishes.

“As the event takes place throughout February, passholders have many opportunities to try out each winery and discover some really exciting taste pairings,” says Gillian Minaker, Sommelier at Lakeview Wine Co. “All participating wineries have something special for every guest, so it really is an event that you don’t want to miss.”

Each winery will offer a unique wine and dessert pairing, allowing guests to experience a variety of great tastes. Lakeview Wine Co. will offer a Red Wine Float- 2016 FRESH Perspectives Satin Red mixed with FRESH Ideas Sparkling Riesling topped with a scoop of dark chocolate-cherry ice cream (V).

To enjoy the most complimentary wine and chocolate pairing, its beneficial to know which combinations will result in the perfect taste. Heavier wines will often pair well with heavier chocolate such as dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Lighter bodied wines including most whites and Icewine will pair well with white chocolate, and even milk chocolate.

Check out this list of Lakeview Wine Co. chocolate pairings to enjoy this Valentine’s Day:

• Milk chocolate – Lakeview Cellars Merlot 2013
• Dark chocolate – EastDell Black Label Shiraz 2015
• White chocolate – FRESH Opportunities Riesling Gewurztraminer 2016
• Chocolate fondue – EastDell Pinot Noir 2016

Days of Wine & Chocolate will take place each weekend in February from Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and passes can be purchased online. To learn more about Days of Wine & Chocolate, please visit lakeviewwineco.com.

About Lakeview Wine Co.

A division of Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc., Lakeview Wine Co. is found in the heart of Canada’s premier wine country, Niagara-on-the-Lake. At its state-of-the-art winemaking facility, Lakeview crafts several Ontario VQA wine brands from specially chosen and carefully managed vineyards from more than 25 grape grower partners in the Niagara Peninsula, including Lakeview Cellars, Fresh, EastDell Estates, 20 Bees and the unique McMichael Collection that pays homage to Canada’s famed Group of Seven artists. The Lakeview Wine Co. wine boutique is open daily all year, featuring a selection from each of its brands at the tasting bar. Also available year round is the unique Cellar Floor Experience, a tasting a tour of a 1,000-square-foot space in the heart of the winery where you will sip VQA wines amongst two-storey wine tanks and an ocean of more than 800 wine barrels.

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This post contains affiliate links and/or products submitted to Nomss for editorial consideration. To find out more, please visit our About/Disclaimer page.

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