Yes, the LCBO has a lot of power and control over what wines are available here in Ontario however they are doing a good job in bringing quite a bit of variety to the shelves with new and interesting wines appearing every two weeks in Vintage Releases. For example, I recently worked on a Republic Of Georgia wine presentation and needed some wines for a tasting. Both US wine stores not only didn’t have any wines from Georgia in stock, they believe they never have had any. The LCBO on the other hand has in the past year imported at least 6 wines from the Republic of Georgia.

The LCBO is exposing us to wines that we probably would never get a chance to taste if our wine distribution was like that in Florida and other US states.
Now if only the LCBO would do the same with Ontario wines. Yes, they are trying but they could do better. Sure each Vintage release has several Ontario wines; most are from Niagara, which is Ontario’s largest wine region. A few are from Price Edward County, Ontario’s newest wine region but it’s rare to find a Lake Erie North Shore or Pelee Island wine in the bi weekly Vintage releases. That needs to change.

The Ontario wine Vintage releases also seem to only make it to a few select stores, and rarely into a Southern Ontario Vintages LCBO. Every other week I scour the latest Vintages release magazine and there is usually an Ontario wine that catches my attention. Rarely is this wine available locally here in at any Essex County LCBO Vintages location. I have been told that it is because local wine drinkers buy local, In Essex County, they buy Pelee or Colio, in Niagara they buy Niagara wines. I am sure LCBO has done their market research and this may be true. But it would be nice to see Ontario Vintage released wines make it to Essex County so that they could be tried. One thing is for sure, if they are not stocked on the shelves, they won’t sell.

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On Canada’s Birthday I made sure only Canadian beverages (actually Ontarion)  were opened around our house.

I recently was reorganizing my cellar and came across a few 2006  Chardonnay’s from Erie Shore. I opened one of them on Canada’s birthday. Glad I did as I think this one may have just peaked. It wasn’t as fruity as I remembered it being. It was still good but time is running out on this one. If you have any I suggest opening them soon.

Good news is that Erie Shore Vineyards has released a new 2007 Chardonnay vintage. I have one to review and will do so soon.

To celebrate Canada’s birthday I also opened a Malivoire 2009 Musqué Sprintz. Yes another Chardonnay but with a twist. Yes it had a stelven cap however the twist was in how the winemaker made this one. Much like a Moscato d’Asti. Nice assertive nose, lots of citus, lemon and orange peel. Taste was much the same with pear also noted. What a treat it was.

The birthday celebration was topped off with a few cans of Steam Whistle Pilsner. An independant brewery from Ontario.

France could, and should be a course all on it’s own.

So I took a break from studying to prepare dinner. Chicken on the BBQ topped with some roasted garlic.

I opened a bottle of Chateau de Charmes 2007 Riesling. (VQA Niagara On The Lake)

Very interesting indeed. Some citrus but a lot of petrol in botht the nose and taste. The petrol dominated the fruits. It was interesting, different and quite good. 

Early today while organizing my cellar, again I should have been studying (see a pattern developing here) I came across an unopened case of 2007 Mastronardi Estate Winery Syrah. The case was somewhat on it’s side but I am starting to question the tilt of the case.  When I discovered the case, I decided to open a bottle and the cork was rather dry. I have since racked the rest of the case with the bottles tilted so the corks will be exposed to the wine inside the bottle. I am hoping this will prevent the corks from drying out.

The wine was not damaged. In fact Mastronardi’s Syrah has   developed rather well inside the bottle. Still lots of spice with softer tannins. Very drinkable right now.

Gary

“How much difference does choosing natural cork really make? Each bottle finished with cork reduces your carbon footprint by about the same amount as NOT driving a quarter of a mile. Sounds small, but consider that California wineries shipped more than 2 BILLION bottles to the U.S. market in 2009. It adds up — to the equivalent of about 1,100 round trips to the moon.”

* One mature oak tree will produce around 4,000 corks during each harvest
* The cork oak is the only tree we know that doesn’t take damage when stripped of the bark
* Trees are stripped every nine years

During its summer promotion, Ready Set Summer, LCBO is featuring a diverse line-up of new products, including flavoured vodkas, retro-inspired one-pour cocktails, as well as low calorie and classic coolers. The promotion, which runs until July 17 in all 613 stores across Ontario, showcases cocktails and ready-to-drink products as host-friendly entertaining solutions.

“Because staying home is the new going out, our customers want to be ‘in the know’ when it comes to stylish, casual entertaining,” says Bob Downey, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, LCBO. “To make it easy for them we are showcasing the hottest trends in summer beverages, including new flavoured vodkas, classic mixed drinks like Jack Daniels and Cola, and cocktails made with retro flavours like root beer.”

LCBO is introducing five new flavoured vodkas available exclusively for summer – Burnett’s Sweet Tea, Hound Dog Sweet Tea Peach, Sweet Carolina Raspberry Sweet Tea, and retro-inspired Three Olives Bubble (a fusion of tootie fruity fruit flavours) and Three Olives Root Beer. In addition to these releases, new offerings such as Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion Vodka, Smirnoff Twist of White Grape and Absolut Berri Asai Vodka will be available year-round.

As consumers find themselves more pressed for time than ever, ready-to-drink products, such as cocktails-to-go, coolers and one-pour-cocktails, have become popular choices as hosts only have to “chill, pour, serve” when entertaining. This season’s products include blasts from the past, like Jack Daniels and Cola, Vex Electric Lemonade (blue Curacao and lime), Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea and Bacardi Classic Cocktail Strawberry Daiquiri. Retro flavours also make an appearance with Woody’s Sasparilla and Woody’s Refresher (cream soda-flavoured.)

And for the health and calorie conscious consumer, the trend is to mix spirits, like vodka, rum, whisky and gin with soda, resulting in a tasty drink that is approximately 65 calories. LCBO is also introducing a selection of low calorie ready-to-drink options (under 100 calories) including Smirnoff Ice Light, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Light and Woody’s 99 Orange.

Customers can discover how to create simple and refreshing mixed drinks in the Ready Set Summer Guide to Sensational Summer Drinks, available free in LCBO stores with the purchase of any spirit or ready-to-drink product while quantities last. This 30-page booklet features 24 simple summer drink recipes and information on new trends, one-pour cocktails and other ready-to-drink products.

LCBO will also be featuring these new recipes on its Cocktail Lounge, a permanent online destination for cocktail and mocktail recipes, bartending tips and entertaining ideas, at www.lcbo.com. The Cocktail Lounge provides an ever-expanding recipe database, timely event listings and product information.

Customers can also take part in various tasting events in LCBO stores across the province. See lcbo.com for details.

For more information about LCBO’s Ready Set Summer promotion, entertaining ideas and responsible hosting tips, call the toll-free LCBO Infoline at 1-800-ONT-LCBO (668-5226). In Toronto, call (416) 365-5900 or visit your nearest LCBO store. The TTY number for the deaf and hard of hearing is 416-864-6898 or 1-800-361-3291.

LCBO reminds consumers to please drink responsibly and to never consume alcohol when driving or boating. Also, bring a reusable bag when shopping at the LCBO and return empty beverage alcohol containers (large and small glass bottles, PET plastic, Tetra Paks, bag-in-box and cans) to The Beer Store for a full deposit refund.

I also have to try their pizza! Here are the details:

June 5 & 6
11:00am – 3:00pm

Join us on the patio, where Chef Shawn Newmaster from Il Cavallino Bistro will be preparing:

Lunch
Muscedere Grilled Pizza – $5.00

Available Styles
Cheese
Vegetarian

Dessert
Homemade Gelato – $3.00

Available Flavours
Organic Raspberry-Peach
Limoncello
Bacio (chocolate & hazelnut)
Strawberry

I was outside cutting our lawn a little while ago and thinking about what wine I should open with our BBQ dinner this evening. I kept thinking this is beeer weather, and taste great when it is this hot.

Wine is good but sometimes beer is better.

I completed the Smart Serve program so that I could help pour wines for Mastronardi Estate Winery at the 16th Annual Wine & Cheese Hospitality Night in Harrow at the Harrow at Agricultural Hall. What an enjoyable evening. It was wonderful meeting so many people who are just discovering wines from Essex County. Pam from Mastronardi’s brought their 2007 vintages to pour. Their merlot and the syrah are excellent. People really seemed to enjoy these two wines when I poured them a sample to taste. I do hope that I am invited back to do this again.

Our Spring (March) break was in Orlando, Florida. We do our annual trek south to Disney World to visit the Mouse’s House. We have an ownership interest in Disney’s Vacation Club, a kind of time share that allows us to use our yearly allocated points to reserve villas at Disney World. Our home resort is Disney’s Beach Club which is perfect for me. It is a short 5 minute walk to the back gate of EPCOT’s world show case. Entering through this gate we arrive between England and France. A quick right and I am in France where I headed almost daily to visit the wine tasting bar. It is always a treat tasting some excellent reds and whites from France.

If I were to turn left, by pass England I can visit Canada. While they do not offer wine tastings they do sell some VQA wines in their store. Noticed some ice wines and other wines from Jackson Triggs. Aren’t they owned by VINCOR, a US company? Shame that Disney’s World Showcase didn’t sell wines from Canadian owned wineries.

The local wineries have been busy pruning and preparing for their 2010 vintages. Let’s hope that 2010 is better than 2009. I have heard from several wineries that 2009 was a bad year with many vines not being able to produce too many grapes worth taking to harvest.

I was visiting a local winery yesterday and talking to an employee who works there and is also in my class. I was asked if I liked the class and when I toldthem that I did and went on to explain how my palate seemed all messed up the employee stated that they noticed the exact same same thing. We are both a bit confused by this. Not sure exactly why this is but I actually was glad to know that it wasn’t just me who felt this way.

I wonder if it has something to do with what my palate has been exposed to. I taste and drink mostly local wines, wines fom Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island. In the first two weeks of our wine class I have been exposed to wines from France, Italy, New Zealand, Chile and California, USA. I wonder if it is this world wide exposure to wines has put my palate to the test.