The Date and Time:
The Event: Media Tasting of
The Venue: Stock Restaurant,
The Target Audience: wine and food writers, about two dozen of us.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available, some at the LCBO.
The Quote/Background: Wine Country Ontario wanted us to experience the versatility of sparkling wines, to pair them with food at meals. It was their intent to have us encourage our readers to consume sparkling wine with meals or have service beyond just special occasions. Winemaker Angelo Pavan of Cave Spring Cellars talked about
The Wines: We had 18 wines, nine tasted as a flight and nine with food but allowing for cross-matching opportunities.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (
-Huff Estates Cuvee Peter F. Huff 2008, $39.95
-
-Cave Spring Cellars Blanc de Noirs Brut 2006, $34.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Blanc de Blancs
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvee Catharine Estate Blanc de Blancs "Carte Blanche" 2007, $44.95.
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (
-The Grange of Prince Edward Sparkling Riesling 2010, $24.95
-Tawse Winery David's Block Chardonnay "Spark" 2009, $39.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvee Catharine Rose NV, $29.95
-Chateau des Charmes Rose Sparkling Wine Estate Bottled 2009, $28.95
-
-Flat Rock Cellars Riddled 2008, $24.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvee Catharine NV, $29.95
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (
-Trius Winery Brut NV, $24.95
-Hinterland Ancestral [gamay noir] 2012, $25
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Dea's Rose 2011, $19.95
-Angel's Gate Archangel Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs 2010, $21.95
-Mike Weir Wine Sparkling Brut 2009, $24.95
The Food: We were treated by Exec Chef Todd Clarmo of Stock. He had prepared 9 terrific dishes, almost a tasting menu, to accompany 9 diverse sparklers. We were asked to cross-match with the wines, even using all 18 wines. Here was the menu with the wines in the order that Chef Todd proposed as best matches (I'd say he was right):
Apps – Baby kale & heirloom carrot salad with
Tawse Winery David's Block Chardonnay "Spark" 2009, $39.95
- Cold poached lobster salad with
Trius Winery Brut NV, $24.95
- Hamachi, fennel and citrus crudo with
The Grange of Prince Edward Sparkling Riesling 2010, $24.95
Mains – Maple broiled black cod with
Huff Estates Cuvee Peter F. Huff 2008, $39.95
- Braised veal shank with
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvee Catharine Rose NV, $29.95
- Roasted magret of duck a l'orange with
Desserts – Pain Perdu tangerine sorbet with
Cave Spring Cellars Blanc de Noirs Brut 2006, $34.95
- White chocolate ganache with
Inniskillin Wines Sparkling Vidal Icewine 2011, $79.95 half bottle
-Coffee Crusted Pecorino Romano
Hinterland Ancestral [gamay noir] 2012, $25
The Downside: The question was raised by someone as to why, if the emphasis was on serving sparklers at non-special occasions, we were being exposed to sparkling wines just before Christmas. To bloggers, it was easy enough to write and comment on these wines, but to others, time was needed for print versions. Those with monthly columns were at a handicap for Christmas and New Year, but nicely placed for Valentine's Day and, of course, for general all round consumption without a reference point to an "occasion".
The Upside: 18 wines were the subject of a closely focused horizontal, and this give us time for concentration, the idiosyncratic sparkling icewine notwithstanding.
The Contact Person: magdalena@winesofontario.org
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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