So, oysters were out and the mission was to find other cuisine that pairs well with the wine and we succeeded.

Try a roast chicken with cayenne pepper and lots of it. The heat from the cayenne made the Muscadet delicious. The non-fruit characteristics, the crisp acidity and the modest alcohol level made the spicy chicken a perfect pairing.

Another favorite was Muscadet with beef tacos, yes beef. Again, it was the spice in the tacos that made the Muscadet work.

If the above pairings are not to your liking, remember, there are always oysters!

Here are a few suggestions for Muscadet that you may wish to seek out…all available through ZYN The Wine Market.

Guy Saget Muscadet Sevre et Maine

Muscadet Sevre & Maine “Les Grands Cats”

Chateau de L’oiseliniere Ramee Muscadet

Enjoy Muscadet and enjoy the warm summer nights ahead.

Rosé wines are perhaps the most versatile, food friendly wines available. They have had an image problem to overcome, thanks in part to the run of “White Zinfandel,” as many consumers mistake Rosé wines to be overly sweet. However, Rosé wine sales are on the rise as savvy wine lovers have discovered that many of these pink wines fall into the “dry” category, not sugary sweet. The vast majority of Rosé wines also offer very good value.

Rosés are perfect for spring and summer, as they are served chilled and can be a refreshing accompaniment to a variety of warm weather cuisine. So, if you are opting for “surf ‘n turf” rest assured that a rosé can handle both the seafood and the steak, no problem at all. It’s also a great picnic wine, as it tends to have both a lighter body and more delicate flavors on the palate, presenting a great wine partner for a chicken or roast beef sandwich, along with fruit or potato salad and even a dish of ice cream.

Try a few of these “pinks” and enjoy the upcoming summer season in Calgary.   And remember, Rosés are not just for girls!

-Tyler Harlton Rosé from Summerland, BC

-Whispering Angel Rosé from France

-Ehlers Estate Rosé from California

-Cedar Creek Rosé from the Okanagan

-Thomas George Rosé from California

“Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk of them and Champagne makes you do them.” -Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

The same can be said of art, as this can influence people in much the same way. When you go to an art show, gallery or museum, people talk. Well last week, we held our first Art and Wine show at our Suncor Energy Centre store and it was a huge success. We were fortunate to showcase the work of Angela Morgan, a visual artist from Fernie displaying ten canvases; and let me tell you, they were fun and heartwarming. The play of whimsy in each of the pieces, combined with the vibrant colours; this was a great start to our upcoming season. They celebrated life with combinations of colours fused and melded to achieve movement and brings her work to life right before your eyes.

We also showcased the wines of Tyler Harlton, owner of TH Wines. Tyler started from farming in Saskatchewan; to sommelier training in Montreal; and out to the Okanagan, farming sustainable produce. Tyler has also created something beautiful. A few years back, Tyler paired up with winemaker William Adams (recently from Osoyoos Larose) to create TH Wines. This night we were sampling his three main wines, the Cabernet/Merlot, the Pinot Gris/Viognier and the Cabernet Franc Rose. The white and rose were sublime and made me long for the summer patio weather (that finally has come) and the Cabernet/Merlot was just ideal for a reception and quaffing with friends and very good at getting the conversation started.

As if this was not enough we also had food prepared by Chef Yoshi Chubachi of Bite Groceteria in Inglewood. Food also elicits the same kind of responses as both wine and art – conversation. The little plates of sensory explosions were absolutely delicious, and the room was abuzz with talk about art food and wine.

So when you think about it, wine, food and art are all creative outlets of people, and being in the presence of these, just makes you want to talk. With the season now allowing us to get out and have backyard parties as well as getting out to the cabin with friends, grab a bottle and let the conversation begin…

“Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence of civilization and the art of living.” -Robert Mondavi, “Harvests Of Joy,” Autobiography

With my birthday looming ever so close (not a milestone one just a big number), I thought I could talk about how much to choose.  Two types of events that I get asked to help often are office parties (retirement / celebration) or a weddings.  Two different ends of the spectrum, granted, but the method of choosing is basically the same.

• How much should I get?

Break this down into easy ratios and anyone can figure it out.  Think in general terms, for example, if you know that a bottle of wine will yield about 5 glasses (not the fill to the brim style of pouring, but a solid 5 ounces – probably closer to 4 if you are using small style wine glasses), this means each case of 12 bottles will have about 60 – 72 glasses of wine.  So with 30 people, that is about 2 glasses per person.  That will be a good average for an hours worth at a business setting.  That may sound low but when you factor that these are usually an in the workplace event, most people do not want to get too out of hand at work and do need to get home safely. For more social settings you may bump this 2 drinks /person/hour up to say 3 but the average will hold.  Always err on the side of caution and have a bit more – better to have too much than too little.

• How much red/white wine?

The rule of thumb on this is normally ⅓ white and ⅔ red wine, but I must say from experience that this trend seems to be shifting slightly and is shifting closer to 40/60 – white to red. This ultimately is a decision that needs to be made either by you or the event co-ordinator especially  if you know the people attending and their preferences.

• Can I find wines in my budget?

As long as you realize that a half decent wine starts at around $10 and goes up from there, then yes, you can find a wine for your budget.  Look at countries where the cost/value ratio are best like Spain, Portugal, Southern France (sometimes) and even Chile.  Realize though, that good wines cost more to make so a better wine will cost more.  Balance out the budget appropriately.  Office party – choose a wine that is easy going that you are comfortable with.  For a  big ‘do’ lie a wedding reception, you need to think a bit further in how the wine will pair with food.  I do not know how many times I have helped out an organizer of a function where there was a lot of money spent on say the food – say $50 per person only to be paired with a $10 bottle of wine (which when you factor the cost is $2/ glass).  It is really is unfair to match a premium cut of meat or delicate piece of fish to a wine that is really meant to be a quaffing wine and not really designed to go up to food.  Our knowledgeable staff are more than able to help you find a wine that can fit your budget and match the food – after all we buy and drink wine ourselves.

• Liquor Permits – do I need one?

Short answer, yes you do, anywhere that liquor is consumed outside of licensed establishments  that is not a personal residence needs to have a temporary license.  These are cheap and easy to get from a good wine shop or liquor store, $12 for a non -sale permit (you are giving the liquor away for free) and $27 for a resale permit (you are charging for the drinks, like a ‘twoonie bar).    Think of it as a bit of insurance.  If a liquor inspector came round to the hall, beauty salon, office or any venue, they could just shut it down, confiscate the liquor and then fine you.  Twelve dollars doesn’t seem that much then.

Now as for me and my celebration – I always have a bottle of wine in the basement that is just yearning to be released.  But I also buy a case every once in awhile for everyday consumption and that way I am always assured of the right amount for any impromptu event at the house or when I am invited out to a friends place.  If you want to build up your cellar there is a good rule of thumb – for every bottle you drink – replace it with two.  In no time flat you will have a well stocked cellar.

Cheers,

Ingo

One of the things I really enjoy about working in the wine business is the opportunity to try new wines almost daily.  Whether I am at a formal tasting or picking up a bottle for that night’s meal, I rarely try the same bottle twice.  Really, with a wine store at my disposal, is there the need to duplicate?

This week we were fortunate to have the owner of Whitehall Lane, Tom Leonardini, come by the store and talk about his wines to us as well as introduce and chat with our customers in our new Suncor Energy Centre location.

This week I tried from Whitehall Lane the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc – a great crisp, refreshing wine, with a touch of Semillon and a kiss of oak to add just that hint of spice.  After that we went onto the 2010 Tre Leoni.  A new wine from Whitehall Lane which is neither a Cabernet nor a Merlot but a blend of both and a good dollop of Syrah. This showed the best of the three grapes, structure (Cabernet), velvety softness (Merlot) and jammy fruit (Syrah).  Delicious and most enjoyable and a winner in my books.  I look forward to much success for them on this venture.  Next were the 2009 Napa Valley Merlot and 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Both of these wines ‘wowed’ the us as well as the customers in the store – not surprisingly, we sold quite a bit of these wines.

Earlier in the week I took home a bottle of the 2009 Matanzas Creek Sonoma Chardonnay, and this was a winner with my wife and I.  She is really into the buttery oak Chards and this did not disappoint.  There was just the right amount of toast, not too heavy handed, and the fruit notes of pear, peach and bananas combined with the  spicy characteristics of the oak  showed beautifully on the palate.

In talking with Tom from Whitehall Lane, I realized just how  fortunate we are in Alberta to have the opportunity to sample wines before we buy as this is not readily  the case in other provinces and even in certain states in the US.  So, next time you are at the store and there are samples to try, do yourself a favour and take advantage of it as you may find your next great wine.  And if you do not like the wine, the sampler will not take offence and there is always something for everyone.

Planning:

• Choose a style of wine or a region that is of interest to you. Another option is to consider a theme…Chile vs. Argentina…Napa vs. Sonoma.
• How many people will attend?  One 750 ml bottle of wine will serve 12 people a 2-oz. pour.  With your first at home tasting, less people may be easier.  After that, the sky is the limit.
• Consider the cost of the event.  There are many less expensive wines available that are of excellent quality.  ZYN can help you stay within your budget.
• Will it be an afternoon or evening affair?  Take into consideration your guests.  Do   they have children that require a sitter, work schedules, etc.?

Preparation:

• Select 4 to 6 different wines to represent your theme.
• Keep in mind the number of glasses that are required.  This will depend on the number of guests attending and the number of wines selected.
• You may wish to rent wine glasses or another option is to give each guest one glass and they can rinse the glass with water before the next wine is served.
• Consider food and or cheese pairings to compliment the wine.  Contact Tara at ZYN to help coordinate your selection of both wine and food.
• If ranking the wines, provide note pads and pens.
• Consider creating a tasting mat. Labelled place mats will help keep the wines organized.
• Provide bottled water for your guests.  Still water is the water of choice as opposed to sparkling.
• A spittoon is a good idea to have on the table.
• If you are serving sparkling wine or white wine, ice and an ice bucket will be required.

Presentation:

• Know your wines and if not hire one of our knowledgeable staff from ZYN for your soiree.
• When finished, allow some social time between the last wine and your guests’ departure by offering tea, coffee and a selection of baked goods or cheese.

At the end of the tasting, everyone will have enjoyed themselves, experienced new wine and had fun, which is what wine and food are all about.

Remember what Benjamin Franklin said…

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more balance.”

The first thing to learn is that wine tasting may not be the best way to describe the complete process. To really determine the quality of a wine the taster must consider how the wine looks and smells as well.

Step one is to examine the wine in the glass. This should be done in clear glass against a light colored or white background. Gently swirl the wine around in the glass, careful not to splash any, and watch how it runs down the glass. If it is of higher quality then legs, or rivulets, will form more slowly.

Now pay attention to the color of the wine. A young red wine will be purple not red. The red color forms over time and a high quality and properly aged wine may be almost brown in color. An older white wine will be deeper in color, young ones almost clear.

The next step is to smell the wine. Swish it around in the glass again to create more surface area which allows more of the aroma to be released into the air and breathe in deeply through the nose. Do not hesitate to bring the glass right up to the face, with the nose inside of it to ensure a really good whiff. An older, higher quality wine will have a mixture of smells, some of them almost earthy. A young wine will smell pretty much like the fruit it was made of.

After examining and smelling the wine it is finally time to taste it. However, knowing how to taste fine wine requires the taster do more than just swallow a mouthful.

When tasting a wine it is important to pay attention to the complete experience in both the mouth and the nose. In fact, tasters do not refer to the taste of a wine but rather it’s palate, a description of the what one experiences while the wine is in the mouth. Be sure to breathe the nose while the wine is in the mouth to get the complete experience.

After all of that it is time to swallow. Once the wine has left the mouth it is possible to judge it’s finish, or how long the taste and smell remain after the wine has gone. Usually the higher the quality of the wine the longer the experience.

Now for the fun part. After completing all of the steps to correctly taste the wine it is strongly recommended that the taster spit it out. While this may seem like a terrible waste of a good wine, it is the only way to ensure that the taster’s judgment at the end of the tasting is as good as when he started. Over time it also protects the liver from being damage by excessive alcohol consumption which allows those who know how to taste fine wine to do so for as long as they would like.

Get expert advice on how to taste Calgary fine wine and more information about the largest Calgary Wine Store right here.

-Beer Patrick
Beer Expert - Zyn.ca

The British style pub ales and lagers are classic examples of session beers with the average alcohol content around 4.5%. But what I really am intrigued with is sessionable but flavourful beers that, although lower in alcohol, have an uncompromised flavour.

This style of brewing seems to be uncommon with most American and Canadian craft breweries with an IPA or Stout averaging around 6% alcohol by volume. For me a hoppy IPA brewed to 3.5%  would be a summer delight. In general, delicious session beers are few and far between so I offer a short list of a few lower alcohol offerings.

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale – At 5% ABV this is the quintessential hoppy session beer from Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewing Company. Uncompromising flavour and aroma with a forward hop and light caramel malts in a great balance.

Howe Sound Rail Ale Nut Brown –  Once again at the upper limit of 5%, this brown ale has fantastic roasted malts and hints of licorice root and vanilla. Perhaps not as balanced as most session beers but a more robust and intense flavour profile.

Wild Rose Velvet Fog Wheat Ale – This local favorite brewed to 4.5% is full flavoured Wheat Ale light crisp wheat malts and a hint of spices. Velvet Fog is a nice and easy to drink but flavourful beer.

All of these great beers are available at ZYN.ca!
Stop by and talk beer with us today!
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Written by our local beer expert, Patrick!

No matter which specific type of wine you are currently looking to get, you will want to find the right store to get it from. As you take the time to do your research into some of the different wine stores in the Calgary area, you will definitely notice that some of them are going to have more reasonable prices than others. If you are on a tight budget but still want to get a nice bottle of wine, it will be very important for you to take enough time to see which wine store in your area can offer you what you want at the right price.