This weekend’s LCBO Vintages release offers some great red Italian wines for barbeque grilling, as well as some Aussie selections that will match kebobs any night of the week. There is also a varied assortment of Pinot Noir’s that are worth putting into your shopping cart. One from British Columbia that impressed me is Quail’s Gate Winery (featured below). And if you would like to splurge, the Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir ($37.95, Vintages # 234534) is worth every penny!
This week’s wine lingo lesson…
Ever wonder what DOC or DOCG means on the label of some Italian wines? This is the equivalent of the French AOC, Appellation d’Origine Controlee which means the wines must be made from certain government zones intended to preserve the wine’s character from a specific region. DOC stands for “Denominazione di Origine Controllata” or controlled designation of origin while DOCG stands for “Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita” meaning controlled designation of origin guaranteed. The latter classification is the highest quality recognition for Italian wines.
So here are 5 great wines to help you choose what meat or veggies to grill….or vice versa!
Cheers & Enjoy!
PS – Send me along your favorite wines from this release as there are so many great wines…and so little time!
Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$26.95 (Vintages #585760) 14% alcohol
Travel tip: A few years ago my husband and I visited the Quail’s Gate Winery. If the Okanagan Valley is in your travel plans anytime soon, I would highly recommend stopping in for lunch or dinner at this breathtakingly beautiful winery. Pinot Noir is without a doubt their flagship product (and for white wines my pick is their Chenin Blanc). 2011 was a fantastic cool climate year on the Mount Boucherie Bench where the grapes are grown & the winery is located. Rich and bright red fruit flavours open up on the palate into a dusty, smooth, earthy yet velvety texture of sour cherries, a pinch of spice and fine tannins on the finish. Elegant and refined. I noticed on the winery’s dinner menu that they suggested pairing this wine with a game Cornish hen. Oh yum !
Mezzacorona Teroldego Rotaliano Riserva 2009
DOC, Italy
$15.95 (Vintages #732222) 13% alcohol
A perfect summer red ! You can practically smell the hand-picked grapes full of ripe aromas of delicious red and black berries, coming from Piana Rotaliana, the northeastern region of Italy. Medium-bodied with wafts of strawberry and raspberry, great acidity but lots of fruit flavour, a little spice and green tomato on the finish. Would pair beautifully with grilled vegetables, risotto, cold pasta salads. A wine that you would swear was more than $16!
Palatine Hills Neufeld Sauvignon Blanc 2012
VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario
$18.00 (Vintages # 352344) 13.5% alcohol
Another great Niagara sipper – this white wine was so refreshing! I found this quite fruity for a Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of ripe pineapple, a tad off-dry in taste, grassy but with great acidity and lots of mouth coating ripe melon flavours on the palate. Very clean-tasting with a little herbeousness on the finish. You could pair this with all the usual grilled chicken culprits or light kebobs that are a great match with Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s so flavourful that some soft mild or briney cheese (Brie and Goat’s cheese) and raincoast crackers would be a perfect start (or finish) to a dinner party.
Di Giovanna Grillo 2011
IGP Sicilia
$15.95 (Vintages #343053) 13.5% alcohol
A great white wine to take to the a cottage or have at the beach! The aromas remind me of summer with wild flower and daisy fragrance; the freshness of lemon and citrus on the palate is also reminiscent of the Italian riviera. As soon as I tasted it, I was thinking of crispy prawns or grilled calamari, crusty bread and a green salad. This bright tasting white wine is bone dry and belongs to a fabulous summer’s day but if you don’t happen to have a cottage or beach close-by, just chill it and enjoy with a few nibbles and a great book to read.
Ernie Els Big Easy 2011
South Africa
$19.95 (Vintages #220038) 14.5% alcohol
My neighbours recently returned from the USA and brought us a bottle of the Ernie Els, “Proprietor’s Blend” which was a fabulous choice with our BBQed T-bone steaks and twice baked potatoes. I happened to look up the Ernie Els winery website which looks as classy as the wine.
The “Big Easy” available at the LCBO is a no-fail red wine blend of Syrah, Grenahc, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Viognier with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend is an “easy” sell; aromas and flavours of deep dark fruit, plums, wild and sweet blueberries, a little brambly with an earthy, slightly herbaceous finish. It’s a pretty “easy” wine that could match several grilled lamb or steak kebobs since it’s not too heavy. Also, an extremely handsome sipper on its own. One is going in my basket for sure, thanks to my neighbours for the introduction!
Grand Total: $ 96.80 – I saved you a few dollars this week!