My Top Wines of 2019

Happy New Year - and decade, everyone!

I found myself reminiscing over the entire decade as 2019 drew to a close. If I could sum up my twenty-teens in one word, it would be passion. I found so much of it within the past 10 years:

January 2010 - Started a new day job position in Airport Operations - Airside Services. This spawned my passion for aviation and the behind-the-scenes magic of airfield operations that continues to this day. I would remain in this position for 8 years.

March 2011 - My husband and I travelled throughout France and tasted our way through the Bordeaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Champagne regions. While there, I learned about the WSET courses, as well as tasting the legendary Krug Clos du Mesnil vintage 1998 Champagne, kicking off my passion for wine and the deep desire to learn as much about it as I can. This photo was taken minutes before my first sip:



Feb 2012 - My first daughter was born. Although it was tough at times to adjust to life with a newborn at first (no one can truly prepare you for your firstborn IMO!), I experienced a deep love like no other for this beautiful human that we created.

July 2013 - Took WSET Level 3/Advanced. My course instructor made it very clear to me that she felt I didn't deserve to be there as I didn't work in the industry and that I hadn't tasted enough great wine. Her treatment of me in the course motivated me to make a name for myself and further fuelled my desire to prove her wrong. I passed WSET with distinction and re-branded myself in 2014 as the Wine Concubine, a blog that she apparently knows about. What that means, I don't know, but I consider my goal here as completed.

December 2015 - My second daughter was born and I spent 2016 on maternity leave from work to be with her, and I truly enjoyed every second of that year! My passion for my children grew immensely and I can't imagine my life now without my children in it.

August & October 2018 - Quite possibly the biggest year of growth for me in my entire life. Internal corporate restructuring forced me to leave the job I loved deeply and transfer to a new position within the company. Before the position transfer occurred, my husband and I jetted off to Europe to explore the Pfalz, Ahr and Alsace wine regions. Alsace is my go-to region when I'm drinking whites and Cremants, and getting to be in the heart of the region deepened my passion for wine and travelling to as many regions as possible on my own Bucket List.
On October 9, I started in my new position within the airport terminal and develop a new passion; not only for helping make our airport be the best it can be for our passengers, but also to grow my own career and chase a project management designation in 2020! 

Now to 2019's Wines of the Year! Since 2013, I've been putting together a list of my personal favourite wines tasted within the past year. It's a good way for me to remember my favourites, and perhaps you find some new wines or food & wine pairings on my list to try. Here we go:

Top Red Wines

As my tasting journey continues, I've found that the average price I spend on a bottle of red wine has increased quite a bit. On any given day I find myself spending $30-$35 CDN/bottle on reds, and this list includes bottles that exceed that price point. They are, however, worth the splurge! Australian Cab Sauvs have been stealing my heart as of late and the Bleasdale retails around the $20 price point!    

1. Abbazia Santa Anastasia Litra - Sicilia IGT, Italy

2. Domaine de Beaurenard - Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC, France

3. Domaine Jacques Prieur Beaune-Greves Premier Cru - AOC Burgundy, France

Honourable Mentions

1. Wynn's Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon - Coonawarra, Australia

2. Bleasdale Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon - Langhorne Creek, Australia

Top Whites

This year seemed to be the “Year of the White Wine” as the list of my most memorable whites almost tripled the list of my Top Reds! These wines are also easier on the wallet than the reds above, ranging in price from $20 CDN (Nk'Mip) to $40 for the Eden Valley and Rioja offerings.

1. Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling - Eden Valley, Australia

2. Conde de los Andes Blanco - Rioja, Spain

3. Domaine Eugene Meyer Riesling - AOC Alsace, France

4. Nk'Mip Pinot Blanc - VQA Okanagan, Canada

Top Sparkling Wines

You are reading this correctly, I ranked an Alsatian Cremant ahead of an authentic Champagne! I have been very vocal online about my belief in the quality and value of the Cremants from other French regions; taste them yourself side by side to see what your palate thinks! 

1. Domaine Gustavo Lorentz Cremant d'Alsace Brut - Alsace, France

2. Moet & Chandon Champagne - AOC Champagne, France

3. Naveran Cava Brut, Vintage 2016 - Spain

Top Values

White wines swept the category this year. So many great values to be had, ranging from an off-dry blend to complex, full-bodied whites. I encourage those of you who swear to hate white wines to give some of these a try!

1. Domaine Hugel Gentil White Blend - AOC Alsace, France

2. Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling - Salta, Argentina

3. Fairview Cellars “Goats do Roam” White Blend - Western Cape, South Africa

4. Kono Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough, New Zealand

Top Food and Wine Pairings

The Okanagan wine region in Canada produces outstanding food-friendly wines that pair extremely well with local dishes and this list truly reflects that. Hopefully one day the rest of the world will get to know these wines; for now, I recommend you visit both Alberta and British Columbia to see our natural beauty, Canadian hospitality, unique local food, and exquisite wines.

1. Laughingstock Syrah with Elk Striploin Steak (Okanagan, BC)

2. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut with Goats Cheese Gougeres (North Coast, California)

3. Bernard-Massard Cuvee de l'Ecusson Brut Rose with Spring Parmesan Frittata (Moselle, Luxembourg)

4. Wild Goose Vineyards Gewurztraminer with Roast Turkey (Okanagan, BC)

Wineries of the Year

I like to recognize the wineries that interact with their followers on social media, as well as produce quality wines. After almost a decade on social media, I find this is still the exception rather than the rule. These wineries do an excellent job of both:

1. J. Lohr Wines - Paso Robles, California. IG and Twitter: @jlohrwines

2. Wild Goose Vineyards - Okanagan Falls, BC, Canada IG: @wildgoosewine 
Twitter: @wildgoosewines

3. Vino Montefioralle - Tuscany, Italy Twitter: @MontefioralleWi  Facebook: Here

So what's next for 2020? I'm excited to announce a new format coming to my blog posts. I found that writing essay-style long articles was becoming less enjoyable for me to write. The new format will consist of 3 mini-segments in each post, which will hopefully allow me to write more frequently. 
Stay tuned!

Wishing you all the best in the year - and decade - ahead! May your glass be full of good wine, and your heart be full of happiness and joy. Cheers! 

Eh! Syrah, Syrah!

I'm a proud Canadian. What's not to like about living here: thousands of kilometres of natural beauty from coast to coast, we make 80% of the world's supply of Maple Syrup, we dominate each Winter Olympics in medals - and hey, for you believers, Santa Claus lives here ;)

Canadian wines are no exception to this list above. Although they aren't found widespread out of the country, our wine regions grow and create wines from a multitude of varietals, some of which are Chardonnay out of the Niagara region (where the annual International Cold-Climate Chardonnay conference, i4C, is held), Gewurtztraminer out of the Okanagan, and the sweet wines vinified in Quebec. In this post, I'm going to focus on the rapidly-growing popularity of Syrah in the Okanagan region.

British Columbia's vineyards are fairly young when it comes to the wine world; the first vines were planted in the early 1860s in order to make wine for the first settlement in the area. It wasn't until the mid-1970s, when experimental plantings of Merlot, Chenin Blanc, and other international varietals occurred, that diversity in the vineyards took off. Syrah plantings began shortly after, marking the oldest vines in the area at or under the age of 40 (like me!). The Syrah vines flourish best in the southern sub-regions of Oliver and Osoyoos due to higher average temperatures required for ripening; however, successful Syrah wines are also found north of Penticton on the Naramata Bench and in the Okanagan Falls regions.

Image from Okanagan.com. The Naramata Bench wine region is located Northeast of Penticton.

Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah 2011 contains an ever-evolving flavour profile that includes stewed red cherries, cinnamon, and a hint of black licorice. A well-structured body of racy acidity and silky-smooth tannins lead into a finish that speaks to its oak aging. This wine is an excellent accompaniment with grilled game - we paired it with Elk striploin steak and were not disappointed!

Also located on the Naramata Bench near Laughing Stock is Hillside Winery. Their 2015 Syrah is bold up front, with focused acidity and muscular tannins. The body becomes more smooth and lush mid-palate, while maintaining complexity of flavour throughout. Notes of black plum and fresh raspberry evolve into a graphite finish. I consumed on its own; however, would be a wonderful accompaniment to aged cheddar.

Further south into the Osoyoos Region, Moon Curser's Syrah 2015 is brighter in style, with lively acidity and a smooth, clean finish. Notes of ripe plum, ground black pepper, and a hint of cloves create an expressive, succulent mouthfeel alongside lively acidity and velvety tannins. This Syrah is versatile enough to enjoy with a variety of foods, but is light enough that it can be enjoyed on its own.

Finally, the 2013 Painted Rock Estate Winery Syrah is composed of fine-grained tannins, a rich mouthfeel, notes of dried cranberry, red cherries, and a smoky cedar finish. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat despite decanting for almost 2 hours prior to tasting. I suspect I let this sit in cellar too long. With all of that said, the link above is for their 2016 Syrah and this newly released vintage will be easy to enjoy!

I found it intriguing to note that the majority of these wines expressed flavour profiles that differ quite a bit from the telltale flavours of Syrahs, but those wines all exhibited similar notes and structure to eachother - perhaps this is the Okanagan style developing! 

There are so many reasons I love Canada, and I am proud and grateful to get to live here, enjoy breathtaking landscapes, eat Canadian food and drink Canadian wine. I’m excited to see what the future has in store for all of our wine regions, and as time goes by, the future of our own unique style. 

For those of my readers in the USA, a happy early Independence Day. And for the proud Canadians everywhere, Happy Canada Day! May you celebrate by enjoying all that our beautiful country has to offer! 

   

A Romance with Rioja

I am in love with Spanish wine, especially Rioja.

This isn't the first time I've shared this sentiment, and I'm sure it won't be the last time, either! Wines from Rioja reflect high quality and craftsmanship, while offering accessibility for all wine lovers at reasonable prices. 

On Thursday, February 21, I was fortunate enough to attend a Wines of Rioja reception in preparation for one of Calgary's largest annual wine festivals, aptly named Winefest. Winemakers and Rioja representatives came together to share their passion and knowledge of this prestigious region with local wine media, writers and bloggers such as myself. Here are my personal standout wines of the tasting:

The Conde de los Andes Blanco 2015 is composed entirely of the Viura varietal. An intriguing vibrant gold colour in the glass, melon and vanilla aromas invite you in to a complex palate that also offers notes of kiwifruit, fresh pear and a hint of white blossom. The tannins are fine-grained and well integrated, with mouthwatering acidity leading into a long, bright finish. This is a stunning sipper that would marry well with a wide variety of savory foods, and has the potential to age in cellar for 5-10 years.

The Valserrano Rioja Reserva 2012 carries a bouquet abundant with red fruit, molasses, and hazelnuts into a body consisting of prominent yet velvety tannins and a smooth, rich body. The uncompromised quality and care the family takes in crafting their wines is clearly evident with each sip. 

The true highlight of the reception was the CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva 2014. This stunning treasure boasts a lush, full body, silky-smooth tannins and racy acidity, combined with flavours of red currants, plum and black olives. The finish is long and sultry, with a hint of baking spice. Pairs well with a myriad of cheeses and charcuterie, but also fantastic on its own!

The wines I tasted that fabulous, fun February evening reaffirm my love for Spanish wines, and the memories of this wonderful experience will last well into the future. Rioja wines are an excellent choice to bring to a dinner party, curled up in front of the fire on a cold night, or even on a weeknight after a rough day at work! To learn more about the Rioja wine region, its terroir and upcoming events in your area, please visit https://us.riojawine.com/en/

Special thanks to Tiffany Pence, Dhane Chesson and Ana Fabiano for their wonderful hospitality and passion for sharing Rioja wines with the world.

Cheers!