Bottled Up Unfiltered

Happy New Year

2010-01-06T16:55:00.009-04:00

We celebrated 2009 at Bishop's Cellar with a well attended Champagne tasting in our store on December 30th. It was a chilly night on the waterfront, and the Champagne to be served was also well chilled, well enjoyed and a wonderful treat! How great to taste so many side by side-savouring the nuances each had..so different, each with their own distinct blends, nose, and bubbles.

Tasted that evening were the Pol Roger Reserve NV, Montaudon NV, Drappier Brut NV, Louis Barthelemy Brut Amethyste NV, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1998, Dom Perignon 2000, Krug Brut Grand Cuvee, and Taittinger Brut Rose.

It was very cool to see people tasting and comparing, trying to decide which one they liked the most..did they prefer the +$200 offerings, or was a less than $70 bottle more appealing to their palate. Whether the wine is accoladed beyond belief..it all comes down to personal taste.

Emily and her Mom prepared amazing food, and fresh oysters were shucked on the premesis.
I am certain many a household enjoyed one of those bottles when midnight struck on the 31st.

Wishing you all Happiness, Health and Prosperity in 2010.

Chateau Montelena

2009-12-08T15:36:00.008-04:00

Greetings everyone. Very sorry it has been so long. I managed a quick visit to Napa Valley a few weeks ago..a jam-packed Thursday and Friday which yielded new friends and a lot of knowledge! I was fortunate to have a travelling companion, Kathryn - who used to work with us at Bishop's Cellar. We left San Francisco bright and early Thursday morning, with a quick stop for a coffee and a muffin in St. Helena before heading North to Calistoga and our 9:30 meet at Chateau Montelena. We had just screened the movie 'Bottle Shock' at an event at our Halifax warehouse, and with the story of the Paris 1976 tasting fresh in my mind, we headed in to the tasting room!
I did some research prior to the trip, and was dismayed to learn that the Montelena Wines really don't get much for scores or accolades these days. (not that scores are everything)

In my thinking - if I beat the French at winemaking I would make damn sure I kept doing it!!

We tasted their 2008 Potter Valley Riesling, 2007 Napa Chard, 2006 Calistoga Zinfandel, and '05 and '06 Montelena Estate Cab Sauv-their flagship red, at $135. (The '97 had 95 pts)

Having just watched a movie showcasing this winery, I walked right up to the cellar door pictured here ..but it is the cellar door..not the tasting room! They have great literature about the differing soil types on thier property, and pay close attention to terroir-what is planted where. The property itself is beautiful-definitely worth a visit! Erin

Friday Night Tasting

2009-11-15T16:36:00.001-04:00

After a long week of work, what better way to relax and unwind then with a great dinner. Friday night we were in luck, not only did we have some great wines, but we also had my cousin to cook us a preview tasting menu for his new catering business.

First we started with a roasted squash soup topped with charred scallops and a maple balsamic drizzle. We paired it with an Argentinian Torrontes. Perhaps a bit too aromatic for the soup, but when pairing what you have for wine, sometimes you need to make concessions.

The second course (pictured below) was a piece of grilled salmon on an arugula pesto topped with a homemade tomato salsa. This time we had the perfect wine to pair. My cousin rummaged around his cupboard and pulled out a bottle of 2005 L'Ecole 41 Semillon. This wine is of my favourite whites that we carry in the store. If you've never tried Semillon before, especially one that's aged a bit, this example from Washington state is definitely true to style. Aged sur lees, this wine had beautfiful body, a nice balance of oak and great honey and apricot flavours. This big, bold wine was perfect with the grilled salmon and cooling arugula pesto. Not a bad impromptu pairing!

While we were only two courses in we all were already getting a bit full, fortunately between each course we had to set up our makeshift photo studio and take a shot of each course, allowing a bit more time for our food to digest.

I'm going to cut things off here, as I'm already getting full again just writing about this meal, but I'll be back soon to finish off the rest of the dinner. For any of you interested in having someone cater a holiday dinner or simply prepare some unforgettable appies, drop my cousin an email to novacatering@yahoo.com. He'd be more than happy to accomodate. Until next time ...

Matt

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Go away Bill!

2009-08-21T14:51:00.004-03:00

I always like to bragg about Nova Scotia's weather and generally favourable conditions, believe it or not. We don't have tornado's or tsunami's, earthquakes or volcanoes erupting around us. Sure, winter is LONG and there are a few weeks of humidity in the summer-but all in all considering the destruction caused by mudslides and flooding and raging forest-fires..we are doing allright! Having spent 2004 on the Gulf coast of Florida-being under the constant barrage of Hurricane after Hurricane, I can tell you that we really are lucky. In your preparation for what may happen should Bill swing by Nova Scotia this weekend, make sure you have food and water, and then the wine. It is true what they say..you should have at least as much wine as you have water! I have been loving a simple, practically health-food drink of Sangria this Summer. I do love all wine, particularly red-but on a hot day it's hard to have that 18 degree glass of wine when you're longing for something with ice clinking in the glass. I buy an organic cherry juice-available at Planet Organic market, or the health-food section of Superstore, and mix it with a dry red..something around 12% alcohol (I use a greek wine we carry) cut up lemons and limes, and voila..amazing Sangria. No sparkling, no sugary syrups, plain simple and delicious. SO if you're hunkered down (I got so sick of hearing the crazy news station guys on TV out in the wind and rain on CNN talk about being 'hunkered down') this weekend, be prepared-enjoy some Sangria as long as there's power and ice, and stay safe.

Cheers, Erin

Lakeside Lobsters & Saltram Chardonnay

2009-08-13T11:19:00.003-03:00

Last Saturday was a hectic day, wine needed to be delivered to Lunenburg while we were in the Valley and a 1 year old birthday part was happening in Point Pleasant Park. Matt (of BC warehouse fame) and I hit the road with cases of wine and ended up on a cross-Nova-Scotia-experience. Luckily it was a nice day for a drive. We got a call from some friends urging us to rush home as soon as possible to head up to the lake (Black River), boil some lobster, bbq some corn and enjoy an evening with friends. Needless to say we stopped to the store on our way back and picked up some "lobster wine". Matt and I had been debating as my standby is the Domaine Micheal David Muscadet Serve et Maine but he reminded me about the Saltram Chardonnay. The Saltram is on buy two get one free at the store and three bottles seemed appropriate for three couples. The hostess, who is quite the foodie and an emerging wino herself, prepared lobster, bbq'd local corn, roasted potatoes, greek pasta salad even garlic bread. The Saltram went perfectly with the meal and matched up well with the richness and butter on the lobster.
We sat around the table and finished as many of the lobsters as we could before the sun went down. Then started a fire and enjoyed desert and specialty coffees, how she managed to make those delicious coffees in a shack in the woods still has me guessing. All in all it was a beautiful relaxing night as an end to a hectic day. Saltram Chardonnay is still on buy two get one so next time you want to throw a seafood dinner party stop by for this magnificent wine!

Happy Natal Day Weekend

2009-07-31T11:37:00.006-03:00

This weekend is Metro Area Raceweek!

RNSYS will proudly host this season’s edition of the largest keelboat regatta in Metro running Friday, July 31st through Monday, August 3rd on the Natal Day long weekend. With loads of entertainment, great prizes, excellent food and great sailing, this is certainly an event not to be

missed! For anyone on the water - To ensure you are properly stocked up to celebrate Nova Scotia's Birthday in proper form, know you can call ahead and order for pick-up from our retail store 490-2675. We are open all day Natal day 10AM-10PM. Hope to see you on the water and in the store!

Tall Ships Weekend

2009-07-15T16:46:00.003-03:00

Every day this weekend starting on Thursday you will be offered a taste of something when you walk in. Check it out...

Tomorrow, July 16th from 7pm-9pm we welcome the arrival of the Tall Ships with a tasting of 10 wines and some mellow funk, soul, and roots spun by our pal DJ Bumpsie. (Vinyl lives!) We still have some spots open for this, so please RSVP if you know you will be here. Last minute walk-ins welcome. $10/person (CASH please).

Glenora Distillery will be here throughout the weekend to pour samples of their Glen Breton Single Malt Whiskey. Here are their time slots: Thursday 11am-3pm, Friday Noon-8pm, Saturday, Noon-4pm, and Sunday 2:30pm-6:30pm. FREE!

Saturday, July 18th from Noon to 3 pm Benjamin Bridge Winery will be here to pour their new Nexus Dry Rose. Please stop in to try the latest creation from this innovative gang. FREE!

Sunday, July 19th from Noon-2pm we will be pouring the new release of the Stutz Hard Apple Cider. FREE! Following the tasting, head around the corner to catch the first installment of Bishop's Landing Summer Concert Series!

Plan Your Summer at Bishop's Cellar

2009-06-25T19:14:00.002-03:00

Thomas sent out another newsletter today with the enitre summer schedule of instore tastings. Be aware that these have been filling up quickly so if you see something you're interested in please RSVP as soon as you can, we wouldnt want anyone to miss out!

Tastings are as follows:

Tomorrow, June 26th from Noon-2pm, we will be tasting the brand new release of the Benjamin Bridge 'Nexus' Rose. This tasting is FREE!
Friday, July 10th from 5pm-7pm we will be tasting a selection of high end wines from New Zealand. I believe Emily will be doing some sort of lamb dish that night. $20/person.
Thursday, July 16th from 7pm-9pm we will taste a large selection of summer value wines in celebration of arrival of the Tall Ships. DJ Bumpsie will be here again spinning some old funk, soul, and roots for us. $10/person.
Friday, July 24th from 5pm-7pm we will finally have our Spain/Portugal Tasting. This will start with a Cava, have a few whites, several reds including two Rioja, and finishi with a vintage Port from Croft. $10/person.
Friday, July 31st from 5pm-7pm we will taste a flight of eight high end wines from Australia including the Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz and some of the Leeuwin Estate wines if there are any left by then. $20/person.
Friday, August 14th from 5pm-7pm we will host a very interesting tasting of Chardonnay. We will try prove that although simple, oaky chardonnay is falling from favor in most homes, that the French White Burgundies and other chards done in that graceful style are some of the most amazing wines in the world. We will be tasting the $163 Bouchard Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2003, the $110 Bouchard Meursault Genevrieres 1er Cru 2005 (Tanzer 93pts), and the $95 William Fevre Chablis 'Vaudesir' Grand Cru 2003 along with several other amazing bottlings. $20/person.
Friday, August 21st from 5pm-7pm we will stay on the varietal tasting track and sample only Pinot Noir from around the world. This tasting will of course feature several red Burgundies as well as other beautiful Pinots from all over. $20/person.
Friday, August 28th from 5pm-7pm we will have an outstanding Bordeaux tasting. This will be Austin's last shift in here before he heads off to Newfoundland and we know how he loves the wines of Bordeaux. You will taste one or two white wines from the area and then eight reds including some older vintage beauties and some 2005s. $20/person.

So there you have it, a full summer of tasting wine, so please join us to try something new!

Bella Italia

2009-06-25T12:44:00.004-03:00

Follow the link to read about Alanna's adventures in Italy.

West Coast Dreamin' on a Cold & Rainy Spring day..

2009-06-11T13:27:00.019-03:00

The weekend is just around the corner and we are kicking it off in style with a high-end, mostly California wine tasting Friday night from 5-7pm. For $20 our patrons will enjoy some of the best California wines for sale in Nova Scotia. We're trying wines from Benziger..one of California's TOP Biodynamic producers, Cakebread Cellars, whose Sauv Blanc we will match up against the Benziger to see if we see any distinct differences between the North Coast and Napa.

We'll try out Mr. Coppola's Director'sCut Chardonnay and see how it fares next to Mr. Cakebread's (don't you love that last name??) Chardonnay. We are jumping out of California briefly to Washington state, so Thomas can try the L'ecole 41 Apogee (amazing Bordeaux blend we brought in for a rare and fine wine event) Since we're going there, we thought, let's do their Semillon as well. We are trying the Fotinos Brothers Pinot Noir..we'll see how this Carneros Pinot compares to the Coppola Director's Cut Pinot from Sonoma. From Sequoia Grove, just outside St. Helena, in Rutherford comes their Cabernet Sauvignon, and we will finish with Claus Janzen's Cloudy's Vineyard Cabernet. Hope to see all who can make it tomorrow night! Erin

Mmmm 2004 Brunello's!

2009-06-05T10:38:00.007-03:00

We had a special treat earlier this week. Myself, Thomas and Matt sat for a tasting of 2004 Brunello di Montalcino's. One of our agents had sourced these wines from 4 different producer's, and once all of them had arrived, cleared customs, and had been delivered, Tuesday night was set as the night! The four wineries represented were Poggio dell'Aquila, Collemattoni, La Gerla, and Mastrojanni.
First, a little education-Montalcino (Mon tal CHEE-no) is an area of wine production in Tuscany. It is about 110km southwest of Florence. Brunello, roughly translated, means 'nice dark one' and is the name of the Sangiovese clone used to make the wine. Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese Grosso. The last 'outstanding vintage' as designated by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello, was in 1997...until the realease of the 2004 vintage! These wines are some of the best produced in Italy. Fragrant, full flavours of dark red raspberry, cherry, and sweet vanilla.
I was unfamiliar with all of the wines we were to be tasting, so I did a little research. 3 of the 4 I could find data on, and 3 of the 4 had been reviewed and tasted in Tuscany by Wine Spectator-the April edition had an alphabetical listing of all 2004 Brunello's tasted and their scores. Much to our delight, the Collemattoni, was on the list and had been given rave-reviews and a 95 point score. The Mastrojanni had been given a 90, as had the La Gerla.
I was SO curious to see if we could taste the difference a 95 point score makes. I didn't want to tell the guys which one I knew was 'supposed' to be the best. After 2 enjoyable hours of tasting (we had the Rosso di Montalcino from each winery also, and two super-tuscan's) and deliberating - we were able to make our buying decision. Understand that these wines come with a well deserved $70 price tag, and we have to consider what we can sell, and how much of it, being the small business that we are. We did decide on the Collemattoni-not just for the score, but for the fact that we found it to be absolutely amazing. The aromas, the full flavours, the well-integrated Slovenian oak..it was approachable now, yet will age for 10-20 years. It was a big wine. We are bringing the Mastrojanni in in larger format for the holidays 1.5L
More to come on wine ratings and what they mean to us, the retailer.
Erin

Appleton Cup Harbour Race

2009-06-01T13:44:00.008-03:00

The Waterfront at Bishop's Landing was abuzz on Saturday afternoon with the Appleton Cup Harbour race! Despite the fog, there was a great turnout. Boats left from RNSYS and BBYC respectively, and the first across the finish line from each fleet was named the winner.

I am proud to say I was on the winning boat from RNSYS, Third Wave! I have on my desk a trophy awarded by Bishop's Cellar no less! Upon arrival at the Wharf participants enjoyed BBQ and beverages from Bishop's Cellar and Garrison Brewery. Thomas made a fabulous Sangria from some of the wines we have on blow-out in the store. With ice and freshly cut up limes and oranges it was refreshing and delicious. We appreciate everyone who came out and participated in the day.

Fotinos Brothers Pinot Noir

2009-05-27T14:02:00.008-03:00

I just wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that we have finally received the Fotino's Brother's Pinot Noir! This amazing wine comes from Carneros in Napa Valley. I visited with Tom Fotino's in February. I have walked the vineyard which bore these grapes, and have seen the stacks of French barrels in which it was aged! (I had a barrel sample of the Cabernet Sauvignon which they released this Spring.) This Pinot Noir is a very small production, and their inaugural bottling under their own label. They have been growing grapes in Carneros for a long time, selling them to big name wineries throughout the region. Only 425 cases of this wine were made, and it was released in February 2009. We have 3 cases!

I am looking forward to tasting it in the California-themed tasting Thomas and I are doing in the store in a few weeks. (Tom Fotino's did kindly give me a bottle of the 2007..but it won't be ready to drink yet, so I've cellared it!) If you can make it to the tasting...come try it for yourself. At $72 retail, it is a splurge,..but If you're a Pinot-file, you won't be able to resist.

Sailing Wine

2009-05-26T09:34:00.005-03:00

The Nova Scotian sailing season is in full swing! Armdale and RNSYS have both already held their opening Regatta's, and the inter-club racing is in it's 4th week. Sailor's definitely have a reputation for imbibing in various beverages after racing. (serious racers only drink AFTER the race!) Dark and stormies, dark and dirties, coffee with warming liqueur after a chilly night on the water. Last week a crew member brought a jug full of rum-swizzle, made famous by the Swizzle Inn, in Bermuda. Goslings is the Rum in Bermuda, but Pussers the original British Navy Rum out of Tortola BVI's, makes an adequate replacement! (Pussers is available at Bishop's Cellar)
For the wine-o's such as myself, I always take along a bottle of something warming and tasty..nothing too complex. We also carry the perfect vessel for drinking wine on a boat - it is elegant, shatterproof, reusable and recyclable! Govino glasses are made from food/pharmaceutical safe PETG and reflect the colours and aromas of wine much like crystal. They are easy to hold onto, and you just throw them in your bag, take them home and wash them for next time. This weekend is the Appleton Cup, in support of Nova Scotia Youth Sailing, where boats race to Bishop's Landing for a day of Rum, Wine, Prizes and Fun! Cross your fingers for a sunny day on Saturday, and come on down to the Watefront in front of Bishop's Landing to check out the sailboats!

Spring Time Birthdays!

2009-05-04T10:26:00.005-03:00

In my household springtime means its time to crack open some bubbly, eat some carrot cake and celebrate many birthdays. My poor mother is the only Libra in a house full of Taurus', and although I sometimes don't like to admit is we're all stubborn, determined and love to stretch our celebrations throughout the entire month.

This week it is also the birthday of Bishop's Cellar which has been a huge part of our lives for the past six years. So in true Taurus spirit we have decided to throw ourselves a few birthday parties and celebrate all week long!

The birthday events are as follows so please come down and help us celebrate!

Wednesday May 6th from 2pm-7pm please stop by if you can to taste six Summer wines and say Happy 6th Birthday to Bishop's Cellar. FREE!

Thursday May 7th from 7pm-9pm we will be having an unusual, late evening tasting we have dubbed 'After Dinner Drinks.' This will be an informal tasting of many different types of wine and spirits. A continuation of our Birthday week celebrations. $10/person.

Friday, May 8th from 5pm-7pm we will revisit some of the high end wines from the recent Rare and Fine Wine event that was held in February. Emily will be stepping up the food a bit for this evening and the wines will, of course, be excellent. This tasting is almost full, so please RSVP ASAP. $30/person.

Saturday, May 9th 11am-5pm we will be celebrating our birthday, yet again! But this time, Tony Robarts and Austin Romano, (employees since day 1) will each be pouring a selection of 4 wines (8 wines in total) of their choosing. Emily will be out front making and serving a beautiful, delicious authentic Spanish Paella. Stop by if you can. FREE!

Sunday, May 10th...Mother's Day...we will be pouring three different sparkling wines for Moms throughout the day. FREE! (Remember, we are doing a Buy 1 Get 1 Free on all wine accessories until Mother's Day)

Hope to see you there!

Hannah

Summer sipping

2009-04-28T20:34:00.004-03:00

Today's weather made me realize why I love Halifax in the summer and why Flavio and I opted on residing in this city instead of Pinerolo, Italy. (I may be cursing this town tomorrow, but for now the weather has put me in such a great mood that I'm content to be living on this side of the Atlantic.)

In honour of the first day of warm weather that we've had in a long time I picked up a mini bottle of the 2007 Joseph Drouhin St. Veran to have later tonight. The wine is very pale straw in colour with a delicate nose revealing flowers, apple and some minerality. This medium bodied wine has good minerality and bright citrus, apple and honeysuckle flavours. Makes me want to go fishing.

California Wine Show

2009-04-08T11:31:00.006-03:00

Good day!

The 2009 Califonia Wine Fair is on today at Pier 21. The afternoon tasting is for hotel, restaurant and wine retail trade only, while the evening tasting is open to the wine loving public.

Tickets are available Bishop's Cellar, or at Pier 21 - by calling 425-7770, you may purchase by phone and they will hold them at the door for you.

From the list of wines I have read...this show is not to be missed.

Maybe I am biased..having just experienced so many fabulous California wines on my trip recently.

We carry quite a few of the wines that will be showcased today. Francis Ford Coppola, Hess Collection Winery, Ironstone Vineyards, J Lohr, Leaping Horse, McManis, Michael-David Winery, Seghesio, Sonoma Creek, and Wente...a few brands we have had for years, and a few recent additions. If you haven't tried them in-store, now is your chance.

Hope to see you there!

Erin

Sommelier’s Picks under $30

2009-04-03T09:55:00.003-03:00

There's no better way to finish a long week and welcome the weekend than in the company of friends and acquaintances and copious amounts of wine!

Come down to the hip and chic Seven this evening to sample a great selection of wines in the $20-$30 price bracket. Local agents from Maxxium, Fosters, and Innovative Beverages ( to name a few) will be pouring some of their favorites, and of course, Erin and I will be representing Bishop's Cellar with a few of our picks:

Giorgi Pinot Nero Bianco Frizzante – Italy
Greg Norman Chardonnay – Australia
CJ Pask Gimblett Road Cabernet Merlot Malbec - New Zealand
Sartori Regolo Rosso – Italy
Masottina Pinot Nero – Italy

It’s always nice to taste something before you make the commitment to buy it!

DETAILS:
April 3rd at Seven Steak and Seafood 1579 Grafton St.
Sommelier’s Picks under $30
Starts at 7pm and tickets are $40 available by calling seven at 444-4777 or email josh@sevenwinebar.com

Hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Alanna and Erin

Vive Le France - Beaune (Pt 2)

2009-03-29T19:52:00.004-03:00

After an amazing introduction to Burgundy, Wayne John and I made our way back to the cobblestone streets of Beaune in search of our next destination; the Castle of Bouchard Pere et Fils. We wandered through the streets aimlessly looking for the entrance until we finally stumbled upon a building bearing the name "Bouchard Pere et Fils". Little did we know that we were at the back of the building. Down through the gardens we went, searching for the door. We were met with a large moss laden wall. Wayne and I both looked around, but there was no turning back as John quickly leaped over the wall, adamant that he hated being late. We followed suit and finally made our way through the front door of the main offices of Bouchard. Here were greeted by Isabelle, the director of Public Relations for Bouchard Pere et Fils.

Isabelle led us across the street and into Bouchard's tasting room; a wonderful cavernous room that was illuminated by subtle lights in every corner. We were greeted with 16 wines from Bouchard and William Fevre (a company under the Bouchard umbrella). The standouts of the tastings were the whites from Bouchard. Each wine had bright fruit flavours and brilliant crispness (something that has definitely been lacking from the previous few vintages). As the tasting ended, we were all anxious for lunch. Tasting over 30 wines with no breakfast left each of our stomachs growling with hunger.

Isabelle took us up a stair case and through a door in which we were greeted by a large, well lit lunch room where a table with 4 settings awaited our arrival. Typical of Burgundian lunches, we sat and dined for over 2 hours, learning about the history of Bouchard, musing about the differences in weather and discussing the state of French wine in the Nova Scotia market. Each course was paired beautifully with a selection of 3 Bouchard wines. The last wine, and by far the most special, was a 1976 Beaune Greves Vigne de 'Enfant Jesus. Served with a selection of local Burgundian soft cheeses, this 33 year old bottle truly captured what Bouchard was all about; history and beautiful wine.

After lunch, Isabelle left us in the hands of her trusty assistant as she raced off to another appointment. Her assistant led us out the door and took us down in the Cellars (the place John had been raving about the entire trip). As we walked into the cellar, it was clear as to why John had been so excited; this truly was a piece of history. After a quick lesson on the background of these cellars (which can hold 1.8 million bottles) we entered the wine museum. The Bouchard collection was breathtaking. It's very difficult to put into words the feeling that overwhelms you when you see a bottle of wine from 1846, because it truly was an experience like no other. As we weaved our way through the collection, John and I snapped shot after shot of dust covered bottles; trying to get the perfect shot to capture the moment. Below is one of my better attemps: A 1955 Bouchard Puligny Montrachet. Pure gold in the bottle.

Finishing up in the cellars, I was dumbfounded by what I had just seen. Wayne and I walked around the gardens, absorbing what we had just experienced and talking about how young our country truly is after seeing this. However we had little time to absorb everything as we quickly hopped in a vehicle and headed out to where everything begins; the vineyards. We made our way directly to Puligny Montrachet and pulled over to walk into the vineyards and examine the terroir. Between our guide's description of the different appelations and John's knowledge of farming and the vineyards, Wayne and I quickly learned why grapes grown just feet from one another could produce such distinctly different wines. Through the appelations we went, from Puligny Montrachet to Meursalt and on to Savigny les Beaune; each vineyard bearing its unique characteristics.

As our tour ended, we thanked our wonderful host (as she was in a hurry to pick up her sister from Paris) and climbed into our vehicle. With our first day in Burgundy under our belt the only thing left for us to accomplish was finding a nice place to eat and take it all in. John and I decided a few bottles from the local wine merchant would help in our decision. To no suprise, it did, as we had a beautiful meal at a quaint little restaurant in Beaune called Le Beneton. It's starting to become clear to me why the French have such a passion for wine, as I am quickly becoming a convert!

Au Revoir,
Matt

Vive la France - Beaune (Pt 1)

2009-03-28T15:50:00.007-03:00

Well after a few days of traveling through France and taking in its history, it's finally time to sit down and write a post. Each experience has undoubtedly been worthy of a post, yet I shall start with my first morning in Burgundy. The morning began with a tour and tasting at Joseph Drouhin. We were greeted by Jean Pierre Crospal, a short portly man with mountains of character, who was in charge of Drouhin's Public Relations program; or as we like to call it "The Wine and Cellar Guy".

JP lead us down into the Cellars of Drouhin where he explained the history of Drouhin's company, their passion for Food (many of the people in company are avid Foodies - much like many of us @ Bishop's) and their love of wine. After a quick walk through the cellar, we arrived at a beautiful tasting room to sample a cross section of Drouhin's wines.

As we worked our way through the selection of whites (Rully, Meursault & Puligny Montrachet to name a few) JP explained to us the varying sub-soil and geological elements that impart their influence on each of the wines; or as the french call it terroir . As we moved on to the reds, Wayne expressed his interest in Drouhin's Oregon venture and how he would love to get his hands on some of the wine to sell in Nova Scotia. JP scratched his head, twisted his moustache and bolted into the cellar. He returned with the last bottle of 2006 Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir (their Pinot from Oregon) from the cellar. Strangely enough, JP put this bottle just before Drouhin's flagship wine, Beaune Clos de Mouche, which immediately suggested that this would be a treat.

As we made our way through the reds, I was amazed as to the differences between wines in which their grapes were grown just feet from each other; this terroir thing was really starting to make sense. Then we came to the Oregon Pinot. Jean Pierre explained to us that this was a favourite of many at the company (which explains why their was only 1 bottle left) and how they could not believe the success of their venture in Oregon. True to the hype, this wine didn't disappoint, as it was perhaps one of the favourite wines tasted during the entire morning. As we finished up tasting the bottles before us, we continued to pick JP's brain about terroir, wine and even his passion for car racing (he was going to a race the following day).

Just as we thought our session was over, JP disappeared back to the cellar and returned with a dust covered bottle with no label. He opened the bottle carefully and poured it into a decanter; using a light in the floor as his guide to ensure that no sediment left the bottle. As he poured us each a glass he explained what we about to enjoy; a 1990 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Beaudes. Considered one of the greatest vintages ever in Burgundy, it was clear as to why it held this distinction; an unbelievable wine that had benefited beautifully from 20 years of cellaring in perfect conditions. This probably goes down as one of the most memorable wines I've ever tasted, however I'm sure their will be several more of these in the coming days.

We finished our morning with a tour through the Cellars (a first for me) listening to JP speak about their barrel selections, the surprises from the 2003 vintage and his love for life. As we walked out of the Cellar and parted ways, JP summed up our experience in one simple phrase "Time has just stood still during our time today." His love for life, people and wine was clear as he continued by thanking us for the moments that we had shared. We parted ways and I was left thinking "Thank me? I was the one who was indebted to him for sharing his love of life and wine, and finally unlocking the puzzle that was Burgundy."

Stay tuned...
Matt

Phenolically mature

2009-03-26T10:01:00.002-03:00

Hi all...sorry it has been a while.

Did you find the title intriguing? Alanna and I think "phenolically mature" would be great on a T-shirt...but that's just the wine geek in us coming out.

We had the pleasure, on Tuesday afternoon, of sitting and tasting (with fellow wine geeks) in the company of Michael Palij (pronounced Paw-lee) Master of Wine. Michael's specialty is Italy, and he is an importer of Italian wines. Canadian-born, he now lives in the UK.

Hearing someone speak with the knowledge and experience he has is extremely educational. I felt like I could see the hills of Piemonte, Tuscany and Veneto as he spoke of these places. He knows all of his producers well-he has eaten at their kitchen tables, met their families, and seen the work they do in the vineyard first-hand. We tasted 12 wines. A wonderful Prosecco from Valdobbiadene (Veneto), a Verdicchio from the Marche. I'm not sure there is much of a market for a $30 Verdicchio here, but it was great to try a higher end version of this wine unique to the Marche, which displayed amazing power and length. We tried a Timorraso http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/07/timorasso-one-of-italys-biggest-whites/ for the first time. Michael referred to it as a 'Jurassic' Italian varietal. It used to grow abundantly in Liguria and Piemonte, but now only about 20 hectares are devoted to this rarity. This is where Michael used the term "phenolically mature". This grape achieves perfect phenolic maturity in the South Eastern hills of Piemonte..and makes highly structured full-bodied white wine, with up to 20 years of ageability. Among other wines tasted, a Bardolino, Dolcetto, Montepulciano D'Abuzzo, a Chianti and a Chianti Classico, 2 Trebbiano, and a Valpolicello Ripasso. It was a great day!
Michael is definitely a devote old-world wine afficionado, mentioning with dismay the "Tons" of tartaric acid used in Southern hemisphere white wine production (needed when grapes don't naturally ripen on their own)..among other things.
"Italy's wines", he says "are the best with food, and the worst on their own". Largely due to their intensity, complexity, structure and tannin. These were all food wines we tasted.
We talked a bit about food and wine matching, wine production in the new world...it could have gone long-over the scheduled two hours, but like all good things..it came to an end.
If you'd like more detailed info on Italian wine..let us know!
Erin

Getting in the Spirit

2009-03-15T14:35:00.003-03:00

With a trip to Italy less than two weeks away, my excitement is really starting to take hold. Spending the afternoon discussing the itinerary with a friend while watching college basketball (my team lost but will be back and better next week!) I was quickly inspired to have an Italian night. I decided to stop into the local grocery store on the way home and turn my inspiration into reality.

Arriving home with all the ingredients for a great meal tends to earn a few brownie points and today was no exception as I was greeted with warm reception. After preparing an antipasti plate to satisfy the rumbles in our stomachs, we indulged in Provolone Cheese and Italian Salami. A few slices in, we both noticed something was missing: an easy drinking Italian red. Then came the questions: How much to spend? Buy a trusted favorite of try something new? Large producer or small family winery? As we racked our brains to remember Bishop's Cellar's offering of Italian reds (under 30$ and something we hadn't tried) a lightbulb came on: Why not use www.wineonline.ca (Bishop's Cellar's online retailing partner)to help aid us in our decision?

Both avid internet users, we hopped on our laptops and used the search criteria to narrow the choices and locate the perfect match. After deliberation and several suggestions, we settled on Sartori Regolo Rosso . This red would match perfectly with rest of our cheese plate, yet wouldn't over power the Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce simmering away on the stovetop. I redeemed my brownie points and suggested that Hannah run to the store and grab the bottle so we could finish off our snack properly; in the company of wine. Living in close proximity to store definitely has it's benefits, and, within minutes she returned with the missing link.

Now the fun begins: exploring a wine for the first time. Out comes the trusty corkscrew. Now the foil and cork are our only barriers between the wine and our anxious glasses. We debated decanting, yet chose to use our large wine goblets to handle the task of exposing the wine to more oxygen (a trick that can help enhance many bottles of red wine). The wine showed exactly as expected; rich and smooth (benefiting from the unqiue Ripasso wine making technique used widely in the Valpolicella region) and paired perfectly with our pasta.

As we finished our meal, friends from the Valley arrived and the bottle on our table quickly turned from quaffing pleasure to conversation piece. Interested in my upcoming adventure to Europe, we informed our friends that in just 3 short weeks, I would be fortunate enough to enjoy the wines of Sartori (and perhaps this exact wine) at their winery in Verona. An experience I'll be sure to write about! With just a few drops left, and as other friends arrived anxious to start their Saturday night, we finished off the bottle and shifted our conversation from Italian wine to my buddy's newest endeavor: purchasing a miniature zebu (A dwarf cow that stands only 3 feet tall) for his ever growing hobby farm. Today as I write I'm still left wondering, at what point did our conversation change from ripasso to dwarf cattle?

Till next time,
The Guy in the Warehouse - Matt

Just Another Tuesday Night

2009-03-11T11:26:00.003-03:00

Last night, Alanna, John and I hosted a little birthday tasting for a good friend of the Cellar. About 15 men gathered around cheese, pate and an assortment of sushi to chat while Alanna lead them through 5 whites. Most of these gentlemen are red wine or scotch drinkers so we thought it would be interesting to introduce their palates to something new.

We started with the Quail's Gate Chenin Blanc out of the Okanagan in British Columbia. This Chenin was surprising fresh with delicate acidity. It does have about 10% Sauvignon Blanc which leads me to believe the the dry style of this wine was intentional.

The next selection was the Spy Valley Pinot Gris from New Zealand. The Pinot Gris is made in the Alsatian style and was quite a bit fruitier than the first. The concentrated ripe grapes that go into this give it intense aromas and a rich, minerally, persistent palate.

We then moved onto Tyrell's Hunter Valley Semillon which was left over from the Rare and Fine event (not on WineOnline, but I think there are a few left in the store). Semillon is one of the few whites that have the complexity to cellar. Although it is is delicious at the moment with its tightly structured citrus fruit it could definitely benefit from some bottle age.

The final two were a real treat and interesting to try side by side. They were both Chardonnays, one a Premiere Cru from Burgundy and the other, a bio dynamic Chard made in "Methode Ancienne" from Robertson, South Africa.

The Bouchard Meursault Genevrieres 2005 Premiere Cru was absolutely fabulous, a complex, rich wine with many layers. As the layers change so do the flavours, there is very ripe peach, pear and apricot aromas as well as hints of citrus. Both Alanna and I agreed that this was a great addition to the evening and it was unanimously the crowd favorite. On a side note, John (Managing Partner), Wayne (Managing Partner) and Matt (Director of Operations)are all heading to France and Italy in a couple of weeks to source some new products. Along the way they will be visiting many wineries including Bouchard, so keep checking back to hear all their stories.

The final wine was a staff favorite, Springfield Estates Methode Ancienne Chardonnay. Although I've had this many times before it always surprises my tongue! Its rich and golden in colour and that apricot flavour comes through on the palate. There is undertones of almonds and honey with a touch of well balanced oak. I loved it of course, but this is best served with some smoked salmon eggs benny on a Sunday morning!

Ohhh what a hard night in the wine store!

- Hannah

Savour too!

2009-03-03T22:26:00.004-04:00

I concur with Hannah, the show was great! The venue was wonderful, and the staff at the Marriott were fabulous - very helpful to the vendors trying to get set up, and steadfast in clearing away dishes and glassware. Thanks to all.

A few other Bishop's Cellar wines were poured at Savour as well. Innovative Beverages had the Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, and the Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz . (both 90 point Wine Spectator wines) Their sparkling that won Best Wine is fun, fruity and delicious, and a well-deserved Best Wine of the show. Wine Visions poured our Ferraton Pere & Fils Wines..among other favourites,..the Cotes du Rhone and the Crozes Hermitage - both organic. I did get a chance to grab a bite to eat. Very thankful I tried the Kobe burger from CUT. Naturally, a bite of sushi from Hamachi. A fat, luscious ravioli from Il Mercato, and Ryan Duffy's served essentially a mini meal on a plate! (beef, Lobster, mashed potaoes..) s e v e n had short ribs that melted in your mouth, and Cooper brought us over his signature martini from MOSAIC to taste. SO GOOD. Chives had their home made biscuits, and Scanway served a fab dessert. It hit the spot at 9pm when our sugar levels started to drop!

After giving away all of the flowers and cacti adorning our booth (our theme was green) we headed to Durty Nellies for a night-cap. Lot's of debauchery bounding,..as I think is the idea in an Irish pub.I think I have a few fun pictures on my berry..
Night, Erin

A Little Savour Wrap Up

2009-03-03T19:53:00.004-04:00

Last Thursday was my favorite wine show, Savour Food and Wine! This event takes top place in my books as it brings in the food to compliment the wine. Many Nova Scotian restaurants and wine distributors show off their finest and give you a snapshot of what they’re all about.

My first experience with Savour was while living in residence as a first year student at Saint Mary’s. The Rice residence, as Huskies would know, is not the epitome of class. Savour, being on a Thursday coincided with Wing Night at Peel Pub and I felt guilty passing up on our weekly tradition in order to pour wine. Those feelings quickly vanished as soon as I tried The Tempest’s blue cheese stuffed fig with prosciutto with Plaisir de Merle Shiraz (Best of Show in 2006).

Four years later, not only has my own life dramatically changed and grown but so has Savour. Back then Savour was a one day showcase, now it is a month long celebration spanning across the province. Dine Out, a concept successful across North America, where restaurants feature a 3-5 course prix-fixe menu, took place for 2 weeks. The first ever Rare and Fine Wine Tasting was a success as you’ve heard from Erin. And of course the show itself did not disappoint!

I have included the official list of winners below, as well as all the wines that we Bishop’s were pouring. We decided to “Go Organic” this year, it was a great way to introduce some new and old organic products. Everyone seemed to really like all the wines, enough so for the Zuccardi Vida Organica Chardonnay (Argentina) to take 1st runner up!

Bishop’s Cellar Organic Wines Served
Terra Sana Savignon Blanc, France ($16.50)
Sartori Soave, Italy ($13.75)
Zuccardi Vida Organica Chardonnay, Argentina ($15.00)
Zuccardi Vida Organica Malbec, Argentina ($15.00)
The Ruins Pintotage, South Africa ($20.00)
Terra Sana Syrah, France ($16.50)

- Hannah

Savour Best of Show Winners

2009-03-03T19:32:00.002-04:00

The good people at RANS (Restaurant Asssociation of Nova Scotia) just released the list of winners from last weeks Savour Food & Wine Show. Thought you might be interested on how the crowd voted, more to come later.
- Hannah

BEST HOT FOOD
CUT, Kobe Beef Burger
Runners-up
Il Mercato
Seven
Ryan Duffy’s

BEST COLD FOOD
Hamachi House
Runners-up
Italian Gourmet
Le Caveau
White Point Beach Resort

BEST DESSERT
Scanway
Runners-up
Il Mercato
Italian Gourmet
Innovative Beverages’ chocolate dipped strawberries

BEST WINE
Fresita Sparkling Wine, Innovative Beverages
Runners-up
Zuccardi Organic Chardonnay, Bishop’s Cellar
Prost (sparkling), Jost Wines
Campo Viejo Reserva, Corby Distillers

BEST DRINK (mixed, cocktail, beer or spirit)
Mosaic, Martini
Runners-up
Tideview Cider
Cruzan Black Strap Rum, Maxxium
Guinness, Durty Nelly’s

BEST BOOTH
Il Mercato
Runners-up
Hamachi Group
Scanway
CUT Steakhouse

Vertical Tasting

2009-02-21T11:03:00.007-04:00

Last evening Thomas, his lovely wife Emily and I kicked off the first of our wine and tapas tasting evenings. A group of 18 wine aficionados crowded around a long, unsteady table in a warehouse room with no real kitchen, poor lighting and Chardonnay coloured walls to enjoy a selection of high end French and Italian wines. We tasted through three flights of three wines. Each flight was accompanied by a delicious dish prepared by Emily. I had the fortune of sitting with the guests to taste through the wines, eat and chat, while Thomas enlightened us on biodynamics and the wine biz in general and Emily, almost without notice, prepped and served a three course meal.

FLIGHT 1: Ferraton Pere et Fils "Le Meal" Ermitage 1998, 1999, 2000
These wines are all 100% Syrah from the noted "Le Meal" vineyard (climat) in this tiny Northern Rhone appellation. The soil is granite and the steep terraced slopes do not allow for mechanization. "Le Meal" is known for producing tannic and long lived reds (Chapoutier being the most famous producer). At $108 a bottle I was expecting these wines to show better than they did. The 1998 was slightly vegetal, with bell pepper notes and leather, medium bodied with dusty tannins and high acidity. 1999 had a very interesting nose - spice, incense, cedar, still very astringent on the palate with a slightly smoked meat note and medium length. I preferred the 2000 which was bursting with black pepper and plums, full and broad on the palate with the most balance.
FOOD PAIRING:
Roasted duck breast stuffed with fennel & rosemary accented by sautéed rapini
The general consensus was that the wines were ameliorated by the food - the fennel complimented the spicy notes of the Syrah and the slightly bitter rapini brought out the fruit in the wine.

FLIGHT2: Marco Felluga "Sorripa", Tuscany 2000, 2001, 2002 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot)
The Cabernet Sauvignon is evident is the blend - lots of dark berry fruits, blackcurrant, cedar. The 2000 and 2001 are holding up well; both bright and balanced with lots of fruit and supple tannins. The difficult vintage of 2002 is reflected in the wine - slightly green, bitter notes. Probably why this bottle sells for less than the previous two.
FOOD PAIRING:

Meatballs in a roasted grape tomato tarragon sauce on warm polenta

These bitesized rustic meatballs paired well with the Tuscan red. A few guests commented on the sauce as being the best they had ever tasted. I unfortunately I don't have recipe for the tasty meatballs - these were entirely Emily's creation.

FLIGHT 3: Serego Alighieri "Vaio Armaron", Amarone 1990, 1993, 1995
We saved the best for last. This flight was the most interesting and impressive by far. The wines were very mature, but not over the hill. I was unsure about how the 1990 would hold up, but it was open revealing prune and chocolate and mature rancio character. The 1993 had the most distinct nose of the three - earthy, mushroom, leathery notes with less of the raisiny fruit character of the other two vintages. The 1995 had those rich rancio notes, fig, raisin and flowers. The Amarone was the evening's winner - I see why Italians refer to these complex and layered wines as "Vini da meditazione" (wines to meditate on). The wines continued to open up and change as they sat in the glass.
FOOD PAIRING:

Homemade gnocchi al gorgonzola

When Emily brought out her homemade gnocchi al gorgonzola the room went silent and the attention turned to these perfectly prepared dumplings. These were probably the best gnocchi any of us there have ever tasted. Made fresh that morning from sweet Yukon gold potatoes and boiled on site, the slightly sweet and lightly textured gnocchi coated in a silky, creamy blue cheese sauce just melted the mouth. Delicioso!

We're looking forward to hosting our next event in a larger space with a warmer setting. We'll make sure to have more visuals and music which will surely add to the evening. I wonder how people feel about accordion music to set the mood? I know two budding accordionists who may be interested in performing.......

Cheers!
Alanna

Rare & Fine wine Event

2009-02-19T16:43:00.004-04:00

Alanna, and I are off to The Rare and Fine Wine Tasting to be held at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront this evening. It is snowing and blowing, but we are keen to participate in this event..the first of many to come hopefully! We think it's a great compliment to the SAVOUR Food and wine Festival ..The wines are in, and none of us have tried any of them!
We will take notes, and post them later this week. Many of these wines are hard to find, and hard to get. We only have 2 cases of a few of them! We will be taking orders at the show, and the wine that is left will be sold at the store.
What better to do on a stormy Nova Scotian Winter's night than sip Taittinger Vintage Rose, Janzen Napa cab, LaDoucette Pouilly Fume, Lazzarito Barolo, or Chateau Sociando-Mallet??? (to name a few) Look for our tasting notes and show favourites...coming soon!

Erin

Pure Indulgence

2009-02-18T07:34:00.021-04:00

With all of the left over chocolate from the Valentine's Day you may want to consider hosting a chocolate and wine pairing evening. I’ve recently done the same for a group of 17 people (though I would strongly recommend having a smaller group – as some of the chocolate friendly sweet wines come in small bottles of 200ml and 350 ml and cost twice as much as a “regular” sized bottle, hence it makes for a steady hand and keen eye to stretch that liquid gold around to a group of 17!

The results of the evening’s gustatory experience only confirm my initial thoughts when it comes to chocolate and wine pairing (and wine and food pairing in general) - there are classic tried and true matches and theoretical perfect pairings, however our taste preferences vary enormously. The same goes for wine tasting – I’m amazed at all of the different terms people use to describe the same wine. I’ve been to wine tastings where I often wonder if my glass has somehow gotten switched and that I’m drinking a different wine than the person sitting next to me. In the end it really is a matter of personal taste - de gustibus non est disputandum!

Wine & Chocolate Pairing 101

1. Wine must be perceived as sweeter than chocolate.

2. Wine must be rich enough to stand up to the richness & mouth coating qualities of the chocolate.

3. Look for similar flavours in both wine and chocolate.

The Tasting

1.White Chocolate paired with 2007 Nugan Estate Chardonnay , Australia $18 I would never typically select a dry white table wine to serve with something sweet, but this wine had enough residual sweetness, ultra ripe fruit and the same creamy smooth texture and vanilla/caramel notes as the white chocolate. A surprisingly good match – the chocolate made the wine taste even better. The white chocolate was delicious with the Asti Spumanti.

2.Dark Chocolate with Nova Scotian Sea Salt paired with NV Terredavino “Solia” Asti Spumanti ($25) The chocolate’s salty notes were pleasantly contrasted by the sweetness in this fruity and floral Moscato based bubbly. Great match!

3. Dark Chocolate infused with lemon zest and black peppercorns paired with 2006 Jost Vidal Icewine, Nova Scotia ($39 - 350ml) Another atypical pairing, but I wanted to try something new. I would normally avoid dark chocolate and ice wine, saving the latter for lighter, more delicate fruit based desserts and custards, but my taste buds perked up with that first sip of ice wine and bite of chocolate. The wine’s fresh and zesty flavours sing with the peppery and citrus infused chocolate. Very lemony!

4.Milk Chocolate paired with Croft 10 year Portugal ($45) The chocolate is really quite sweet and creamy. Caramel dominates and is accentuated when paired with the Tawny port. Half the group loved this pairing, while the other half preferred the Tawny with some of the darker chocolates.

5.Dark Chocolate (54% cacao) paired with Gaspereau Vineyards Reserve Port, Nova Scotia ($20- 500ml) This non-vintage fortified wine is made from a blend of local red grape varieties. It was slightly closed on the nose at first, but later opened up to reveal primary red berry fruit, herbs and spice. It was nice with the chocolate.

6. Dark Chocolate (70% cacao) paired with Michael David, 7 Deadly Zins , Lodi, California ($30) The 7 Deadly Zins is full bodied and bursting with berry fruit, pepper, spice, cocoa and vanilla. Admittedly, this is not my style of red wine – too much residual sugar, too much alcohol, too much oak….but it worked really well with the chocolate and I actually finished my glass (ok – my 1 oz sample)

7. Extra Dark Chocolate (75% cacao) paired with 2004 Santa Sofia Amarone, Veneto, Italy ($63) I decanted this into a juice pitcher to give it some air and then savored its deep, rich concentrated, dried fruit aromas and flavours. I can see why the Italians refer to Amarone as vino da meditazione. The pairing worked very well (for my taste), some preferred the wine with the 53% and 70% cocoa and thought that the chocolate containing 75% cocoa was too dry and bitter.

Cheers!

Alanna

Rubicon Estate

2009-02-17T10:26:00.021-04:00

After meeting with Tom Fotinos I headed back to Yountville to collect Steve and Peter-who were sitting in the sun on a patio enjoying cool beverages. Our 3pm appointment was at Rubicon Estate, owned by Mr. Francis Ford Coppola. We had a guided tour scheduled, but when we arrived, Harold-our tour guide, asked if we might like to participate in something a little different. In one of the caves at the winery-they were doing a live 'radio-show'. The show was a reading of F.Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. It was about to start as we arrived, so we hastily pulled together 3 chairs, Harold got us a glass of wine, and we were good to go. As the lights went down-illuminating the narrator, I noticed 2 stragglers sneak in and sit on the reserved bench behind us. It was Mr.Coppola himself! After hearing the story, (a shortened version) complete with sound effects and beautiful piano accompaniment by a gal with an amazing voice..it was off for our tour. Peter left us-to head back to Sausalito, and Steve and Harold and I set off up the knoll to the left of the Estate. You can't tell from highway 29-that over the hill is a long driveway leading to Mr. Coppola's actual residence. There are several buildings back there-one of which is where the production work of his films was, and is done. Also on the property sits the oldest house in Napa Valley. The property is gorgeous. Mr Coppola acquired it in 1975 renaming it Niebaum Coppola, after Gustave Niebaum, the Sea Captain who had founded Inglenook Winery in 1880 on that site. Initially Mr. Coppola just wanted a nice property where he could make a little wine in his basement as his father had done. It took him over 20 years to reunite all the vineyards, and restore the property to how it was when Gustave owned it. Located in Rutherford, the winery makes impressive Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently Mr. Coppola jokes that The Godfather bought him his house, and Dracula bought him the rest of the estate! (he produced Bram Stoker's Dracula) The museum, tasting room, and cafe, are all worthwhile to visit. It is like stepping back in time, and a great Napa Valley history lesson.

and it begins...

2009-02-17T09:36:00.006-04:00

Alanna, Erin, and I have decided that there is simply too much to talk about in our own personal wine world to hold back any longer. So blog we will. As you will see in Erin's previous posts below, we'll be talking about wine (of course), travel, food, microorganisms, culture, maybe scooters, Halifax, the economy of wine, and whatever else comes to mind. I will write more here as I venture south to Florida in March. My family and I will be on a ramble stopping in NYC to see some friends and experience an evening at Eleven Madison Park, (check out the 83 page winelist) and then on south to see family in Philadelphia and Knoxville, a couple trips to my old wine shop in Sarasota for fuel, and eventually a canoe trip through the Everglades eating our daily catches of trout and redfish while drinking some lovely camping wine, i.e. Tequila.
thomas

Saturday continued

2009-02-15T20:36:00.013-04:00

After lunch at Bouchon, I jumped in the car and headed South from Yountville down to Carneros. I was due to meet Tom Fotinos at Domaine Carneros...the Taittinger Champagne house's California operation. It's quite an interesting story how this meeting came about. One of my co-workers, Karine, was looking for a particular bottle at the NSLC in Tantallon, and ran into another lady who was looking for the same wine. (we are always trying new wines, and not just wines we carry.) This lady was Leesa Fotinos.The two got to chatting, and Karine mentioned she worked for a private wine store in Halifax, etc. etc. Leesa mentioned that her husbands family had a winery in Napa, and how great would it be if the wine could be sold here in NS? (She is from here originally and went to Dal). She had a bottle of their two wines, a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet, and would we (Bishop's) be interested in tasting them, and perhaps bringing them in? Both wines were fabulous, and we decided on the Pinot, and have four cases coming in. I had somehow missed meeting Lisa, and tasting the wine, so when I knew I was going to California I sent her an email asking if I could visit the winery. She and her husband Chris live in LA, but Tom, and his family are in Napa....she said he would be happy to show me around!

Since 1973 the Fotinos have been growing and selling Pinot Noir to wineries such as Mondavi, Charles Krug, Sterling, Acacia, Saintsbury, Mumm Napa and Domaine Carneros.

After meeting in the parking lot (Tom drove up in a 1930's model A) we went in the back door and into the barrel room. Row upon row of French Oak barrels were stacked from floor to ceiling!

We had barrel samples of the Cab and Pinot. The 2006 Pinot was released in Sept of 2008, and the '06 Cab is due for release in a month or two. We drove about 3km and Tom took me to the vineyard. The Pinot we are getting comes form an 11 acre plot in the heart of Caneros with a unique micro-climate all of it's own.

Tom is a fourth generation winemaker. He demonstrated how the vines are trained and pruned.

It was truly amazing to see the land and meet the winemaker and taste the wine in the barrel! We will have quite a story to tell in selling this wine. I am so glad Karine met Leesa, and that we are able to bring in this product. It makes SUCH a difference when you meet the people, and see how great they are, and their passion for producing an exceptional product. We are pleased to be working with Fotinos Brothers, and look forward to our first shipment! http://www.fotinosbrotherswinery.com/

Saturday in Napa

2009-02-10T21:35:00.010-04:00

Allow me to welcome you to our blog! You'll be hearing from myself, Erin, along with Alanna and Thomas. Since I was just away in wine country, I shall be the first to write.There is too much to tell in one post, so I am going to start with one day, last Saturday, January 31st, and since we visited 3 wineries, and had lunch at two amazing restaurants, I will do it in pieces.

Northern California has been experiencing a drier than normal winter. It was sunny, warm, and hovering around 20-21C during the day. Fabulous for a mid-winter hiatus from icy Nova Scotia,..not so great for the grape growers..(sorry guys). After landing in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, we headed out to Sonoma and that is where we stayed for the night. Bright and early Saturday morning we set off for Napa. What a gorgeous drive through the Alexander Valley, with the slight frost on the ground as the sun came up. We arrived in St. Helena, and drove a few KM south to our first stop-Silver Oak Winery http://www.silveroak.com/, located between the Silverado trail, and Highway 29 (St.Helena highway) on Oakville Crossroad. This winery is spectacular! They certainly made the best of a flood they suffered, followed by a devastating fire on New Years Eve 2005. The main buildings have been entirely rebuilt on the same location, some materials coming from a reclaimed flour mill in Kansas. They kept their water tower, which is featured on their label, though 1/3 of it had to be rebuilt. I think they keep the lawn mower in the bottom of it!

The wine library is behind glass off the main tasting room, housing all of their vintages, including larger format bottles. We were served the 2004 Alexander Valley Cab upon arrival, and walked around on our tour with glasses in hand. Not a bad way to start the day! Our guide, John took along a bottle of the 2003 Napa Cab, which he poured us while we checked out their state-of-the-art fermentation tanks, in their temperature controlled room. We also tasted the 1998 and 2003 Napa Cabernets. These wines are of very good quality. All of the Napa Cab's are blended slightly-varying each year by amounts, but contain Merlot, Petite Verot and Cab Franc. (always maintaining a minimum of 75% Cab Sauv). We are fortunate enough to carry these wines at Bishops Cellar. Definitely a special occasion wine (as the price tag is up there)-or if you happen to be in Napa Valley, it makes a great breakfast wine!

Next we had a lunch date at Bouchon in Yountville. We were meeting our friend Peter who had driven out from Sausalito. A Swede who grew up in Nova Scotia, now-turned-Californian, he had recommended Bouchon, since we were unable to obtain reservations at Thomas Keller's other little restaurant, The French Laundry! Imagine. Beautiful silver place settings, with the day's menu folded over the napkin almost like a wrapper.(I have pictures of all of these things, which I shall post as soon as I find the necessary attachment to allow me to put the pictures on my computer!) Wonderful French food on this menu! http://www.bouchonbistro.com/ Steve had the steak frites, with a pat of herbed butter melting over the top, Peter had essentially a fancy grilled cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top, and I had the gnocchi in a beurre noisette with grilled winter vegetables. It was amazing.

I'm signing off for now...next up is my 1pm (still on Saturday) meeting with Tom Fotinos..a 4th generation winemaker who was raised in Napa. See you soon,

Erin