August: Hot Weather = Cool Wine!

Hey Wine Lovers 

It's August and it seems the hot weather is finally here. Grab some sunscreen, sunglasses, a good book, a bottle of some cool wine and head to the pool, beach or cottage for some "Me Time".

Let's talk climate for a minute, shall we? Different wines grow better in different climates. For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon or Nebbiolo (used in Northern Italy in Barolo) both require a long hot growing season to reach their greatest potential where Riesling or Cabernet Franc can handle a shorter and cooler growing season. So not only am I talking cooler serving temperatures for wine, but cooler climate growing as well.

I love sipping a chilled white wine in the hot sun that is light, fresh and downright drinkable on its own. I don't like a big heavily oaked wine that quite frankly cries out for a meal to accompany it. I also like some lighter reds served a little cooler than usual such as Beaujolais from burgundy France or Pinot Noir from right here in Ontario.

Check out the 2015 Flat Rock Chardonnay at $18.95 from Niagara. This is a really well made wine and probably my new favourite, under $20. This wine is smooth, pleasant and a perfect balance of fresh crispness and elegance. You can toss this bottle on ice and sip away the afternoon.

Check out this Hidden Bench Estate Riesling 2015 for $23.95 from Niagara. "But Ryan, all Riesling is sweet, isn't it?" You would be 100% incorrect, a lot of the worlds best riesling is dry. Hidden Bench makes some really great wine and this Riesling will have you understanding why. Think complex fruit and minerality that will have you rethinking what Riesling is really all about. 

Buckle up, you're about to hop across the Atlantic to Spain, specifically "Green Spain".  In Rias Baixas (re-yass buy-shass) AKA Green Spain on the Atlantic coast you can find a great wine called Albarino. It's filled with cool fruit, minerality and saline notes (salty) from the nearby cool Atlantic Ocean. Check out Follas Novas Albrino 2015 at $19.95. Sip this bottle on ice by itself or maybe even some mid afternoon tapas like olives, cheese etc. This is a crisp refreshment in a glass!

Just a tiny further south of "Green Spain" we have the North Portugal coast where they drink "Vinho Verde". Try Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde at only $11.95. This is as simple as it gets but you'll love the fresh, crispness of this wine served chilled. Think green apple, small bit of minerality and a pleasant "ahhh" finish on a hot day. 

What if I were to tell you there was a red wine that you could serve chilled and drink on a hot day? Well there is one and its called, Beaujolais. This wine is made from the Gamay grape from the Beaujolais region in Burgundy France. It is a light, fruity and downright pleasant wine when served slightly chilled on a hot day. Try Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages at only $13.95! To me Beaujolais is a white wine for red drinkers and a red wine for white drinkers. While it is a red wine it straddles this fun middle and is a great transition wine for anyone who says I only drink white or red. 

What can be more refreshing than a bottle of cold sparkling wine on a hot day? Nothing! Check out Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava at only $15.50. Only Champagne from the Champagne region in France can be called Champagne but trust me, quality exists all over the globe. I love "Cava" (spanish sparkling wine) because it is made in the same method as Champagne, with different grapes but offers crazy value. At under $16 a bottle you can literally sip 6 bottles of Cava till the cows come home vs 1 bottle of Champagne. This bottle is my personal go to.... #IceIceBaby 

I'd link to finish off my summer hits with Flat Rock Pinot Noir for $20.95 from Niagara. This wine can be served slightly chilled and can be really great for those hot days in the late afternoon as the sun is starting to set. This is refreshing, pleasant and well balanced. It's light enough you can sip it solo or with some pre dinner snacks. Think earthy notes and red fruit like cherry and raspberry. 

Keep it on the lighter side. Keep it on the cooler side and don't forget the sunscreen. 

Happy Sipping 

Ryan 

Chardonnay is what the "Cool kids" are sipping!

Hey Wine Lovers

First of all, no kids should sip Chardonnay, "please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to." (TLC reference)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the "School of Cool" put on by the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration - I4C17 in Niagara. It was a day-long seminar on all things cool climate chardonnay. The event was moderated by John Szabo a Master Sommelier like in the movie "Somm" so pretty badass. Our keynote speaker was Karen Macneil who really knew how to speak to people about wine. "Hot climate is power, cool climate is elegance" among many things she talked about that really resonated with my wine bone. We also had a special guest Belinda Kemp from Brock University who should be called "Dr. Cool, Chardonnay".

The seminar was broken down into three sections

1. "Soil Smackdown" which much to my disappointment involved very little actually smacking down. It was a panel lead discussion on which soil type is best for Chardonnay, different expressions of soil and its effect on the character of the wine...essentially all things terroir. It was a total nerd fest for which I was front row center with a smile on my face :)

2. "I do it my way" which was discussing various techniques different winemakers use to create their own version of what chardonnay means to them. To oak or not to oak, that is the question. To age on the lee's or not, for those wondering no there isn't a girl named Lee who bathes in the wine to help it age. Note: Aging on the lees "Sur Lie" means letting the wine sit on its yeast which has fallen to the bottom of the tank or barrel which add's complexity to a wine. Norman Hardie for instance in P.E.C. turns his old steel milk containers used as fermentors on their sides to increase the lees to wine surface ratio to further enhance the "Sur Lie" characters. Shhh...don't tell anyone it's his secret.

3. "The Sugar Trials" which again I thought was going to be epic with someone shouting "You can't handle the truth" but alas it was cordial and educational. This session was about how much dosage if any should be added to sparkling wine. "Dosage" is usually a sugar or blend of wine and sugar added to a sparkling wine after its second fermentation. We tasted "Nature" which didn't have any dosage and was bone dry all the way to one that had about 13G/L of sugar added for which the room agreed was a tad overdone. The winemaker took the opinion of the room in stride, but secretly I think poisoned a few loudmouths next sample because I haven't seen them since.

The school of cool ended the fabulous day of educational discussions with a "networking event" just outside the conference room which as you can see by the picture below was strictly business and zero fun. FYI when a wine industry hosts a "networking event" I highly suggest you go and make sure you have designated driver. I had the chance to meet winemakers from Niagara, P.E.C, Austria, Quebec, Chile, Spain, France you get the picture. I think I met one from New Zealand but after a non disclosed amount of samples I forgot. #DontJudge

Paul from Burgundy 

Yes Please 

Austria VS Quebec 

Do you have any Chardonnay?

When Norman Hardie from P.E.C. poured me a glass of his wine I nearly fell to the floor, this guy is a Canadian wine rockstar.

The LCBO right now until August 3rd is offering all of the 82 unique and collectible cool climate chardonnays for purchase online. You can either have them delivered to your door or shipped to your nearest store but you have to order them online. Check them out!

http://www.lcbo.com/content/lcbo/en/pages/wine/celebrate-cool-climate-chardonnay.html

I truly fell in love with our Canadian Chardonnay that day tasting Hidden Bench, Southbrook, Stratus, Thirty Bench, Tawse, Bachelder and the Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catherine Carte Blanc de Blanc 2012 sparkling wine. I tasted around the globe but honestly, our Chardonnays from home are top notch and for me, blew a Chablis Premier Cru I tasted out of the water! I highly suggest you ditch the cheap Tuesday sweatpants wine, split a bottle with a friend to keep it affordable and splurge on some of these $20-$50 bottles because it will be an experience you'll remember. I'm very confident about the future of our nations wine industry but we have to take it seriously at home first before we can get the world to take us seriously.

Trust me, the world's famous wine regions like Burgundy are watching us and are probably a little bit nervous.

Happy Sipping from Niagara,

Ryan Sullivan

P.S. Thanks to Trisha the Operations Manager who helped me find a bedroom for the night so that I could enjoy my day. I also have to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this event totally awesome!

Game of Thrones Wine

Winter is coming! 

Ok not exactly, but for all of you Game of Thrones fans here is some wine you have to have.  I normally wouldn't jump on a bandwagon like this but with Bob Cabral's experience making some good wine you are getting some quality stuff with a fun collectors side for fans of the show. I'd happily drink this wine and I wouldn't say that for just any show or movie that had a themed wine. Check out the LCBO soon before they are gone!

Try this Game of Thrones Chardonnay at $29.95 from Central Coast California. It's actually 90% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling. Think stone fruit and floral notes which leads into a rich creamy fruit texture IE this wine has had some time in oak.

"Winter looms, but fair weather and a long summer have yielded a fine and elegant Chardonnay. Aromas of tree fruit and fragrant blossom lead to a rich palate, with notes of lemon and honey and racy acidity that would complement the finest cuisine of the realm. Brilliant with poultry, chestnut soup or almond-crusted trout."

Looking for something to pair better with roast beast or mutton? Check out this Game of Thrones Red Blend $29.95 from Paso Robles California. It has 8 red varietals, predominately Syrah, Tempranillo and Petit Syrah. Think dark black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and cocoa. 

"Sure to be enjoyed in all of the Seven Kingdoms, this carefully-crafted blend is brimming with black fruit aromas and flavours. The wine is robust, with a lush texture - complex notes of leather and spice are woven on a warm and spicy finish. Pour with hearty, filling dishes such as herbed rack of lamb or savoury sausage." 

Ok, so maybe you are King Joffrey and only the best will do. This wine is truly fit for a king or an aspiring high court schmooze. This Game of Thrones Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at $74.95 will have you feeling like you are sitting on the Iron Throne yourself and will certainly make it through a long, long winter. Think blackcurrant, vanilla and cocoa balanced nicely into a smooth long finish. Is it worth $74.95?...that's for you to decide. You will notice a presumable refinement in this wine that quite frankly you won't find in a bottle half its price. 

"From the finest vineyards in the Kingdom, a rich, complex cab that is fine-textured and luxurious. Patiently aged, and selected barrel-by-barrel, it is replete with flavours of blackcurrant, spice and hints of dusk rose, and would be superb with meat pies or venison. This wine will age successfully for several more seasons!" 

"When you play a game of thrones, you win or you die." 

Happy Sipping, 

Ryan 

How is a wine priced?

Hey Wine Lovers

I thought I would talk briefly about what is in the price of a wine.

Let's remember that at the end of the day we are talking about grapes that have been fermented turning it's sugar into alcohol. So why does some chardonnay for instance cost $14.95 and some sells for literally hundreds like a bottle of Montrachet from France?

No matter how you look at it, a winery won't survive if it doesn't have good business practices!

In my opinion there are a few factors that help shape the price of the wine. I like to think first how much does the land cost? If you want to buy land in Napa it's expensive as hell and practically already all used so that winery has to transfer the high cost of land into each bottle to turn a profit. If you were to head to say South America, land in the backroads of Argentina or Chile is much cheeper. This means right away it's easier to turn a profit because of the reduced cost of land.

There is more than just land that can affect the price of your wine, you need a team of people to help grow, harvest, ferment and bottle your wine. Would labor be expensive in France, you bet! In France from healthcare, holiday pay to taxes it's expensive to run a winery. This increases the cost per bottle of wine compared to say South Africa where workers may not have as many benefits or business taxes which help reduce the cost to the winemaker.

You can see that just like a business, winemaking is affected by these market conditions.

The weather can play a big part. Let's say there was an awful cool rainy start to the growing season with a hail storm (like there was in spring 2017) in Burgundy France and some vineyards had 40% to 60% of their vines destroyed. These winemakers still need to pay the bills so the smaller quantity of some burgundy from 2017 will be more expensive as a result. Now lets venture into the fact that there is now less wine for sale but the same amount of people want to buy it. This leads into the supply and demand situation....limited supply + high demand = price goes up.

Now if a Toyota and a Mercedes both take you from A to B why does one cost 5x more? Well it's not just about the simple A to B but the enjoyment along the way. The bell's and whistles, the leather, the speed, the feel, the soul of the car. The same philosophy goes into wine. Is the wine you are drinking a simple every day wine or one worth waiting to celebrate with due to how amazing it is?  Do you get some simple citrus lemon and pear notes in your everyday Chardonnay or do you get stone, flint, an array of different fruits from citrus to tropical then ending with a slight nutty complex never ending finish? It all comes down to complexity! They may both be made from Chardonnay but one of these bottles is clearly not like the other. If the winemaker thinks they have made something special and they know it, they will charge appropriately. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and no $15 bottle of Pinot Noir will taste like a $150 one.

There is also the brand recognition. People like Starbucks or Nike because they are well known brand names that stand for quality and superiority. The same goes for wine. A wine from Chianti Classico or Montrachet are known for their higher standards of quality and as a result can charge more. Everyone has heard of Bordeaux or Napa, but have you heard of Torrontes, in Argentina? The point is if no one knows about Torrontes the winemakers have to price it lower to help encourage thrifty shoppers to give it a try based on the price point alone. You see the words Napa and people think " I've heard of that, I'll pick up this one" instead of where the heck is Maule Valley....no thanks. I personally love sipping wine from lesser known wine regions because the quality is usually good and the price is less than the more brand name regions can be. I love sparkling wine from Burgundy, Red wine from Chile, White wine from South Africa. I'm kind of generalizing but by stepping outside of the "mainstream" you can find serious value.

Sometimes you just want a screaming lamborghini to show off. The wine world really does have a wine for everyone from a simple table wine for those on a tight budget to literally thousands for one bottle alone. Some people want to show off their Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite or Domaine de la Romanee Conti, literally thousands of dollars. Now is a $5,000 bottle of wine worth $5,000? I don't think so but like art, the price is what people think its worth. I feel as soon as you get into the $50 range you are already sipping some very good quality wine. The step from $50 to $500 or to $5,000 I think the quality starts to plateau. I could probably tell a $10 bottle from a $100 one but I would probably struggle telling a $100 bottle from a $500 one.

My least favourite thing to note about wine is that I hate pizazz on a bottle. If I see cute penguins or a red bicycle or a huge description of how amazing the wine is on the back I'm usually turned off. I like simple, clean, factual and essential information. "The winemaker is a dreamer and they think you'll dream of this wine after you have tried it too" #Barf.

Take this Chablis Premier Cru I just purchased today. It's actually a special moment in my wine adventure because it is the first Premier Cru Chablis I have purchased.

Chablis is from Northern Burgundy, an excellent Chardonnay region that produces amazing crisp, mineral driven Chardonnay due to it's specific soil composition. Look at the back of the bottle.

No nonsense because the region Chablis and Premier Cru status say it all. It says "I'm fabulous and I know it. If you don't know who or what I am, I don't care because true wine lovers adore me and always will". If I want a fairy tale story I'll watch a Disney movie or read to a child....not when picking out wine. But hey if you like a bottle because of something cute on it my life's philosophy is to each their own.

Price does matter but it's not to say it's always better the more expensive a bottle may be. I've had some $20 red from Chile that has blown my mind and some red from the Rhone Valley for twice the price that left me going "Meh".  That being said, I still believe a $50 bottle should probably be better than a $10 one but I'd skip the Italian sports car mortgage payment bottles. I would love to try some one day, but I can't see me being able to afford one anytime soon.

Sip whatever wine puts on smile on your face because life is too short to drink bad wine.

Happy Sipping

Ryan

First 1,000 Visitors, Thank You!

Hi Wine Lovers

I'm very grateful for the first 1,000 views on my blog. My goal is to recommend, educate and have a little fun along the way. If you want to stay up to date please subscribe.

Some people have told me "Ryan, I can't find some of your wine recommendations at my local LCBO." I highly suggest you download the LCBO app so that you can punch in my recommends and find the closest LCBO that carries it. Not all LCBO's will carry my recommendations but as long as it's somewhere in Toronto i'll showcase it! You can also use the LCBO website http://www.lcbo.com Sometimes i'll recommend a good wine at a great price but trust me, others are onto it as well and it can sell out fast!

What do you want to see more of on this blog? Have any wine questions? Ask below in the comment section or send me an email  RyansWinePicks@gmail.com

Happy Sipping,

Ryan

Happy Pride Toronto

Hey Wine Lovers

It's Pride weekend in Toronto, so let cheers to being fabulous and celebrate our diversity!

If you are gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender or anything and everything under the sun it's time to be proud of who you are. Ditch the oak, keep it fresh, simple and individually you.

Did you know Pride is Toronto's largest event drawing anywhere from 500,000 to over 1,000,000 people each year? People come from all over the globe to celebrate our Pride because it's quite well known as the place to be!

Pride is time for celebration and I think nothing says celebration like some sparkling wine! Ditch the $75 bottle of champagne that is full of complexity and full bodied notes reserved for birthday dinners or nights by the fire with your loved one. It's time to party so think refreshing, crisp, moderate alcohol (trust me, it's a marathon weekend not a sprint) and no heavy full bodied notes.

I want a wine at pride parties to surprise me with zippy fresh notes....much like when my heart get's beating seeing the "TD Boys" #OhhMy

This is a little bit on the heavier side, but look how fabulous this bottle would be sitting on ice at a pride party. "Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catherine Rose Brut". Think brioche, wild strawberry, lemon, fresh apples and a creamy mousse finish. It's $29.95 and proudly Canadian from the Niagara Peninsula!

Here is a unique and different one for you. Hinterland Ancestral Sparkling made from the Gamay grape. It's only 8% alcohol so you can sip this all day with no fear of getting to full of Pride, if thats even possible. Think fruity, off dry (little bit of sweet) and a sweet sour tang note of strawberry, cranberry and cherry. It's $25 from Hinterland winery in Prince Edward County.

I'm sticking with Hinterland and going with "Hinterland Whitecap" sparkling. Think honey, field flowers, apple and peach. It's bright and frothy on the palate, nice fruit and crisp finish that will pair well with a speedo, pride beads and the constant yelling of "Happy Pride". It's $22 and proudly local from Prince Edward County. 

I'm moving south now, but still in Ontario to "Peele Island Secco VQA" sparkling. Think smaller bubbles, apple, pear, peach with fresh fruit, balanced acidity and clean citrus finish. Toss this on ice, sip and be proud to drink such a pleasant Ontario sparkling wine for only $14.95. 

"G. Marquis Silver Line Blanc de Noir's Ice Rose Sparkling". This fine sparkling wine comes from the Niagara Peninsula and is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, then given a splash of Cabernet Franc (grape) Ice Wine to add a touch of sweetness. Lively red cherry, strawberry, apricot, marmalade floral and fresh baked pastry notes with a touch of orange pekoe tea. This may be more of an appetizer sparkling but again, just fabulous at $29.95. 

"Megalomaniac Bubblehead Sparkling Rose". This sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir grapes made in the traditional champagne method provides notes of fresh brioche, berries and a dry elegant mouthfeel. This may be one you can have with a snack between floats but still a solid option for celebrating at $29.95. 

Show that East Coast pride with a bottle of "Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 Sparkling". This fabulous sparkling wine is from Nova Scotia and will certainly surprise you with how delightful this little guy is. Think faint rose gold colour, sweet honey suckle, marigold blossoms, asian pair and fresh stone fruit. This is a refreshing sipper backed with crisp refreshing acidity and a long finish.  At $24.95 I would say this is a must have! 

Ive written about this one before but here it is again, "Peele Island Lola Blush Sparkling VQA". This would be my No. 1 rated wine for pride because the bottle is fabulous, the bubbles are fabulous and it's the perfect balance of everything.  Think strawberry and blood orange flavours, small simple bubbles and a refreshing zest at 12% alcohol it's right in the sweet spot. At only $14.95 and one of the most beautiful bottles I have seen, this is quintessential pride in a bottle! 

#NerdAlert - This bottle is made in the Charmat Method - a name for a sparkling wine making process. Unlike the traditional method *how champagne is made* where the second fermentation happens in bottle,  in the charmat method *AKA Tank Method* the second fermentation takes place in a large closed pressure tank like Prosecco.  

Check out http://www.pridetoronto.com for all of the weekend event details and enjoy the main parade this Sunday! 

Happy Sipping and Happy Pride Toronto

Ryan 

P.S. Cracking a bottle of Ontario ChardonnGAY is also acceptable :P

A Hopeful Sommeliers Journey

Hey Wine Lovers

I have some exciting news to share, yesterday I was accepted into the Certified Sommelier program at George Brown in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers CAPS!

So what is a Sommelier anyways?

A Sommelier in it's simplest form is a wine specialist who usually works at a higher end restaurant and helps guide the customer through the extensive wine list to find the perfect wine for the customer and for the meal. A Sommeliers job is usually much more than that though, from designing the wine list, pairing wine with the ever changing menu, inventory, training other servers on wine to managing the restaurant. Sommeliers may also get into wine importing, wine sales, wine consulting, event planning...the options can be endless with a "sommelier certification". Some people may argue that unless you are working as a Sommelier in a restaurant you aren't a Sommelier but I am smart enough to not get dragged into that debate :P

So why do I want to be a "Sommelier"?

That is a great question. I'm an Airline Pilot first and foremost but many pilots have small side businesses and for a few years I have wondered what I could do. Realestate, personal finance and a few other ideas popped into my head but my heart usually didn't follow. I kept asking myself "what do I love more than anything" usually while sipping a glass of wine. I then thought, why not wine? Eureka! I love wine and would pursue it even if there was no money...thats how I knew it was love. My dream is to start a wine business afterwards but for now my path is undetermined. I'll have a lot of studying ahead so just passing is my top priority! They say instead of chasing money, chase what you love and find a way to bring money to that. I plan too!

Somm Documentary  For the record, I have zero intention of ever even attempting "Master Sommelier"....these guys are rockstars!


The Certified Sommelier program is one year in length, runs one full day per week, starts this September and has a group of usually 20-30 people. The different courses that are covered during the year are

1. Methods of Wine Production
2. Sensory Development and Wine Styles
3. Wine Regions of the World - Old World
4. Wine Regions of the World - New World
5. Spirits and Other Beverages
6. Sommelier Management

I'll have the privilege of tasting over 1,000 wines from every nook and cranny of the globe. I will have to not only be able to taste the difference between say a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia VS California but distinguishe the difference between Margaret River (Western Australia) VS Barossa Valley (South Australia - Adelaide). This is not your "Sure I like wine, I'll do the course too" type of wine course. Check it out if you want more information Certified Sommelier Certificate

I want to learn about wine but I have a life believe it or not, any options for me?

Yes, tons in Toronto! If you are new to wine but want a structured learning environment check out "Wine for Beginners" at George Brown. You'll learn about wine making, tasting techniques and grape varietals as you taste an assortment of different wine. Wine for beginners

If you feel you already know the difference between a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Noir and a Syrah then consider "Wines 1" followed by "Wines 2" at George Brown. I took both Wines 1 and 2 and loved it. I tasted several hundred dollars worth of wine each class, tasted around the world and can confidently tell you the difference between a California Pinot Noir and a Oregon one...seriously. These courses are usually 1 hour presentation/discussion followed by 2 hours tasting each evening they run. You will learn a lot and be quite the aficionado after these classes. Check it out Wines 1

If you like wine but less power pointy and more friends for a one night out, check out the iYellow Wine Club. This is as social and least "Wine Nerd" you'll fine. Learn a little, sip a little, laugh and enjoy a lot! http://iyellowwineclub.com

Have a laugh below!
Watch a Sommelier grade Boxed Wine

Follow my journey and subscribe to my blog because I promise to pass on my knowledge as best I can as well as affordable wine recommendations as they are found.

Happy Sipping

Ryan