Woo your loved one with wine this Valentine’s Day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/01/2024 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s no shortage of Valentine’s Day-related drinks events coming up — and savvy romantics know it’s best to jump on any/all options sooner rather than later.

De Nardi Wines (1360 Taylor Ave.) is hosting a Valentine’s Day wine tasting Thursday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a handful of different wines available to sample before the big day. Tickets are $40 for the casual tasting, with a charcuterie board available for purchase for an extra $20, at wfp.to/jaU.

It’s not specifically Valentine’s Day-related, but Little Brown Jug Brewing Co. (336 William Ave.) is hosting a swoon-worthy beer and cheese event on Sunday, Feb. 11, featuring cheese from the Cheesemongers starting at 4 p.m. The event features a range of beers, including some brewed specifically to pair with the featured cheeses.

Tickets are $45 plus fees at wfp.to/ja5.

Out in Winkler, Dead Horse Cider Co. is hosting a romantic cider and food event on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the cidery.

The four-course meal features fresh veggies, soup, pork tenderloin and chocolate cake by chef Kevin Funk, as well as two 14-ounce pours of cider detailed by Dead Horse cider maker/sommelier Matthew Zacharias.

Early seatings are sold out, but there are still spots for the 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. slots. Tickets are $75 per person plus taxes at wfp.to/jaZ.

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A local distillery nabbed some hardware at the 2024 Canadian Whisky Awards, which were held in mid-January in Victoria, B.C.

Patent 5 Distillery won a silver medal for its Single Barrel Release #4, which is slated to be released on April 1 to coincide with Patent 5’s fifth anniversary. (In the meantime, the third release, which was a blend of three barrels, and is excellent, is still available for purchase at the distillery or online for $82.95.)

The top prize at the competition went to Paradigm Spirits’ 2022 Heritage Collection. The whisky, made in London, Ont., is made entirely from corn and spent 19 years in new American oak barrels. (It’s just north of $119 but, not surprisingly, isn’t available in Manitoba.)

Crown Royal also picked up a number of awards, including Mixed Mash Whisky of the Year and Best Whisky Aged Over 15 Years for its 30-year-old whisky, which is also unavailable in Manitoba at present (although the 18-year old whisky, which won a gold medal, can be yours for the low, low price of $194.99).

For the complete list of winners see wfp.to/jar.

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Good Neighbour Brewing Co. is on the short list for best new brewery at the 2023 Canadian Brewers Choice Awards.

Other nominees in the category are Midland, Ont.’s Test Batches Brewery, Chilliwack, B.C.’s Sidekick Brewing, Lillooet Brewing Co. (from the B.C. town of the same name) and Peterborough, Ont.’s 100 Acre Brewing Co.

The awards will be handed out on Wednesday at the Pillar and Post Inn and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson

 

Wines of the week

Sister’s Run 2022 Sunday Slippers Chardonnay (McLaren Vale, Australia — $17.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Sourced from the Sunday Slippers vineyard located southeast of the town of McLaren Vale, this Chardonnay offers fresh red apple, peach, mango, lemon and pear aromas, with just the slightest hint of oak. It’s dry and light-plus bodied, with a veritable fruit salad of tree fruits coming through nicely, with a very subtle vanilla and spice note from a portion of the wine spending time in French barrels. It’s vibrant and lively while retaining good complexity, with chalky notes emerging before a modest finish at 12.5 per cent alcohol. (For what it’s worth, one of the winemakers is originally from Winnipeg.) Very well done, particularly for the price. 4/5

Montes 2022 Limited Selection Pinot Noir (Aconcagua Coast, Chile — $18.56, Liquor Marts and beyond)

The grapes for this mid-range Pinot Noir are sourced from two sub-regions of the Aconcagua Coast; aromatically, there’s loads of plum and cherry in there, with herbal, earth, spice and white pepper also showing well. A dry and light-plus bodied red, the cherry cola, plum, earth and white pepper notes work well together, with a splash of acidity to keep things juicy, soft dusty tannins and a medium-length, slightly warm finish (it’s 14 per cent alcohol). Pinot is hit and miss at this price point, but this one delivers. 4/5

Ventisquero 2020 Grey Glacier Single Block Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile — around $26, private wine stores)

This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a single vineyard, with a small percentage of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blended in. It’s deep purple in colour and aromatically brings eucalyptus and mint notes, along with deep cassis, blackberry, currant and plum components. It’s full-bodied and dry, with ripe, almost jammy dark fruit flavours, a pronounced herbal/eucalyptus note and white pepper and spice notes, as well as a vanilla component from 18 months aging in French oak. Medium tannins and 13.5 per cent alcohol bring a long, lingering finish. Drink now with steak, grilled meats or sharp cheeses, or tuck it away for 3-4 years. 4/5