Swing into spring with thirst-quenching events

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/04/2024 (783 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whether you prefer wine, beer or cocktails, the coming month offers all manner of fun events in a range of prices and settings…

It’s a classic beer-versus-wine showdown on Thursday, April 25, as the gang from the Pourium and the folks at Trans Canada Brewing Co. go head to head with food pairings at Pine Ridge Hollow.

The Grapes vs. Grains event returns after a wee hiatus; each of the meal’s five courses will features a beer and wine paired with each course. The Trans Canada and Pourium folks will explain the reasoning behind each of their respective pairings, and guests will vote on which pairing works.

The event gets going at 7 p.m.; tickets are $125 plus fees (including food, drink and gratuity) and are available at wfp.to/yUg.

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Also on April 25 at 7 p.m., Calabria Market (139 Scurfield Blvd.) welcomes the winemaker from Spanish producer Bodegas Ochoa for a five-course dinner (with wine, of course).

Charcuterie, arancini, gnocchi and much more are on the menu, to be paired with Bodegas Ochoa’s whites, rosés and Tempranillo-driven reds from Spain’s Navarra region. Tickets are $95 and are available at wfp.to/yUE.

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Hot on the heels of the recent (and excellent) Beer is Art event at WAG-Qaumajuq — which featured nearly every Manitoba brewery pouring brews under one roof — another local beer event is bringing the gang back together.

The Manitoba Air Cadets once again present Props & Hops, taking place at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (2088 Wellington Ave.) on Saturday, April 27, starting at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30).

More than 20 Manitoba brewers will be on hand doling out samples among the airplanes and alongside a selection of finger food. Tickets are $70 plus fees and include a commemorative mug, a pint from the primary sponsor and, of course, samples, with proceeds going towards air cadet scholarships in the province. To get yours visit wfp.to/yUb.

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The following afternoon (Sunday, April 28), Nonsuch Brewing Co. (125 Pacific Ave.) plays host to the Beer Babes, a charitable organization supporting women in the beer industry.

The Celebrating Women in Beer event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. and will feature a presentation from the Beer Babes as well as three beer-and-snack pairings. Tickets are $65 plus fees and also include a pint of the Babe Brew, a saison made in conjunction with the Beer Babes that features grape skins in the mash. The ticket price also includes a $10 donation to the Beer Babes Family Business Grant, awarded to women working in brewing — to attend visit wfp.to/yUp.

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On Tuesday, May 7, Bar Accanto (102-300 Taché Ave.) welcomes Maxime Barreau, head winemaker at Vignobles Barreau, a natural winery in the Bordeaux/Entre-Deux-Mers regions of France.

Barreau will pour a variety of his wines alongside a nine-course tasting menu created by Bar Accanto’s Colin Naylor. While tables for two are sold out for both the 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. seatings, reservations are still available for $125 per person for groups of four by visiting wfp.to/yUd.

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Last but not least, on Monday, May 13, the city’s top bartenders and mixologists will once again descend upon the Fort Garry Hotel for the second In Good Spirits cocktail competition.

Each of the 18 participants has been assigned a specific spirit to craft a signature cocktail for the event, which is being put on by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). A panel of judges will taste through the concoctions and decide on a winner, while guests can help choose a victor for people’s choice.

Tickets are $50 before April 22 and $60 after, with $10 from each ticket going to chef Ben Kramer’s Made With Love initiative, which works with Main Street Project to create nutritious meals for those in need.

Admission include samples of all cocktails and small bites. The event gets underway at 6:30 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom (CAPS members get in at 6). Grab your ticket at wfp.to/yU3.

Wines of the week

In celebration of Malbec World Day, which takes place Wednesday, here’s a trio of wines from Argentina made from the red grape variety…

Santa Julia 2022 Malbec Rosé (Mendoza, Argentina — $15.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This organic Argentine Malbec is pale pinkish-orange in colour, offering pretty strawberry, floral, orange peel and raspberry notes on the nose.

It’s a dry and light-bodied rosé, leading with red berry notes and followed by peach, mandarin orange and fleshy pear flavours, with modest acidity and a moderate finish at 13 per cent alcohol.

A crowd pleaser for warmer temps and a solid value, particularly while it’s on sale until the end of April (it’s regular $17.99). 3/5

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Luigi Bosca 2021 La Linda Private Selection Old Vines Malbec (Mendozam, Argentina — around $25, private wine stores)

There’s a compelling Old World note aromatically to this Argentine Malbec sourced from 30-year-old vines — along with blackberry, raspberry and black licorice notes it brings earthy, herbal and subtle barnyard notes.

On the dense, full-bodied and chewy palate it swings back into New World territory, with ripe dark berry and chocolate flavours, with more subtle earthy, vanilla and spice notes, medium tannins and a long finish.

Enjoy now or set aside for 18-24 months. Available at De Nardi Wines. 4/5

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Terrazas de los Andes 2021 Reserva Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina — $23.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

The grapes for this Argentine Malbec come from eight organically farmed, high-altitude vineyards.

Aromatically it brings violet, blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and subtle spice notes that show quite well. It’s full-bodied and dry but juicy, with ripe dark fruit leading the charge backed by white pepper, mocha and plum notes.

A portion of the wine was aged in oak for 12 months, but the wood is unobtrusive, letting the deep fruit flavours shine through (and kept lively by fresh acidity), while tannins are grippy but in check.

Drink now to enjoy the freshness of the fruit, or hold for two to three years to see how it evolves. 4.5/5

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson