Ben Sigurdson

Ben Sigurdson

Literary editor, drinks writer

Ben Sigurdson edits the Free Press books section, and also writes about wine, beer and spirits. He paid his way through university by working at a handful of wine stores in Winnipeg, which helped him land the wine-writing gig on a freelance basis in 2005.

Ben started working in the newsroom in 2012 as a part-time copy editor. Later that year he was hired as a full-time web copy/web editor, working the graveyard shifts.

When esteemed books editor Morley Walker retired in January 2014, Ben rekindled his love for all things literary and started a new chapter at the Free Press.

Ben holds a bachelor of arts degree in English/politics from the University of Winnipeg as well as a master of arts degree in English (writing stream) from the University of Manitoba.

Recent articles by Ben Sigurdson

All hail the Wine King

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

All hail the Wine King

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

In 17-plus years of writing about wine and drinks for the Free Press, I’ve chatted with some pretty heavy hitters in the industry. But arguably none have made as big an impact on the Canadian wine scene — and, arguably, the global drinks landscape — as Anthony von Mandl.

The 73-year-old von Mandl was in Winnipeg in May to receive the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) from The Associates of the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business. He doesn’t do a lot of interviews, but I figured I’d put in a request for even just a few minutes of his time to talk wine.

First, a Coles Notes version of his life: born in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Europe before he returned to Canada to go to school. Von Mandl followed his passion for wine and set up an importing company, which didn’t do so well, then purchased a run-down winery in the Okanagan Valley in 1981 and renamed it Mission Hill.

As the winery made slow inroads, von Mandl generated cash flow by essentially creating the flavoured cider category followed by the Mike’s Hard line of coolers, both of which took off (and which he subsequently sold).

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6:00 AM CDT

Chronic Creative / The Associates

Anthony von Mandl (left) tells Free Press drinks writer Ben Sigurdson he is amazed at how his dreams for B.C. wine have taken off. “To see how many wineries there are in the Okanagan now is incredible,” he says.

Besner bringing memoir to Free Press book club

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Besner bringing memoir to Free Press book club

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Yesterday at 4:10 PM CDT

The Free Press Book Club is pleased to welcome Neil Besner to the next virtual meeting on Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m. to read from and discuss his memoir Fishing With Tardelli: A Memoir of Family in Time Lost.

Published by ECW Press in May 2022, Fishing with Tardelli is a literary rumination on Besner’s early years, spent primarily in Brazil (doing plenty of fishing) and Montreal. (He would eventually settle in Winnipeg, where he taught in the English department at the University of Winnipeg until his retirement in 2017, and now splits most of his time between Toronto and his cottage at Lake of the Woods.)

While the rich, literary narrative style of Fishing with Tardelli reads almost like fiction, everything is as Besner recalls it having happened. “In my humble view, memory is all we have — it’s very, very important to get things right, to tell the truth,” he told the Free Press in an interview last June prior to the Winnipeg launch of his book. “The events in the book are the things I remember. They’re small-t true.”

In the Free Press review of Fishing With Tardelli, Douglas J. Johnston said “these are slices of family history filtered through a merging of literal and literary landscapes and seascapes. His childhood accounts of catching fish off the coast of Rio with just a handline are striking, the writing at once lyrical and grittily descriptive.”

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Yesterday at 4:10 PM CDT

What’s up: Experimental music, food and brews, Bike Week birthday bash

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Experimental music, food and brews, Bike Week birthday bash

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 8, 2023

A cluster of experimental musicFriday to Sunday

Various times and locations

Visit clusterfestival.com for more info

The 2023 edition of Winnipeg’s Cluster Festival — an annual celebration of experimental music and multimedia art — wraps up this weekend with three days of live performances.

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Thursday, Jun. 8, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Josiah Neufeld believes faith can be driving force in environmental activism

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Josiah Neufeld believes faith can be driving force in environmental activism

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 8, 2023

Josiah Neufeld wants to believe the human race will do the right thing when it comes to saving the planet from ourselves.

He also believes there’s a higher power that has shaped our world and those who live on it.

Finding an intersection in his own life between faith and the facts about our climate crisis spurred the 42-year-old journalist to write his first book, The Temple at the End of the Universe: A Search for Spirituality in the Anthropocene. Published on June 6 by House of Anansi, Neufeld launches the book tonight at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined in conversation with novelist Joan Thomas (Five Wives).

The child of Christian missionaries, Neufeld spent the first few years of his life in Burkina Faso before his family moved back to Blumenort. (He now lives in Winnipeg with his partner and two children.)

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Thursday, Jun. 8, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Josiah Neufeld is a journalist who grew up a child of missionaries in West Africa.

A little chill is always welcome in your wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

A little chill is always welcome in your wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 3, 2023

With temperatures set to hit 30 C or higher for the next number of days, many will be looking to beat the heat with a glass of something chilled. Whether it’s white, rosé or even red — yes, you can (and should) chill some reds, more on that in a minute — there are a few tried-and-true tips and tricks to cool down your wines in a hurry.

Generally speaking, you can gauge how much to chill your wine by its colour. Lighter whites and rosés as well as sparkling wine tend to taste best when they’re chilled right down — think Sauvignon Blanc, Cava, Pinot Grigio, rosé from France’s Provence region, and the like. Slightly darker (and typically heavier) white and pink wines still taste best chilled, but that oaky Chardonnay probably doesn’t need to be quite as cold as, say, a racy, citrusy Vinho Verde from Portugal.

As for chilling reds, lighter varieties such as Pinot Noir and Gamay do quite well after about 15-20 minutes in the fridge, while heavier fruit-driven reds (think entry-level Argentine Malbec or Aussie Shiraz) can also stand to be served slightly cool — say, 10-15 minutes in the fridge. More full-bodied, tannic and/or oak-aged reds, however, don’t do well when served cold; the lower temperature accentuates the tannins, making them seem even drier. However, the suggestion of serving a red at “room temperature” typically means between 16-18 C, so feel free to pop them in the fridge, even just for five-10 minutes.

If you’ve just come back from your favourite shop and need your wine chilled in a hurry, some methods work faster than others. While 25-30 minutes in the freezer will make a wine a modestly cold, you can get a wine much colder far faster by popping it in an ice bucket (or any bucket, but preferably metal) with cold water and a whole bunch of ice cubes. You can speed this technique up even more by adding some salt to the water, which lowers the water’s freezing temperature, and stirring or agitating the water-and-ice solution occasionally. And if you can’t get the bottle fully submerged, flip it upside down halfway through.

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Saturday, Jun. 3, 2023

Bread & Butter Rosé

What’s up: Beer fest, taco treats and dino-mite adventure

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Beer fest, taco treats and dino-mite adventure

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023

Black Film Collective presents RafikiMuriel Richardson Auditorium, WAG-Qaumajuq

Friday, 7 p.m.

Admission is free

In time for Pride month, a bold, groundbreaking LGBTTQ+ film from Kenya will kick off a series of free screenings of films by Black artists, curated by Winnipeg’s Black Film Collective, at WAG-Qaumajuq.

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Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023

Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times

Specialty margaritas accompany many Taco Week treats.

The case of the mysterious veterinarian

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

The case of the mysterious veterinarian

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, May. 31, 2023

Winnipeg veterinarian Philipp Schott has let the cat out of the bag — he has plenty of stories to share.

Since 2019, the German-born Schott, who heads up the team at the Birchwood Animal Hospital in St. James, has published three novels and three books of non-fiction.

His latest book, Six Ostriches, was published May 23, and is the second in his Dr. Bannerman series of veterinary mysteries set in the fictional Manitoba town of New Selfoss. Schott launches Six Ostriches tonight at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined in conversation by former Free Press columnist Doug Speirs.

While he has dabbled in writing since his youth, the 57-year-old Schott opted to follow his parents’ advice and focus on finding a profession.

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Wednesday, May. 31, 2023

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Philipp Schott, author and veterinarian, branched out from non-fiction to mystery writing with his series featuring Dr. Peter Bannerman.

Flatlander’s expanding beyond beer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Flatlander’s expanding beyond beer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 27, 2023

The full list of drinks being poured at the Flatlander’s Beer Festival at Canada Life Centre on June 2 and 3 has been posted, with the fest continuing to expand beyond lagers and ales.

In addition to the hundreds of beers available for attendees, this year’s festival has added more in the way of ciders, hard seltzers and iced teas, ready-to-drink canned cocktails and more. Many of the beers being poured deliver summer-themed flavours — think sours, goses, fruit-infused ales and the like.

Of note: only about half of our local breweries and contract brewers are taking part this year.

To peruse the full list of products being offered, visit wfp.to/0NF, where you can also purchase tickets, which start at $44.95 plus fees and benefit the True North Youth Foundation.

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Saturday, May. 27, 2023

The Flatlander’s Beer Festival returns to Canada Life Centre June 2-3. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)

What’s up: Pride Month, live music and food festival

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Preview

What’s up: Pride Month, live music and food festival

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Thursday, May. 25, 2023

CMHR sashays into Pride Month with a pair of drag eventsLady Muse and the Inspirations

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Friday, 7 p.m.

Admission free, registration required

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Thursday, May. 25, 2023

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press files

MB Food Truck Battles

Local libations win big

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Local libations win big

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

Manitoba brewers, bartenders and sommeliers have been hauling in the hardware this past week.

On May 15, the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) held the In Good Spirits cocktail competition as part of MB Somm Week. The event saw 14 local bartenders/mixologists square off in front of a capacity crowd at the Fort Garry Hotel to see whose cocktail would reign supreme.

The winner of the event was Alex Weiss of Preservation Hall Eatery + Wine Bar, with his “Sanguine Swizzle” cocktail — featuring blanco tequila, hibiscus tea, beet juice, green pepper juice, champagne acid, mint, basil, strawberry-honey syrup and crushed ice. Preservation Hall (655 Empress St.) has added the drink to its spring/summer cocktail list, if you want to give it a try. Weiss, meanwhile, has won a trip to Kentucky for his efforts.

Second place went to Jason Thompson of Gather at the Leaf in Assiniboine Park for his “Hot Date” cocktail, while third place went to Tanika Born of Sous Sol for the “Bee Movie” cocktail. The people’s choice went to Josh Rhoopchand of the Manitoba Club for the “Virginia is for (Breakfast) Lovers” cocktail.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

What’s up: Kelly Bowen reads, Manito Ahbee celebrates, opera singers mansplain

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Kelly Bowen reads, Manito Ahbee celebrates, opera singers mansplain

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 24, 2023

Kelly Bowen launches new historical fictionMcNally Robinson Booksellers, Grant Park location

Wednesday, May 24, 7 p.m.

Free admission

Bestselling Winnipeg romance and historical-fiction novelist Kelly Bowen returns with a wartime novel based on the true story of a Resistance agent holed up in a crumbling castle, and her great-granddaughter, who uncovers her stunning story decades later.

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Wednesday, May. 24, 2023

Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press files

Kelly Bowen

Loving your chosen family — of robots

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Loving your chosen family — of robots

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Tuesday, May. 16, 2023

TJ Klune might be the first author whose book was born in a vacuum.

The idea for the American author’s new science-fiction/fantasy novel, In the Lives of Puppets, came to him after he bought himself a Roomba.

“Humans are humans, and so I did what a lot of humans do and anthropomorphized it, put googly eyes on it,” Klune, 40, explains by phone from his home in Virginia. “When I first got it, it was going around and mapping the house when it got stuck in a corner. It made the saddest beeping sound.

“Right when it made that sound, I had this huge explosion in my head — the idea of this book.”

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Tuesday, May. 16, 2023

SUPPLIED

TJ Klune’s books, including his latest science-fiction/fantasy novel In the Lives of Puppets, are known for queer representation.

Fizz and flavour: drinks writer and his mom review boozy options to celebrate Mother’s Day

Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Preview

Fizz and flavour: drinks writer and his mom review boozy options to celebrate Mother’s Day

Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Friday, May. 12, 2023

There’s no holiday more closely associated with brunch than Mother’s Day, and there’s no drink more closely associated with brunch (other than coffee, maybe) than a mimosa.

And while a mimosa is a relatively simple drink to make — sparkling wine and orange juice, combined in whatever proportions Mom sees fit — maybe you don’t have time to be fiddling with cocktails, or the notion of serving up house-made cocktails in addition to Mother’s Day grub is just too overwhelming.

With that in mind, I figured I’d test drive a half dozen premade cocktails (or “refreshment beverages,” as they’re sometimes called) that would work best with brunch. But in order to really get a grasp on what would or wouldn’t work for Mother’s Day, I figured I’d recruit a guest taster whose opinion I value over anyone else’s — my mom.

Gail Cabana-Coldwell (that’s my mom, in case that wasn’t clear) is no novice when it comes to reviewing things for newspapers. In addition to being a current Free Press book reviewer (particularly on all things nautical and Royal Family-related), my mom has also written for both of Winnipeg’s daily papers on all matter of topics and, in her time, has reviewed albums, ballet, rock concerts and, perhaps most pertinently, was the anonymous restaurant reviewer dubbed the Phantom Gourmet for that other local daily rag back in the 1980s.

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Friday, May. 12, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

No time to set up a Mother’s Day mimosa bar? No worries. Ben Sigurdson and his mom, Gail Cabana-Coldwell, taste test some crack-open-and-pour premade options for your family enjoyment.

What’s up: country queens, TikTok royalty and downtown spirit

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: country queens, TikTok royalty and downtown spirit

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, May. 11, 2023

We Rock Winnipeg goes to Lilith FairFriday, 9 p.m.

Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club

Tickets are $22.85 at eventbrite.ca, $25 at the door

Enjoy your favourite ’90s jams as performed by some of Winnipeg’s best live acts, all for a great cause.

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Thursday, May. 11, 2023

Dwayne Larson photo

Jenna Priestner (left) and Marcia Hanson of Mobina Galore.

Professional sommeliers are gathering and they hope you’ll raise a glass with them

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Professional sommeliers are gathering and they hope you’ll raise a glass with them

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, May. 6, 2023

Manitoba sommeliers are uncorking a week-long celebration, and wine lovers of all stripes are invited.

The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) kicks off MB Somm Week on Monday, with a week of tastings, masterclasses, tours, competitions and more running through May 16 and taking place in venues throughout the city.

The events, which are open to both members and non-members, coincide with the 10th anniversary of the local chapter, which is made up of those working in the wine industry — at restaurants, wine stores, Liquor Marts and the like — as well as amateur enthusiasts and wine lovers. (For details and to buy tickets, see wfp.to/mbsommweek.)

Manitoba’s CAPS chapter holds tastings throughout the year featuring local experts, visiting winemakers and export managers.

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Saturday, May. 6, 2023

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Sean Dolenuck (left) and Domer Rafael of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Manitoba chapter, invite wine lovers to participate in MB Somm Week.

What’s up: Jane’s Walk, Disturbed, pizza, jazz and more

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Jane’s Walk, Disturbed, pizza, jazz and more

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Thursday, May. 4, 2023

Dust off your comfiest footwear and hit the streets this weekend for Jane’s Walk, an annual festival of neighbourhood connectivity.

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Thursday, May. 4, 2023

Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files

Jane’s Walk is an annual community festival inspired by urbanist Jane Jacobs.

Valley of the Birdtail wins Dafoe prize

Ben Sigurdson 1 minute read Preview

Valley of the Birdtail wins Dafoe prize

Ben Sigurdson 1 minute read Wednesday, May. 3, 2023

A chronicle of the tension, inequality and path to reconciliation between two Manitoba communities has won the J.W. Dafoe Book Prize for 2023.

Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)’s Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation won the $12,000 prize, which is awarded annually to the book the jury sees as the best at tackling subjects “involving Canada, Canadians, and the Canadian nation in international affairs.”

Published in August 2022 by HarperCollins, Valley of the Birdtail explores the relationship between the town of Rossburn and the neighbouring Waywayseecappo First Nation — the disparity of income, access to education, racism and more — as it follows generations of two families, one from each community.

The prize, which honours former Free Press editor John Wesley Dafoe, will be awarded at an event in the fall, and the authors invited to give a talk on the project.

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Wednesday, May. 3, 2023

Valley of the Birdtail

Local citrus beer offerings must mean summer nears

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Local citrus beer offerings must mean summer nears

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 29, 2023

Another month, another compelling collection of new local brews hitting the shelves of tap rooms, beer vendors and Liquor Marts throughout Winnipeg and beyond…

One of the first beers brewed at its new Sherbrook Street brewery, the Good Neighbour Brewing Co. Tangerine Wheat ($4.25/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) is pale gold in colour and slightly hazy, bringing ripe orange and wheat notes on the nose as well as underlying malt and spice notes.

It’s mainly dry and light-bodied, with a subtle creamy texture fleshing out the tangerine and grain notes, low bitterness, the spice component sticking around throughout and a crisp, clean finish (it’s five per cent alcohol). Crushable but with some complexity — very well done. 4.5/5

The Nonsuch Brewing Co. Mango Farmhouse Ale ($4.80/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) offers much of the same appearance-wise, while aromatically delivering concentrated tropical fruit notes, along with some lemon candy and earthy, funky spice, courtesy of the inclusion of brettanomyces yeast.

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Saturday, Apr. 29, 2023

Laughs galore as performers from all backgrounds hit city stages

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 22 minute read Preview

Laughs galore as performers from all backgrounds hit city stages

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 22 minute read Monday, May. 1, 2023

It’s possible there’s never been a better time to be funny in Winnipeg.

New comedy nights and venues keep popping up in settings old and new, with open-mic nights and showcases featuring comics in all genres and of all ages and backgrounds.

Free Press arts and life writers talked to a cross-section of those involved in our city’s diverse comedy scene — from old-school orators to fresh-faced folks plying their jokes in both English and French, from the city’s Indigenous comedians to those playing host to this cavalcade of comics — to find out just what is tickling the city’s proverbial funny bone.

Adding to the abundance of local laughs is the return of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, which starts Tuesday and runs through May 7. It seems Winnipeggers truly will, for once, get the last laugh.

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Monday, May. 1, 2023

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

‘It would be hard for a trans person to feel comfortable in the comedy room when I started,’ says Lara Rae, ‘let alone going onstage. The amount of diversity today, both in the audience and onstage, is a renaissance.’

Party for pageturners: indie bookstores celebrating; you’re invited

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

Party for pageturners: indie bookstores celebrating; you’re invited

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Friday, Apr. 28, 2023

CANADIAN independent bookstores are throwing themselves a party, and everyone’s invited.

On Saturday, the third Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) takes place at indie shops across the country, celebrating the continued success — against all odds — of booksellers small and large(r).

The party is the brainchild of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association, a nationwide network of stores working together to foster awareness about independent shops of all shapes and sizes. Established in 2020, the association threw the first Canadian Independent Bookstore Day in 2021, with an emphasis on virtual readings and other events in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association, currently helmed by McNally Robinson Booksellers co-owner Chris Hall, took inspiration from its American counterparts’ Independent Bookstore Day.

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Friday, Apr. 28, 2023

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press

‘We’ve got prizes and giveaways throughout the day,’ McNally Robinson’s Angela Torgerson (right, with Chris Hall, co-owner and head of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association) says of what’s on tap at the store on Saturday.

What’s up: Poetry, music and designs

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: Poetry, music and designs

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023

Come face to face with Bloody Jack Thursday, 7:30 p.m.Muriel Richarson Auditorium, Winnipeg Art GalleyAdmission: Pay what you can

Do you know the ballad of Bloody Jack?

John (Bloody Jack) Krafchenko was a notorious, charismatic outlaw from the turn of the 20th century who emigrated to Manitoba from Romania. He started his life of crime as a kid in Plum Coulee, nicking watches and bicycles, before moving on to robbing banks as an adult. He moved through England, the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Russia, hitting banks as he went.

Krafchenko got married, settled back down in Plum Coulee and, uh, kept robbing banks. And then, one fateful day, the robber became a murderer when he shot and killed a bank manager on the street in the sleepy Manitoba town. Krafchenko was later jailed and hanged for the crime at Winnpeg’s Vaughan Street Jail in 1914.

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Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press

Poet Abiola Regan will give a reading at the Writes of Spring poetry event on Saturday at 2 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Calculating climate costs into the price of your next bottle

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Calculating climate costs into the price of your next bottle

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 22, 2023

Earth Day is a time to reflect on the ways we can go about reducing the harm we cause to the planet, both in the short and long term.

There are steps we can take to be kinder to the Earth as it pertains to wine-drinking habits — seeing as grape-growing and winemaking impact the planet, and rarely for the better, it’s worth considering when picking out your next bottle of wine.

A jaunt through wine country typically rewards visitors with picturesque rolling fields of rows of vines, with healthy-looking, well-manicured plants soaking up the sun as the fruit ripens. But there’s typically way more going on in those vineyards than simple photosynthesis.

Grape vines produce the best fruit when they’re planted in warm, dry climates where they have to work hard to get moisture, with roots burrowing deep into the soil in search of water. When that water’s not there in decent supply and rain is in short supply, grape growers are often forced to pipe in water to irrigate vines — and it can take a whole lot of this precious resource to keep the plants healthy.

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Saturday, Apr. 22, 2023

porapak apichodilok / pexels

What’s up: Music, art and history

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Music, art and history

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023

Seven years ago, the world lost the Purple One — the great Prince Rogers Nelson — to an accidental fentanyl overdose at Paisley Park, his Minnesota home. Today the impact of opioid use continues to ravage communities the world over, as it had prior to his death, including right here in Manitoba.

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Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023

Prince performs at half time during Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on February 4, 2007. (Theo Wargo/WireImage.com)

Argentine Malbec and producers gets their day and their due

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Argentine Malbec and producers gets their day and their due

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023

For the last 13 years, Argentine wine producers and marketers have proudly pumped the tires on the country’s flagship wine-producing grape variety every April 17.

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Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023

Bruno Cantuária / Pexels

Producers of Argentine Malbec have ramped up the quality of the wine in the last decade.

What’s up this week: Cupcakes, comedians and Ukrainian concerts

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up this week: Cupcakes, comedians and Ukrainian concerts

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023

From Bob’s Burgers to Rumor’s

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Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023

Supplied

Erin Propp

Brews for both seasons

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Brews for both seasons

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 8, 2023

This is the time of year when beer drinkers typically shift their sipping habits from heartier, heavier brews to lighter, more refreshing lagers and ales.

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Saturday, Apr. 8, 2023

Little Brown Jug Generic! Lager

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Apr. 6, 2023

The Perpetrators play The Park

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Thursday, Apr. 6, 2023

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

The Common will host their next food-and-wine pairing event on Thursday, April 13 as part of the Uncommon Pours series of tastings.

It’s whisky o’clock

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

It’s whisky o’clock

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023

My recent bout with COVID-19 at the end of February really couldn’t have come at a worse time.

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Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023

The Legendary Silkie

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023

Reuben and the Dark brings that Folk Fest feeling to the Park Theatre

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Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023

Women Talking will be screened this weekend and next at Dave Barber Cinematheque starting Saturday.

Bank and climate crises are crowding the vines

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Bank and climate crises are crowding the vines

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the U.S. could spell big trouble for winemakers in California.

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Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023

Marcio Jose Sanchez / The Associated Press files

From winemakers in California to startups across the Atlantic Ocean, companies are scrambling to figure out how to manage their finances after their bank, Silicon Valley Bank, suddenly shut down earlier this month.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

Field Guide releases a re-imagined version of his self-titled 2022 record Friday night and, in the process, will offer a sneak peek of one of the critically acclaimed artists of the 2023 Winnipeg Folk Festival.

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Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Dylan MacDonald

Grape days ahead: wine classes educate the palate

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Grape days ahead: wine classes educate the palate

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

If you’ve got learning about vino on the brain, you’re in luck — there are all manner of wine courses being offered throughout the city over the next couple of months, in a range of prices and with themes that run the gamut from yoga to dessert wines to Chardonnay and beyond…

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Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Hess Select Chardonnay

Catton’s compelling, propulsive eco-thriller worth the decade-long wait

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Catton’s compelling, propulsive eco-thriller worth the decade-long wait

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Fans of Eleanor Catton have been waiting patiently for the follow up to her sprawling 2013 Victorian-era novel The Luminaries. Then just 28, the Canadian-born former New Zealander (now living in the U.K.) became the youngest ever winner of the Booker Prize, (and with the longest book, at around 800 pages), and also took home the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.

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Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Murdo MacLeod photo

Eleanor Catton’s 2013 novel The Luminaries won the Booker Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

Andy and Norm take on the Burt

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Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

Andy Shauf

A matter of taste slightly — and briefly — altered

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

A matter of taste slightly — and briefly — altered

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

It seems odd to be writing about COVID in a drinks column in 2023 — not because COVID has come and gone, but more that it’s old news for most.

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Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

Wine/drinks professionals have detailed the days, weeks or sometimes months they had to wait for their senses of smell and taste to return to normal — if they ever did at all.

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Celebrate International Women’s Day with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

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Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Files

Have no fear. Plenty of roasted cricket flavours to choose from at the Food, Beer & Wine Event.

More Canadians getting into the spirit of becoming whisky connoisseurs

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

More Canadians getting into the spirit of becoming whisky connoisseurs

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

The Winnipeg Whisky Festival returns to the Fairmont Winnipeg this weekend for two days of decadent drams from all over the world as well as a wide range of other spirits.

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Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Among the trends Liquor Marts product ambassador Jamie Jette is seeing is an interest in flavoured whiskies. ‘We’re certainly seeing more releases in that category from different producers.’

Come alive with local brews in the dead of winter

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Come alive with local brews in the dead of winter

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

Whether you’re planning to brave the deep freeze to take in the last weekend of Festival du Voyageur in person or prefer to crack a cold one in the warm confines of your own home, there are a few brews that will get you in the hé-ho spirit to be enjoyed in either setting.

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Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

WAG-Qaumajuq and Manitoba Music celebrate Black History Month 

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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

Individia Obscura photo

Wonder World author K.R. Byggdin will answer your questions as guest of the Free Press Book Club on Monday.

Cellaring wine: keep it cool and dark

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Cellaring wine: keep it cool and dark

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023

A few weeks ago I wrote about rediscovering (and opening) long-neglected bottles that had languished, unseen, on wine racks and basement closets in my house for too many years.

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Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023

What’s up: Belly laughs, beading and budget-friendly dining

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: Belly laughs, beading and budget-friendly dining

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023

Winnipeg Comedy Showcase celebrates nine years with 32nd show

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Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files

Sen. Patricia Bovey

Big-grape romance at bargain prices

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Big-grape romance at bargain prices

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023

When you write a weekly drinks column, there’s a certain sense of obligation around Valentine’s Day to offer up suggestions for wines to pop open with your sweetie. (There are only so many times you can write about wine and chocolate… trust me.)

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Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023

When you write a weekly drinks column, there’s a certain sense of obligation around Valentine’s Day to offer up suggestions for wines to pop open with your sweetie. (There are only so many times you can write about wine and chocolate… trust me.)

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 10, 2023

Dust off your ceinture fléchée a little early this year for Nonsuch Brewing Co.’s Festi Fridays, a celebration of all things Festival du Voyageur running Fridays throughout February both inside and outside their tap room at 125 Pacific Ave.

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Friday, Feb. 10, 2023

Rae Jennae Photography

Enjoy a beer-bannock s’more at Nonsuch’s Festi Fridays, running Fridays throughout February both inside and outside their tap room at 125 Pacific Ave.

Can’t take it with you, so savour Open That Bottle Night

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Can’t take it with you, so savour Open That Bottle Night

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023

Seventeen (!) years of writing about wine and drinks have seen all manner of wine, beer and spirits cross my desk. Most are tasted for the purposes of this column, some for “research” purposes and occasionally, I’ll crack something open for simple enjoyment.

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Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023

What’s up: 5 things to do this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: 5 things to do this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

Frostbyte @ Raw:Almond

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Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

Booze events to help beat the winter blahs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Booze events to help beat the winter blahs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023

If the late January doldrums have you feeling like you’re going a bit bonkers, fear not — there are plenty of wine, beer and spirits events taking place over the next couple of months that just might help you beat the deep winter blahs…

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Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023

Writer weaves life’s experience into rich, detailed prose

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Writer weaves life’s experience into rich, detailed prose

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

In the vast and sometimes-turbulent waters of Canadian literary awards, Nicholas Herring netted quite the catch with his first cast.

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Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Herring’s debut novel Some Hellish won the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize in November. (Supplied)

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Sounds of Manitoba kickoff with Anthony OKS and The Søbr Market

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Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Rapper Anthony OKS will perform Friday at the Sounds of Music. (Mikaela Mackenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Prince Harry’s memoir an uneven but revealing look at life under the Royal fishbowl

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Prince Harry’s memoir an uneven but revealing look at life under the Royal fishbowl

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare opens with a poignant epigraph by William Faulkner — “The past is not even dead. It’s not even past.”

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Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

This image provided by the Random House Group shows the cover of "Spare," Prince Harry's memoir. The book is an object of obsessive anticipation worldwide since first announced last year, is coming out Jan. 10. (Random House Group via AP)

Value through the grapevine

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Value through the grapevine

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

A couple weeks back I wrote about the great quality-to-price ratio of red wines from France’s Rhône Valley. And with many still nursing post-holiday bills — plus with rising inflation and such — I was curious about discovering other wines that deliver good bang for the buck.

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Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

GREG GALLINGER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files

A call-out on social media and some scouring of the local shelves have helped produce this list of good value suggestions.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023

Veg Out with vegan comfort food 

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Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files

Wab Kinew

Winnipeg couple launches the Søbr Market

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Preview

Winnipeg couple launches the Søbr Market

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023

Whether it be Dry January, Dry February, Sober October or just a desire for better health and a break from booze, there are plenty of reasons to consider reducing one’s alcohol intake.

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Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Jessie and Shane Halliburton are looking forward to taking their Winnipeg-based online non-alcohol shop, The Søbr Market, into their own bricks-and-mortar storefront.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

Valley of the Birdtail book launch

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Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

Phantom fan Gloria Dignazio is a subject in the 'Phantom of Winnipeg' documentary premiering in Montreal this week. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

Hurry for Harry: city readers snap up memoir

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Hurry for Harry: city readers snap up memoir

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023

Only 10 days into the new year, and the crew at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location was having a royally busy day.

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Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023

Tannis Thompsett purchases Prince Harry’s memoire, Spare, at McNally Robinson on Tuesday. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Take a journey to France for standout red wines

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Take a journey to France for standout red wines

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023

If there were ever a wine-producing region to be relied on for pumping out high-quality reds at a reasonable price, it’s France’s Rhône Valley — particularly wines from the southern Rhône.

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Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023

The Free Press literary editor picks 15 books to watch for in first half of 2023

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

The Free Press literary editor picks 15 books to watch for in first half of 2023

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

A new year offers a chance to look ahead at the fascinating fiction and non-fiction publishers have planned for the coming months. Whether you’re looking for celebrity memoirs, thoughtful essays, scintillating story collections or immersive novels, here are 15 titles from local, national and international authors to watch out for in the first half of 2023.

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Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

Made using TurboCollage from www.TurboCollage.com

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023

Snow sports and craft beers; Sookram’s Brewing Co. presents Star Wars - the Classic Trilogy; Gordie Tentrees lives in a Mean Old World; Tilda Swinton, a British cult classic, and ‘the greatest film’ ever

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Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023

Kilter Brewing (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press Files)

Zambonis, Whistle Dogs and banana meatloaf

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 9 minute read Preview

Zambonis, Whistle Dogs and banana meatloaf

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 9 minute read Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022

Time flies when you’re writing hundreds of stories on tight deadlines. The Free Press arts and life team wrote a lot of words about a whole lot of things in 2022. Before we turn the page on another year, we wanted to revisit some of our favourite stories from the last 365 days.

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Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

From left: Tina Keeper, producer and actor; Amber-Sekowan Daniels, co-creator and co-show runner; Gabriel Daniels, actor; Paul Rabliauskas, creator, writer and actor; and Roseanne Supernault, actor, goof around at the viewing party for the pilot of Rabliauskas’s sitcom Acting Good,.

Toasting some possible drinks trends for 2023

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Toasting some possible drinks trends for 2023

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Based on trends (both locally and otherwise), you don’t need to be a psychic or fortune teller to predict what some of the drinks trends will be in Manitoba in 2023 — for better or worse.

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Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Bartenders at most lounges or eateries are pleased to whip up a fun, off-the-beaten-track faux-cocktail for those looking for fun, fresh flavours. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times files)

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022

New Year’s Eve gala dinner at Centro Caboto Centre

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Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

New Year’s Eve fireworks at The Forks

Challenges, comebacks, closures and controversies spiced up the local bar and restaurant scene in 2022

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Challenges, comebacks, closures and controversies spiced up the local bar and restaurant scene in 2022

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022

It was a year of new beginnings and notable closures for Winnipeg’s food and drink scene. While masks and government-issued health cards were scrapped for diners, fallout from the pandemic remained a going concern for local restaurateurs in 2022.

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Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Mumu Ma (left) and Echo Shen, owners of Not a Donut, took over the former Bronuts store in the Exchange after losing their original location to a fire.

10 fizzy options to help ring in the new year

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

10 fizzy options to help ring in the new year

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022

With one week to go until the end of 2022, it’s time to start thinking about what sparkling wine you’ll be chilling down to ring in the new year (or to bid good riddance to the current one). Here are 10 fizzy options you may not have tried before that are worthy of your champagne glass this New Year’s Eve…

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Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

(December 31, 2009) People enjoy the New Year’s Eve fireworks display at The Forks Thursday night.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022

Big Sugar gets Heated

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022

Ian McCausland / Manitoba Museum

Last-minute gift ideas for the drinks lovers on your list

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Last-minute gift ideas for the drinks lovers on your list

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

About a month ago, I offered up some gift suggestions for the drinks lovers in your life in the form of mixed cases, specially packaged seasonal offerings and advent calendars.

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Streaming services offer up seasonal episodes aplenty to get your holiday fix

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Preview

Streaming services offer up seasonal episodes aplenty to get your holiday fix

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Most TV shows, especially the ones that defined the heyday of network television, do the Holiday Episode — a chance to get silly or sentimental against the backdrop of the December holidays, which are loaded with opportunities for tragedy and comedy, both.

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Christmas playlist has highs and Lows

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 8 minute read Preview

Christmas playlist has highs and Lows

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 8 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

No one would dispute that Mariah Carey’s juggernaut All I Want For Christmas Is You is at the zenith of holiday jams, but there are many other seasonal songs worthy of a place in heavy rotation.

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Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS JP Hoe poes for a portrait in his studio before his 10th annual JP Hoe Hoe Hoe holiday show, which has grown massively over the years, in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. Winnipeg Free Press 2018.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson and Ben Waldman 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson and Ben Waldman 5 minute read Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

Free Press virtual movie night

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Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

Find the perfect wine to grace your holiday dinner table

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Find the perfect wine to grace your holiday dinner table

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022

Whether you’re stuffing a turkey, glazing a ham or ordering takeout this holiday season, nothing finishes off that perfectly planned festive feast quite like the right bottle of wine. Here are 10 tipples I’ve recently tried that drink well on their own, but would also complement all manner of yuletide eats…

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Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022

PEXELS PHOTO

What’s up this week: Ads that pop, markets that pop up, comedy and Country Roads

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 6 minute read Preview

What’s up this week: Ads that pop, markets that pop up, comedy and Country Roads

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 6 minute read Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022

Cannes Lions returns to the WAG-Qaumajuq

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Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022

Manuel Elias / The Canadian Press files

Autumn Peltier’s story is chronicled in the doc The Water Walker at the CMHR Saturday.

Words and images resonate across the pages in charming coffee-table offerings

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Words and images resonate across the pages in charming coffee-table offerings

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

For booksellers, publishers and authors, the holiday season is one that’s looked upon with great anticipation. For book lovers, of course, December is also a time to eagerly contemplate what new titles might end up stuffed in a stocking or tucked under the tree.

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Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

A Stunning Backdrop

Ale and arty: face the chill with latest sips of the season

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Ale and arty: face the chill with latest sips of the season

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

After a summer of light, citrusy lagers and ales, the arrival of fall typically brings darker, more malt-driven beers. But once December hits, things get serious — malty red ales, heartier IPAs and pumpkin beers and the like make way for the festive flavours of the holiday season.

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Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

What’s up this week: Festive First Fridays, Zoo Lights and Xmas with the King

Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 4 minute read Preview

What’s up this week: Festive First Fridays, Zoo Lights and Xmas with the King

Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 4 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022

First Fridays in the Exchange

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Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Kaiden Bockstael reaches for a string of lights hanging from a tree at the Zoo Lights at the Assiniboine Park Zoo Friday night November 26, 2021

Consider gifting wine, beer or spirits Advent calendars

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Consider gifting wine, beer or spirits Advent calendars

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 25, 2022

With the holidays looming in the coming weeks, it’s high time to start thinking about gift giving, party hosting and all that kind of fun stuff.

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Friday, Nov. 25, 2022

Nipzzano gift box

A Celtic Christmas to Disney heroes on ice: 5 fab events this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 5 minute read Preview

A Celtic Christmas to Disney heroes on ice: 5 fab events this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Ben Waldman 5 minute read Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022

Disney on Ice presents Find Your Hero

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Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022

Feld Entertainment

Disney on Ice presents Find Your Hero includes characters from Moana.

The many styles and flavours of Pinot Noir

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

The many styles and flavours of Pinot Noir

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022

One of the first wines I tackled when I first started writing Uncorked 17 (!) years ago was Pinot Noir. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise; among wine geeks it tends to be a favourite grape to grapple with. A famously fickle grape to grow, Pinot Noir is made in a wide range of styles in all corners of the globe (including here in Canada) and, when done well, can produce profound wines of exceptional complexity.

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Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022

Gary Nylander / The Canadian Press files

Pinot Noir grapes star in wines made all over the world, embraced by producers here in Canada from British Columbia’s Okanagan to Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022

Santa Claus is coming downtown

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Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press Files

The big man himself, riding atop his brand new float, winds up the annual Santa Claus Parade.

Manitoba-made whiskies flowing to distillery shelves

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Manitoba-made whiskies flowing to distillery shelves

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022

After around 140 years, the first Manitoba-made whiskies not named Crown Royal will be hitting the shelves in the coming months. Yes, that’s whiskies – plural.

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Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022

Kyle Goldstine photo

Patent 5 owner president Brock Coutts Patent 5 whisky

New music

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

New music

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022

First things first: the double-v in VVonder is a W (just like Alvvays) and it’s the name of the latest project from Winnipeg musical polymath Micah Braun.

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Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022

VVonder, Now and Again

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022

Ariel Posen goes global on Downtown

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Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022

ANDREW VAUGHAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Old Man Luedecke (above), Fortunate Ones and The Once bring their Anchor’s Up tour to the West End Cultural Centre on Saturday.

Pro/Am Brew Challenge ranged from flawed to fantastic

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Pro/Am Brew Challenge ranged from flawed to fantastic

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Friday, Nov. 4, 2022

Not all home brewers are created equal. Some folks pick up user-friendly beer kits from home-brewing supply stores or grocery stores, saving a few bucks and always ensuring a cold one is close at hand.

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Friday, Nov. 4, 2022

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press

Little Brown Jug head brewer Jeremy Grisim (left) and Winnipeg Brew Bombers president Marc Molet-King taste through the 16 gold medal-winning brews in the final round of the 2022 Pro/Am Beer Challenge at Oxus Brewing Co.

What’s up: Bros. Landreth at Burt, Ian Rankin at WAG, free shows at Forks

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Bros. Landreth at Burt, Ian Rankin at WAG, free shows at Forks

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022

A pair of high-profile writers in two very different genres stop by the Winnipeg Art Gallery next week to launch their latest books.

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Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

Sweet, sweet verdicts

Ben Waldman, Jen Zoratti, Eva Wasney, Alan Small, AV Kitching and Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Sweet, sweet verdicts

Ben Waldman, Jen Zoratti, Eva Wasney, Alan Small, AV Kitching and Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Monday, Oct. 31, 2022

Testers dig in to classic and new-school Halloween goodies to pass ultimate judgment: trick or treat?

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Monday, Oct. 31, 2022

AV Kitching says Coffee Crisp is a "crime against candy." (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Treat yourself to one of these spooky brews

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Treat yourself to one of these spooky brews

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022

In today’s Free Press arts and life section you’re treated to a roundup of must-see Halloween TV, a Halloween-themed playlist, a preview of WSO’s Nosferatu and more. On Monday, when kids are making the rounds screaming on peoples’ doorsteps, you can read about the team’s taste test of new-to-us treats.

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Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022

Spooky tunes for boys and ghouls

Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jill Wilson, AV Kitching, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Preview

Spooky tunes for boys and ghouls

Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jill Wilson, AV Kitching, Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Halloween dominates October like Christmas dominates November and December, but while the yuletide soundtrack is vast and never-ending, with songs in every genre imaginable, All Hallow’s Eve is sorely lacking in musical accompaniment.

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Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022

Halloween programming at Cinematheque

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Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022

Supplied

Kevin McDonald headlines Winnipeg Comiccon this weekend.

New, notable wines include juicy red, fruity white

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

New, notable wines include juicy red, fruity white

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

Often this space features a particular theme or area of focus — a grape variety or wine-producing region, for example, or a roundup of new local brews or some other insight into wine, beer, food pairing, local events and beyond.

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Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman and Jill Wilson 7 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman and Jill Wilson 7 minute read Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022

Darcy Oake at the Burt

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Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022

MIREK WEICHSEL & JOHN GIAVEDONI PHOTO

Illusionist Darcy Oake

Plethora of fall events provide plentiful pairings

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Plethora of fall events provide plentiful pairings

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022

As we creep ever closer to the (gulp) holiday season, local makers and stores will turn their attention to the inevitable jump in retail traffic.

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Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022

An Evening with Bob McDonald

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Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022

SUPPLIED

JayWood, whose new album 'Slingshot' came out in July, will be performing at Burt Block Party.

Bold beer to celebrate Free Press’s 150th anniversary

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Bold beer to celebrate Free Press’s 150th anniversary

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

There’s been plenty brewing in conjunction with the Free Press’ 150th anniversary: deep dives into the archives, reflections on the last century-and-a-half in the pages of the paper and online, a community cookbook (Homemade, by Free Press food and drinks writer Eva Wasney), a fall supper and even more to come.

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Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

Wines of the week

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Wines of the week

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

IF you’ve come to this space seeking Thanksgiving wine recommendations, fret not — I’ve got you covered…

Weszeli 2020 “Felix” Grünew Veltliner (Niederosterreich, Austria — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Green apple, lime zest, crisp pear and hints of spice and chalk all show well on the nose of this organic, vegan Austrian white wine. It’s light-bodied and bone dry, with fresh green apple, pear and lime coming with those spice and chalk notes that provide focus and zip (the medium acidity helps in that department too). A fresh and fun wine that would work as well with turkey or ham as it would with sushi, spring rolls, oysters and milder hors d’oeuvres. 4/5

Low Life Barrel House “Leaps” (Winnipeg/Ontario — $25, brewery/winery, Liquor Marts and beyond)

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Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

IF you’ve come to this space seeking Thanksgiving wine recommendations, fret not — I’ve got you covered…

Weszeli 2020 “Felix” Grünew Veltliner (Niederosterreich, Austria — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Green apple, lime zest, crisp pear and hints of spice and chalk all show well on the nose of this organic, vegan Austrian white wine. It’s light-bodied and bone dry, with fresh green apple, pear and lime coming with those spice and chalk notes that provide focus and zip (the medium acidity helps in that department too). A fresh and fun wine that would work as well with turkey or ham as it would with sushi, spring rolls, oysters and milder hors d’oeuvres. 4/5

Low Life Barrel House “Leaps” (Winnipeg/Ontario — $25, brewery/winery, Liquor Marts and beyond)

What’s Up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s Up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022

John Mulaney brings From Scratch tour to Winnipeg

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Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022

Netflix

Comedian John Mulaney is at the arena on Wednesday.

Roberston, Zaidman win book awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Roberston, Zaidman win book awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Monday, Oct. 3, 2022

A pair of Winnipeg writers won awards for their children’s books at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards, presented at a ceremony in Toronto on Sept. 29.

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Monday, Oct. 3, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

David A. Robertson’s On the Trapline won the Governor General’s Award in 2021 and has now won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

Popular wine terms and how to use them

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Popular wine terms and how to use them

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022

The return of the Winnipeg Wine Festival’s main public tastings on Sept. 23 and 24, the first time the RBC Convention Centre hosted the event since 2019, was a chance for agents, reps and winemakers to show off their wares, as well as for curious wine drinkers to find new favourites.

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Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022

Beloki Tempranillo Rioja

What’s up: Events for Truth and Reconciliation Day

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up: Events for Truth and Reconciliation Day

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022

Friday is the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canada’s newest federal statutory holiday commemorating the painful and ongoing legacy of the country’s Indian Residential School System. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the public is encouraged to take time to learn, reflect and engage in reconciliation in meaningful ways. Keep reading for a roundup of some of the events and activities taking place on Fri., Sept. 30 in Winnipeg.

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Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022

Canstar Community News

Qaumajuq, the new Inuit Art Centre at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, is a facility of which all Winnipeggers should be proud.

Cooler weather means it’s time for toastier beers

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Cooler weather means it’s time for toastier beers

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

With this weekend’s return of the Winnipeg Wine Festival public tastings for the first time since 2019, it would be easy to overlook the timely and welcome return of heartier, more robust beers popping up at breweries, Liquor Marts and beer vendors. As the mercury drops and the leaves change colour, it’s the perfect time to switch from the crisp, refreshing pilsners, lagers, radlers and such that help beat the summer heat to brews that bring richer fall flavours.

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Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2022

Musical collision between Crash Test Dummies and the WSO

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Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2022

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Wine lovers will sniff, swirl and sip at the convention centre this weekend.

Thin Air festival offers packed roster of established, emerging authors

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Thin Air festival offers packed roster of established, emerging authors

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 20, 2022

Charlene Diehl and her team at Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, aren’t quite ready to close the book on the hybrid approach they adopted in 2020 (and honed in 2021) in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Tuesday, Sep. 20, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Charlene Diehl has been at the helm of Thin Air: Winnipeg International Writers Festival for 20 years.

Retrying tried-and-true classics turns up some changes

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Retrying tried-and-true classics turns up some changes

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022

Drinks trends seem to be going in a couple of different directions right now. Some (mainly larger) producers are embracing new trends such as aging wine in bourbon barrels, creating lower-alcohol offerings and hard seltzers, and adding offbeat flavours to products.

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Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Sep. 15, 2022

Page One: Writers fest kickoff

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Thursday, Sep. 15, 2022

J. PAT CARTER / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Say how-doodle-doo to a rooster at Discover the Farm on Sunday.

Something to cheer about: Winnipeg Wine Festival’s return

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Something to cheer about: Winnipeg Wine Festival’s return

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022

For the first time since April/May 2019, the Winnipeg Wine Festival’s public tastings return to the RBC Convention Centre on Sept. 23 and 24.

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Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Winnipeg Wine Festival returns to the RBC Convention Centre this month for the first time since April/May 2019.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Thursday, Sep. 8, 2022

I.T. sector rocks Club Regent at Techapalooza

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Thursday, Sep. 8, 2022

Marnie Barnes photo

Techapalooza

Brews, reds and whites for cheering on the Blue and Gold

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Brews, reds and whites for cheering on the Blue and Gold

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022

Some of us will spend the long weekend soaking up the last of the summer sun at the cottage or a beach, while others will be anxiously careening down store aisles in search of back-to-school gear.

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Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small and Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022

A virtual evening with Ken Dryden

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Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022

Peter Bregg / The Canadian Press files

Team Canada goaltender Ken Dryden blocks a shot in the Sept. 8, 1972 game, in Vancouver, of the Canada-Soviet Summit Series, the subject of his new book in stores now.

Fall offers plenty of highly anticipated fiction and non-fiction titles for readers

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Fall offers plenty of highly anticipated fiction and non-fiction titles for readers

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

After a summer of breezy beach reads, there’s no season book lovers look forward to more than fall.

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Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

Richard Drew / The Associated Press files

Michelle Obama

Six wines to take you through summer’s waning days

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Six wines to take you through summer’s waning days

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

After a frantic start to the summer which saw wine trips to France, Niagara and Italy, my July and August were mainly spent working away, with nary a thought of holidays or travel (or stressing over missed connections and/or lost luggage).

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Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022

Splash along to local music at Rainbow Trout

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Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022

HITOMI PHOTO
Rainbow Trout Music Festival takes place along the banks of the Rosseau River this weekend.

Never waste backyard apples … or cereal-beer dreams

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Never waste backyard apples … or cereal-beer dreams

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022

IF your apple tree is loaded down with fruit, Manitoba cideries might have options to help get rid of it.

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Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files

Jesse Oberman of Next Friend Cider is among Manitoba cideries looking for fruit (apples and more), but currently has a backlog of about 100 trees for picking.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022

Winnipeg Beer Festival

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Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022

FREE PRESS FILES
The fifth annual Winnipeg Beer Festival returns to St. Boniface on Aug. 13.

B.C., Ontario lead the pack at National Wine Awards

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

B.C., Ontario lead the pack at National Wine Awards

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022

In late June, two dozen seasoned palates from across Canada (myself included) descended upon Ontario’s Niagara region. the bunch of us spent five days holed up at Club Italia tasting nearly 1,900 wines from eight provinces at the WineAlign 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada. And as always, the release of the annual competition’s results (available at winealign.com/awards) is a chance to reflect on the state of Canadian wine.

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Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022

In late June, two dozen seasoned palates from across Canada (myself included) descended upon Ontario’s Niagara region. the bunch of us spent five days holed up at Club Italia tasting nearly 1,900 wines from eight provinces at the WineAlign 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada. And as always, the release of the annual competition’s results (available at winealign.com/awards) is a chance to reflect on the state of Canadian wine.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 3 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 3 minute read Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022

Movie night at the Lyric Theatre

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Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022

Marvel Studios Kumail Nanjiani (from left), Lia McHugh, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie and Don Lee in a scene from Eternals.

Infused beers a tasty way to get your daily serving of fruit

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Infused beers a tasty way to get your daily serving of fruit

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 30, 2022

If anything was to be gleaned from last weekend’s successful (at least from outward appearances) Ballpark Brewfest at Shaw Park, it’s that fruit-infused brews are as big a deal as ever — at least as far as the locals are concerned.

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Saturday, Jul. 30, 2022

BEN SIGURDSON / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Two of the four beers being poured by Kilter Brewing Co. at Ballpark Brewfest were infused with fruit.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 3 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 3 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 27, 2022

Winnipeg Comedy Showcase

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Wednesday, Jul. 27, 2022

Keep a clear head with alcohol-free brews and bubblies

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Keep a clear head with alcohol-free brews and bubblies

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 23, 2022

Summer’s a great time to kick back on a patio, in a backyard or poolside with a refreshing beverage. And while an ice-cold beer, a fun cooler or a glass of white/bubbly/rosé can really hit the spot in warmer weather, there are times when you might not want the buzz that comes with them — or perhaps, for whatever reason, you’ve chosen not to drink alcohol.

Thankfully the selection of non-alcoholic beverages (beyond soda) continues to get bigger and, in many categories, better. Here’s a roundup of some zero/low-alcohol drinks tried recently, many of which are worth your time even if you do regularly imbibe.

Selection varies, so included is where these drinks were picked up, although many may be available beyond the listed shops. (In addition to Liquor Marts, beer vendors and private wine stores, non-alcoholic drinks can be sold at grocery stores and elsewhere.)

And because some choose non-alcoholic drinks because they’re lower in calories, that information also follows where available.

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Saturday, Jul. 23, 2022

An all-local lineup at Ballpark Brewfest will have fans trading RBIs for IPAs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

An all-local lineup at Ballpark Brewfest will have fans trading RBIs for IPAs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 20, 2022

At the outset of the 2022 season, Winnipeg Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier tossed out a major curveball, telling big-business beer to hit the showers in favour of an all-local lineup.

What started as Craft Beer Corner, a small portion of the concourse dedicated to all manner of local lagers and ales, has grown into a chance for Manitoba breweries to get their wares in front of thirsty Goldeyes fans throughout Shaw Park in a venture that has benefited both the club and the local brewers.

On Saturday, 18 craft breweries from Winnipeg and beyond (as well as Winkler’s Dead Horse Cider) will be slinging samples of their brews in celebration of the all-local partnership at the inaugural Ballpark Brewfest, which gets underway at 2 p.m.

Collier had been contemplating a beer festival for years, but wasn’t sure if there was a window for another one in the summer.

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Wednesday, Jul. 20, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Andrew Collier, GM of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, poses for a portrait with some of the local beer selection at Shaw Park in Winnipeg on Monday, July 18, 2022. Goldeyes games have switched to exclusively craft beer, and there is a Ballpark Brewfest event coming up. For Ben Sigurdson story. Winnipeg Free Press 2022.

For warm-weather sipping, rosés have skin in the game

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

For warm-weather sipping, rosés have skin in the game

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Saturday, Jul. 16, 2022

In last week’s Uncorked I dove into whites and reds to enjoy in warmer weather, only mentioning in passing the ideal summer sipper — rosé wine.

It goes without saying that drinking pink when the mercury rises is never a bad idea. But not all rosés are created equal — from the depth of colour to the aromatic profile to the sweetness level and flavours pink wines bring, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be tough to know what you’re getting before you buy and open that bottle.

More so than whites or reds, the appearance of a pink wine can tell you a lot about what to expect before you open the bottle, one of many reasons producers tend to package the stuff in clear bottles rather than in tinted glass. Most rosés that are paler in colour tend to be on the more delicate side, offering up more floral, chalky and tree fruit flavours than their deeper, darker counterparts, which bring more fleshy red berry notes. New World rosés tend to be a bit riper, weightier and fruit-forward, while Old World (read: European) pink wines are often more austere, lighter-bodied and delicate.

While the difference in colour can sometimes be the result of what grapes are being used to make the wine — thinner-skinned Pinot Noir versus much darker Malbec grapes, for example — the hue of a pink wine (and its flavours) also has to do with decisions made by the winemaker.

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Saturday, Jul. 16, 2022

Res Fortes Rosé

Crisp, refreshing wine options ripe for summer sipping

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Crisp, refreshing wine options ripe for summer sipping

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 9, 2022

In winter, there’s nothing quite like cosying up with a hearty, robust red wine or a richer, fuller-bodied white wine. But we’re heading into summer, which means lighter, fresher wines are the order of the day.

Light and fresh, however, doesn’t have to mean suffering through watery wines devoid of flavour. There’s all manner of exciting wines out there that are crisp and clean without being bland and boring.

First off, let’s take it as a given that sparkling wines and rosés will be in heavy rotation this summer, and instead look at options when it comes to whites and reds.

In the former category, the first and most obvious choice is Sauvignon Blanc. While there are some examples of the grape that are a little on the nondescript side, generally speaking Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, New Zealand or South Africa will rarely steer you wrong, offering fresh tart fruit with zippy acidity that’s perfect for summer sipping.

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Saturday, Jul. 9, 2022

What’s up at Folk Fest

Ben Sigurdson, Eva Wasney, Rob Williams, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Preview

What’s up at Folk Fest

Ben Sigurdson, Eva Wasney, Rob Williams, Jen Zoratti 6 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2022

The daytime stages at the Winnipeg Folk Festival are ripe for musical discovery. This week’s What’s Up is dedicated to the must-sees before the headliners.

Kurt Vile and the SadiesGreen Ash, Friday at 1 p.m.

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Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2022

SUPPLIED
Kurt Vile will share the stage Friday with frequent collaborators, the Sadies.

Local breweries offer palate-pleasing lagers and ales

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Local breweries offer palate-pleasing lagers and ales

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 2, 2022

With my recent trip to Italy’s Abruzzo region in the rearview mirror, and having spent five days tasting hundreds of Canadian wines at WineAlign’s 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada in Niagara, Ont. last week, I figured it was time to give my palate a quick break from the acids and tannins that come with excess wine tasting. And nothing resets a bruised and battered palate quite like cleansing summer lagers and ales. Plus, it was a chance to see what’s new and exciting from local craft breweries.

The Sookram’s Brewing Co. Shore Leave (Winnipeg - $4.15/473ml cans, brewery, select beer vendors) brings the flavours of summer in a big way. A pale gold and hazy sour beer infused with pineapple and coconut, both those additions come through aromatically along with wheat and oat notes. It’s slightly chewy and off-dry, with mouth-watering acidity highlighting the pineapple and almost-salty flavours while the coconut chills in the background with the grainier ingredients. Four per cent alcohol; pass the sunscreen. 4/5

For summer fruit flavours in a package that’s neither sweet nor tart, the latest version of the Good Neighbour Brewing Co. French Blanche (Winnipeg - $4.25/473ml can, Oxus, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) delivers. Pale straw in colour and hazy, this Belgian-style wheat beer features the addition of peach, apricot and lemon, all of which show well aromatically along with the pronounced wheat and spice notes. Dry and light-plus bodied, the peach note brings some weight and is the most prominent on the palate, with wheat, spice and the other fruit notes doing their trick and the lemon addition bringing some acidity. Lots going on here, but also dangerously drinkable. Five per cent alcohol; brewed at Oxus but also available from One Sixteen on Sherbrook St. 4.5/5

Much has been made of (and said about) Winnipeg’s new branding and slogan; the Kilter Brewing Co. Prairie Lager (Winnipeg - $3.75/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors) sports both on the package of their latest lager. It’s very pale straw in colour and mostly clear, sporting up-front grain and malt aromas and a hint of citrus. Light-bodied and mainly dry, it brings classic lager notes of bread dough and fresh malt as well as toasted nut and some modest bitterness. At 4.5 per cent alcohol, think of this as an easy-going post-lawnmowing beer — like the new logo/slogan, it’s decent but not mind blowingly inspiring. 3/5

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Saturday, Jul. 2, 2022

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Thursday, Jun. 30, 2022

Workman, fireworks to light up the DownsJuly 1, 1-11 p.m.Assiniboia Downs Gaming & Event Centre, 1975 Portage Ave.$10 admission (ages five and under free), $5 parking

If you’re jonesing for your fireworks fix this Canada Day, go west. Assiniboia Downs Gaming and Event Centre is hosting a Canada Day festival that starts at 1 p.m. and will include those thrilling aerial pops, bangs and flashes via CanFire Pyrotechnics at 11 p.m.

Prior to the fireworks, there will be plenty to see and do for all ages. The day’s events include a range of activities for kids, over 100 local artisans and makers offering up their wares, a beer garden and all manner of food trucks.

Live music kicks off right at 1 p.m. with a lineup headlined by Hawksley Workman and including Space Case, Cassidy Mann, Madeleine Roger, Justin Lacroix Band, the Incredibly Hip and Sassy Mellows.

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Thursday, Jun. 30, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Hawksley Workman

Wines abuzz in Abruzzo

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Wines abuzz in Abruzzo

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 25, 2022

For as long as I’ve been writing about wine (more than 16 years in this space now), there’s been one wine-producing country that’s been top of my bucket list to visit — Italy.

So when the chance arose to visit the Abruzzo region in early June with a whole bunch of Canadian and American wine writers, sommeliers and influencers, I jumped at it.

Abruzzo isn’t as well-known (or opulent) a wine-producing region as, say, Tuscany or Piedmont, but what it does offer up are wines with a great sense of place that are typically very good values and incredibly food-friendly.

The region itself is located about two hours northeast of Rome, nestled near the Adriatic Sea. It’s a fairly rustic region that might not bring as modern a style as its Tuscan or Piedmontese counterparts, but what it does deliver is timeless beauty as well as wines with a true sense of place and with great character — not surprising given it’s one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the western world.

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Saturday, Jun. 25, 2022

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
The gorgeous Masciarelli winery is seen at sunset, with rows of Montepulciano wines in the foreground.

Plenty in the wine, beer aisles for Father’s Day toasts

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Plenty in the wine, beer aisles for Father’s Day toasts

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2022

If dads were judged solely by whether or not they were around on Father’s Day, I’d certainly not be anywhere near the top of the good list.

The last two pandemic years aside, I almost always end up spending the day with a couple of dozen other folks in Canada’s wine industry judging at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada which, this year, is being held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. For five consecutive days — starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday — I’ll be tasting between 250 and 300 of the 2,000-plus Canadian wines entered in the competition.

As such, my Father’s Day beverage of choice will certainly be Canadian. Perhaps, if it was entered in the competition, it will be the Lakeview Cellars 2019 Serenity Pinot Noir Rosé (Niagara Peninsula, Ont. — $17.99, Liquor Marts and beyond). It’s a pale orange-pink wine, made predominantly from Pinot Noir but with 10 per cent Gamay and five per cent Chardonnay Musqué thrown into the mix. There are plenty of peach and raspberry candy aromas as well as subtle strawberry and watermelon notes. It’s mainly dry and light-plus bodied on the palate, with the peach and raspberry notes bringing a hint of sweetness before the strawberry flavours kick in on the modest finish. Simple and fun, and decent for the price while it’s just $15.99 until the end of June. 3/5

For those whose beer-loving dads will be around this weekend, some local breweries have pulled together Father’s Day packages your pop is likely to love. Nonsuch Brewing Co., for example, has put together a Father’s Day craft beer package that includes their Italian grape ale, lambic, goji berry sour, craft pilsner and apricot hefeweizen. The package is $70 plus taxes and can be ordered for pickup at wfp.to/nonsuchdad, or pop into the taproom and try your luck and see whether they have any left.

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Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2022

What’s Up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s Up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Jun. 16, 2022

Comedian Nate Bargatze brings Raincheck Tour to WinnipegJune 16, 7 p.m.

Burton Cummings Theatre

Tickets $63-$108 at Ticketmaster

You could say that comedian Nate Bargatze was born into the funny business.

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Thursday, Jun. 16, 2022

SASHA SEFTER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files

Manitoba bevvies clean up at first Prairie Beer Awards

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Manitoba bevvies clean up at first Prairie Beer Awards

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 11, 2022

Manitoba breweries may have taken home the most hardware at the first annual Prairie Beer Awards, but it was a Saskatchewan brewery and one of its beers that took home the top beer honour.

In mid-May, 284 beers from 45 of 52 breweries in Manitoba and Saskatchewan — as well as a handful of ciders, meads and other beverages such as hard seltzers and kombucha — went head to head in 25 categories at the inaugural Prairie Beer Awards, presented by the Manitoba Brewers Association and the Saskatchewan Craft Brewers Association. (Alberta meaderies were also permitted to enter their wares, as there’s no mead competition in that province.)

Organizer and beer judge Dave Cole was thrilled with the number of entries for a first-time competition. “The Alberta Beer Awards had around 400 entries and has been running for a long time, and in a much larger market,” he said.

Cole was instrumental in making the Prairie Beer Awards a reality. While judging at the Alberta Beer Awards, he was asked why there wasn’t a regional competition for Manitoba/Saskatchewan breweries. After chatting with the brewery associations in both Prairie provinces, he was given the green light to organize the competition.

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Saturday, Jun. 11, 2022

June 11 beers of the week

Bergen best again at book awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Bergen best again at book awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Thursday, Jun. 9, 2022

For the fifth time in his career and the second year in a row, Winnipeg novelist David Bergen has won the top prize at the Manitoba Book Awards.

On Thursday, June 9, Bergen was announced as the winner of the McNally Robinson Book of the Year award for his slim novel Out of Mind, published by Goose Lane Editions in September 2021. It follows last year’s win for his story collection Here the Dark; Bergen also won for 1996’s A Year of Lesser, 2005’s The Time in Between and 2009’s The Retreat.

There were a few surprises in terms of winners in some of the other categories, including a pair of prizes that saw two authors share wins. Rowan McCandless’s memoir Persephone’s Children: A Life in Fragments and Jillian Horton’s We Are All Perfectly Fine: A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing shared the Eileen McTavish Sykes award for best first book, while the Margaret Laurence Award for fiction was shared by Patricia Robertson for her story collection Hour of the Crab and Bob Armstrong for his western Prodigies.

The top non-fiction prize, the Alexander Kennedy Isbister award for non-fiction, went to Dadibaajim: Returning Home Through Narrative, by Helen Olsen Agger, while the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book award was won by Seream for his book Mont-Blanc-Winnipeg Express. The Lansdowne prize for poetry was won by Joel Robert Ferguson for The Lost Cafeteria, while the Michael Van Rooy award for genre fiction was won by Catherine Macdonald for her novel So Many Windings.

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Thursday, Jun. 9, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
David Bergen has won the top prize at the Manitoba Book Awards.

English professor’s new memoir an exploration of time, family and fishing

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

English professor’s new memoir an exploration of time, family and fishing

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 7, 2022

In the vast ocean of published memoirs out there, Neil Besner’s might not be the weightiest catch of the day, but it’s certainly a keeper.

Fishing With Tardelli: A Memoir of Family in Time Lost, published in May by ECW Press, is Besner’s brief rumination on time, family and memory. And while the 72-year-old Besner has written plenty about other authors during his decades teaching in the University of Winnipeg’s English department and his years as a freelance book reviewer for the Free Press, this is the first time he has tackled his own story.

“I had written before this — I’ve written songs, a few poems, a short story,” Besner explains while on a recent visit to Winnipeg from Lake of the Woods, where he spends half the year (he lives in Toronto the rest of the time). “I love writing. I had been a closet writer for 60 years… but my job was all-consuming.”

He’ll launch Fishing with Tardelli on Friday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined by Winnipeg poet Dennis Cooley and University of Manitoba professor and writer Warren Cariou. The event will also be streamed to McNally Robinson’s YouTube page.

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Tuesday, Jun. 7, 2022

ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Once Neil Besner retired in 2017, he was able to turn his attention to writing and revising his memoir.

Hotter weather heralded with summer sipping events

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Hotter weather heralded with summer sipping events

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 4, 2022

Summer’s almost here, and while folks head out to the lake or on vacation throughout the warmer months, there’s still plenty to do when it comes to food and drink — locally made and otherwise.

Low Life Barrel House, whose year-long build I wrote about in the Free Press in early May, just released its first batch of wines made from organically grown Ontario grapes. The five initial offerings are all available by the glass or for takeaway by the bottle from the Daly Street facility, and include a white wine made from Riesling and Geisenheim grapes, a sparkling rosé made from Cabernet Franc and Vidal and an orange wine made from Vidal and Gewürztraminer.

Sticking with local wine (including some made with Manitoba grapes, no less), Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co. is collaborating with Loaf and Honey for a wine-and-cheese event taking place Wednesday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. in its tasting room, located at 448-B Brooklyn St. A selection of cheeses will be paired with a range of wines, and Dustin Peltier of Loaf and Honey and Willows Christopher of Shrugging Doctor will talk about their respective products and processes. Tickets are $40 plus taxes and fees are available at wfp.to/shrugdoc.

As the weather heats up, rosé becomes the wine of choice for many, myself included. On Wednesday, June 29, De Luca Fine Wines will host an in-store “Rosé All Day” wine-and-food pairing event which, despite its name, doesn’t actually start until 7 p.m. at the wine store, located at 942 Portage Ave. Tickets are $75 and will feature five rosé wines being poured as well as small bites. For tickets visit wfp.to/roseallday.

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Saturday, Jun. 4, 2022

Liquor-law changes could go a lot further

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Liquor-law changes could go a lot further

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 28, 2022

The provincial government announced this week it will be introducing a bill to modernize Manitoba’s liquor retail system.

This isn’t the first time the province has toyed with tweaking the way booze is sold in our province; last year the Tories introduced Bill 40, which would have significantly changed how and where alcohol is sold, but that bill, more wide-reaching than the expected legislation, was withdrawn in October.

There are plenty of fixes needed in our province’s liquor regulations. Here’s where to start:

Liquor and Lotteries Minister Scott Fielding hinted the proposed legislation may do away with the rule that beer vendors need be connected (either physically or adjacently) to hotels. That’s a no-brainer; it’s an archaic law from a time when a hotel room was needed in order to be able to sell booze, presumably so that someone could go sleep off the good times, if needed.

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Saturday, May. 28, 2022

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
There are plenty of fixes needed in our province’s liquor regulations.

Taste some ripping Chardonnays for a good cause

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Taste some ripping Chardonnays for a good cause

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 21, 2022

The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is holding a Chardonnay tasting for a very good cause — and you’re invited.

Rebecca Lechman, a sommelier and wine educator at private wine store Jones & Company, passed away suddenly in March 2020. Lechman was quite active in the local wine community and had a particular fondness for Chardonnay. In her honour the local CAPS contingent has created the Rebecca Lechman memorial bursary, a $1,000 award that will be presented annually to a female looking to further her education in the wine or hospitality trades.

With International Chardonnay Day falling on Thursday, May 26, the Manitoba CAPS chapter will be serving up all manner of Chardonnays that day at Tony Roma’s at 1500 Pembina Hwy. from 1-3 p.m. Tickets are $40 for non-members, $30 for CAPS members or, for those who can’t make it, $20 for a support ticket. Proceeds will go towards the funding of the bursary.

CAPS Manitoba puts on a number of events that are typically informal, educational and fun — and you don’t need to be a sommelier to become a member. For more info see wfp.to/capsmb. For information on the Chardonnay tasting and for tickets, see wfp.to/lechman.

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Saturday, May. 21, 2022

Apple of their eye

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Apple of their eye

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, May. 14, 2022

Set aside some precious gas money now, cider lovers, as next weekend you might want to make the trek to the Morden-Winkler area of the province when Dead Horse Cider Co. opens its indoor/outdoor taproom to the public for the first time on Saturday, May 21.

Dead Horse is one of many local producers now making cider, including Next Friend Cider (out of Barn Hammer’s facilities), Shrugging Doctor, Stone Angel Brewing Co. and Little Brown Jug in Winnipeg, as well as Wooden Gate, located near Pilot Mound. Some producers are focusing on local apples, while others are importing fruit from Ontario and/or British Columbia.

For more information on Dead Horse’s taproom, including how to get there, see deadhorsecider.com/taproom.

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Saturday, May. 14, 2022

Maxwell Smart photo
Dead Horse Cider Co. will open an indoor/outdoor taproom on May 21.

Who needs flowers when there’s wine?

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Who needs flowers when there’s wine?

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 7, 2022

Don’t feel like standing in line for flowers at the grocery store/florist this Mother’s Day? Forgot to make that brunch reservation weeks ago? (What is it about Mother’s Day and brunch that they’re so interconnected anyway?)

Fear not, as there are plenty of other options out there for mom this year, particularly if she enjoys a good tipple.

A gift basket’s always a safe and appreciated bet, and a number of private wine stores have pulled together a bevy of baskets filled with wine and fun accessories and/or snacks for mom. Kenaston Wine Market, De Luca Fine Wines and Calabria Market, for example, all have Mother’s Day baskets listed on their respective websites, and La Boutique del Vino has even added gift baskets for mom to its SkipTheDishes page. Most other private stores, meanwhile, will gladly throw together something nice for you in a pinch.

It’s always fun to learn about wine in a relaxed, casual environment, so why not get mom tickets to an upcoming education session? Liquor Marts will feature the wines of southern France on Thursday, May 26, in a virtual tasting that kicks off at 6:45 p.m. The tasting box costs $81.66 and includes four wines in a range of styles — for more and to order one for mom, visit liquormarts.ca.

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Saturday, May. 7, 2022

Dreamstime
Wine is a good option for a Mother’s Day gift.

A year in the life of Winnipeg entrepreneurs building unique brewpub experience

Ben Sigurdson 28 minute read Preview

A year in the life of Winnipeg entrepreneurs building unique brewpub experience

Ben Sigurdson 28 minute read Friday, May. 6, 2022

It’s a rainy Friday night in late April and most of the tables at Low Life Barrel House’s brand-new space are occupied for the brewery’s soft opening, where staff are pouring eight beers and two varieties of a fizzy grape-based beverage called piquette.

Among those surveying the room is Adam Carson, co-founder of Low Life with Tyler Birch of Barn Hammer Brewing Co.

There’s brewer Chris Young, one of the quieter members of the Low Life crew, who pops his head out from the brewing area in the back to periodically say hello.

Jesse Oberman, Low Life’s winemaker and assistant brewer (as well as the brains behind Next Friend Cider — a project that sees him foraging fruit from backyard trees and turning them into cider), is more the extrovert type, chatting away with anyone within earshot.

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Friday, May. 6, 2022

Doc’s memoir, novel up for book of the year

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

Doc’s memoir, novel up for book of the year

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Friday, May. 6, 2022

The true story of a burned-out Winnipeg doctor’s stay at a New York state retreat and an intergenerational novel about the frayed connections of family lead the Manitoba Book Awards with three nods each — including both being in the running for best book of the year.

Dr. Jillian Horton’s We Are All Perfectly Fine: A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing and Katherena Vermette’s novel The Strangers topped the short list of books in the running for the Manitoba Book Awards, whose winners will be announced online June 9 at 11 a.m.

In addition to being in the running for the McNally Robinson Book of the Year award, Horton’s memoir is among the finalists for the Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction, as well as the Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book. The Strangers, meanwhile, landed on the list for the book of the year, the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction and the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award. The Strangers won the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust fiction prize in 2021.

Other finalists for the McNally Robinson Book of the Year are Clayton Thomas-Müller’s memoir Life in the City of Dirty Water, Lori Cayer’s poetry collection Searching for Signal, poet Dennis Cooley and photographer/composer Michael Matthews’ collaboration Gibbous Moon and David Bergen’s novel Out of Mind. Bergen won the top prize in 2021 for his story collection Here the Dark.

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Friday, May. 6, 2022

Lisa Delorme Meiler photo
Katherena Vermette’s The Strangers is up for three Manitoba Book Awards.

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, May. 5, 2022

Manitoba Metalfest rages onWhen: May 13-14, doors at 6 p.m.Where: Park TheatreTickets: $30 cover or $50 for a two-day pass

Manitoba Metalfest — the annual celebration of loud, heavy and hardcore music — returns to the Park Theatre next weekend after a two-year hiatus amid the pandemic. The two-day festival features a mostly Canadian and largely local lineup.

Headlining Friday night is thrash metal band Razor, from Guelph, Ont. Also joining the bill is Exciter, Striker and Outre-Tombe; as well as Winnipeg’s Zombie Assault, Entity and Regurgitated Guts.

Montreal’s Juno Award-winning group Kataklysm will headline Saturday, along with Cryptopsy, Sunless (from Minneapolis) and local acts Inhumed, Murder Capital, Perlocution and Hopscotchbattlescars.

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Thursday, May. 5, 2022

Canadian wine growers rise to the challenge presented by extreme weather conditions

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Canadian wine growers rise to the challenge presented by extreme weather conditions

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

This past winter (and, so far, this spring) on the Prairies has proven to be quite the roller-coaster ride weather-wise. From long periods of deep-freeze temperatures to excesses of snow, a brief melt and then a seemingly endless number of Colorado lows bringing precipitation that has flooded basements (including mine) and helped damage roadways, it’s been a tough number of months.

Of course, we’re not the only ones struggling with increasingly extreme weather — thanks to climate change, winemaking regions have come to find the only predictable aspect of a growing season is its very unpredictability.

Such was the case in 2021 for Canada’s two main wine-producing regions — while wineries in both regions are expected to produce some very good wines, Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley both suffered extreme weather events at different points in the growing season, enduring what most grape-growers, viticulturalists and winemakers are diplomatically calling a “challenging” 2021.

In Ontario, producers went into spring with high hopes after a relatively dry winter. Things kicked off fairly well, with early days ending up being warm and dry. When summer kicked in, things were still looking good — the lack of rain persisted as temperatures rose, and all seemed to be on track for an uneventful, relatively early harvest.

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Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

Wines of British Columbia
After smoke from wildfires cleared, B.C.’s Okanagan Valley ended up in a heat dome, experiencing a period of record-setting temperatures.

Emily St. John Mandel’s time-travel novel weaves beauty, humanity through centuries

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Emily St. John Mandel’s time-travel novel weaves beauty, humanity through centuries

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

Time travel, lunar colonies, pandemics (plural), a potential corruption in what is thought to be reality and more: writing an elevator pitch for Emily St. John Mandel’s latest novel, Sea of Tranquility, would be a most unenviable task.

Such wide-reaching, ambitious scope might make one think the Canadian-born, New York-based author’s latest must be a sprawling doorstopper of a book. But St. John Mandel’s taut, thoughtful prose keeps things under 300 pages, a propulsive read that often favours feeling over detail. Written shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, she offers ruminations on parenthood, family and isolation throughout.

St. John Mandel’s fourth novel, 2014’s Station Eleven, featured a post-pandemic society where civilization has collapsed, nature is healing and the importance of art is highlighted. It was a runaway bestseller, and saw a resurgence in sales as our real-life pandemic unfolded, bolstered by last year’s gorgeous HBO adaptation. Her next novel, 2020’s The Glass Hotel, chronicled a Ponzi scheme and the impact it had across a range of characters (living and dead). It was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and, like Sea of Tranquility, has been slated for adaptation for TV at HBO, by the same creative team behind Station Eleven. St. John Mandel’s latest references both previous books, albeit in different ways.

Sea of Tranquility opens in 1912, the oldest of the book’s timelines. We meet Edwin St. John St. Andrew, recently exiled from his home in England and starting over in Canada. Edwin starts in Halifax then settles in Victoria before heading to the remote B.C. settlement of Caiette (also a setting in The Glass Hotel).

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Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

Sarah Shatz photo
Emily St. John Mandel’s propulsive prose brings an understated, lyrical beauty.

Lots of news with this city’s brews

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Lots of news with this city’s brews

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022

There always seem to be some sort of developments on the local drinks front, particularly when it comes to craft beer.

Over the last year I’ve been checking in with Low Life Barrel House’s progress as it builds its brewery at 398 Daly St. N., just off Pembina Hwy. Low Life began brewing out of Barn Hammer’s Wall St. facility, and is hoping to have its paperwork/inspections approved and sorted in the next week or so, meaning it could be pouring pints in their gorgeous new taproom, complete with 13 large oak foeders for aging their beer, as early as this coming week. It’s also aiming to add a patio as (if?) the weather improves.

Watch for a big feature on Low Life’s progress in the 49.8 section of the Free Press, coming soon.

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Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
Some of the 13 large oak foeders at Low Life Barrel House’s taproom, slated to open in the coming weeks, are already full of beer.

Whatever the weather, wine will warm Easter table

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Whatever the weather, wine will warm Easter table

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 16, 2022

Between the ongoing pandemic and a wintry April wallop that’s sure to derail even the best-laid plans, there’s every chance this Easter weekend could be a lot like the last two — folks scrambling, hunkered down at home, unable to gather with extended family and friends.

The blizzard effect also means folks might not be able to get out shopping for drinks to match with their celebratory meal— or even ingredients for the big dinner itself.

So whether you’re going traditional Easter dinner or winging it with what’s on hand, here are some flavours that will suit a wide range of palates and dishes, and which may at least put thoughts of spring in your glass — even if the scene outside screams otherwise.

On the beer front, something with a little spice would work well with your typical Easter dinner, and a saison tends to bring that component in spades. The Little Brown Jug Saison (Winnipeg — $4.24/473ml can, brewery), is the brewery’s first foray into the style, and they’ve done a solid job. Medium-deep gold in colour and clear, this saison brings the brewery’s signature clovey aromas along with fresh malt notes, a peppery component from the use of rye grains and hints of banana candy. It’s mainly dry and fairly robust, with plenty of clove/spice/pepper to go with the fresh malt and subtle banana candy notes before the long-ish finish thanks to the 6.4 per cent alcohol. Beyond individual cans from the brewery, the saison is also in the Little Brown Jug Good Times Variety Pack Summer 2022, available at Liquor Marts, vendors and the brewery. It’s $28.68 for eight 473-ml cans — two of each of the saison, IPA, black lager and Hefeweizen, so even if saisons aren’t your thing, you’re sure to find something to your tastes. ★★★★ out of five

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Saturday, Apr. 16, 2022

Tasting events set to return to whatever normal there is

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Tasting events set to return to whatever normal there is

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Friday, Apr. 8, 2022

Two-plus years of virtual get-togethers and tasting wine, beer and spirits in front of laptops and over Zoom has made the notion of big in-person events seem like some sort of long-ago fever dream. But a trio of local drinks festivals are moving full-steam ahead in the hopes folks will feel comfortable enough with a return to normal — whatever that means anymore.

The Winnipeg Wine Festival recently announced it’s returning for in-person tastings and dinners this fall, with events running from Sept. 17-24 at locations throughout the city. The fest will kick off with the annual gala dinner and auction on Sept. 17 at the RBC Convention Centre, will be followed up by a range of ancillary events at various venues throughout the week, then will return to the convention centre for the big public tastings on Sept. 23 and 24.

The feature region this year will be Argentina, which was supposed to have been in the spotlight for the 2020 fest, which was postponed and then cancelled. Last year saw a couple of smaller standalone festival-related wine events when restrictions were loosened, but otherwise this fall will mark the return of the big show, if you will — which is good for Special Olympics Manitoba, as the fest is one of their primary fundraising events.

In the meantime, the Winnipeg Wine Festival has two events in the more recent future to whet your whistle. On Thursday, April 21, X-Cues Café & Lounge (551 Sargent Ave.) will host a four-course wine dinner featuring wines from Argentine producer Trivento. Then on Sunday, May 1, the “Rosé the Day Away” event will feature all manner of pink wines being poured at the Fort Garry Hotel’s Crystal ballroom. For more details see winnipegwinefestival.com.

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Friday, Apr. 8, 2022

A trio of local drinks festivals are moving full-steam ahead. (Free Press files)

Lighten up, beer lovers: time for paler, less boozy brews

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Lighten up, beer lovers: time for paler, less boozy brews

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 3, 2022

The hint of spring in the air brings with it a sense of optimism about the season of beers to come.

This year, the path into warmer weather has more options than ever for craft beer lovers. Among the developments: Low Life Barrel House is nearly set to open its Daly Street North brewery and taproom; Devil May Care is shooting for a June launch of its Fort Steet facility; Interlake Brewing Co. will likely open its doors on Gimli’s main drag at some point this year; and the Beer Can at the Granite looks to be coming back for another year.

The coming season of beer is looking good, with the Flatlander’s Beer Festival returning to Canada Life Centre on June 17 and 18. And the planned return of the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival and Winnipeg Fringe Festival beer gardens at Old Market Square in mid-June and mid-July, respectively, means more chances to enjoy a cold one outdoors in the Exchange District, while Winnipeg Folk Festival fans will be sipping on Little Brown Jug beers at Birds Hill Park July 7-10.

• • •

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Sunday, Apr. 3, 2022

From left: Sookram’s Mellow Greeting Lemon Gose, Barn Hammer Paloma Sour, Torque Purple City Lavender Sour, One Great City Homebass, Handsome Lad Palomino Club Cerveza, Half Pints Spring Equinox IPA

Tastings set to make triumphant post-pandemic comeback

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Tastings set to make triumphant post-pandemic comeback

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 26, 2022

As things begin to once again open up, purveyors of drinks in Manitoba have started reintroducing in-person tastings alongside the virtual options the pandemic ushered in.

Manitoba Liquor Marts are sticking to virtual tastings for now, with a pair of upcoming tastings that should appeal to all manner of palates. The first is dubbed The Mash Up — it takes place this Tuesday, March 29 starting at 6:45 p.m., and features a range of wine, beer and sake for folks to taste through, as well as a guided virtual tasting. Tickets are $57.54 plus taxes. Then on Thursday, April 21, the Rosé Revolution will take folks through a wide range of pink wines starting at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $74.96 plus taxes; registration for both events and more info is at liquormarts.ca.

Private wine stores have plenty going on when it comes to tastings — both in-person and virtual — as well. Jones & Company, in conjunction with Wine and Drinks College Manitoba, is offering levels 1, 2 and 3 in the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) courses, the gold standard for those working in the wine/restaurant/hospitality biz and a great learning experience for hobbyists as well. Both levels 1 and 2 in-person classes start in late April at the St. Mary’s Rd. store, and start at $399 per course and include learning materials (which includes wine); for more, see wfp.to/jonesevents.

Andrea Eby of Vinsanity, formerly of Jones & Co., is also offering WSET level 2 (the first level isn’t a prerequisite, by the way) in person on April 29, 30 and May 1 via The Winehouse (1600 Kenaston Blvd.). Level 2 starts at $899 plus taxes and includes books/wine. For more details see vinsanity.ca.

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Saturday, Mar. 26, 2022

Canadian-born first lady of Iceland explores path to gender equality in Nordic nation

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Canadian-born first lady of Iceland explores path to gender equality in Nordic nation

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022

In Iceland, the word “sprakkar” means extraordinary women.

It’s not a commonly used term — yet. That could change Eliza Reid has anything to do with it.

In her book Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, published in English in February by Simon & Schuster, the 45-year-old Reid weaves together the stories of Icelandic women in all walks of life to show how the country has excelled in some areas of gender equality — and the work that remains to be done in others.

Reid launches Secrets of the Sprakkar virtually on Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m. in an event hosted by author Terry Fallis and presented in association with McNally Robinson Booksellers.

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Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022

Arnaldur Halldorsson / Bloomberg News
Iceland constantly ranks among the most gender-equal nations per capita in a wide range of measurements — from parental leave to gender balance in the workplace to LGBTTQ* rights and beyond.

Ten tasty tipples to toast the coming spring

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Ten tasty tipples to toast the coming spring

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022

The mercury continues to rise, slushy brown lakes are rising on streets and sidewalks, and folks are frantically shovelling snow away from their houses in fear of basement flooding. Spring is nearly upon us, it would seem (save for the standard last-minute deep freeze that’s sure to come).

Hardy Manitobans that we are, the first path through the snow that we clear is often straight to the barbecue. If your propane’s topped up and you scraped off the grill, here are 10 wines — whites, reds and even a rosé — in a wide range of styles (arranged roughly from lightest to heaviest) and from 10 different countries which will go well with all manner of grilled fare, or simply to toast the longer, warmer days to come.

Villa Maria 2021 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand - $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Fresh grapefruit, lemon pith, tart green apple and hints of cut grass are front and centre on the nose of this very pale straw-coloured New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The ripeness of the fruit is impressive, with gooseberry, grapefruit, green apple and lime coming with mouth-watering acidity and verve before a medium-length finish. Very nicely done, especially while it’s on sale for $17.99 (until the end of March). ★★★★ out of five

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Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022

Singer Bruce Dickinson’s spoken-word show takes audience on a journey

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Singer Bruce Dickinson’s spoken-word show takes audience on a journey

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 18, 2022

Bruce Dickinson’s got a lot on his mind, not the least of which are his rock and roll trousers.

The long-haired, 63-year-old Brit is best known as the frontman for heavy metal icons Iron Maiden, but he is no one-trick pony — Dickinson is a polymath if there ever were one. In addition to being able to belt out hits such as Run to the Hills, The Trooper and Aces High across four octaves with the multimillion-selling Iron Maiden, Dickinson is a competitive fencer, podcaster, pilot and aviation buff, brewer, bestselling author and much, much more.

Dickinson brings his one-man spoken-word show to the Burton Cummings Theatre on Sunday as part of the last leg of his lengthy solo tour, which started in January in Florida and winds up March 30 in Kitchener, Ont.

And while Dickinson’s current show doesn’t deliver the blazing guitars and big pyrotechnics of an Iron Maiden arena show, it’s by no means a leisurely walk in the park.

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Friday, Mar. 18, 2022

Supplied photo
Iron Maiden frontman/pilot Bruce Dickinson gets a lot of questions about aviation at his spoken-word shows.

After two years, St. Patrick will finally get his due

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

After two years, St. Patrick will finally get his due

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2022

For purveyors of and participants in St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it’s been a couple of years since Irish eyes have been smiling.

Just a day before festivities were set to take place in March 2020, fast-changing developments regarding COVID-19 — which had just been declared a pandemic on March 11 — saw pubs close their doors, artists cancel gigs and folks hunkering down and staying home.

When St. Patrick’s Day 2021 came around, restrictions on gatherings, households and the like meant there still weren’t many opportunities to hoist a pint with pals.

With restrictions on masking, vaccinations and gathering sizes all shed in the past weeks and COVID-related numbers looking somewhat promising — for now — St. Patrick’s Day 2022 could be the cèilidh to end all cèilidhs and there may yet be a wee bit of gold to be found at the end of the proverbial rainbow.

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Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2022

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Jay Gilgour, owner of Fionn MacCool’s Restaurant and Pub, is getting ready for the first full-on St. Patrick’s Day celebration to take place in two years.

Grenache… the lesser-known grape with panache

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Grenache… the lesser-known grape with panache

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Friday, Mar. 11, 2022

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir — when it comes to red wine grapes, these are the big guns. They’re widely planted, well-known the world over and have legions of fans.

But there’s one red wine grape that’s often overlooked in the conversation of the best of the best — Grenache. That it’s so often overlooked in terms of top red wine grapes is perhaps because it’s an incredibly versatile grape made in a wide range of styles, and which often shows up in blends with other grapes rather than on its own (although it’s certainly tasty solo).

In terms of worldwide wine grape plantings of both white and red grapes, Grenache sits around number seven of the top 10, with somewhere around 400,000 acres planted globally, although acreage devoted to the grape appears to be slipping. Grenache is typically vibrant ruby-purple in colour when young, and flavour-wise sits somewhere between the red berry-driven flavours of Gamay and the deep, black-fruit dominant notes of Malbec, bringing the best of both worlds, often with a splash of acidity and an herbal or leafy edge.

Grenache tends to do well in climates that are hot and dry, where it can enjoy a long growing season without a great deal of rain or irrigation. Long, hot growing seasons often result in grapes witih great ripeness. More ripeness means more sugar in the fruit, which in turn means more work for yeast to do in converting sugar to alcohol. This means Grenache-based wines often bring alcohol levels of 14 per cent or more. And Grenache vines are workhorses; when well tended, they can continue to produce fruit suited for wine, albeit with increasingly lower yields, for decades or even up to a century.

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Friday, Mar. 11, 2022

Craft breweries tap into $1M in federal funds for expansion

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

Craft breweries tap into $1M in federal funds for expansion

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Friday, Mar. 11, 2022

A pair of downtown breweries have tapped into nearly $1 million in federal funds in order to expand production capacity, explore new markets and streamline operations.

On Thursday, Dan Vandal, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced Little Brown Jug Brewing Co. and Nonsuch Brewing Co. received funds from the government’s Business Scale-Up and Productivity Fund, which offers assistance to businesses looking to scale up and potentially break into other markets. After approved projects are completed, businesses are given a one-year grace period before paying back the funds interest free.

“PrairiesCan is all about investing in industries that are growing, that are going to create new jobs, local jobs,” Vandal said while on a tour of Little Brown Jug’s William Avenue brewery and taproom. “The craft beer industry in Winnipeg and Manitoba has shown a lot of life.”

Little Brown Jug received $400,000 from the fund, which helped fast track the addition of four 80-hectolitre tanks, ramping up their production capacity significantly. They also expanded their on-site lab capacity for product testing, and will be pursuing market development initiatives beyond Manitoba.

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Friday, Mar. 11, 2022

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
Little Brown Jug founder Kevin Selch (right) gives a brewery tour to Dan Vandal (left), the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and assistant deputyminister Sean Barr.

New tastes, taps and spirits for the drinks geek in all of us

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

New tastes, taps and spirits for the drinks geek in all of us

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 5, 2022

The craft drinks scene in Manitoba continues to grow and evolve, with plenty of developments that should have drinks geeks thirsty for new flavours…

Speaking of geeks, Full Geek Brew Lab, the project of James Mont and Cory Bartell, has set up their tanks at Stone Angel Brewing Co. at 1875 Pembina Hwy. Their first canned product, the Elysium pale ale, is now available from Stone Angel’s taproom as well as the Quality Inns Craft Beer Market at 635 Pembina Hwy. Full tasting notes on this release to come, but having sampled a test batch I can attest this is a solid, proper pale.

According to Full Geek’s website (fullgeekbrewlab.com), the next beer slated for release is the Helios hazy IPA.

● ● ●

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Saturday, Mar. 5, 2022

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSGood Neighbour Brewing co-owners Morgan Wielgosz (left), who is also the brew master, and Amber Sarraillon.

Power play

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Power play

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

You’d be hard pressed to find a more timely release than Darryl Cunningham’s Putin’s Russia: The Rise of a Dictator. As Russian forces push into Ukraine, the situation changing hour by hour as the death toll rises, Cunningham combines starkly drawn images with no-nonsense text (and, admirably, a bit of humour) in a pull-no-punches account of Vladimir Putin’s rise to prominence and iron-fisted grip on power.

Granted, it’s not like Putin is just landing in the headlines for the first time as a result of actions ranging from questionable (see: various shirtless photo ops) to abhorrent. For years the 69-year-old Putin has been doing and taking what he wants, when he wants it, no matter what the cost — perhaps we in the West simply haven’t paying enough attention.

Cunningham’s 2021 graphic novel, Billionaires: The Lives of the Rich and Powerful honed in on Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, oil and gas men David and Charles Koch and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. In his latest, the British cartoonist and author’s sights are squarely set on a man whose net worth is estimated at $200 billion, but is likely far higher.

Working mostly chronologically through Putin’s life, Cunningham makes clear that little is known for certain about the early years — the bulk of what is known comes from a series of interviews Putin gave in 2000 and his subsequent memoir, First Person. Born Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in 1952 in St. Petersberg (then Leningrad), young Putin was short in stature but scrappy and prone to vicious tactics when in a tussle.

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Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

What’s in that wine, anyway?

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

What’s in that wine, anyway?

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

If you had to guess what was in your favourite bottle of wine, naturally the first ingredient you’d think of is grapes.

But last week’s Uncorked about organic viticulture and winemaking got me thinking about how little we know about what else might happen to be in a particular bottle of wine.

With the exception of sulfites, unlike most food products in Canada, wine, beer and spirits aren’t made to list ingredients on the label or anywhere else. (Coolers, pre-mixed cocktails and the like do.) When I review a wine, I’ll often visit the winery website to try to find what’s called a tech sheet — a one-page document that details the oak aging regimen, the alcohol level, the pH level, the ways in which the grapes were picked, maybe some info about the vintage and more. But I’ve never found an itemized list of ingredients that are in a wine.

Beyond fermented grape juice, what else is in your bottle of wine? The first place to start is yeast, the ingredient that converts the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol in the first place. While some producers opt to go with the naturally occurring yeast found on grapes, which is how wine was made for centuries (and discovered by accident way back when), the bulk of the wines made these days feature commercial yeast added to spur fermentation.

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Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

Luis Hidalgo / Associated Press files
Winemakers have to abide by certain rules regarding claims about the wine being organic, but aren’t required to provide a detailed list of ingredients.

Cosy up with a cocktail

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Cosy up with a cocktail

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022

The incessant snowfall and bone-chilling temperatures this month have made it feel like February has been about 75 days long — and March is still nearly a week away.

If there’s anything that can help beat the chill of yet another round of shovelling the white stuff, it’s the warmth of a good wintry cocktail — not necessarily a hot toddy so much as a slightly boozier beverage that warms from the inside.

Our drinking habits tend to change with the seasons — summer, for example, calls for lighter whites and rosés for wine, easygoing pilsners and lagers for beer. With cocktails, it would seem, it’s much the same.

“When the weather cools down, your average customer might not even realize they’re doing this, but they tend towards anything stirred and boozy: old fashioneds, Manhattans, martinis and also aged spirits — your aged rums, whiskies… any brown liquors,” says Callan Anderson, general manager and bartender at Patent 5 Distillery.

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Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press

A group of Patent 5’s ready made cocktails available at Patent 5 distillery in the Exchange District Friday

February 18, 2022

Not every ‘organic’ wine is as pure as the name suggests

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Not every ‘organic’ wine is as pure as the name suggests

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022

As consumers continue to pay increased attention to what we’re putting in our bodies, more producers are introducing organic options to their lineup of products, or simply switching to organic production altogether.

It’s as true at the grocery store as it is at your local Liquor Mart or private wine store. An increasing number of organic options are available from every corner of the wine-producing world.

But not all organic wines are created equal — or, for that matter, labeled the same. Navigating organic wines while shopping requires examining the info on the back label and perhaps using your phone to quickly peruse a winery website to learn more.

Like most commercial agricultural crops, growing grapes for making wine requires management of pests, weeds, soil and more. Non-organic grape growers often employ some combination of chemical fertilizers as well as herbicides, fungicides and pesticides to deal with weeds/grasses, mildew and insects (respectively).

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Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022

(Glenn Lowson / Canwest News Service files)

Chris Jones’ new book champions creativity over soulless stats, analytics

by Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Chris Jones’ new book champions creativity over soulless stats, analytics

by Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

Michael Lewis’ 2003 book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game chronicled how the 2002 Oakland Athletics used quantitative analysis to help the small-budget team compete with the big dogs. The 2011 film based on the book, starring Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jonah Hill, took the world of analytics to the mainstream in a big way.

Today, empirical analysis like that used by the A’s is used in all manner of sports, and a growing number of other industries, by those looking to get a competitive edge.

For writer (and baseball fan) Chris Jones, the increased attention to the power of numbers isn’t entirely a bad thing. He just doesn’t want us to forget that the black-and-white of numbers can’t always measure the sometimes-imperfect, often-intangible nature of what it is to be human.

In Jones’s new book The Eye Test: A Case for Human Creativity in the Age of Analytics, The Port Hope, Ont.-based author explores the ways in which analytics don’t always get it right — that predictions based on what has happened in the past can’t always account for the unknown of the future. Venturing well beyond baseball and into the worlds of game shows, Hollywood, weather forecasting, astronauts, politics, money and more, Jones details cases where our imagination, ingenuity, adaptability and curiosity — our eye test — fills in the gaps that quantitative analysis simply can’t manage.

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Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

Charlie Riedel / The Associated Press files
In this 2006 photo, Oakland Athletics pitcher Barry Zito delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals. In December of that year, Zito signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with the San Francisco Giants that proved to be a bust.

Micro brews to balance your macro Super Bowl spread

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Micro brews to balance your macro Super Bowl spread

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

Break out the chips and guac, the seven-layer dip, your best hot wings and a mountain of meatballs — it’s Super Bowl weekend.

And while your culinary choices might be more 50 shades of beige than Canada’s food guide might prefer — I see you, delicious jalapeño poppers — your choice of beverage need not be bland or boring.

You also needn’t toss money at big global macro breweries seemingly more interested in clever marketing campaigns during the big game than brewing interesting beer. Instead, you can support local craft brewers while cheering on the Los Angeles Rams or Cincinnati Bengals (yes, I had to Google that).

Beyond hearty winter brews (big hop-driven IPAs, high-octane Russian imperial stouts, dessert beers and the like), there are plenty of local options when it comes to easy-going, accessible lagers and pilsners — perfect for washing down all manner of football food.

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Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

SUPPLIED
But which local pilsner or lager? Tougher than deciding whether to cheer for the Rams or Bengals on Sunday.

Say ‘Be my Valentine’ with some big, bold flavours

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Say ‘Be my Valentine’ with some big, bold flavours

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022

It’s February, which means love is in the air — or maybe those are just ice crystals.

While we’ve been hammered by intense cold and buried under piles of snow, you can’t keep Cupid down, even if it means a touch of frostbite on the cherub’s chubby cheeks. And if Valentine’s Day is something you enjoy celebrating, either with that special someone or otherwise, there’s no tastier way to keep warm than with some choice drinks options.

If you’re hankering for a taste of warmer weather and want a sweet/tart cocktail with your sweetheart, the Farmery Estate Brewery Pink Kiss (Neepawa — $34.99/750ml bottle, Liquor Marts, brewery) might fit the bill. A lemonade-infused vodka, it’s pale cotton-candy pink in appearance and opaque, with an almost candy floss note to go with the lemon candy and boozy aromas. On its own it’s medium-sweet and viscous, with the lemon candy component bringing both acidity and sweetness, and there’s plenty of warmth on the 30 per cent alcohol finish. Mix with some soda water to bring down the heat and sweetness. (As per usual with spirits/cocktails, no rating.)

If a rich, hearty brew might get you in the mood, it’s worth checking out the Torque Brewing Bellhop Vanilla Bourbon Porter (Winnipeg — $4.25/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors). Brewed with vanilla and “aged on bourbon-soaked oak” (says the brewery), the roasted malt, dark chocolate and mocha aromas work beautifully with the vanilla bean and slightly woody, resinous bourbon notes. It’s medium-plus bodied and off-dry, with the vanilla ramping up the sweetness on the chocolate, the modest bitterness adding a hint of bite and the subtle spice of the bourbon component showing well — in fact, the 4.8 per cent alcohol is lower than you might expect with the bourbon treatment (not a bad thing). Devilishly drinkable on its own or as an after-dinner brew with your sweetie and some chocolate. ★★★★ out of 5

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Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022

Venture brings together chefs, brewers, builders for new restaurant, taproom

Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney 11 minute read Preview

Venture brings together chefs, brewers, builders for new restaurant, taproom

Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney 11 minute read Friday, Feb. 4, 2022

If two heads are better than one, six heads must be downright revolutionary.

At least that’s the thinking behind One Sixteen, a new West Broadway taproom, wine bar and restaurant that brings three nomadic businesses together under one fixed address.

The venture at 116 Sherbrook St. is a collaboration among the founders of the Beer Can, Good Neighbour Brewing and Two Hands Catering.

“A lot of people have asked why we’d put our taproom in a space that houses two or three other brands or businesses. I think that’s a big part of what Good Neighbour is about: collaboration, supporting other people,” says Amber Sarraillon, who runs the brewery with partner Morgan Wielgosz. “It’s something we’re really passionate about.”

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Friday, Feb. 4, 2022

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSNeal McDonald (from left), Keegan Misanchuk, Michael Robins, Amber Sarraillon, Morgan Wielgosz, Rob Stansel and Brad Chute.

Go big and go home with these boxed wines

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Go big and go home with these boxed wines

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022

Whether you’re trying to avoid the deep freeze, are hesitant to do too much in-person shopping or are simply looking to save a few bucks after a pricey holiday season, larger-format wines are convenient and cost-effective.

But not all big bottles and bag-in-box options are created equal, and many are just plain boring — or worse. The boxed wines featured in the “bottled and blended in Canada” section of your favourite shop, for example, tend to be particularly uninspired. They’re typically made from a blend of domestic and international juice, the latter shipped here from South America or California or elsewhere in massive tanks and assembled in Canada before making their way to your favourite store. And while they tend to be good values (and some even taste not too bad), they’re not particularly inspiring, and tarnish the reputation of our producers who make wines from 100 per cent Canadian grapes.

With that in mind, I set out to figure out what else is available in larger-quantity formats but which hopefully wouldn’t sacrifice quality, with somewhat mixed results…

The Black Box line of wines are sourced from a variety of countries based on the grape variety in the box — Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, Malbec from Argentina and so on. From the Golden State comes the Black Box 2020 Pinot Grigio (California, U.S. — $40.99/3L box, Liquor Marts and beyond), which is pale straw in colour and offers pear and peach notes front and centre aromatically, with some secondary floral and spiced red apple notes that are appealing. On the light-plus bodied, almost-off-dry palate the simple apple and pear flavours dominate, with just a splash of lemon and spice before the short finish. It’s decent but a bit uninspired; if you want to try it for yourself before loading up, they also offer the same wine in a 500ml juice box-type container for $8.99. ★★1/2 out of five 

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Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022

Black Box Pinot Grigio

Choosing wisely key to supporting four pillars of taste

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Choosing wisely key to supporting four pillars of taste

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022

In her 2017 cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat, American chef Samin Nosrat looks at the four titular core elements, the ways in which at least one of them is key to practically any recipe/dish and how to master each to improve your home culinary skills. The book, illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton, quickly became a bestseller, and went on to become the basis for Nosrat’s (excellent) four-part Netflix series of the same name.

And while there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing food and wine, it can be useful to consider these four pillars of food when picking a wine to go with your meal.

SaltGenerally speaking, salty dishes do well with bright, fresh wines with good intensity of flavour. Briny, salty oysters as well as lighter fish dishes, chips, nuts or popcorn work particularly well with a bone-dry sparkling wine as well as moderately or unoaked Chardonnay, an aromatic Muscadet, a dry and racy sherry or white blends from countries such as Spain, Portugal or Greece. Red wine and salty food can be a bit trickier, but generally speaking a Pinot Noir can work on the lighter end of the spectrum, while a Syrah/Shiraz can do the trick when you want a more full-bodied red.

FatWhen it comes to richer, fattier dishes, there’s plenty of room to play with wine pairings based on texture. A creamy alfredo sauce, for example, can work brilliantly with a simple Italian white wine (Pinot Grigio, Soave, Orvieto and the like) that can cut through the fat; adversely, going with a richer wine — an oaked Chardonnay or a tropical, viscous Viognier — will ramp up the texture of both food and wine.

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Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022

NetflixSamin Nosrat (right) stars in Netflix's cooking show, Salt Fat Acid Heat.

Post-apocalyptic novel commands timely second look

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Post-apocalyptic novel commands timely second look

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022

The Free Press Book Club, in conjunction with McNally Robinson Booksellers, is pleased to welcome Anishinaabe author Waubgeshig Rice to the first virtual meeting of 2022 on Monday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. to read from and discuss his novel Moon of the Crusted Snow.

Published in October 2018 by ECW Press, the novel chronicles the struggles of a northern Anishinaabe community as they cope with the fallout of a mysterious apocalyptic event in the south that has knocked out power and communications — just as winter is about to set in. The story’s protagonist, Evan Whitesky, is thrust into a key role in the community as the outages stretch on and supplies become scarce.

The leadership dynamics begin to shift, falter and crack as the months wear on and members of the community succumb to illness. When a mysterious visitor arrives from the south, decisions must be made that risk potentially dire consequences.

The 42-year-old Rice, who hails from Wasauksing First Nation and splits his time there and in Sudbury, Ont., may be most familiar to Winnipeggers for his time working as a CBC reporter in Manitoba. When Moon of the Crusted Snow was first published, his primary gig was still with the CBC, as the host of the Radio One program Up North. “Writing fiction was something I did on the side, mostly for fun,” he explains by phone from his home in Sudbury. “I never really imagined that it would take over and become my full-time gig.”

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Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022

Supplied
Waubgeshig Rice says it’s weird and fortuitous to have his 2018 novel ‘back on bestseller lists, have people discussing it again, looking at how it relates to the pandemic.’

Manitoba-made Crown Royal crowned whisky of the year

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Manitoba-made Crown Royal crowned whisky of the year

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022

Crown Royal has once again nabbed some serious hardware for their Manitoba-made whisky.

The Gimli-based distillery, owned by international drinks giant Diageo, took the whisky of the year awards at the 2022 Canadian Whisky Awards for the Crown Royal Noble Collection Winter Wheat. The whisky, which retails for $89.99 at Liquor Marts but is currently sold out, also won the award for best blended whisky and sipping whisky of the year at the competition, now in its twelfth year.

The winning dram was distilled at Diageo’s Gimli-based distillery, where all Crown Royal whiskies are made, and blended in Diageo’s facility in Montreal.

“This is a truly stunning whisky,” said Davin de Kergommeaux, head judge and founder of the awards and a leading writer on spirits in Canada, in a blog post at canadianwhisky.org, calling the Winter Wheat “incredibly complex, flavourful and well-balanced.” In addition to the Winter Wheat, Crown Royal’s Noble Collection Rye – Aged 16 Years, the Extra Rare 18-Year-Old and the XO were all awarded gold medals.

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Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022

Some craft tipples to take you through post-holiday blues

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Some craft tipples to take you through post-holiday blues

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022

Cold weather got you down? Post-holiday blues starting to set in? Have a rough week acting as home-schooling headmaster? State of the world leaving you needing to take the edge off?

If you answered yes to any of these (disclosure: I answered yes to all of them), fear not — Manitoba’s craft breweries continue to pump out tasty offerings to help get us through, well, whatever all this is…

If you’re looking to tune out the winter deep freeze, the Kilter Brewing Co. Paradise Oat Cream IPA (Winnipeg - $4.39/473ml can, brewery, select beer vendors) is a tropical retreat in a glass. Oats and milk sugar have been added into this double dry-hopped IPA featuring Sabro, Galaxy and Citra hops. Pale gold and hazy in appearance, it’s hard to believe no fruit was added in here as well, as the tropical fruit aromas are intense — think guava, mango, pineapple and papaya — while the underlying oat and malt notes work well. It’s medium-bodied and a touch creamy thanks in part to the milk sugar, while the big tropical fruit notes are complemented by an herbal/bitter hoppy component before the long, warm finish from the 7.2 per cent alcohol. Pass the sunscreen. 4/5

If you still have a taste for the flavours of the holiday season, the Interlake Brewing Co. Winter Sky Cranberry Hibiscus Session Ale (Winnipeg - $4.49/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, select beer vendors) could be the brew for you. Medium reddish-copper in colour and hazy, there’s a lovely floral note that’s front and centre aromatically that comes with fresh cranberry and malt notes. It’s dry and crisp on the light-plus bodied palate, with the red berry and malt flavours working nicely together, and a splash of bitterness coming from both the cranberry and hops. The modest 4.5 per cent alcohol is a nice touch, making this a more delicate but delicious wintry ale that won’t overpower. Brewed at Oxus until Interlake’s Gimli facility can open later this year. 4/5

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Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022

Manitoba’s craft breweries continue to pump out tasty offerings.

Five beverage trends we’d like to toast in 2022

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Five beverage trends we’d like to toast in 2022

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022

As we all hunker back down into a too-familiar holding pattern of social distancing, working (and schooling… ugh) from home and favouring pickup or delivery over in-person dining and drinking, it’s easy to think this year is going to look and feel a lot like 2021.

Which got me thinking about the drinks trends of the past year — what I liked and didn’t like, and what I’d love to see going forward. Think of what follows as less of a prediction of what I think will happen in 2022 and more as a wish list that hopefully doesn’t come across as too crotchety…

More smaller-format beers. Our local craft beer scene is overflowing with a wide range of delicious options — whether you like lagers, ales, stouts, sours or radlers, there’s something for every taste.

But most of those local options come packaged in 473ml cans, which for some is just too much beer for one sitting. Only a few breweries currently offer any of their wares in smaller 355ml cans, particularly in single-serve format. If I had the option of the same beer in a 355ml can/bottle or 473ml can, I’d almost always take the smaller option.

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Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022

Heavy weather has wine industry reeling, ever adapting

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Heavy weather has wine industry reeling, ever adapting

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Friday, Dec. 31, 2021

Like everyone else, winemakers and grape growers were impacted by COVID-19 in 2021, with fewer healthy bodies able to pick fruit, make wine and get the stuff into consumers’ hands (i.e. supply chain issues) impacting the bottom line of wineries.

But more so than any other factor, the story of the year in the wine world in 2021 was the extreme weather events caused by climate change.

The past year saw a late and heavy spring frost impact almost every region in France and neighbouring countries, with the Bordeaux and Champagne regions hit particularly hard. In June, the Rhône Valley was pelted with massive hail, damaging many vines. In addition to killing hundreds, the mid-July floods along the Ahr river in Germany wiped out dozens of wineries. Wildfires up and down the west coast of North America wiped out some vineyards, while impacting a lot of the fruit that survived with smoke taint. The Aussie bush fires had a similar impact on some regions Down Under.

A Boxing Day report by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes did a good job of summing up the isse in their segment talking to producers and scientists in many parts of the world about wine and climate change (visit wfp.to/60minutes to watch it). Stahl talked to grape growers in Bordeaux, experimenting with new, warmer-climate grape varieties in response to hotter growing seasons, producers in Bordeaux and Champagne whose crops were decimated by extreme weather events, climate experts and more.

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Friday, Dec. 31, 2021

Like everyone else, winemakers and grape growers were impacted by COVID-19 in 2021, with fewer healthy bodies able to pick fruit, make wine and get the stuff into consumers’ hands (i.e. supply chain issues) impacting the bottom line of wineries.

But more so than any other factor, the story of the year in the wine world in 2021 was the extreme weather events caused by climate change.

The past year saw a late and heavy spring frost impact almost every region in France and neighbouring countries, with the Bordeaux and Champagne regions hit particularly hard. In June, the Rhône Valley was pelted with massive hail, damaging many vines. In addition to killing hundreds, the mid-July floods along the Ahr river in Germany wiped out dozens of wineries. Wildfires up and down the west coast of North America wiped out some vineyards, while impacting a lot of the fruit that survived with smoke taint. The Aussie bush fires had a similar impact on some regions Down Under.

A Boxing Day report by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes did a good job of summing up the isse in their segment talking to producers and scientists in many parts of the world about wine and climate change (visit wfp.to/60minutes to watch it). Stahl talked to grape growers in Bordeaux, experimenting with new, warmer-climate grape varieties in response to hotter growing seasons, producers in Bordeaux and Champagne whose crops were decimated by extreme weather events, climate experts and more.

Slate of books coming in the first half of 2022 show plenty of promise

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Slate of books coming in the first half of 2022 show plenty of promise

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Friday, Dec. 31, 2021

In 2021, a year of great books helped readers escape (or, adversely, learn more about) our not-so-great current situation.

And while the first days of 2022 don’t look a whole heck of a lot better, it’s reassuring to see so many titles (particularly by women writers, it would seem) that should give readers cause for optimism going into the new year.

For fans of fiction, essays, memoirs, celebrity bios, poetry and more, here are 20 buzz-worthy titles to keep on your radar for early 2022…

Anthem

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Friday, Dec. 31, 2021

Building a new nest, feathered friends included

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Building a new nest, feathered friends included

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021

Like so many of us, particularly those fortunate to be able to work from home, my pandemic year revolved around where I live.

In August 2019, I moved from the upper half of a West Broadway duplex into my partner’s century-plus-old West End home, and initially things were great — we had just enough space for her and me, as well as my two kids (half of the time). We all worked, we went to school, so when we were all at home the place felt busy, but not too crowded.

All that changed with the pandemic, as kids were suddenly thrust into the world of remote learning in 2020. My teenage daughter had a desk in her room; my partner worked in the small third-floor space that had been converted into a makeshift office. That left my elementary school (at the time) son and I sitting face to face at the dining room table, me banging out and editing copy for the Free Press and him struggling to stay focused on school assignments between Microsoft Teams meetings. I quickly realized how wildly unprepared I was for quarterbacking school duties. (Thank you, Manitoba teachers, for everything you do.)

My partner and I had been casually looking for potential houses pre-pandemic, but once we were all in the house together all day, it was clear we needed to pick up the pace. And in August 2020, after the typical overbidding, we found our spot, a mid-century modern home in St. James.

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Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press files
The dining-room wine tastings, Zoom meetings, were often visited by the new neighbours, including juncos, nuthatches, finches, warblers and robins.

In 2021, Free Press Book Club brought together readers and writers for all things literary

Ben Sigurdson and Erin Lebar 7 minute read Preview

In 2021, Free Press Book Club brought together readers and writers for all things literary

Ben Sigurdson and Erin Lebar 7 minute read Monday, Dec. 27, 2021

The Free Press Book Club was started in May 2020 as a way to keep folks connected during a time of intense isolation, and to support both a local business — our partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers — and local authors.

Since then, the club has read 17 books together — full-length novels, short stories, flash fiction, memoirs and essay collections — all written by Manitoba authors or by writers with ties to our province in some way.

One common thread that has run through each of the book club picks is the calibre of Manitoba’s local literary scene. Chris Hall, co-owner of McNally Robinson and regular book club co-host, says it best: “What I’ve been struck with is the overall quality of local writing. It’s easy to get swept away by the excitement that surrounds international book releases, but I’ve been very happy with the reading I’ve done for the book club. Local authors hold their own with those international stars.”

The book club is currently reading Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow, a novel that combines the action and suspense of a great thriller with rich Indigenous storytelling traditions. Rice will take part in the book club’s next virtual meeting on Monday, Jan. 31.

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Monday, Dec. 27, 2021

DREAMSTIME - TNS
There’s been no shortage of districts and school boards punting books across the U.S. And Canada can hardly claim superior good sense in what has become an escalating bonfire of books determined to be offensive, Rosie DiManno writes.

Raise a glass, as we kick 2021 in the…

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Raise a glass, as we kick 2021 in the…

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Friday, Dec. 24, 2021

It’s safe to say that 2021 hasn’t given us much reason to celebrate. But a new year is just over a week away, so rather than toast whatever the last 12 months has been, think of New Year’s Eve as a time to raise a glass, say good riddance to this year and move on.

Rather than wait until the last minute and navigate the big crowds at your favourite bottle shop — at a time when big crowds are to be avoided if at all possible — here are some solid options to buy early for toasting the arrival of 2022 when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31.

Those who can’t or choose not to drink alcohol don’t have to suffer through a glass of bad dealcoholized sparkling wine from the grocery store anymore. Unlike a lot of the non-alcoholic bubbly sourced from regions such as Belgium (not exactly a viticultural hotbed), the Oddbird NV Spumante (Veneto, Italy – around $20, private wine stores) is made from Glera grapes grown in the Veneto region — just like prosecco. It’s pale straw in colour and brings floral and peach notes you’d expect from regular prosecco, with modest flint and bread dough notes as well. The bubbles on this off-dry sparkler bring plenty of zip with the bright red apple skin, lemon zest and chalky flavours. It doesn’t have the longest finish (no surprise, with zero alcohol), but it’s certainly pleasant and would do well for a New Year’s toast for the under-18ers and those choosing not to drink. ★★★1/2 out of 5

Cava fans can up their game this New Year’s Eve with the Villa Conchi NV Cava Brut Reserva (Cava, Spain — $22.99, Liquor Marts and beyond). A traditional method sparkling wine made with 30 per cent each of Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo as well as 10 per cent Chardonnay, this Spanish bubbly is pale gold in colour, offering lime zest, chalk, green apple, floral and lemon notes on the nose. It’s dry, light-bodied and racy, with moderate acidity and a chalky note coming along with the tart green apple and lemon-lime flavours and a modestly long finish (it’s 12 per cent alcohol). A definite step up from your typical Spanish Cava. ★★★★

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Friday, Dec. 24, 2021

Books marrying written, visual components offer a thought-provoking feast for the senses

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Books marrying written, visual components offer a thought-provoking feast for the senses

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Friday, Dec. 24, 2021

At times a simple image or images can convey more emotion or information than the written word. Similarly, words bring a depth of meaning and feeling that can’t always be conveyed in a picture, painting or drawing. Which is why, when the two are skillfully combined, the experience can be nothing short of transcendent.

Normally at this time of the year, the Free Press books section features a roundup of coffee-table books from all manner of contributors. For whatever reason—call it supply chain issues, changing trends or whatever—nearly none these showed up this year.

Here instead are 10 engaging and visually appealing books that merge all manner of words and images. From graphic novels to coffee-table books, illustrated texts and beyond, they’re ideal candidates to display on your coffee table, tuck into your bookcase or sneak under a tree (or into a stocking) as a last-minute gift.

LibraryBy Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber

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Friday, Dec. 24, 2021

Still time to capture spirits of the season

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Still time to capture spirits of the season

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021

If you’re still scrambling to cross people off your holiday gift-buying list this year, don’t sweat it (well, don’t sweat it too much… yet).

Beyond the kitschy “If you can read this/bring me wine” socks, the obligatory wine charms (enough already!) or the fancy bottle stoppers, there are plenty of last-minute holiday gift ideas for the wine, beer and spirits fans in your life, particularly for those who enjoy heartier drinks to help get through the cold winter months.

Here are some options, many of which already come wrapped or adorned in gift baskets or fancy packages, that are worth a look (and a taste).

Liquor Marts still have a fair number of gift sets in stock, some of which feature products that are new to our market for the holiday season. On the beer side of things, the Chimay trilogy gift pack (Belgium — $19.49/3x330ml bottles, Liquor Marts) offers one of each of the red, white and blue-labeled Belgian brews, each slightly different, plus a nice big goblet.

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Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021

How the arts community is rebounding, adapting as the pandemic drags on

Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti and Jill Wilson 15 minute read Preview

How the arts community is rebounding, adapting as the pandemic drags on

Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Eva Wasney, Jen Zoratti and Jill Wilson 15 minute read Friday, Dec. 17, 2021

Call it a window of entertainment opportunity.

Earlier in December, before the Omicron variant of COVID-19 became the latest hot topic during the pandemic, Free Press entertainment journalists, armed with vaccination cards and curiosity, ventured out to nightclubs, theatres and concert venues to learn, and to learn again, what a night on the town was like.

For many, an evening of music, acting, comedy or dance proved to be an escape — for a couple of hours, at least — from the pandemic that has affected every part of our lives since its appearance in Manitoba in March 2020.

Vaccination cards and IDs were shown at the doors, but mask use was as varied as the entertainment on offer. For some, letting their hair down meant taking their masks off too, while for others, the masks stayed on until they walked outside again.

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Friday, Dec. 17, 2021

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A sign saying a July Talk concert is postponed is photographed at the Burton Cummings Theatre on December 14, 2021. The show was cancelled earlier in the day due to a COVID case.

Raise a glass to these sinfully seasonal suds

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Raise a glass to these sinfully seasonal suds

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

It’s just two weeks until the big guy in white and red pulls up on his sleigh, big bag of treats in tow.

But you don’t need to wait for Santa to enjoy and explore some bigger, richer beers with plenty of character and warmth — brews to keep you warm through the holiday season.

Here are a half dozen new local craft beers, many with festive holiday themes, to enjoy as you’re wrapping presents or relaxing by a cozy fireplace. Just make sure you save some to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve…

Like the Yule Lads — the 13 mischievous festive creatures who begin appearing tomorrow and wreak havoc through to Christmas Day — the Huldufólk are small, elusive elves of Icelandic folklore. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the Half Pints Brewing Co. Huldufólk (Winnipeg - $3.95/355ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, select beer vendors), an “Icelandic-style foraged ale” that celebrates these Nordic rascals, is the shortest brew of this crew. Juniper boughs and rosemary and other fun stuff was added to this Icelandic-style foraged ale, which is medium copper in colour and clear, with a white head. Aromatically there’s loads of pine, floral, herbal and resinous notes that come with a subtle malty note; on the light-plus bodied and dry palate those components resonate, with just a hint of bitterness and a not-overpowering seven per cent alcohol. The freshness on the palate here keeps things crisp and lively — perfect for a quick Skál! before tearing open the presents. 4/5

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Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

These half-dozen local brews add some festive spirit to your beer catalog this Christmas.

Palm Lounge renovations find the venerable room looking chic, structurally sound

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Palm Lounge renovations find the venerable room looking chic, structurally sound

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

When the Palm Lounge at the Fort Garry Hotel closed to the public last October, some fans of the stately, iconic lounge worried what might become of the space.

They needn’t have worried. The room is as eye-catching as ever — and is in better structural shape than it has been in decades.

In January 2019, a burst sprinkler caused water to soak the ceiling of what has now been renamed the Oval Room Brasserie.

“The water had rained down on the room,” says Ida Albo, the Fort Garry Hotel’s owner and managing partner, while sitting at the Oval Room’s newly restored bar. “We started seeing parts of the paint coming off.”

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Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The Oval Room Brasserie at the Fort Garry Hotel

Put these terrific tipples on your Christmas list

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Put these terrific tipples on your Christmas list

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021

Whether you’re looking to stock up before guests come for the holidays or are hoping to grab some gifts for friends and loved ones, there’s no sense in waiting to the last minute to cross off the holiday to-do list.

Consider what follows, then, a rough gift guide to some can’t-miss options when it comes to wine, beer and spirits…

On the beer front, the Farmery Foraged Berry Lager, infused with cranberries and crowberries foraged from the Churchill tundra, can be found exclusively in its Fa-La-La Lager Estate Select Pack of 15 beers (three each of five different beers, and four bucks off for $35.95 until the end of December at Liquor Marts, beer vendors and from the brewery) as well as in the Neepawa-area’s beer advent calendar. It’s medium gold in colour and clear, with a very slight reddish hue, while aromatically the berry notes work well with the malty component. There’s just a hint of sweetness on the light-bodied palate, allowing the berry notes to shine through without the tartness one might expect. There’s virtually no bitterness from hops to speak of, and the four per cent alcohol means the beer won’t go to your head too quickly. Worth picking up the mixed 15-pack while it’s on sale — enjoy this limited-run brew for yourself while it’s around, and serve the other lagers up to house guests… two birds, one stone. 3.5/5

If you’re in need of some no-nonsense sparkling wine — for hors d’oeuvres, a quick toast or mimosas — the Sette Ventiquattro NV Prosecco Extra Dry (Treviso, Italy — around $17, private wine stores) should fit the bill. Pale straw in colour with fine bubbles, this prosecco offers pear, red apple skin and hints of fresh flowers and lime zest aromatically. On the dry, lean, light-bodied palate those flavours persist, albeit slightly muted, with moderate acidity that provides some zip. Not overly complex, but decently tasty. 3/5

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Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021

Farmery Fa-La-La Lager Estate Select Pack

German Society home to Winnipeg's smallest commercial craft brewer

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

German Society home to Winnipeg's smallest commercial craft brewer

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

Bernhard Wieland is a tall drink of lager. But the imposing yet soft-spoken brewer behind the taps at Winnipeg’s newest brew pub has gone from working in some of the city’s biggest craft breweries to making beer on the city’s smallest commercial brewing system.

Wieland is the brains behind Bernhard Wieland Brewing, a German-inspired venture operating in the basement of the German Society of Winnipeg at 121 Charles St. Wieland learned to brew in Germany, before working his way through some of the city’s larger breweries such as Little Brown Jug and Fort Garry Brewing Co.

Like many, as the pandemic took hold Wieland found himself out of work. “I started thinking, ‘what do I want to do?’ There was no question I wanted to stay in brewing,” Wieland says. “So I started home brewing for the first time in my career — 20 years I’ve been at it now, and I’ve never done any home brewing.”

Wieland’s venture into home brewing came after brewing a small batch of beer on the test brewing system at Oxus Brewing Co. He decided to take the plunge and get a small system of his own, which he set up at home. But he was still trying to figure out what was next.

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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press
Chef Craig Geunther (left) and Bernhard Wieland of Schnitzelhaus, cheers a couple of beers brewed and canned by Bernhard inside of the German Society of Winnipeg.

Rick Mercer’s memoir looks back on a life in the spotlight

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Rick Mercer’s memoir looks back on a life in the spotlight

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

For many Canadians, Rick Mercer is practically family.

For the better part of three decades, the 52-year-old Mercer has been beamed into the homes of millions of Canadians from coast to coast to coast via wildly popular, critically acclaimed CBC TV shows such as The Mercer Report and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, the satirical news show he helped create and which rocketed him to national renown.

But for all his rants and political jokes he’s delivered over the years, he’s been decidedly reserved about his personal life — until now. Mercer’s new memoir, Talking to Canadians, traces the Newfoundland native’s journey from childhood through his rocky time in high school, his first forays into theatre and comedy and beyond, including glimpses behind the scenes of the shows that thrust him into the spotlight.

And while Mercer has written books before — most recently 2018’s The Final Report, a collection of essays and his trademark rants — Talking to Canadians, which launches Thursday in a virtual event hosted by fellow Newfoundlander Alan Doyle, was the first chance to properly reflect on his life.

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Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

Chris Young / The Canadian Press files
Rick Mercer at the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize; the Newfoundland writer and performer is launching his memoir, Talking to Canadians, on Thursday,

More entrants, medals mark bigger better wine industry

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

More entrants, medals mark bigger better wine industry

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021

Over the course of the last month, WineAlign has been rolling out the results of the 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada, culminating with the Nov. 12 announcement of the country’s 25 best wineries and the award for winery of the year, which went to Malivoire Wine Company from Beamsville, Ont. (The complete list of winners in all categories can be found at winealign.com/awards.)

This year’s awards marked the 20th year the competition has taken place, and is a far cry from the modest competition co-head judge David Lawrason helped start in 2001. “There were a total 260 wineries and 2,075 wines entered this year, which was a record,” Lawrason explains. “We had 45 new or first-time entrants — wineries or cideries — this year for the first time.” (The first year, by comparison, saw 528 wineries from 71 wineries entered.)

The record number of entries meant more judges than ever were needed, including the next generation of sommeliers and industry types from across the country. “We had 26 judges in all this year, 14 men and 12 women… we had seven or eight people who hadn’t judged with us before. We thought they were all pretty excellent; I’m really keen on regenerating, on keeping that going.”

A record number of entries produced a record number of medals awarded as well. “There were 1,409 medal winners — 68 per cent of wines won either a bronze, silver, gold or platinum medal,” Lawrason notes. “Some are going to say that’s too high, but my counterargument would be that most wine should be at least bronze-level quality.”

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Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021

Jason Dziver / WineAlign
‘You can really see the quality improving right across the country,’ says co-head judge David Lawrason (right) with judge and master sommelier John Szabo (left).

A feel-good bundle of new brews, rewards

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

A feel-good bundle of new brews, rewards

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

If you thought Winnipeg’s craft beer producers would simply take it easy and coast into the holiday season, you’d be wrong — there’s still plenty brewing on the local craft beer scene…

Sookram’s Brewing Co., for example, has a pair of new IPAs coming to market on Nov. 26, but eager fans can get a sneak peek at the Yellow Dog Tavern when the Donald Street pub hosts a tap takeover tonight that will feature 11 brews from the Warsaw Avenue brewery. The two new IPAs are the Disco Limo West Coast IPA, which features Centennial, Chinook and Cryo Amarillo hops, and the Chandelier Headlights Black IPA, which comes with Citra, Mosaic and the experimental 20-M Cryo hops. Their MacGuffin California Common, a favourite that recently returned, will also be available on tap, as will be three test batches. The pints get flowing at 5 p.m. until late.

Farmery Brewery has a new brew that’s available only in their Fa La La Lager 15-pack and their 24-day Advent calendar packs. The Foraged Berry lager is a small-batch brew that features wild cranberries and crowberries picked from the tundra by staffers at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre and shipped to the Neepawa-area brewery by Frontiers North. The pulp and juices of the berries were then added to the lager during the brewing process. A QR code on the can links to more info on the project; to read more in the meantime, check out wfp.to/foraged.

Torque Brewing is also looking north for inspiration for one of their new brews — the CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) Manitoba Polar Beer. The seasonal American pale ale is made with Cascade and Simcoe hops as well as Manitoba spruce tips, and is being launched Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the brewery (330-830 King Edward St.). Tickets are $25 plus fees and include a pint of the beer, a $20 tax donation receipt, live music and more, with proceeds from the beer and event benefiting the Manitoba chapter of CPAWS. For tickets see wfp.to/torque.

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Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

(Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press)

A budget-conscious happy birthday tipple for me

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

A budget-conscious happy birthday tipple for me

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021

What do Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Gerard Butler, Chris Noth (Mr. Big of Sex and the City fame) and Formula 1 driver Lando Norris have in common? Aside from being excessively wealthy and famous, they also share a birthday, which happens to be today. Which is about all they share with this not-wealthy, not-famous drinks writer.

And while we’ll all be celebrating one way or another (except maybe Norris, who will be running qualifying laps at the Brazilian Grand Prix today), my beverage budget obviously pales in comparison to the rest of us November 13ers.

I’d love to be popping a cork on a nice bottle of French Champagne, but a drinks writer/literary editor’s budget is, one might say, far more modest. My default sparkling wine for everyday enjoyment is Spanish Cava; and while the Loraxel 2015 999 Reserva Brut Nature (Penedès, Spain — around $26, private wine stores) doesn’t technically qualify as one, most of the Xarel-Lo and Pinot Noir grapes in this pink, organic and biodynamic bubbly come from the same region. It’s pale pink in colour, bringing bread dough, strawberry, rhubarb, raspberry leaf and red apple skin aromas. The 999 is a bone-dry, lively bubbly, with red apple skin, tart strawberry and lemon zest flavours, moderate acidity, a dollop of bread dough and some almost-salty and chalky notes in there as well. It’s slightly drier and more austere than most Spanish Cavas, and very stylish for the price. 4/5

If money were no object I’d love nothing more than to enjoy an austere, refined white Burgundy. But let’s be real here — money is certainly an object. So for me it’s the El Esteco 2020 Don David Reserve Chardonnay (Calchaqui Valley, Argentina — $15.99, Liquor Marts and beyond). Peach, bruised apple, lemon zest, vanilla and subtle herbal notes show well on the nose of this Argentine Chardonnay. It’s medium-plus bodied, bringing ripe tropical fruit (mango, pineapple and the like) along with peach, rich apple and subtle vanilla and spice notes from six months in oak barrels —some new, some used. A honeyed note lingers on the medium finish. Great value. 4/5

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Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021

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Dreamstime / TNS files

No such thing as ‘good vibrations’ with wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

No such thing as ‘good vibrations’ with wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

For the last few weeks, I’ve been woken up every morning by the incessant beep… beep… beep… of construction equipment. Some sort of work is being done to the parking lot of a vacant business near my home, meaning all manner of dump trucks, bulldozers and other big yellow machines have been rolling back and forth for days doing, well, whatever it is they’re doing: digging up paving, hauling it away, replacing it with gravel, flattening said gravel and so on.

The noise is a nuisance, but it pales in comparison to the tooth-rattling vibrations the construction sends through the house. As I sit here in my basement office writing, my second monitor is shaking, the hi-hats on my drum kit are tinkling against each other and, most troubling of all, the few wines I have in the rack next to my desk are lightly clinking away.

Well, “most troubling” would be the potential structural damage to my house, but for the purposes of a weekly drinks column I think you see where I’m going with this.

For medium- or longer-term aging, wine does best when stored horizontally in a space that is constantly cool, dark and free of vibration. And right now, it’s that latter detail I’m most concerned about when it comes to my own stash.

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Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

Linda Davidson / Washington Post
Storing wine bottles on their sides isn’t just an esthetic choice; it prevents the corks from drying out.

Ian Williams hopes to shed light on what racialism looks like, feels like

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Ian Williams hopes to shed light on what racialism looks like, feels like

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Monday, Nov. 1, 2021

Ian Williams has one word that he feels best sums up life as a person of colour in a culture that caters to the white experience — disorientation.

Williams, who currently teaches English at the University of Toronto, published his first book of non-fiction, Disorientation: Being Black in the World, earlier this fall. The book is on the short list for the $60,000 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which will be awarded Wednesday, Nov. 3. The (virtual) Winnipeg launch of Disorientation, presented by McNally Robinson Booksellers and the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, takes place at 7 p.m. tonight, with Williams in conversation with local poet Chimwemwe Undi.

The 42-year-old Williams is no stranger to widespread praise and critical acclaim for both his poetry and fiction, most notably winning the $100,000 Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2019 for his novel Reproduction. And while he was initially nervous about venturing into the foray of non-fiction, the feedback he’s received for Disorientation so far has put his mind at ease. “The reception has been generally inquisitive, and sincere. I think what’s resonating with people is this desire to talk about race, but not quite knowing how to talk about it. People are putting themselves into those situations: when did they learn to become white or Black or Indigenous? When did they come to an awareness of race?”

Writing fiction and poetry helped prepare Williams to write about what his own real-life experiences living in Canada, the U.S. and Trinidad, where he was born. “With non-fiction, you still have to tell a good story. And there’s still that attention to language that poetry trains you to be attentive to,” he says. “The content was there for me, but the hard part is that disclosure, the mining of the self. It’s the emotional work that precedes the actual writing. Or that runs parallel to it.”

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Monday, Nov. 1, 2021

Justin Morris photo

Today’s wine lovers owe first fermenter debut of gratitude

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Today’s wine lovers owe first fermenter debut of gratitude

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021

While we can’t know exactly where and when the first wine was made, it’s quite likely that it was one of humankind’s happiest accidents.

Chances are wine’s origin story involves someone forgetting about some grapes or grape juice, the yeasts in the grapes naturally converting the sugar to alcohol, and then said someone inadvertently consuming the fermented grape juice. They probably noticed a strange taste to the stuff, and a subsequent pleasant but puzzling feeling in their head. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Wine has been part of our culture for thousands of years. Most wine scholars and historians trace the drink’s origins back about 9,000-10,000 years, with much of the available evidence suggesting folks in the Caucasus region (around what is now Georgia, between the Black and Caspian seas) were the first to make the stuff.

The drink then migrated west along trade routes through Turkey, Egypt, northern Africa and into Greece and Italy, before spreading north throughout the continent. European settlers brought grape vines to North and South America and Australia, adding to whatever viticulture was already taking place by Indigenous communities. That, in a nutshell, is the overall global trajectory of wine as we know it today.

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Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021

A Bosnian buyer inspects color and quality of wine in the monastery shop of Tvrdos, in a remote area in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Amel Emric / The Associated Press files)

Chill out, and give those reds a wee blast of cold

Ben Sigurdson  6 minute read Preview

Chill out, and give those reds a wee blast of cold

Ben Sigurdson  6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

‘Someone just messaged me and said that most red wines are supposed to be chilled… I’ve never blocked someone so fast in my entire life.”

So John Rush recently said to his 20,000-plus followers on Twitter (@JohnRush32), with his normal dose of humour and cheek. He may be a professional athlete, best known as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but I couldn’t sit idly by without letting him know that that “someone” was right — to an extent.

My reply: “Block me if you must but 10-15 minutes in the fridge is almost always the move. Cellar temp (ideal - 16-18 C) isn’t the same as typical North American room temp…” (He did not block me, for what it’s worth.) I followed up by “threatening” to write a whole column about chilling reds (again) and, well, here we are.

The fact is, we tend to drink our red wines too warm. The long-held notion that reds should be served at “room temperature” is fine if your house is typically between 16-18 C, which historically has often been the case in older homes (often built of stone, with cooler cellars) in Europe. For most of us on this side of the pond, however, that’s not the case, particularly as temperatures outside start to drop and we crank up the furnace. (To be fair, Rush let me know he hadn’t yet turned on the heat, so his place was currently about 15 C, a great temperature to drink your reds.)

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Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

Sebastian Pothe / FreeImages
Many red wines should chill for 10-15 minutes before serving, while lighter reds can benefit from being even colder.

Peter Mansbridge recounts rise from Churchill airport to stardom

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Peter Mansbridge recounts rise from Churchill airport to stardom

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

In 1968, a high-school dropout turned airport baggage handler in northern Manitoba was asked to make an announcement over the P.A. system. That deep voice, which caught the attention of a CBC producer, would go on to fill the living rooms of Canadians from coast to coast to coast for decades.

In his new book Off the Record, 73-year-old Peter Mansbridge chronicles his unlikely start in journalism, some of the more memorable moments of his five decades at the CBC (from regional correspondent to anchor of The National) and more. “I’ve been approached by a number of publishers about doing what they call a memoir, and I was not keen on that,” says Mansbridge from his home in Stratford, Ont. “For starters, I don’t like the term ‘memoir’ because it sounds like you’re almost dead — you know, the last thing you do before you pass on is send over a manuscript and say, ‘here’s everything I’ve ever done!’” he adds, laughing.

In Off the Record, published by Simon & Schuster in early October, Mansbridge recalls key moments of his life and work in dozens of short 3-5 page vignettes, which he wrote over the summer of 2020. “Some are funny, some are emotional — they all tell a little bit about journalism, and a little bit about the country,” he explains.

While hosting a music program in the late 1960s at CBC radio in Churchill, Mansbridge’s penchant for news led him to start his own newscast for the station, with some of his segments making the broadcast in Winnipeg as well as on national news. He acted as the CBC’s correspondent for the Royal Family’s 1970 visit to northern Manitoba, and the next year headed south to Winnipeg to join the newsroom there, where he stayed until moving to Regina in 1975 and eventually to Toronto, working his way up the ladder to become chief correspondent and anchor of The National.

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Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

Supplied photo
Peter Mansbridge started his podcast, The Bridge, in 2019. He has continued with the podcast throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

True North's 'Craft Beer Corner' pays lip service to the notion of craft

Ben Sigurdson  7 minute read Preview

True North's 'Craft Beer Corner' pays lip service to the notion of craft

Ben Sigurdson  7 minute read Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021

While sports and beer typically go together like milk and cookies, a recent announcement by the owner of a local pro sports teams has left Winnipeg craft-beer lovers with a bad taste in their mouths.

On Oct. 13, the True North Sports & Entertainment (TNSE) announced some updates to the concessions at Canada Life Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets and big-name concerts. Among the changes was the introduction of a “Craft Beer Corner” to be located outside Section 127.

If you’re wondering which of the roughly two dozen local craft breweries, brew pubs and/or contract brewers will be featured there, it appears the answer is: none of them. The Craft Beer Corner will feature beers by Calgary’s Banded Peak Brewing and Vancouver’s Stanley Park Brewing.

Now, both Banded Peak and Stanley Park make some fine beers, some of which were recently featured in mystery boxes from the Flatlander’s Beer Festival. But calling the spot “Craft Beer Corner” is about as murky as a hazy IPA.

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Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021

Five days, 400 wines, one certainty

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Five days, 400 wines, one certainty

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021

Between the Winnipeg Wine Festival, trips to wine regions, judging at competitions and my own “homework,” in an average year I’d taste somewhere between 1,500 to 2,000 wines.

Needless to say, that number plummeted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and all wine-related events and travel came to a grinding halt.

So it was a bit of a shock to the system — and a real workout for my nose, teeth, tongue and gums — to head to Penticton, B.C., at the beginning of October to judge at the 2021 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

This year’s competition, the 20th, boasted the highest number of entries yet from all parts of the country — a whopping 2,089 reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, fortified wines, meads, ciders and fruit wines. Over the course of five days I tasted around 400 wines at the competition, as well as at evening visits with producers at area wineries.

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Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press

After almost two years, judges at the recent 2021 WineAlign wine awards in Penticton, B.C., were glad to reconvene in the tasting room.

Party hearty

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Party hearty

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021

Fall beer season, as detailed a couple of weeks ago in this space, is all about richer, heavier and maltier notes rather than the light, crisp and refreshing sips of summer.

And as cooler temperatures set in, my preferences for wines tends to shift in a similar fashion — the easy-drinking, simple and refreshing whites and rosés take a back seat to heartier, more complex and often robust reds and whites.

Rather than crack a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, for example, my first choice for white wines in autumn tend to have more body and richness, sometimes with a touch of spice and maybe some oak. The Nuevo Mondo 2017 Reserva Viognier (Maipo Valley, Chile — $14.99, Liquor Marts and beyond), for example, is an organic, single-vineyard white wine (made at a carbon-neutral facility) that’s pale gold in colour and brings papaya, mango, spice, mandarin orange and peach aromas. It’s medium-bodied, mainly dry and slightly viscous, with tropical fruit notes that work well with the orange candy and baking spice notes before the medium-length finish. There’s enough texture and spice to stand up to most fall dishes, although a fresher vintage would add some pep. 3/5

In a similar capacity but with brighter, more intense flavours is the Laurenz V. 2019 Singing Grüner Veltliner (Austria — around $25, private wine stores). Pale straw in colour, this Austrian white wine (made from the Grüner Veltliner grape, Austria’s flagship variety) brings delightful and fresh ripe pear, peach, cantaloupe and red apple notes on the nose, with hints of floral and spice in there as well. It’s mainly dry and lighter-bodied, delivering a big fruit salad of flavours along with lemon candy and modest spice on the medium-length finish that comes with zippy acidity. Terrific on its own, or haul this to your Thanksgiving dinner for a killer pairing. 4.5/5

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Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021

Bob Edme / The Associated Press Files
Autumn is when the grape harvest begins in Bordeaux, France, and it's also when Uncorked's Ben Sigurdson turns his attention from lighter summer fare to heartier varietals such as Pinot Noir or Merlot.

Writers festival reacts to pandemic plot twist with blend of live, virtual events

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Writers festival reacts to pandemic plot twist with blend of live, virtual events

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021

Suspense, drama, comedy, conflict and uncertainty — while all are key ingredients of a good book, they’re also apt descriptions of what Charlene Diehl has experienced while organizing a literary festival during a global pandemic.

The 2021 Winnipeg International Writers Festival is once again hosting authors from across the country, most virtually, while cautiously writing a new chapter with a plot twist — a handful of in-person live/virtual hybrid events.

This year’s Thin Air festival highlights 60 authors, 16 of whom are from Manitoba, and once again features a significant number of Indigenous and French writers. Among the locals are David Bergen, who launches his new novel Out of Mind tonight in a hybrid live/virtual streaming event; Katherena Vermette, who will launch her Giller-longlisted novel The Strangers; Wab Kinew, launching his young adult novel Walking in Two Worlds; as well as George Toles, Patricia Robertson, David Elias, Joanne Epp and more.

Participating out-of-town writers include critically acclaimed former locals Miriam Toews and Casey Plett, along with Randy Boyagoda, Megan Gail Coles, Jael Richardson, Darrel J. McLeod, Wayne Johnston and many others.

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Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021

JESSICA LEE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg International Writers Festival Charlene Diehl has gathered 60 authors to present their work, either virtually or live, at this year’s event.

Put away the pilsners; fall is time for heartier fare

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Put away the pilsners; fall is time for heartier fare

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021

Our red-hot summer has seen all manner of radlers, sours, pilsners, goses and other fun, fruity and fresh brews being made by local breweries, brew pubs and contract brewers to help beat the heat.

But with the nights ever cooler and daytime temps no longer soaring, it’s time for my favourite time of the year when it comes to beer — fall. (Aside: my ideal beer season does not include the plethora of pumpkin beers that flood the market every October.)

Check out the six fall/fall-ish local brews reviewed this week for heavier, heartier flavours, all of which would work well with typical autumnal fare. And if you’re still thirsty for more, the Winnipeg Free Press Brew Box features two seasonal brews by Trans Canada Brewing Co., some tasty treats, glassware and more, all for $29. Grab one and join our virtual tasting with me, brewery folks and others on Thursday at 7 p.m. To pick one up (if they’ve not yet sold out) and join in on the fun, visit wfp.to/tcbbrewbox.

Oh, and for the wine lovers out there, the Winnipeg Wine Festival is bringing in a couple of live events for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic wrought havoc on all such gatherings. Their A Taste of Europe event takes place Thursday at 7 p.m. at Fort Gibraltar, and features more than 40 wines from Germany, Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. If Cabernet Sauvignon’s a favourite red grape of yours, their Life is a Cabernet will please your palate — it takes place Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Tickets for each of the events are $75 — to buy them and for more information, see winnipegwinefestival.com.

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Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files
The Winnipeg Wine Festival’s in-person tastings were put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The festival is holding two in-person events in the coming weeks.

The new big cheese in wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

The new big cheese in wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 11, 2021

The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) has a new top taster.

Alex Allardyce of the Manitoba Club took top honours at the 2021 Best Sommelier of Manitoba Competition, a two-day event that saw her square off against Danny King of Deer + Almond and Felix Faundez-Rubio of Kenaston Wine Market.

Day 1, held behind closed doors at Jones & Company Wine Merchants on Sept. 7, featured an extensive written exam and blind tasting, while the service portion of the competition was held Sept. 8 at Hy’s Steakhouse and featured more blind tasting, a mock restaurant food-and-wine pairing, cocktail making and more, in front of a small live audience and a panel of judges.

Allardyce will take on other regional CAPS winners when she heads to the Okanagan Valley in mid-October for the national championship. Previous local winners have included Sean Dolenuck of La Boutique del Vino and Domer Rafael, also of the Manitoba Club.

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Saturday, Sep. 11, 2021

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Alex Allardyce (right) runs through a mock tableside food-and-wine pairing exercise as part of her victory at the 2021 Best Sommelier of Manitoba Competition.

Reading, writing and red?

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Reading, writing and red?

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 4, 2021

The school supplies have been purchased, the wardrobe updated, the lunches made and shoved into an overstuffed backpack — it’s back-to-school season. And while sending the kids off to class may not make you want to squeeze into a desk, take notes, do homework and write tests, you can plot your own learning curve through the delicious world of wine (or beer or spirits, for that matter).

Even after nearly 16 years of writing this column, a decade before that working in wine shops, trips to wine-producing regions on four continents, judging at national and international wine competitions, earning my Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 3 award in wines, tasting upwards of 2,000 wines a year, etc., I learn something new, good or bad, every time I open a bottle (or box or can).

Wine is a subject unlike almost any other, touching on virtually every area taught in schools today. There’s plenty of science — (plant) biology, geography, climate, geology and chemistry all factor in to what ends up in your glass. There’s history — wine has been made and consumed for thousands of years, with some families making reds and whites for generations, the techniques used to make the stuff changing (and then changing back, and then changing yet again) over time.

There are the ways in which wine connects people (social studies), the marketing of wine (language arts), the culinary connections with food (home economics), the dollars-and-cents of the business of wine (math), the art adorning many labels and, if you really want to stretch the educational component, the physical education of picking grapes, opening bottles, crushing fruit, lugging barrels and hoses around a winery (or, in my case, hucking cases of wine around in a store).

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Saturday, Sep. 4, 2021

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press

Dashed hopes in France turn to fruitful endeavour at home

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Dashed hopes in France turn to fruitful endeavour at home

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

It’s a hot day in late July, and Jesse Oberman is up in my backyard cherry tree.

The 29-year-old Oberman is on the hunt for all manner of backyard fruit for his Next Friend Cider. Hoping to make use of forgotten or neglected fruit that would otherwise go to waste, he wants all manner of apples, cherries, pears, stone fruit — you name it.

Except it turns out he doesn’t want my cherries. They’re a few days too ripe for his purposes — some are sweet (too ripe), others have been visited by bugs. It’s one of the few times Oberman’s had to turn down fruit offered up to him — not something he likes to do, given his desire to reduce food waste.

Were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, Next Friend wouldn’t likely exist. After spending time in the U.K. completing his sommelier training and working harvests at wineries every year since 2016, he and his partner were angling to set up shop in France and start making their own wines. But as coronavirus cases rose dramatically in France, they figured coming back to Winnipeg was the safe bet, and hightailed it home.

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Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Jesse Oberman has harvested nearly 2,000 kilograms of fruit so far this year.

Lineup of fall non-fiction titles tackle race, politics and rock and roll

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Lineup of fall non-fiction titles tackle race, politics and rock and roll

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

For many of us, the last 18-plus months have been spent cut off from friends, family and loved ones. We’ve had a lot of time to think about our own lives, to live inside our own heads.

Which is why a fresh slate of non-fiction titles coming this fall feels like a welcome reprieve — a chance to look beyond our respective pandemic bubbles at a fascinating cross-section of writers and thinkers, of lives lived, of pressing social issues.

This non-fiction books season brings a little bit of something for everyone: thoughts on aging, ruminations on race, reconciliation and resistance, life on the road in rock and roll, politics north and south of the border and, of course, the pandemic. Here are 20 titles to watch for in the coming months.

On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and ConstraintBy Maggie Nelson (Sept. 7, McClelland & Stewart)

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Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

Free Press books editor picks 20 fall fiction titles to watch

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Preview

Free Press books editor picks 20 fall fiction titles to watch

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021

After a hot (and smoky) summer of beach books and backyard reads, the fall slate of fiction titles tends to bring a deluge of provocative and profound prose for all literary palates.

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Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021

Without a corkscrew? Try these options

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Without a corkscrew? Try these options

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021

For the first time this summer, I’m turning on the out-of-office messages on my inbox, jamming my car full of food, drinks and kids (note to self: don’t forget the kids) and heading to a cottage for a week of rest, relaxation and, if the not-so-sunny weather forecast is to be believed, reading.

And while there’d probably be room somewhere in my little hatchback for a nice collection of wines to haul to the cottage, keeping it simple and enjoying some fun summer drinks feels more like the thing to do. In that spirit, here’s a cross-section of sippables I sampled to potentially take to the lake...

The Cottage Springs Beverage Co. Ontario Peach (Toronto — $2.99/355ml can) vodka soda is fairly straightforward — it’s pale clear in appearance and aromatically brings peach juice/candy notes. It’s devoid of sugar and bone dry, yet unlike many unsweetened vodka soda drinks, it isn’t boring — rather, the peach candy and peach skin flavours are refreshing, thanks in part to the bright effervescence. It’s tastier than most vodka soda drinks I’ve tried, and would surely help beat the heat on a sunny day.

Produced in Manitoba, the Icy Blue Mixed Berries (Winnipeg — $2.68/355ml bottle, Liquor Marts) is an interesting drink. It’s devoid of colour and clear, with big, bright blueberry-candy aromas. It’s off-dry with an almost-viscous texture, and a prominent raspberry candy and blueberry note on the palate that’s kind of fun. At just three per cent alcohol you don’t have to worry about overdoing it here; it would likely work well mixed with some sparkling wine (or soda water) and fresh fruit.

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Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021

With a host of new or renovated businesses, South Osborne is having a moment

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 16 minute read Preview

With a host of new or renovated businesses, South Osborne is having a moment

Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson 16 minute read Friday, Aug. 20, 2021

Every neighbourhood goes through its ups and downs — longtime businesses shutter or move on, new names set up shop, old buildings come down, new buildings rise.

The South Osborne area of Winnipeg is no different, and if the wide range of new/newish businesses is any indication, particularly in the way of food and drink, the area is, to paraphrase the Friendly Giant, up — waaaaay up.

South Osborne BIZ chair Scott Tackaberry, owner of two South Osborne businesses — home brewing supply store Grape & Grain at 726 Osborne St. and tabletop game store GameKnight Games at 519 Osborne St. — sees the area’s evolution as one that’s been coming for some time. “It’s been a slow burn that’s been happening for 20 years,” says Tackaberry, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 20-plus years himself. “When we bought our house, we were probably the only younger people on the block. Now the older folks are retiring and moving out of the neighbourhood, and the younger families are moving in. And of course the younger families want to shop in the neighbourhood.”

According to census data, the bulk of residents are between 20 and 40 years old and the area’s population increased by 1.5 per cent between 2011 and 2016.

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Friday, Aug. 20, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Park Alleys and Grape and Grain in South Osborne.

Author Kelly Bowen brings historical fiction to book club

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Author Kelly Bowen brings historical fiction to book club

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

The Winnipeg Free Press Book Club and McNally Robinson Booksellers are pleased to welcome local author Kelly Bowen on Monday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m., to read from and discuss her latest novel The Paris Apartment, published by Grand Central Publishing in April 2021.

Featuring dual timelines, one set in 2017 and the other during the Second World War, in The Paris Apartment a woman named Lia Leclaire inherits her late grandmother’s Parisian apartment — a residence previously unknown to her family. Lia discovers the apartment, untouched for decades, is filled with artwork, clothing and more. She eventually connects with English art dealer Gabriel Seymour, who begins to help her understand the orgins of the artworks, many of which are by past masters.

In the wartime storyline, Lia’s grandmother Estelle struggles to navigate Nazi-occupied Paris, where danger seemingly lurks around every corner — especially for a woman with connections to the resistance movement. Estelle eventually connects with Sophie, a British secret agent with a tragic past who is sent to Paris to find a German Lorenz cipher machine located somewhere at the Ritz Hotel. The hope is that Allied forces can learn how the machine works, break the coded messages and bring an end to the war.

A seasoned writer of historical romance novels, Bowen enjoys the research involved in writing novels set in the past, and was particularly fascinated with the events on which The Paris Apartment was based. “I love history, so the research part of this book, or any of my previous books, is almost the best part,” she told the Free Press at the time of the launch of The Paris Apartment. “That art, tied into the loss of families, of lives, of history… It can’t be compared to the loss of human lives, but it’s the loss of what it represents.”

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Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

The Winnipeg Free Press Book Club and McNally Robinson Booksellers are pleased to welcome local author Kelly Bowen on Monday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m., to read from and discuss her latest novel The Paris Apartment, published by Grand Central Publishing in April 2021.

Featuring dual timelines, one set in 2017 and the other during the Second World War, in The Paris Apartment a woman named Lia Leclaire inherits her late grandmother’s Parisian apartment — a residence previously unknown to her family. Lia discovers the apartment, untouched for decades, is filled with artwork, clothing and more. She eventually connects with English art dealer Gabriel Seymour, who begins to help her understand the orgins of the artworks, many of which are by past masters.

In the wartime storyline, Lia’s grandmother Estelle struggles to navigate Nazi-occupied Paris, where danger seemingly lurks around every corner — especially for a woman with connections to the resistance movement. Estelle eventually connects with Sophie, a British secret agent with a tragic past who is sent to Paris to find a German Lorenz cipher machine located somewhere at the Ritz Hotel. The hope is that Allied forces can learn how the machine works, break the coded messages and bring an end to the war.

A seasoned writer of historical romance novels, Bowen enjoys the research involved in writing novels set in the past, and was particularly fascinated with the events on which The Paris Apartment was based. “I love history, so the research part of this book, or any of my previous books, is almost the best part,” she told the Free Press at the time of the launch of The Paris Apartment. “That art, tied into the loss of families, of lives, of history… It can’t be compared to the loss of human lives, but it’s the loss of what it represents.”

Trophy tipples

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Trophy tipples

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

Manitoba Olympians aren’t the only ones who have brought home medals this summer — a pair of local drinks producers also have new additions to their trophy cases following wins in national and international competitions.

Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co. nabbed a double gold medal at the 2021 All Canadian Wine Championships, held in Ontario’s Prince Edward County in mid-July, for its apple cinnamon mead. Made from Manitoba honey, crushed apples and cinnamon, the mead was the lone Manitoba winner in the competition, which featured more than 1,300 entries from 217 Canadian wineries.

The apple cinnamon mead was one of five double gold medals in the mead category, essentially meaning they were the best in the category. The top red wine was the Dark Horse Vineyard red Meritage blend from B.C., while fellow Okanagan Valley producer Wild Goose took the top white wine spot with their Gewürztraminer.

Shrugging Doctor’s apple cinnamon mead is available for $16.49 per 750ml bottle at Liquor Marts and via their Brooklyn St. production facility.

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Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

Wine regions might escape nearby wildfires, but grapes may suffer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Wine regions might escape nearby wildfires, but grapes may suffer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021

Step outside these days and you might find you’ve got a tickle in your throat, your eyes start stinging and it’s a little tougher to breathe than normal. Smoke is doing quite the number on the air quality in Manitoba, and in many parts of the wine-producing world (particularly in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley and in California) they’re experiencing a similar smoky haze as we are here.

And if your clothes pick up that smoky smell after a short time outside, imagine what it can do to grapes hanging in smoke-blanketed vineyards for days or weeks.

Already suffering from abnormally hot and dry conditions, which impacts the amount of water vines can obtain in the soil, many wine-producing regions (B.C. in particular) have also been in the vicinity of some serious wildfires. And while physical damage to vineyards has so far been minimal — especially compared to the devastation wrought by wildfires in California wine country in 2020 — the prevalence of thick, lingering smoke from forest fires can cause nearly as much risk to a grape harvest as the flames themselves.

What is called smoke taint occurs in grapes when the fruit is in the process of ripening; grapes and vine leaves absorb compounds in the air called volatile phenols that are responsible for those smoky odours. But these volatile phenols aren’t usually detectable in the grapes right away; a producer standing in a smoky vineyard and tasting grapes, for example, may not be able to detect any smoke taint in the fruit on the vine.

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Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021

Rich Pedroncelli / The Associated Press files
Grapes are harvested from a vineyard as smoke from a massive wildlife fills the air near Oakville, Calif .

Sip outside your comfort zone

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Sip outside your comfort zone

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 31, 2021

There was a time where I’d eat the same thing for breakfast almost every day: half a bagel, toasted and with peanut butter, half a small glass of orange juice (always in a plastic IKEA cup, for some reason) and a coffee with a touch of milk.

We’re creatures of habit — we fall into a routine, and the default is to go with things we know and like, be it at breakfast or beyond.

This is certainly the case when it comes to wine. In the summer, many turn to lighter, fresher white wines. Peruse most of the shelves at local Liquor Marts and, to a lesser extent, private wine stores and you’ll find a sea of citrusy Sauvignon Blancs and plenty of palatable Pinot Grigios — the lighter whites of choice for much of the wine-buying public.

These are reliable, safe wines — we know what they’re going to taste like. With thousands of options out there, exploring new varieties can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what a wine is going to deliver until you try it. You’ll never go wrong with what you know — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

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Saturday, Jul. 31, 2021

Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune / TNS files
Sauvignon Blanc is a go-to for many wine lovers, but it’s far from the only fresh summer sipper on shelves.

New brews to peruse

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

New brews to peruse

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Monday, Jul. 26, 2021

If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of hosting your own beer festival, now’s your chance.

In a normal year, beer lovers would have swarmed through the doors of Canada Life Centre this past June in search of the newest lagers and ales as part of the Flatlanders Beer Festival. But of course this year, like 2020, has been anything but normal.

And while last year’s festival was scratched entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the fest is going ahead, albeit with a virtual twist — and a bit of mystery.

Starting Wednesday, July 28, 11 different mixed packs of brews will be available at select Liquor Marts for folks to enjoy as part of the 2021 Flatlanders Beer Festival At Home. Festival-exclusive mixed packs from breweries such as Calgary’s Banded Peak, Vancouver’s Stanley Park, Toronto’s Lost Craft and even Irish titan Guinness are all part of the fest, as are packs from locals such as Trans Canada Brewing Co. and Little Brown Jug. Many of the boxes feature new/new-to-Manitoba brews and, in some cases, glassware or other fun beer-related trinkets.

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Monday, Jul. 26, 2021

Winnipeg-born David Steinberg reflects on 50 years of laughs in new book

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Winnipeg-born David Steinberg reflects on 50 years of laughs in new book

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2021

When you’ve had a career in show business as illustrious as David Steinberg’s, it could be hard to be humble.

But the 78-year-old comedian, director and writer is exactly that — modestly proud of his achievements and downright deferential to his peers, mentors and the next wave of entertainers, as is evidenced throughout his new book, Inside Comedy: The Soul, Wit, and Bite of Comedy and Comedians of the Last Five Decades.

Maybe it’s just the Winnipeg in Steinberg coming through.

Born in 1942 to Yasha and Ruth Steinberg, David, his parents and three older siblings lived in the North End, surrounded by many other Jewish families. David’s early schooling involved attending a private Hebrew school before switching to West Kildonan Collegiate Institute.

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Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2021

Robyn Todd photo
In Inside Comedy, David Steinberg (pictured here with his dog Izzy) has collected five decades of memories of some of his favourite comedians, as well as passages by comedic legends taken from his show of the same name.

Fizzy drinks for a sizzling summer

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Fizzy drinks for a sizzling summer

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Saturday, Jul. 17, 2021

Summer 2021 has been a sizzler so far. So perhaps it’s fitting that as drink trends go, there’s a fun, fresh and fizzy drink typically served ice cold that’s been red hot.

Hard seltzers are all the rage. They’re typically lower-calorie, low-to no-sugar drinks with subtle fruit flavours (natural or artificial) that offer an alternative to the sweeter coolers out there. White Claw started the craze a few years back, and since then the category has exploded, occupying a growing amount of shelf space at Liquor Marts and beer vendors.

And while they needn’t be complex, hard seltzers don’t have to be boring (although some certainly are). One of the newest local entries into the hard seltzer market is Nifty Drinks, a joint venture between Patent 5 Distillery and Nonsuch Brewing Co. They’re the latest arrival to Manitoba’s crowded hard seltzer market, which includes a handful of other locals. Fort Garry Brewing Co. has gotten in on the game, Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company created the Whiteshell line of vodka soda drinks, One Great City launched the Shoreline brand and Barn Hammer Brewing Co. is getting set to launch its Super Fun Beverage Co. line of seltzers.

As neighbours in the east end of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, it quickly became apparent to Nonsuch (125 Pacific Ave.) and Patent 5 (108 Alexander Ave.) that their respective philosophies aligned — it was just a matter of finding a reason to collaborate.

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Saturday, Jul. 17, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Matthew Sabourin (of Nonsuch Brewing, left) and Callan Anderson (of Patent 5 Distillery) are collaborators on a new beverage company called Nifty Drinks.

Take a break from honouring figureheads: Indigenous artists

Randall King, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti  21 minute read Preview

Take a break from honouring figureheads: Indigenous artists

Randall King, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti  21 minute read Friday, Jul. 16, 2021

WHEN statues come down, it’s only natural to ask questions: who did they depict, what did they represent, who did they honour, who did they harm, which stories did they tell, which ones did they erase? Who decided to put them up in the first place?Those are good questions to ask, and they’ve been percolating in Manitoba since July 1, when a pair of idols depicting Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, two British monarchs, were taken down by protesters who had split off from a peaceful Canada Day march in support of residential school survivors at the province’s legislative building.

As always happens when questions are asked, everyone concerned seems to have an answer: put them back, leave them down, keep them there as is. The province’s answer thus far has been to pledge the statue of Elizabeth will return to the east lawn, where it stood since 2010, and to restore the Queen Victoria statue to be placed elsewhere on the grounds. There have also been preliminary conversations about placing a statue of Chief Peguis, who signed the first treaty with Lord Selkirk in 1817, on the grounds in Victoria’s statue’s stead.

For more answers, and more questions, the Free Press spoke with playwright Tomson Highway, author David A. Robertson, artist and curator Daina Warren, Winnipeg Art Gallery curator Jaimie Isaac, musician Vince Fontaine, and artist Kenneth Lavallee, who was inspired to conceptualize a sculpture — of sweetgrass in a shell — to replace the one of Victoria the very day the statue came down.

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Friday, Jul. 16, 2021

Supplied
The sweetgrass offers an appropriate metaphor — a form of healing during a time of pain.

The Spit Take: Post Malone’s new rosé, Maison No. 9

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The Spit Take: Post Malone’s new rosé, Maison No. 9

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Monday, Jul. 12, 2021

Jon Bon Jovi’s got one. Brangelina’s got one. And now American rapper Post Malone’s got one too.

No, this isn’t about gold records or statues for outstanding work in entertainment — it’s about pink wine.

Post Malone’s Maison No. 9 is the latest celebrity-driven rosé to hit store shelves, following the success of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Miraval wine and Jon Bon Jovi’s Diving Into Hampton Water.

They’re all made in France — Bon Jovi’s wine (formerly available in Manitoba, but now seemingly out of stock) is sourced from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south, while the grapes for Miraval come from Brangelina’s estate in the Côtes de Provence region.

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Monday, Jul. 12, 2021

Post Malone's Maison No.9 rosé, a blend of four red grapes grown in the Mediterranean region of southern France, is the latest celebrity-backed wine to enter the Manitoba market. (Owen Sweeney / The Associated Press files)

Chardonnay shift

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Chardonnay shift

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 10, 2021

A few days ago the Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the globe’s biggest and most prestigious, announced the winners of its 2021 competition. More than 18,000 wines from 56 countries were entered in the competition, with some of the wine industry’s smartest brains and best palates judging. (I guess my invite got lost in the mail.)

Of those 18,000-plus wines, only 50 received Best in Show awards, the competition’s highest honour. Among the 50, just one Canadian wine (not available in Manitoba, sadly) nabbed the elusive honour — the Hidden Bench 2018 Felseck Vineyard Chardonnay, which scored an impressive 97 points out of 100. It was one of just a handful of Chardonnays — most of which came from cooler-climate regions of the world — to earn top honours. (For all the winners, see wfp.to/decanter.)

Chardonnay is one of those grape varieties that thrives in virtually any climate where wine grapes can be grown, and in practically any type of soil. It’s one of the reasons it’s the second most widely planted white wine grape in the world (after Airén, which is planted widely in Spain and used mainly for brandy production).

Chardonnay’s widespread popularity has been a double-edged sword — while there are plenty of very good examples out there, most wine lovers have encountered some not-so-great examples of the grape. Back in the 1990s, many growers went through a phase of making excessively ripe, buttery Chardonnay with grapes grown in hot climates and with excessive aging in new oak barrels. Many of these wines also went through malolactic fermentation, the conversion of the tart malic acid to softer lactic acid, adding to that richness.

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Saturday, Jul. 10, 2021

Lars Hagberg / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Victoria block chardonnay plants are seen at The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery in Hillier, Ont.

St. Boniface home to new place to say ‘santé’

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St. Boniface home to new place to say ‘santé’

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 9, 2021

Winnipeg’s newest pop-up patio is embodying a “vive la différence” mentality.

Today at 4:30 p.m., Le Patio 340 joins the likes of the Garden 955, Cargo Bar, the Beer Can at the Granite and others as spots for locals to gather and enjoy food, drink and live entertainment in an outdoor space.

But the 14,000-square-foot Le Patio 340, located next to the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (CCFM) at 340 Provencher Blvd., is doing things a bit differently. One of the key components of the space is the emphasis on bilingual entertainment; programming throughout the summer is set to feature performances in both French and English.

“I’m a major fan of all the patios in town — I frequent them all when I have the chance,” said Ginette Lavack, CEO of the CCFM, at a Wednesday media launch. “It’s been great to learn from them and see what their setups are like. But this site is unlike the others.”

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Friday, Jul. 9, 2021

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Ginette Lavack, CEO of the Centre culturel franco-manitobain.

Razed auto-parts store, former boutique become the Garden 955 on Portage Avenue

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Razed auto-parts store, former boutique become the Garden 955 on Portage Avenue

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 6, 2021

In February 2018, fire razed the No Name Auto Mart on Portage Avenue, leaving an empty lot where its selection of used vehicles was once parked.

And where many saw an eyesore in an otherwise prime piece of high-traffic real estate, Kristjan Harris saw opportunity.

Since buying a house on nearby Arlington Street in 2016, the 47-year-old Harris had his eye on the space, seeing the potential for something more for the surface lot. That potential came to fruition on Canada Day, when he and his team opened the doors of the Garden 955 to the public for the first time.

The Garden 955 joins the likes of Cargo Bar at Assiniboine Park, the Beer Can at the Granite, Blue Note Park on Main Street and Bijou Patio in the Exchange District — new outdoor gathering spots for lockdown-weary Winnipeggers to grab a beverage and some food outdoors. The 10,000-square-foot space features local craft beer and cider, wine and non-alcoholic options, as well as edible options from the Bao House food truck (with likely collaborations), live entertainment on weekends and more.

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Tuesday, Jul. 6, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Scott Angus walks drinks and food back to his table at The Garden 955, a new beer garden at 955 Portage Avenue.

Trio of local restaurants honoured for wine selections

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Trio of local restaurants honoured for wine selections

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 3, 2021

Three local eateries have landed on this year’s list of the world’s top wine programs in Wine Spectator magazine.

The awards offer three different levels of merit — the Award of Excellence (1,673 winners worldwide), Best of Award of Excellence (1,141 winners) and Grand Award (just 97 winners) — for restaurants “whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.”

New to the list this year, and in its first year of operation, is Preservation Hall Eatery + Wine Bar, which opened their doors during the pandemic for the first time and have only had in-person guests for about half of that time. It and Hy’s Steakhouse, which has made the list since 2003, earned the Award of Excellence.

Stalwart steakhouse 529 Wellington, meanwhile, took a Best of Award of Excellence — they‘ve earned awards from Wine Spectator every year since 2003.

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Saturday, Jul. 3, 2021

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files
Stalwart steakhouse 529 Wellington, meanwhile, took a Best of Award of Excellence — they‘ve earned awards from Wine Spectator every year since 2003.

Coast-to-coast quaffing sensations

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Coast-to-coast quaffing sensations

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 26, 2021

When it comes to the amount of ink spilled (or characters typed, as it were) on Canadian drinks in this space, most of the focus tends to be on either the latest releases from local craft brewers, or on wines from Ontario or B.C. Which makes sense, given the amount of shelf space each occupies on shelves of Liquor Marts, private wine stores and beer vendors.

But if you look hard enough, you can find some sort of boozy beverage in our market from every province (not including the northern) territories, particularly wandering through the beer aisles.

● In addition to the abundance of wine coming from the Okanagan Valley, B.C. probably has the largest contingent of non-Manitoba beer in our province. The Phantom Beer Co. Mindfuzz India Pale Ale (Vancouver - $3.96/473ml can, Liquor Marts and select beer vendors) is medium straw in appearance and hazy, with a white head. Aromatically it brings deep malty notes, with biscuit, lemon zest, pear and mango notes in there as well. That malty note persists on the medium-bodied palate, with not as much of the pronounced bitterness one might expect from a high-octane IPA. Rather, the biscuit, bread dough and tropical fruit flavours come through with just hints of peppery hops on the long, 6.2 per cent finish. 3/5

● Most of the tipples we get from Alberta come in the form of whisky, but there are a couple brewskis that grace our shelves as well. The Grizzly Paw Brewing Co. Rundlestone Session Ale (Canmore, Alta. - $4.04/473ml can, select beer vendors) is pale gold in colour and mainly clear with a white head and brings, according to the can, “IPA characteristics” with lower alcohol than your typical India pale ale (hence the fact it’s called a “session” ale — you’re able to drink more of them in a single session of sipping). Aromatically it’s malt-driven, with more subtle resinous notes coming with ripe grapefruit and floral notes on the nose. On the light-plus bodied palate the hop notes are quite subtle; instead the malt and tropical notes are front and centre instead, while the 4.5 per cent alcohol is mild. 3/5

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Saturday, Jun. 26, 2021

Father knows best

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Father knows best

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

Just in time for Father’s Day, Steve Patterson has a public service announcement to make: not all dad jokes are bad jokes.

“I’ve been a comedian a lot longer than I’ve been a dad, and I know that dads have a reputation,” says the 50-year-old comedian, host of CBC Radio One’s The Debaters and father of two, from his office in Toronto. “When you hear the term ‘dad jokes,’ It’s like the guy bringing out the guitar at the party that doesn’t know how to play guitar, and that’s the time you leave the party. But just because you’re a dad doesn’t mean all your jokes from here on in are not going to be funny.”

For his latest project, Patterson — who lives in Toronto with his wife/manager Nancy and their two girls, six-year-old Scarlett and Norah, who is nearly two — has chronicled life growing up the youngest of five boys, his foray into fatherhood and the pitfalls of trying to conceive in his book Dad Up! Long-Time Comedian. First-Time Father.

Patterson pivoted to writing Dad Up! when life as a touring comic was put on hold due to the pandemic. “It was kind of nice to get to expand on my thoughts,” he says. “In standup you’re often trying to make the joke quick; with this process it was kind of stretching things out.”

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Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

John Hryniuk photo
Steve Patterson

For Father’s Day this year, why not think pink?

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For Father’s Day this year, why not think pink?

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

Every year in mid-May, my inbox starts filling up with email pitches from PR/marketing companies and beverage sales reps about the ideal drinks-related gifts for Father’s Day. Then in early June come the targeted ads on social media about Father’s Day. These campaigns typically feature more conventionally “manly” drinks, urging you to buy Dad big, assertive whiskies for deep contemplation, a high-octane, bourbon-barrel aged red wine, a hoppy triple IPA and so on.

Clearly there must still be a market for the whole manly-drinks-for-men thing, but I just don’t get the appeal. Which is part of the reason why, for Father’s Day 2021, this dad’s drinking pink.

There’s no wine to better beat the heat than a fresh, crisp glass of rosé. A big, “room temperature” oaky red is never going to taste as good in a sunny backyard as a lighter, fruit-driven wine, be it white, rosé or otherwise. Most rosés are aged in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels, which allows the fruit flavours really shine. And pink wines typically aren’t high in alcohol like some boozy reds (and whites) — a typical rosé lands with between 12 and 13.5 per cent alcohol.

And while you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, you can, in fact, often judge a rosé by appearances. Rosés from the Côtes de Provence region, for example, are usually quite pale pink in colour, and typically lighter-bodied and with more delicate flavours. Rosés that are deeper pink in colour, meanwhile, offer more body, more fruit-forward flavours and sometimes just a hint of sweetness. In other words, there’s a lot more to rosés than your run-of-the-mill (and often boring) White Zinfandel.

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Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

Wines in Spain are anything but plain

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Wines in Spain are anything but plain

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 12, 2021

Spain is known for its rustic fare and equally earthy wines, and no region has defined Spanish wine more profoundly over time than Rioja.

Located inland in northern Spain, Rioja is sheltered from most of the cooling maritime influences of the Atlantic Ocean by the Cantabrian mountains. The bulk of the vineyards in Rioja line the banks of the region’s Ebro River, and most of these vineyards are planted with the region’s signature red wine grape — Tempranillo. When well-made, Tempranillo-based wines deliver tart red and black berry flavours, earthy and cedar notes along with plenty of acidity and tannin, meaning the best examples have solid mid- to longer-term cellaring potential.

Many Rioja wines labels are adorned with an old-school classification system that indicates how, and how long, they were aged both in oak barrels and in the bottle. A wine designated a Crianza (typically in the $18-$20 price range) must be aged for at least two years before release, at least six months of which must be in barrel; Reserva wines ($20-$25-ish) must be aged for three years, and at least one of those years is required to be in oak.

Gran Reservas, made only in the best vintages, must be aged for five years before release, and the wine must spend at least two of those years in barrel. As top-tier reds go, they’re probably the best value out there. Gran Reservas typically only cost between $30-$40, which is remarkable given the quality of the wine and the amount of time and labour involved in their production.

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Saturday, Jun. 12, 2021

Summer is shaping up to be a scorcher, so crack a cold one while you grill

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Summer is shaping up to be a scorcher, so crack a cold one while you grill

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 5, 2021

Back in the days of lawn darts, stubby beer bottles and cheap aluminum lawn chairs, barbecued fare consisted primarily of either burgers or hotdogs, blackened by the flame of lighter-fluid-soaked charcoal briquettes. (At least that’s how this child of the 1980s remembers things.)

But our culinary landscape (and lawn chair selection) has greatly expanded; adventurous grillers are now barbecuing all manner of dishes, with delicious and exciting results.

The beer landscape has also changed big-time — we’re not confined to the run-of-the-mill lagers from big corporate breweries anymore. Local brewers are pumping out new styles of brews at a pace that can be tough to keep up with — a good problem to have.

No matter what you’re grilling, there’s a beer to go with that. Here are a half-dozen new brews to pair with a wide range of grilled fare on a hot day. For those not brewed in their own facility, the brewery where they are made (and available) is noted.

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Saturday, Jun. 5, 2021

Longing for social sips

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Longing for social sips

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, May. 29, 2021

For over a year, we’ve soldiered on as best as we can in the hopes we can return to some sense of normalcy. But every once in a while, a reminder of the Before Times — you know, pre-pandemic life — can feel like a real punch in the gut.

For me, the most recent instance came when I popped by Half Pints Brewing Co.’s Roseberry Street brewery and tap room to grab some of their Bikey McBikeface (see review). While standing and briefly chatting with staff in the empty tap room, the smell of grains fermenting in the brewery’s stainless steel tanks seeped through my mask, setting off an intense wave of nostalgia for some of the things I’ve not been able to enjoy for so many months.

A pint of beerLocal breweries, Liquor Marts and beer vendors are doing their best to keep thirsty Manitobans’ beer fridges full, and we can even order beer (and wine) from local restaurants with our picked up or delivered meal.

But there isn’t a bottle or can of beer that can scratch the proverbial itch of enjoying a freshly poured pint of draught beer. The last beer on tap I can remember enjoying was last summer, outdoors, at Cargo Bar in Assiniboine Park. And with warmer weather coming back, sipping foamy pints with pals is all I can think about.

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Saturday, May. 29, 2021

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files
The tap room at Half Pints Brewery in the ‘Before Times,’ the pre-pandemic life that we all hope to return to some day.

Wines to weather the storm, and the pandemic, this wet long weekend

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Wines to weather the storm, and the pandemic, this wet long weekend

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Friday, May. 21, 2021

‘We really needed this rain.”

Prepare to hear that old chestnut a few times this May long weekend. Of course it’s true — conditions in Manitoba have been dangerously dry all spring.

But combine the wet and cool conditions with the COVID-related restrictions, and this Victoria Day weekend might seem like a bit of a drag. It’s certainly not conducive to writing about fresh, crisp white wines, rosés or lighter lagers for backyard enjoyment — especially when we can’t have our pals over to enjoy some libations.

Instead, here are a few heartier wines for hunkering down with a board game, finishing that book you’ve been reading, working on a crossword puzzle, binging on Netflix or puttering/house cleaning this weekend…

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Friday, May. 21, 2021

Bergen wins book of the year a fourth time

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Bergen wins book of the year a fourth time

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Thursday, May. 20, 2021

For the fourth time in his literary career, Winnipeg author David Bergen took home the top prize at the 2021 Manitoba Book Awards.

Here the Dark, a collection of short stories and a novella published by Biblioasis, won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year award, which Bergen also won for his debut novel A Year of Lesser (1996) as well as 2005’s The Time in Between and 2009’s The Retreat. Here the Dark was also a finalist for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Among the competition for the top prize at this year’s Manitoba Book Awards, announced online on May 20, was David A. Robertson’s Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory (HarperCollins), which won the 2021 Alexander Kennedy Isbister award for non-fiction as well as the Carol Shields Winnipeg book award, as well as Lara Rae’s Dragonfly, published by J. Gordon Shillingford, which won this year’s Chris Johnson award for best play by a Manitoba playwright.

Jonathan Ball added to his Manitoba Book Award collection, winning the Margaret Laurence award for fiction for his debut collection of short fiction, The Lightning of Possible Storms, published by Book*hug Press. Ball previously won in the poetry category, as well as the 2014 award for most promising Manitoba writer.

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Thursday, May. 20, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Author David Bergen's collection of stories, Here the Dark, has won him the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award for a fourth time.

Sals celebrates with local brews

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Sals celebrates with local brews

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, May. 15, 2021

It’s been nearly a year since the provincial government tweaked legislation to allow Manitoba restaurants to sell beer and wine with their takeout and delivery meals — a shift that’s been good for both customer and eatery.

And while the drinks selection varies from restaurant to restaurant, Salisbury House’s location at Pembina and Stafford has gone all-in on Manitoba craft beer in the hopes of helping locals weather the pandemic.

That Sals now offers more than 100 local craft beers from practically every brewery, brew pub and contract brewer making lagers and ales in the province. It’s also stocking meads from Oak Bluff meadery Bee Boyzz, and will be bringing in brews from newcomer Good Neighbour, as well as Morden’s Rendezvous Brewery and Tap Room, once they’re able.

“In celebrating our 90th anniversary this year, we wanted to do something that showcased our local ties,” says Salisbury House president and CEO Brad Kramble. “We chose the beer industry, and we wanted to be sure we didn’t choose one specific brewery over another. So we went with every single brewery — if you produce beer in Manitoba, we’re carrying your beer, or trying to carry your beer, as a regular selection.”

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Saturday, May. 15, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Michael Kaye, director of marketing (left) and Brad Kramble, Salisbury House CEO and president, at the Pembina and Stafford Salisbury House.

Children's author uses writing to pass down Indigenous teachings

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Children's author uses writing to pass down Indigenous teachings

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Wednesday, May. 12, 2021

For Winnipeg Cree and Trinidadian author Tasha Spillett-Sumner, successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic with her husband, Anishinaabe singer-songwriter-rapper Leonard Sumner, and their young daughter, Isabella, has meant taking a day-by-day approach to life.

The pair couldn’t have anticipated the state of the world into which their daughter would arrive in March 2020 — a week before the COVID-19 pandemic took full force on a global scale.

“It’s more manageable for me to just think about today,” says the 32-year-old Spillett-Sumner, who is also working on a PhD in education through the University of Saskatchewan. “What do we need to have a good day today? When I think about those longer-term things it becomes so overwhelming and gives me such anxiety.”

Spillett-Sumner began writing what would become the picture book I Sang You Down from the Stars, with lush, flowing illustrations by Alaska-based Tlingit illustrator Michaela Goade and published in April by Owlkids Books, during her pre-pandemic pregnancy.

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Wednesday, May. 12, 2021

Spillet-Sumner says it’s important for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to realize ‘we come from strong, amazing, incredible, brilliant people.’

Wonderful wine options to make mom’s day

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Wonderful wine options to make mom’s day

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 8, 2021

Sometimes the best ideas come at the worst possible time.

In thinking about wines for Mother’s Day, I had what I thought was a revelation — I’d sit down with my mom and taste a bunch of wines with her for the column, and have her provide her tasting notes along with my own. Fun idea, right?

Except for, you know, the whole COVID thing, and the no gathering and what-have-you.

Instead, for this year I figured I’d try some wines I think my mom would like, based in part on what she typically has on hand. I also asked her about her favourite styles of wines and grapes. And for fun, I threw in a couple wines that would be new to her but that I reckon she’d enjoy.

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Saturday, May. 8, 2021

City authors Nelson, Robertson finalists for Governor General’s Awards

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City authors Nelson, Robertson finalists for Governor General’s Awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Wednesday, May. 5, 2021

Two Winnipeg authors have landed on the list of finalists for the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Awards — and in the same category.

Colleen Nelson’s Harvey Holds His Own, published by Pajama Press, and David A. Robertson’s The Barren Grounds, published by Puffin Canada, are among the five finalists in the Young People’s Literature - Text category. Robertson won a Governor General’s Award in 2017 in the young people’s illustrated text category for his book When We Were Alone, illustrated by Julie Flett. His follow-up to that book, On the Trapline (also illustrated by Flett), was published Tuesday.

Finalists in the fiction category are Francesca Ekwuyasi’s Butter Honey Pig Bread, Michelle Good’s Five Little Indians, Thomas King’s Indians on Vacation, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies, and Lisa Robertson’s The Baudelaire Fractal.

The non-fiction finalists are Billy-Ray Belcourt’s A History of My Brief Body, Amanda Leduc’s Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space, Ivan Coyote’s Rebent Sinner, Tessa McWatt’s Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging, and Madhur Anand’s This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart: A Memoir in Halves.

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Wednesday, May. 5, 2021

Local author trades romance for espionage in wartime work

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Local author trades romance for espionage in wartime work

Ben Sigurdson  5 minute read Tuesday, May. 4, 2021

Kelly Bowen has made a name for herself as a prolific and popular writer of historical romance novels set in England’s Regency era of the early 19th century. For her latest novel, however, the Winnipeg author turned the sizzle down to a simmer, creating a work of wartime historical fiction that weaves together espionage, art history and forgotten heroes — and, yes, just a flicker of romance.

The Paris Apartment, published in mid-April by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, is being launched online on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when Bowen will be joined virtually by author Erika Robuck (The Invisible Woman). (To register, see wfp.to/bowenlaunch.)

Bowen got degrees in veterinary studies and worked as a research scientist before diving into the world of historical romance. She submitted her writing to a contest held by the Romance Writers of America, eventually catching the eye of publishers. Many award-winning novels later, Bowen is now established as a well-known name in the genre; her series include The Lords of Worth and Season for Scandal.

The idea for The Paris Apartment — which is firmly rooted in the historical fiction genre rather than historical romance — was one that was rattling around in Bowen’s brain for some time. The novel features dual narratives, one set during the Second World War and the other in 2017. “This was a first for me, both writing in two narratives and writing in a contemporary time period,” Bowen says. “They had phones, that was exciting, and trains — they could go places faster,” she adds, laughing.

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Tuesday, May. 4, 2021

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Local author Kelly Bowen’s novel The Paris Apartment.

Robertson lands six nominations for book awards

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Robertson lands six nominations for book awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Monday, May. 3, 2021

Prolific author David A. Robertson has landed a leading six Manitoba Book Award nominations, including three for his memoir Black Water.

In addition to being nominated for the Alexander Kennedy Isbister award for non-fiction, Robertson’s memoir is up for the Carol Shields Winnipeg book award as well as for the top prize, the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award.

The 2021 Manitoba Book Awards short list was released April 30; awards in 11 categories will be announced online on Thursday, May 20, at 11 a.m.

Other books vying for the McNally Robinson book of the year award are Dragonfly by Lara Rae, Here the Dark by David Bergen, My Claustrophobic Happiness by Jeanne Randolph, Tablet Fragments by Tamar Rubin and The World Is Mostly Sky by Sarah Ens.

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Monday, May. 3, 2021

Author David Alexander Robertson (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Neighbourly approach

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Neighbourly approach

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, May. 1, 2021

At a time when many local businesses are struggling, a new neighbour has set up shop in Winnipeg’s craft beer scene.

Good Neighbour Brewing Co. is the project of co-owners Morgan Wielgosz and Amber Sarraillon, who met while working at Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewery before relocating to Winnipeg (where Sarraillon is originally from) and becoming part of Trans Canada Brewing Co.’s team.

But Wielgosz (who handles the brewing) and Sarraillon (who deals with marketing) had plans of their own — to start their own brewery. “It’s been a longtime dream of Morgan and me,” says Sarraillon. “We’ve been in the beer industry for 25 years combined; we’ve been dreaming about it since Day 1.”

The pair began talking in earnest about starting their own brewery at the beginning of 2021. “There was a time we were questioning whether we were going to move back to Toronto or start this thing here,” says Wielgosz. “As soon as we started feeling it out and talking to people here about what we wanted to do, the wave of support and love we felt from people was really gratifying and reassuring.”

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Saturday, May. 1, 2021

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Good Neighbour Brewing co-owners Amber Sarraillon (left) and Morgan Wielgosz, who is also the brewmaster, say the philosophy behind their new brewery is to focus on community and connection.

Wine in space: one small sip for man

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Wine in space: one small sip for man

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

Researchers in France’s Bordeaux region are studying the effect of sending wine into space — this is after a case of 2000 Chateau Petrus, as well as grapevine cuttings, returned to Earth after 14 months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

A research project undertaken by Space Cargo Unlimited and the University of Bordeaux’s oenological department saw 12 bottles of the premium red wine and the grapevine cuttings sent up to the ISS in November 2019; they returned to Earth in January of this year. The plan is to do a chemical analysis of the effects of the absence of gravity on the wines and vines.

In the meantime, reports Decanter, in March a dozen tasters were offered the chance to taste the space wines blind against their Earth-bound counterparts. Jane Anson, a Bordeaux expert and Decanter’s correspondent in the region, noted the space wines seemed to be have evolved slightly more quickly than those that didn’t make the trip to the ISS.

 

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Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

Christophe Ena / The Associated Press files
Philippe Darriet, president of the Institute for Wine and Vine Research (ISVV), holds a bottle of 2000 Chateau Petrus that spent 14 months orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station.

Indie bookstore association celebrates success amid COVID-19

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Indie bookstore association celebrates success amid COVID-19

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021

Canada’s independent booksellers have started writing a new chapter in Canada’s literary landscape.

The newly formed Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) is a collection of 80-plus shops that have come together to leverage their collective muscle and brain power to work together to engage book buyers and publishers to shop local. On Saturday, April 24, Canadian Independent Bookstore Day will give readers reason to celebrate their successes amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Among local indie bookstores that are CIBA members are Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore and McNally Robinson Booksellers. Chris Hall, co-owner of McNally Robinson, is the chair of CIBA, and helped bring the organization online in late 2020 after the Canadian Booksellers Association fizzled out about a decade ago.

“Everyone knew it would be useful, but nobody had the time or energy or impulse to get it going. Lo and behold, COVID hit, and it became obvious we could be working together for so much more benefit… that’s when we pulled it together,” Hall explains.

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Thursday, Apr. 22, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Chris Hall, co-owner of McNally Robinson Booksellers and chair of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association, says indie bookstores have pulled together for each other’s benefit amid COVID-19.

Popular Argentine wine gets day in the sun

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Popular Argentine wine gets day in the sun

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Apr. 17, 2021

It’s a grape whose origins trace back to southwest France, but whose rise to prominence came in the late 20th century thanks to grape growers and winemakers in one South American country — producers who planted the dark red grape in high-altitude vineyards nestled against one of the world’s most breathtaking mountain ranges.

That range is the Andes Mountains, the country is Argentina and the grape, of course, is Malbec. And thanks the Wines of Argentina trade organization, Malbec gets its day in the spotlight every April 17, which they have decreed Malbec World Day.

Since the first grape cuttings arrived in Argentina in the mid-1800s, the country has grown to be the sixth biggest wine-producing country in the world. There are now nearly 500,000 acres planted to wine-producing grapes in Argentina; of that number, more than 100,000 acres are Malbec vines, and three-quarters of the world’s Malbec wines come from Argentina.

In the late 1990s, Argentine producers saw the success Chilean wineries were enjoying globally, and shifted their focus to improving the quality of their wines — particularly their Malbec. They adopted Malbec as their signature grape, and have since built their reputation around the red grape variety as one that offers a great quality-to-price ratio when made well.

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Saturday, Apr. 17, 2021

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
Malbec grapes grow in Argentina’s Pedernal Valley, a relatively dry, warm-climate landscape in Argentina’s San Juan region, about 100 kilometres north of the city of Mendoza.

Heady news for craft brews in province

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Heady news for craft brews in province

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Saturday, Apr. 10, 2021

In 2014, the provincial government scaled back the amount of red tape involved in opening a brewery in the province. Not suprisingly, the subsequent months saw so many new breweries and brew pubs take shape that it was hard to keep up.

Since then growth in the industry has gone in fits and spurts, but between the change in regulations and today we’ve seen the number of craft breweries, brew pubs and contract brewers in the province go from two to nearly two dozen.

Most of the recent developments have been outside the Winnipeg’s city limits — Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom opened its doors in Morden last year, Black Wheat Brewing is putting the finishing touches on its Brandon brewery and tap room (while brewing at Barn Hammer’s Wall St. location in Winnipeg), and Whiteshell Brewpub is nearly ready to scale up operations in Falcon Lake.

But the action in Winnipeg is starting to heat up again — this year is looking to bring a bumper crop of fun new developments for craft beer lovers in the city. Here are some of the developments coming in the brew news department:

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Saturday, Apr. 10, 2021

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
When it opens in September, Low Life Barrel House’s new location at 398 Daly St. N is slated to have a tap room adorned with the oak barrels used for aging its beer.

Corn and oak: the basics of bourbon

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Corn and oak: the basics of bourbon

Ben Sigurdson  6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 3, 2021

Any list of the most iconic drinks created in the U.S. would have to include the likes of white Zinfandel for wine, West Coast IPA for beer, the iconic Coca-Cola and, of course, the country’s signature spirit — bourbon.

While not all American whiskey is bourbon, any product found on shelves labelled bourbon is made in the U.S. Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon, and is still the home of most of America’s distilleries making the stuff, although there are examples to be found in our market from Tennessee, Texas, Illinois and beyond.

(Side note: With the exception of a couple American distillers, producers in the U.S. and Ireland spell whiskey with an “e” while the rest of the world does not. This kind of strange detail is what drives copy editors to drink. (Indeed, .ed)

What sets bourbon apart from most of the world’s other whiskies is that its base ingredient is corn. While whiskies made in Canada and other countries can also include corn, for an American whiskey to be labelled bourbon it must be made of at least 51 per cent corn, with the remainder of the drink comprising malted barley and wheat or rye. A whiskey labelled “straight bourbon” must also be aged in charred new oak barrels and have a minimum of 40 per cent alcohol, among other regulations.

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Saturday, Apr. 3, 2021

Supplied photo
Bourbon whiskey is sampled from a barrel at Knob Creek in Clermont, Ky. Bourbon typically spends years aging in charred oak barrels.

Some elixirs to help ease that Zoom burnout…

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Some elixirs to help ease that Zoom burnout…

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 27, 2021

It’s taken the better part of a year, but I’ve finally been stricken with the second-worst affliction of our current COVID-19 pandemic — Zoom burnout. Between virtual wine tastings, Winnipeg Whisky Festival online events, school conferences, work meetings and more, I’ve navigated more than two-dozen Zoom calls this month, averaging two per day in the last week alone.

Trying to combat the effects of Zoom burnout, I ventured out to some Liquor Marts, beer vendors and private wine stores in the hopes some socially distant retail therapy might clear the virtual video fog from my brain. And while it’s too soon to say whether it worked, here are some new, new-to-me and/or recently returned products that caught my eye. And whether by happy accident or otherwise, most would work well with your typical Easter dinner fare, should you be planning such a thing, virtually or otherwise...

New to the market is the Trans Canada Brewing Co. Horseshoe Hefeweizen (Winnipeg - $3.69/473ml cans, brewery, select beer vendors). Pale gold in colour and hazy with a white head, this German-style wheat beer brings banana candy, clove, pepper and malty notes on the nose. It’s mainly dry and light-plus bodied, with bright banana and clove notes showing nicely on the palate, a hint of pepperiness, low bitterness and, at a modest 4.5 per cent alcohol, a short-ish finish. Would work well with your Easter turkey or ham. 4/5

Slightly more robust is the most recent iteration of the Half Pints Saison de la Ceinture Fléchée (Winnipeg - $4.59/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, select beer vendors), the first locally produced saison to hit the Manitoba market when it was introduced some years ago. It’s bright orange-gold and slightly hazy in appearance, with a vibrant white head; aromatically there’s a bright peppery note that comes with the apple skin, malt and slightly toasty notes. It’s medium-bodied and on the palate the zippy effervescence accentuates that peppery note, the apple skin component hangs around in the background, and there’s some moderate bitterness on the medium-length finish (it’s 5.5 per cent alcohol). It’s still one of Half Pints’ best seasonals, and would work with any Easter dish — even lamb. 4.5/5

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Saturday, Mar. 27, 2021

Tough to pick greatest grape, but here goes…

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Tough to pick greatest grape, but here goes…

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021

Writing about wine is sort of like being a doctor. Well, in some ways. OK, really only in one way — when people find out what you do, they often pepper you with questions about your work or solicit advice. In the case of a wine writer, it’s typically something along the lines of: What’s your favourite wine? What’s the best-value wine?

For the latter question, it’s easy enough to rattle off the names of a stalwart good-bang-for-the-buck wines. But I usually tiptoe around the former question about a “favourite wine” with some sort of diplomatic answer — something along the lines of “Well, I’m always trying new things for the column” or “It depends on what I’m in the mood for/what I’m eating/on the weather,” and so on.

But make me pick a favourite grape variety under threat of… well, something bad, and it wouldn’t be that tough — I’d pick Syrah (also known as Shiraz). It’s the one grape variety I seek out most often when left to my own devices. Why? Read on…

Compatibility with food. In addition to the typical big cherry and blackberry flavours that Syrah often delivers, the grape often imparts savoury olive, smoky and meaty notes, and a peppery edge to boot — especially in Old World or cooler-climate examples. Those characteristics means Syrah can work well with stronger flavours found in game (venison, boar, etc.) as well as with lamb. New World/warmer-climate examples that are made in more of a fruit-forward style, meanwhile, tend to work well with plenty of everyday fare such as burgers, ribs and pizza.

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Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021

Share the luck of the Irish this St. Paddy’s Day

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Share the luck of the Irish this St. Paddy’s Day

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 16, 2021

March 17, 2020, will likely be remembered as the most miserable St. Patrick’s Day in recent history. The party that wasn’t saw local pubs and lounges, many of whom normally throw big St. Paddy’s Day parties, begrudgingly shut their doors indefinitely as the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave took hold.

Earlier this year it seemed as though this year’s celebrations were destined for the same fate. But with the most recent lockdown restrictions being loosened, watering holes are once again carefully rolling out their (socially distanced) shenanigans.

Whether you’re heading out for a pint of beer (is green beer still a thing?) or staying hunkered down for your own St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, here are five Irish (or Irish-inspired) tipples to whet your whistle…

Stone Angel Brewing Co. Redhanded Irish red ale(Winnipeg — $3.79/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

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Tuesday, Mar. 16, 2021

Winnipeg Free Press
March 17, 2012 - 120317 - Neil Fogg takes part in the first St. Patrick's Day parade in Winnipeg Saturday March 17, 2012. John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press

Wine lover opened industry’s borders

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Wine lover opened industry’s borders

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021

The next time you drink a bottle of wine from California, Australia, Chile or pretty much anywhere other than France, you can raise a glass to Steven Spurrier. The British wine personality and merchant, who died March 9 at age 79, forever changed the way we perceive wines made beyond France’s borders.

Spurrier is best known for having arranged the groundbreaking 1976 wine tasting dubbed the Judgment of Paris, which brought together some of France’s top wine professionals for a blind tasting that pitted top French white wines from Burgundy against some of the better California Chardonnays, and saw premier reds from Bordeaux tasted against some the Golden State’s best Cabernet Sauvignons.

At the time, Spurrier was a wine merchant in Paris; he organized the tasting after a trip to California. At the time, France was the gold standard when it came to fine wine, and everyone (Spurrier included) expected the French wines to prevail.

In each of the tastings, a California wine took top honours, rocking the wine world and setting the stage for the global wine industry as we know it. American wines could no longer only be thought of as cheap plonk (although much cheap plonk still exists). Producers in all corners of the wine-producing world saw their premium bottlings had the potential to be as good or better than the old French masters.

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Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021

Bella Spurrier / The Washington Post
The 1976 tasting that became known as the Judgment of Paris pitted California wine against bottles from France, with California prevailing in both the red and white wine categories.

Virtual tastings next best thing to being there

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Virtual tastings next best thing to being there

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 6, 2021

For the last many months, the bulk of our interactions with those outside our household has involved looking nice from the waist up, ensuring we’re well-lit and tidying up our backgrounds. The grind of the ever-present virtual meeting is enough to drive practically anyone to drink.

In the absence of the ability to raise a glass with friends, attend in-person wine/beer/spirits tastings and so on, virtual events have become the new norm. Thankfully, there are plenty of forthcoming online local tastings for practically every palate that should be both educational and fun.

The Winehouse, for example, is running a March Madness series of tastings with 12 products from all corners of the wine-making world, including Croatia and Macedonia.

Many of the Kenaston Boulevard store’s Zoom meetings feature winemakers and product representatives. The only cost is that of the product, which can be purchased online for pickup or delivery. For a complete list of tastings, dates and Zoom codes see wfp.to/winehouse.

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Saturday, Mar. 6, 2021

From Jay-Z to No. 99, celebs love to brand booze

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From Jay-Z to No. 99, celebs love to brand booze

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Thursday, Mar. 4, 2021

From clothing lines to watch brands to kitchen gear and beyond, celebrities love to dabble in getting their names out there on all manner of products.

The drinks world, of course, is no exception — the world of wine, beer and spirits has seen all manner of famous and familiar faces and names grace bottles for years.

While for some it’s just a marketing ploy, some take their ventures quite seriously. Sam Neill, for example, is best known to most as Dr. Alan Grant from the Jurassic Park movie franchise. But these days his main line of work is as owner of Two Paddocks winery, whose wines are solid examples of what can be done with Pinot Noir and more in New Zealand. (Until recently, Two Paddocks wines were available at La Boutique Del Vino.)

From athletes to actors and beyond, here are five lines of drinks — mainly wines — sporting well-known names for all manner of palates…

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Thursday, Mar. 4, 2021

Greg Allen / The Associated Press files
Jay-Z’s Armand de Brignac (a.k.a. Ace of Spades) bubbly is pricey and popular.

Three bottles of wine, $33 and it's not vinegar, so... win!

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Three bottles of wine, $33 and it's not vinegar, so... win!

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

For many of us, money’s a bit tight right now — the credit cards are still quivering from holiday gift-buying, it’s tax time, there’s that little global pandemic, etc.

So opening the mailbox to the sight of a little red envelope that comes once a year was cause for a minor fist pump. That’s right — it’s Co-op rebate/equity cheque time.

The cheque that landed in my mailbox last year for 2019, was just north of $77 — about what I expected, given my driving habits and my daily commute to the Free Press in a fuel-efficient compact car.

The past year, however, was a different story. In early March, gas prices plummeted to 60-ish cents a litre, and stayed low for a couple of months. Around the same time, there was the increase in time spent working from home.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Whisky fest a virtual affair this time around

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Whisky fest a virtual affair this time around

Ben Sigurdson   5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

The Winnipeg Whisky Festival has unveiled its 2021 lineup, with online/virtual tasting events beginning Wednesday that feature products from across the whisky-making world.

A total of 14 virtual events are being offered for the 2021 festival, with a wide range of themed tastings that fall into two categories — exclusive festival tasting package events and what have been called “discover and learn virtual events.” The former features packages that include whiskies, glassware and more, as well as access to a corresponding online tasting. The latter group is a collection of six free virtual tastings; a suggested shopping list and access to the virtual tasting is provided.

Both groups of events feature brand ambassadors, mixologists and experts who will guide attendees through the history of the products, weigh in on the whisky-making process, provide advice on crafting the perfect whisky cocktail and more. Participating distilleries include J.P. Wiser’s, Forty Creek and Crown Royal from Canada, Ardbeg, Tomatin and Johnnie Walker from Scotland and Maker’s Mark from Kentucky.

Festival tasting package events range in price from $19.99 to $184.99, and run from Feb. 24 through to March 25. A portion of the proceeds from the Winnipeg Whisky Festival, which is presented by Manitoba Liquor Marts, will go to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

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Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

Food-focused travel shows are good enough to eat

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Food-focused travel shows are good enough to eat

Ben Sigurdson  5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

The pandemic has been raging so long that it’s hard to imagine a time when hopping on a plane and visiting new and exciting destinations was, or will again be, a reality.

And while there are all manner of travel shows available to stream that can scratch that proverbial travel itch, there’s something about food-related global adventures that are particularly satisfying. Maybe it’s the fact chefs tend to be curious types, always on the hunt for new and exciting flavours using familiar and exotic ingredients. Or perhaps it’s the stories of mom-and-pop cooks/food growers in far-flung corners of the world whose stories illuminate something about the human condition that’s either new or relatable to the viewer.

Regardless, here are five shows that will have you hungry for travel and a killer bite to eat…

 

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Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

Michael Sohn / The Associated Press files
Stanley Tucci’s new series on CNN sees the actor exploring his Italian roots in a combination travelogue/food show.

Wrap yourself in a warming red

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Wrap yourself in a warming red

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

On a hot summer day, there’s nothing quite like a crisp sparkling wine, a well-chilled white on a patio or a glass of rosé in the backyard.

But summer this ain’t. Caught in the clutches of a polar vortex, summer sipping seems a lifetime away.

With that in mind, here are a half-dozen hearty red wines to help you hunker down and take the edge off the bone-chilling temperatures.

Sometimes you don’t need an overly complex red to help cope with the plunging mercury. The Spade & Sparrows 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (California — around $29, De Luca Fine Wines) is one of four wines spearheaded by former Bachelorette star, Bachelor contestant and Dancing With the Stars winner Kaitlyn Bristowe (also in the Spade & Sparrows line are a Pinot Grigio, rosé and Pinot Noir). Smelling the blueberry, plum, chocolate and vanilla notes here, there’s an initial fear it will fall in with the sweet California red blends. Thankfully, that’s not the case; rather, the medium-plus-bodied red delivers plush, jammy dark fruit while avoiding any sweetness, and the light tannins kick in just in before the medium finish. It’s a decidedly New World, approachable and fun Cabernet Sauvignon that should appeal to red wine drinkers new and old. 3/5

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Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

Chilled wine, warm hearts on Valentine’s Day

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Chilled wine, warm hearts on Valentine’s Day

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021

Making reservations at restaurants, clinking glasses at your favourite romantic lounge/watering hole, enjoying a spa day with your special sweetheart: Valentine’s Day 2020, to put it mildly, seems like a lifetime ago.

Regardless of whether your favourite restaurant is able to open in time for Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of lovable libations to toast that special someone at home, and to go with pretty much every course...

It’s tough to beat bubbly to toast your valentine, and the Joseph Cattin NV Cremant D’Alsace rosé (Alsace, France – around $27, private wine stores) is stellar. This pink sparkling wine is made from Pinot Noir grapes in the traditional method pioneered in Champagne.

It’s pale pink, and brings strawberry leaf, watermelon rind and subtle floral, pear and chalky aromas. Light-bodied and dry, with vibrant strawberry, raspberry, red apple and chalky flavours, it’s delicious on its own, but would work wonders with oysters or hors d’oeuvres and won’t break the bank. Available at De Luca Fine Wines. 4.5/5

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Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021

Web wine, whisky events going strong

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Web wine, whisky events going strong

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

At this point, it’s probably fair to say many of us are a little squirrelly from being cooped up in the pandemic lockdown. The holiday decorations have likely been put away, and the prospect of the spring thaw is still months away.

If you’ve watched all the Netflix you can handle, hit your limit on sourdough, can’t be bothered with cross-country skiing, have had your fill of puzzles or are just plain bored, there are plenty of online drinks-related virtual events and tastings that continue to be offered by locals and beyond.

While Manitoba Liquor Marts aren’t currently providing any wine education, many of Winnipeg’s private wine stores are offering virtual tastings for folks to enjoy at home. De Luca Fine Wines has a number of themed tastings coming up, including a Valentine’s Day virtual event on Feb. 14, a sparkling wine tasting on Feb. 16, and more.

Kenaston Wine Market, meanwhile, has a wine-and-yoga series of virtual tastings in partnership with Into Nature. And the Winehouse has been hosting online tastings as well, with one coming up on Thursday, Feb. 4, featuring two of its most popular Italian reds. The cost of these virtual events typically covers the tasting, two or three wines, as well as the occasional additional treat. Details, including cost, time and other particulars, are available on store websites or via social media accounts.

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Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

Not your usual suspect

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Not your usual suspect

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

On stage and screen, Gabriel Byrne has earned a reputation as a contemplative, slightly dark and almost-wistful master of his craft. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising, then, that his heartfelt, moving memoir shares those same traits.

In Walking With Ghosts, Byrne effortlessly weaves childhood memories of growing up in Ireland with more recent episodes of his life as an established actor. (He currently lives in Maine with his second wife and young child; he has two older children from his marriage to actress Ellen Barkin.) The book jumps back and forth in time, in short passages; childhood vignettes are often deeply nostalgic (and occasionally troubling), while recollections of more recent events tinged with some sadness, some disgust.

Walking With Ghosts is technically Byrne’s second memoir; his first, 1994’s Pictures in My Head, appears to be long out of print. No matter — with so much having changed in his life since the mid-’90s, and with the benefit of added insight and distance from his initial celebrity and the traumas of his younger years, perhaps Byrne, now 70, needed time to better evaluate and contemplate his life. He succeeds in spades here, offering a gripping memoir that is anything but typical Hollywood, a text imbued with rich, literary language and beautiful turns of phrase.

Having appeared in over 80 films, a number of TV productions and a wide range of theatrical productions, Byrne often plays characters with a sort of underlying darkness and melancholy. While he earned acclaim for early roles in films such as the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing (1990), it was the 1995 Bryan Singer film The Usual Suspects that propelled Byrne to stardom. More recently, he earned a Golden Globe award for playing psychotherapist Paul Weston, the lead in the HBO series In Treatment, which ran from 2008-2010. Current projects include the second season of the BBC’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.

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Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

Struggling South African wineries deserve a try

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Struggling South African wineries deserve a try

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

Like every other industry, the wine world has felt the sting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, many reports note that we’ve been imbibing more since the pandemic took hold, but overall the effects of the coronavirus have been anything but positive for wineries. Most winery tasting rooms are shuttered, and staff have been laid off. Picking and tending to grapes becomes trickier when having to navigate heightened safety precautions. One of the key outlets for wine sales, restaurants, are either closed or operating at reduced capacity.

For South African producers, the coronavirus has had a crushing effect — and not the good kind of crushing that happens at wineries. The country’s grape growers and winemakers have felt the pain of the pandemic more than any wine-producing region — a pain that could have a lasting, devastating impact.

In March 2020, the South African government implemented widespread restrictions that banned the sale and production of alcohol, both for domestic consumption as well as for export. The thinking was twofold — that consuming alcohol increased the likelihood of socializing (and therefore transmission of the virus), and that alcohol-related illnesses would add strain on hospitals and health care workers. In early April, the government scaled back the ban to allow for exports to resume before lifting the ban completely in May. Then just a week later, the domestic ban was re-implemented, lasting until mid-August.

In late December of 2020, COVID-19 cases in South Africa spiked, resulting in the current ban on domestic alcohol sales introduced by the government, recently extended past the initial Jan. 15 deadline. In total three separate alcohol bans have resulted in 14 weeks with no domestic sales of South African wine and five weeks of bans on exports, a devastating impact on the country’s wine industry. In a recent Wine Spectator article, South Africa wine industry bodies estimate 80 wineries and 350 grape growing operations will close permanently, that 21,000 people will lose their jobs and that the industry has already lost US$400 million.

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Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

Nardus Engelbrecht / The Associated Press
A wine store in Cape Town, South Africa, displays a closed sign at its entrance after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the wearing of masks compulsory and reimposed a ban on the sales of alcohol and ordered the closure of all bars and beaches. It is estimated that 80 wineries and 350 grape-growing operations will close permanently, resulting in 21,000 lost jobs.

Local tasty tipples that are far from boring

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Local tasty tipples that are far from boring

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021

If one of your resolutions for 2021 is to try new (or new to you, at least) local beers, there are some very solid options out there right now that bring a wide range of flavours to help take the edge off the winter chill. From the return of old favourites to new collaborations to beers with all manner of added extra ingredients, these local brews are anything but boring...

A riff on the St. Boniface brewery’s ever-popular Juicci, the Kilter Brewing Juicci Luxurious IPA (Winnipeg - $4.79/473ml can, brewery and select beer vendors) is double dry-hopped with El Dorado, Citra, Vic Secret and Enigma hops and has been done up in some fun and swanky Gucci-like packaging. It’s pale straw in colour and hazy with a white head, and on the nose brings bright malty/doughy notes as well as tropical fruit and a light herbal hoppy component. It’s light-plus bodied and leaner/more focused than the hazy look and tropical aromas might suggest; the pineapple, mango and malt notes work quite nicely with a racy herbal/peppery note from the hops and a long, well-integrated finish (it’s seven per cent alcohol). Very good stuff. 4.5/5

Returning to local store shelves again is the Torque Brewing Steer Double IPA (Winnipeg - $4.25/472ml can, brewery, select beer vendors). It’s medium gold and slightly hazy in colour with an off-white head, and there’s plenty of resinous, piney notes on the nose to go with the grapefruit pith and malty aromas. On the medium-bodied palate the hops go on the attack, although those grapefruit/resinous notes are balanced by maltier notes before a long, hoppy and warm finish (the Steer is 90 IBU and eight per cent alcohol). 4/5

Don’t put away those festive holiday sweaters quite yet — the Stone Angel Brewing Co. Nollaig Winter Ale (Winnipeg - $3.99/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, select beer vendors) offers warm winter flavours that are sure to please. Cinnamon, cardamom and ginger are all added to this dark brown winter ale, and the ginger in particular is quite prominent on the nose, working well with chocolatey, malty notes. It’s medium-bodied and not too sweet (a good thing), with the prominent spice notes — especially ginger — showing well with the roasted dark malt and dark chocolate notes. It’s a modest five per cent alcohol and low in the bitterness department. 3.5/5

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Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021

Pint-sized possibilities to expand your palate

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Pint-sized possibilities to expand your palate

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021

As a drinks writer, one of the primary tasks is to track down new and interesting products to taste and review.

But every once in a while it’s worth pausing to remember that the average reader/imbiber doesn’t buy their wines, beers and spirits quite so randomly; most stick to a product or two that they like know, and return to it regularly. We’re creatures of habit, to some extent, and with thousands of bottles and cans to choose from, branching out can be overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to start.

In this province, beer sales are still ruled by the big national/international breweries, although craft beer continues to chip away at those numbers. The rise of local craft breweries, brew pubs and contract brewers in the province over the past six years — now nearing two dozen — has shifted the local beer landscape significantly. And with the current push to support local small businesses during the pandemic, there’s never been a better time to dabble in made-in-Manitoba brews.

First forays into local craft beer doesn’t mean having to choke down some pecan pie-infused dry-hopped hazy triple IPA or some such thing (although such a beer probably isn’t far off). Even those who prefer big-name beers sold in two-fours can find plenty to like among the local lineup.

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Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021

Wine-store shelves won’t let us forget 2020

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Wine-store shelves won’t let us forget 2020

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

No one wants to linger on the year that was 2020. We’re past the end of the calendar year, and life will hopefully take a turn for the better soon. It’s time to move on, right?

Well... almost. Over the next year or so, the 2020 vintage will be popping up on labels more and more — a vintage that challenged like no other, but that wasn’t a complete write-off for most producers.

Now, the bulk of wines we see on store shelves are $20 and under — they’re meant to be drunk young, ideally within 12 months of release. A quick scan of your average local Liquor Mart or private wine store will show most wines in our market fall somewhere between the 2017 and 2019 vintage.

This isn’t always the case, especially with wines that don’t sell as quickly (oddball grapes or regions), or stores whose staff don’t regularly rotate stock to sell off older vintages first. (Case in point: at one local shop recently visited — no names — there were five bottles of a popular $20-ish New Zealand Pinot Noir sporting four different vintages, from 2013 to 2016. While the newest vintage might have been hanging on for dear life, there’s a good chance the older three were on life support. Buyer beware.)

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Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
De Luca’s Fine Wines packs bottles of wine in boxes in the store and stockroom to be delivered to customers.

A literary legacy

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

A literary legacy

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

In March 2017, former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama inked a joint, jaw-dropping US$65 million deal with Penguin Random House. The first book of the deal, Michelle Obama’s Becoming, was a critical and commercial success first published in 2018 that continues to hang around bestseller lists.

A Promised Land is Barack Obama’s initial contribution — initial, because it’s the first of two books chronicling his time as the 44th president of the United States.

In the preface, Obama says he hopes to inspire young (American) readers of all backgrounds to “remake the world” through “hard work, determination, and a big dose of imagination.” And while A Promised Land is a whopping 700-plus pages, Obama’s a nimble writer, and the result is a reflective, well-polished and thoughtful memoir — big but not stuffy, detailed but not boring and with plenty of heart.

Obama, 59, has already penned two bestselling memoirs, 1995’s Dreams From My Father and 2006’s The Audacity of Hope. He also releases an annual year-end list of his favourite books; he’s a robust, curious reader, and it shows in his writing.

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Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

Pete Souza / Official White House photo
In his first term, Barack Obama faced the 2008 economic crisis while trying to move the Affordable Care Act forward.

First half of 2021 offers an enticing array of fiction, non-fiction and essays

Ben Sigurdson  7 minute read Preview

First half of 2021 offers an enticing array of fiction, non-fiction and essays

Ben Sigurdson  7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that nothing about 2020 that was resembled normal in the publishing world. From cancelled book tours to postponed publications to the fate of independent bookstores hanging by a thread, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked complete havoc on every aspect of the book world.

Here’s hoping for an eventual return to some sense of normalcy in 2021. Moving authors from Zoom launches and back to real live audiences of appreciative readers still seems like such a foregin concept that when it happens, it will seem like such a treat. And until that happens, of course, we’ll need something to read.

Here are 15 titles to watch for in the first half of 2021 — if this cross-section of books is any indication of what kind of a publishing year it will be, there should be plenty to look forward to — including a day somewhere down the road when we can queue to get books signed by real live authors in brick-and-mortar bookstores…

Let Me Tell You What I Mean

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Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

Watching through adversity

Randall King, Jen Zoratti, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Preview

Watching through adversity

Randall King, Jen Zoratti, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney, Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020

The whole world was watching in 2020.

Yes, the headlines. Yes, the press conferences. But yes, that old reliable friend, the television.

Just as before the pandemic began, there was too much new TV of which to keep track. New shows popped up and became momentary phenomena — Tiger King, The Last Dance, the weeklong American election night — leaving untold hours of sitcoms, prestige drama, and quirky comedies unseen and waiting in our “to-watch” lists.

It’s hard to know which shows to see and which to nod politely about while your friends tell you it’s “binge-worthy” or “totally worth the commitment.” So here are some new shows to watch that either came out this year or late in 2019, selected by the Free Press arts staff. They are totally worth the commitment.

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Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020

NETFLIX
Unorthodox attempts to capture the traditions, dress and ideology of the Satmar Jews, a Hasidic sect, in painstaking detail.

Time to toast goodbye to year like no other

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Time to toast goodbye to year like no other

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020

From a pandemic to a petulant president and beyond, it feels like there’s been little to celebrate in 2020. Which, perhaps, is all the more reason to pop the cork on some nice fizz to celebrate the arrival of 2021 — even if we’re toasting virtually/by Zoom.

If you’re looking for sparkling wine (and more) for your socially distant New Year’s Eve celebration, there are some mighty tasty options out there…

● Not all prosecco is created equal, and the Vaporetto NV No. 8 Prosecco (Veneto, Italy – around $22, private wine stores) is certainly a cut above. Pale straw in colour, it brings apricot, floral, red apple and sweet pear notes on the nose. It’s mainly dry, and the vibrant bubbles come with a chalkiness that works quite well with the lemon, green apple, lime and secondary herbal note. More complex (and delicious) than many proseccos. ★★★★ out of five

● The Ruffino NV Prosecco Treviso (Veneto, Italy – $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) comes from the slightly smaller Prosecco Treviso region and is made from organic Glera and Pinot Grigio grapes. The melon, herbal, lime zest and green apple aromas on the nose are attractive, with a subtly floral note lingering the background. On the palate there’s just a hint of sweetness that comes with the red apple, melon and pear notes, while the vibrant effervescence helps bring a dollop of acidity on the finish. ★★★1/2

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Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020

A list, checked twice, for those dreaming of a wine Christmas

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

A list, checked twice, for those dreaming of a wine Christmas

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020

While this year’s Christmas dinner will likely look different (read: smaller) for most, many might still want to opt for the traditional turkey and all the fixings, if for no other reason than to create some feeling of normalcy in a holiday season that is anything but normal.

With that in mind, here are some wines that would work well with the classic Christmas dinner and/or all manner of dishes you might be tempted to try this holiday season, no matter what you’re celebrating...

● Bubbly is a solid way to start any festive feast, and the Santa Margherita NV Brut Rosé ($21.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is a solid choice. A blend of Chardonnay, Glera and Malbec, it’s pale pink in colour, with pear, melon, crisp peach, green apple and floral notes aromatically. On the light-plus bodied palate it’s mainly dry, with peach, raspberry, strawberry leaf and red apple skin flavours, medium acidity and a dry, almost-peppery finish. Ideal for hors d’oeuvres, snacks and milder cheeses. Bonus: it’s on sale for $19.49 until the end of the month, meaning you can also stock up for your (similarly smaller) New Year’s Eve festivities. 3.5/5

● Riesling is tough to beat when it comes to pairing wine with turkey, and the Tantalus 2019 Riesling (Okanagan Valley, B.C. — $30.63, Liquor Marts and beyond) is one of the best in our market. It’s pale straw in colour, and aromatically brings ripe red apple, pear, subtle peach and very delicate chalky notes. On the light-bodied palate there’s just a hint of sweetness, and the bright green apple, lemon candy and peach flavours, as well as the underlying chalky note, work brilliantly with the vibrant acidity and the long, steely finish. Drink this spectacular Riesling now with your big festive bird, spicier Thai dishes, sushi or salads, or tuck this away for 18 months or more and let it evolve. Outstanding. 5/5

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Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020

Pandemic pivots expand access to tipples

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Pandemic pivots expand access to tipples

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020

There’s no question that 2020 has been a year of challenges, curveballs and unexpected developments for local businesses, Manitoba producers and vendors of wine, beer and spirits. While the path through the COVID-19 pandemic has had its share of bumps and roadblocks, most local sellers and makers of booze managed to nimbly navigate tough times with some ingenuity and a whole lot of support from customers and the community.

The essential move most locals made in 2020 was a pivot to delivery and curbside pickup options. The first wave of lockdowns saw private wine stores, Liquor Marts and local producers offering all manner of delivery options within the city limits, many with same-day service. It’s an option that immediately proved popular, as I found out first-hand when I volunteered my time (and my modest hatchback) to be delivery boy for a day for Torque Brewing in April.

And while the demand for delivery subsided in the summer as restrictions were eased, the current code-red situation has once again resulted in an uptick in deliveries — including from private wine stores, Liquor Marts and some beer vendors using apps such as The Bottle Drive or Skip the Dishes. A couple local breweries and private wine stores have even started venturing beyond the city’s borders for weekly delivery runs. And most recently, Liquor Marts joined private wine stores and local producers in offering a curbside pickup option at their Grant Park, Dominion and Northdale stores.

Temporary measures put in place by the provincial government in April also meant restaurants were able to sell wine, beer and coolers with their food orders, a small lifeline for Manitoba’s struggling eateries. With Ontario recently announcing they’ve now made that option permanent in the province, watch to see if our provincial government does the same.

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Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Kilter taproom manager Mischa Decter pours a Waves pale ale and a Juicii IPA.

Reliable wines to make season merry and bright

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Reliable wines to make season merry and bright

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 21, 2020

Whether you’re buying wine to give as gifts or are restocking your wine rack heading into the holiday season, getting loaded up on vino, so to speak, is actually not too tough a task — even if you’re trying to avoid in-person shopping.

Here’s a quick list of solid wines that can help you shorten your holiday to-do list — whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else. And if you’re hoping to avoid going to a bricks-and-mortar store, most of the vino below (along with lots more) is available for delivery from Liquor Marts or private wine stores in Winnipeg (and, in some cases, beyond — check the websites/social media accounts for more).

Rather than opting for the classically corny wine charms (which are useless right now, owing to social gathering restrictions), there are plenty of smaller-format reds, whites, rosés and bubblies to stuff those stockings. The Joiy NV Shimmering Bubbles (Australia — $4.72/250ml can, Liquor Marts and beyond), for example, is a “prosecco-style sparkling wine” that is pale straw in colour with some modest effervescence. Aromatically it brings apple seed, pear, melon rind and peach leaf. It’s off-dry and quite fizzy, with tart peach-candy flavours as well as lemon zest and secondary green apple notes. The bubbles are quite spritzy and the acidity is racy, making for a crisp, lean bubbly that’s simple and fun — perhaps best mixed with orange juice for a mimosa or blended into a bellini. Available for delivery. 2.5/5

For those who enjoy a lighter white wine, the Villa Maria 2019 Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand — $22.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is an organic white that delivers vibrant grapefruit, lime zest, herbal and chalky notes on the nose that are lively and appealing. It’s dry, razor-sharp and crisp, with loads of fresh citrus flavours (think lemon, lime and grapefruit), some secondary bell pepper and spice notes, hints of chalkiness and plenty of acidity on the racy, medium-length finish. Great verve and energy — drink now. 4.5/5 (Note: The Cellar Selection isn’t available for delivery via Liquor Marts, but Villa Maria’s Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is, and is also a solid buy at $17.49.)

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Monday, Dec. 21, 2020

Tasty tipples: seven whiskies for your gift list

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Tasty tipples: seven whiskies for your gift list

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020

If you’ve got a whisky lover on your holiday gift guide, making heads or tails of the ever-popular brown spirit can be a tricky task — especially with the recent release of a number of premium, new-to-Manitoba spirits at Liquor Marts (for more on those see wfp.to/spirits).

With that in mind, here are a few recently tasted drams in a number of price points that would make fine gifts under the tree, superb stocking stuffers for the whisky lovers in your life, or solid additions to your bar to help cope with the COVID-19 lockdown...

The Bushmills Black Bush Sherry Cask Reserve Irish Whiskey (Antrim, Northern Ireland — $37.99, Liquor Marts) is a well-priced, triple distilled Irish whiskey aged in Spanish Oloroso sherry barrels for around eight years; aromatically the medium copper blended whiskey brings dried fruit, toffee and vanilla notes on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, smooth and approachable, with dried fruit and toffee notes making way for hints of vanilla and marmalade on the finish. Weighs in at 40 per cent alcohol… approachable and delicious for the budding whiskey drinker. On sale for $34.99 until the end of November, and available for delivery.

Staying in Ireland, the Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Ireland — $49.99, Liquor Marts) comes in a very cool package, and also sees aging time in Spanish sherry barrels. On the nose the dried fruit, vanilla, orange peel and spice notes are intense. There’s a touch of sweetness and some great intensity on the palate, lifting the orange peel, dried apricot, vanilla and spice notes before a warm finish (it’s 40 per cent alcohol). Tastes as good as it looks.

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Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020

A Christmas list of Winnipeg retailers ready to fill your stockings

Randall King, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 19 minute read Preview

A Christmas list of Winnipeg retailers ready to fill your stockings

Randall King, Alan Small, Ben Sigurdson, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 19 minute read Friday, Nov. 27, 2020

From door-closing public health restrictions to the monopoly of online retailers such as Amazon, the threats to local business during a global pandemic are numerous and come from all directions. Whether they are longtime family operations or new dreams just realized, businesses of all stripes have had to adapt, adjust and try to survive.

That’s why it’s especially important, this year, to invest your holiday shopping money back into the local economy — and the Free Press Arts & Life team is here to help. We’ve carefully chosen a list of Winnipeg shops and makers offering treasures for everyone on your list, and talked with business owners as they head into this unprecedented season. That’s the beauty of shopping local: you can get to know the actual people you’re supporting.

Don’t wait to do your shopping, however. As one maker told us, “beautiful things take time,” so place your orders early to ensure the holiday season will be merry and bright for everyone.

 

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Friday, Nov. 27, 2020

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press
Hello Darling owner, Miriam Delos Santos, in her workshop where she makes playful headbands.

Boozy Black Friday

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Boozy Black Friday

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020

While venturing out to stores on Black Friday certainly isn’t recommended, that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had for the budget-savvy imbiber.

Many of Winnipeg’s private wine stores are offering a selection of five wines for just $2 each when an unlisted bottle is purchased at regular price.

In order to avoid big in-store crowds, most offer curbside pickup and delivery options available, and some stores took the initiative of starting their Black Friday promotions online. Check store websites for more info.

While Liquor Marts hadn’t made public their Black Friday deals by press time, expect them to have a handful of wines, beers and spirits offered at cheaper prics for a limited time. The drawbacks: same-day delivery isn’t always an option with Liquor Marts; many products being discounted likely aren’t part of their delivery program; and they don’t offer curbside pickup, meaning you have to go to a store for the deals.

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Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020

Lake of the Woods Brewing Co. photo
A cage of Lake of the Woods Brewing Co.’s Deep 6 Russian Imperial Stout is lowered into the lake. The bottles will stay underwater until the ice melts in spring.

Stay in good spirits

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Stay in good spirits

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

With the province under heightened lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Manitobans urged to reduce their contacts outside their household, those looking to imbibe in wine, beer or spirits may be looking for ways to get their hands on a bottle of something or other while minimizing interactions at brick-and-mortar stores. And while Liquor Marts, private wine stores and beer vendors remain open, there are plenty of options for contactless pickup and delivery for your booze — in some cases above and beyond what was available during the first lockdown in spring.

During the April lockdown, Liquor Marts initially offered a few hundred of their products for delivery in Winnipeg, for which they charged a flat rate of $8 for up to 10 cases, gradually adding products as days went by. And while the delivery fee remains the same, their website now offers more than 1,600 products (including wine, beer and spirits) for delivery in the city, with a contactless option for prepaid orders providing ID is shown at the door. Liquor Marts now also offer same-day delivery in Brandon for $11 for up to a full case (and $2 per additional case after that); Brandonites can call 204-571-5105 for delivery and details.

Most of Winnipeg’s private wine stores continue to offer both curbside pickup (not offered at Liquor Marts) and delivery — either same-day or next-day — and typically offer such services on any products shown on their respective websites. Some private stores now also offer delivery beyond the city limits; the Winehouse, for example, is offering delivery to Steinbach, Niverville and Ile Des Chenes on Wednesdays, with free delivery on orders over $40. Kenaston Wine Market delivers to communities within a 30-minute drive of the Perimeter Highway and is offering free delivery on all orders during the pandemic.

If you absolutely must venture out to do some shopping for the holidays or otherwise, De Luca Fine Wines (942 Portage Ave.) is staying open until midnight on Fridays starting on Nov. 20. They also offer curbside pickup and delivery (and, as an aside, have put together a wine advent calendar for $225 that features 24 different 187-ml to 473-ml cans or bottles while supplies last).

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Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

COLIN ENQUIST PHOTO
Cole Neustaedter of Sookram’s Brewing Co. loads flats of beer into the Winnipeg craft brewer’s delivery truck. Local breweries have shifted their focus back to curbside pickup and deliveries following the implementation of heightened restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winnipeg sisters behind Jenna Rae Cakes launch cookbook full of baked goods

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Winnipeg sisters behind Jenna Rae Cakes launch cookbook full of baked goods

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

For nearly seven years, Jenna Rae Cakes has been satisfying the cravings of Winnipeg sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) while building its brand online into a social media powerhouse. Now the bakery, founded by 32-year-old sisters Ashley Kosowan and Jenna Hutchinson, is taking its treats to homes and kitchens beyond our city’s borders with a new cookbook.

The timing clearly couldn’t be better. Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats: Over 100 Recipes for the Modern Baker, published by Penguin Random House Canada in October, lands with the holidays quickly approaching and at a time COVID-19-related lockdowns are in full effect in Canada and beyond.

The pair had already begun researching how to create their own cookbook when they were contacted by Penguin Random House Canada about pulling together their own volume. “It’s always been a goal of ours to have a cookbook — a lofty dream,” says Kosowan from Jenna Rae Cakes’ main location at 580 Academy Rd. (There’s also a kiosk on the second floor of The Forks Market.) “I don’t think we’ve ever been so excited to get an email.”

Anyone familiar with the visual esthetics of Jenna Rae Cakes’ goods (and there are many — they boast more than 196,000 followers on Instagram) will find the cookbook is filled with familiar favourites and an immediately recognizable look and feel.

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Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Ashley Kosowan (left), and Jenna Hutchinson created a cookbook with the same esthetic as their popular local bakery's social media.

It's International Merlot Day, so break open a bottle of this beloved wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

It's International Merlot Day, so break open a bottle of this beloved wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020

While Cabernet Sauvignon often gets the lion’s share of the spotlight as one the noblest of red wines, in many ways, Merlot is just as deserving. And with today being International Merlot Day (yes, it exists... thank you marketing people and social media influencers), it’s as good a day as any to look at Merlot’s rise to prominence as a global grape variety — albeit one inextricably linked to Cabernet Sauvignon.

For decades, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon have dominated the global wine landscape, both in terms of popularity and volume of wine produced. Merlot is second only to Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of the most widely planted wine grape varieties in the world, red or white, and in many wine producing countries (including France, British Colmbia’s Okanagan Valley and others) Merlot is tops.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot share some flavour characteristics, such as dominant dark berry, plum and chocolate notes, and both do well in integrating vanilla and spice notes from oak-barrel aging, which can often increase the ageworthiness of a wine. (Both grapes can be made into highly age-worthy wines, although, as is the case with most wines, those on store shelves are meant to be drunk right away.)

The similarities between the two grapes are in part because they share one common parent-grape variety — Cabernet Franc. The other parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, as the name suggests, is Sauvignon Blanc; Merlot’s other grape parent, meanwhile, is the relatively obscure Magdeleine Noire des Charentes.

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Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020

Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon share a common grape variety, the Cabernet Franc, but Merlot’s other parent is the relatively obscure Magdelaine Noire des Charentes.

Local cartoonist chronicles Sen. Kamala Harris's Canadian years

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Local cartoonist chronicles Sen. Kamala Harris's Canadian years

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Monday, Nov. 2, 2020

Kaj Hasselriis has been interested in politics since he was a kid. When he was nine years old, the Winnipeg writer and cartoonist recalls then-city council candidate Bill Clement canvassing his family’s Charleswood home in 1983 — the year he successfully won a seat on council over incumbent James Moore.

“I can remember practically the whole conversation,” the 46-year-old Hasselriis says. “I remember him saying he was going street by street, starting early because he was running against an incumbent and he needed to get out there as early as he could. And I remember asking, ‘Who was that man?’”

That interest in politics has manifested itself in many ways for Hasselriis, including a run for mayor in 2006 where he placed third behind incumbent Sam Katz and former MLA Marianne Cerilli.

Most recently, it has spurred Hasselriis, who has also worked as a journalist at CBC, to write and illustrate comic books for children about political figures as kids.

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Monday, Nov. 2, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipegger Kaj Hasselriis has been interested in politics since he was a child. His latest work, Kamala in Canada, is a bilingual comic book about U.S. vice-presidential hopeful Kamala Harris’s teenage years in Montreal.

Tweedy’s songwriting tricks an inspired treat

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

Tweedy’s songwriting tricks an inspired treat

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy has hardly been twiddling his thumbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 53-year old singer-songwriter and his family started The Tweedy Show, a near-daily video series on Instagram; he recorded and released a solo record, Love is the King; and earlier in October his second book, How to Write One Song, landed in bookstores.

And while it’s diminutive in stature, the 53-year-old Tweedy’s latest book is a worthy companion to his 2018 memoir, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back), offering insight into Tweedy’s own songwriting process which he in turn hopes will spur creativity in readers. With hundreds of songs written in his 20-plus years of songwriting and a handful of Grammys with the Chicago-based sextet, it’s safe to say Tweedy knows how to pen a tune.

In the same friendly, down-to-earth writing style that he demonstrated in Let’s Go, Tweedy sets out to help budding songwriters finish (and perform) one song. Music is the focus here, but many tips, tricks and suggestions offered could likely be adapted or modified for creators in other fields.

Why just one song? “Because one song is all it takes to make a connection,” says Tweedy. “I believe that a song being sung is one of the clearest views we ever have to witness how humans reach out for warmth with our art.” Additionally, focusing on one song is less daunting than the prospect of writing an album’s worth of material. Start small and focused, Tweedy says, and once that one song is done, write one more. And one more. And so on.

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Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020

Answers to the most common queries on wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Answers to the most common queries on wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020

There’s practically no end to the amount you can learn about wine. In writing about the stuff for 15 years, and having spent the better part of a decade working at the retail level of wine before that, a day has rarely gone by where I’ve not learned something new.

But most questions I get from readers are practical ones that don’t change much. Call it sticking to the basics, call it a focus on the fundamentals (that one’s kind of in use right now, actually) — here are answers to some the most common questions that land in the Uncorked inbox...

How long can I keep a bottle of wine once it’s open?

Most wines are best within one to three days of opening. There are the odd exceptions: Spanish sherry, some wines from France’s Jura region and a handful of other wines made in an oxidative style, meaning the wine comes into more contact with oxygen during the winemaking process, so they don’t deteriorate as quickly when opened.

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Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020

The Canadian Press
Wine

New book a photographic tour of buildings that shaped city's history

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

New book a photographic tour of buildings that shaped city's history

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020

Winnipeg’s rich built history stands as a testament to our place in the history of Canada as a gateway to the west. And while areas such as the Exchange District offer a snapshot into a long-gone era, there are just as many buildings in the city that have been lost to fire, to progress or to decay.

Christine Hanlon’s new book, Old Winnipeg: A History in Pictures, published by McIntyre Purcell and launched virtually on Oct. 24, chronicles the structures that have come and gone over the last 170-plus years — from Upper Fort Garry, which stood until 1882, to the Public Safety Building, which was demolished this year.

“There are all these places that used to exist… that are part of our history, part of our story,” says Hanlon. “We’ve got pieces and reminders of them all over the city, whether it’s in a name, like River Park South or Polo Park, or whether it’s in physical pieces.”

In its 140-plus photos, Old Winnipeg goes beyond the city’s more iconic buildings of the past (the Eaton’s building, the Winnipeg Arena and the like), capturing some of the lesser-known gems that have come and gone. Those are some of Hanlon’s favourites.

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Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020

Candy’s for kids; our Halloween haul is beer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Candy’s for kids; our Halloween haul is beer

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

If we grown-ups are to somehow navigate the tricky trick-or-treating during the COVID-19 crisis without some sort of spooky breakdown, we may well need a grown-up beverage or two on hand to make the pandemic pain of Halloween hell a little more palatable.

For those who fancy some fun brews, there are plenty of local beer options to help with your Halloween.

● But first: it’s not local, but by name alone the Duclaw Brewing Co. Sour Me Unicorn Farts (Baltimore, Md. — $6.99/473ml can, select beer vendors) practically begs for a Halloween-ish review. Brewed with “fruity cereal” and edible glitter, it’s pale gold and hazy in appearance with a very frothy head that brings a definite Froot Loops note on the nose, with underlying bread dough and malty notes. It’s lighter-bodied and delivers sour fruity notes with modest malty flavours, 5.5 per cent alcohol and very little sweetness — and yes, there’s edible glitter wafting about in the glass. Picked up at the Quality Inns beer vendor near the corner of Pembina Highway and Grant Avenue. 3/5

● Closer to home, another beer for the candy fans is the Half Pints Brewing Co. Bikey McPeach Fuzz (Winnipeg — $4.09/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts and beer vendors). Peach has been added in with grapefruit in this riff on Half Pints’ wildly popular Bikey McBikeface; aromatically that peach is front and centre, with lovely floral and grapefruit juice notes hanging around as well. It’s not as tart as the original Bikey, but the grapefruit notes do offer some bitterness to counteract the up-front, slightly sweet peachy flavours; a secondary vanilla note brings a Creamsicle-ish vibe. Weighs in at a modest 4.5 per cent alcohol. 3.5/5

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press
From left: Duclaw Brewing Co. Sour Me Unicorn Farts; Half Pints Brewing Co. Bikey McPeach Fuzz; Stone Angel Brewing Co. Nocturne English Dark Mild; Little Brown Jug Monarch English Brown Ale.

Author connects with ‘the dark, sad parts’ of herself

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Author connects with ‘the dark, sad parts’ of herself

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020

It’s been more than seven months since singer-songwriter Hayley Gene Penner has been back to her home in Los Angeles, where she has spent the better part of the last eight years working as a songwriter and collaborator.

The Winnipeg-born Penner, 34, has been weathering the pandemic north of the border, visiting family — including her father, legendary local children’s entertainer Fred Penner — and working by video conferences on keeping her songwriting career going.

Through Zoom interviews, Instagram takeovers and the like, the 34-year-old Penner has also been promoting her new memoir, People You Follow, published by Dundurn in Canada in September and earlier this month in the United States. A 12-song album, also called People You Follow, was released in September. It’s Penner’s first collection of her own songs after collaborating with a wide range of artists as a songwriter for years.

Penner’s first book chronicles a range of relationships, from shorter-term flings to lengthier relations, and the varying degrees of heartbreak she has had with each. “I’m a big supporter of heartbreak — everyone should have their heart ripped out of their chests at some point,” she says by Zoom while visiting her father in British Columbia. “It’s so humbling… just to know yourself like that. I’m very grateful for all of my heartbreak. Everything has taught me something about what I want and who I am. And I’m so grateful to know the really dark, desperate, sad parts of myself. I wouldn’t change anything at all.”

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Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020

Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press
Hayley Gene Penner: ‘big supporter of heartbreak’

Free Press book club to host author Lauren Carter

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Free Press book club to host author Lauren Carter

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

The Winnipeg Free Press Book Club, in partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers, is pleased to announce that October’s featured book is This Has Nothing to Do With You, the second novel by Manitoba author Lauren Carter.

Carter’s novel, published in September 2019 by Freehand Books, nabbed her the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction and the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer at this year’s Manitoba Book Awards.

The book tells the story of Mel Barrett’s attempt to come to terms with her mother having murdered her father and his mistress in small-town northern Ontario. After spending a couple of years traveling the continent, Mel returns home to face her demons and grapple with her frayed relationship with her brother Matt, who holds secrets about the grisly event of their youth. Adding to her struggle to come to terms with the trauma of her situation and issues of responsibility and empathy, Mel also takes on a rescue dog with a troubled past of its own — a massive mastiff, no less.

The Free Press review of Carter’s novel called her characters “endearing and enduring creations. Their decisions are sometimes frustrating, much like real people, but their emotions and the consequences they suffer create a powerful connection with the reader.”

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Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

Heather Ruth photography
Author Lauren Carter

Where there’s smoke…

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Where there’s smoke…

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

Winemakers in California’s Napa Valley are facing the stark reality that this year’s harvest may have gone up in smoke.

Massive fires throughout Napa Valley and nearby Sonoma County in August and September decimated a number of wineries and vineyards in the regions — and those that weren’t burned by the fires have been widely impacted by the smoke.

A recent report in Wine Spectator indicated smoke blanketed much of the region for weeks as vines were going through veraison, the period when grapes begin to sweeten (and change colour, for red grapes) and are particularly susceptible to external influences such as smoke.

As a result, producers told Wine Spectator much of the wine that would have been destined for bottles bearing the Napa Valley designation will likely be declassified to be used in more generic (and less expensive) California appellation wines. A number of producers also indicated large portions of their grapes wouldn’t even be harvested to make wine.

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Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times
The Glass fire in Napa County burns on a mountainside behind Beckstoffer Vinyards in September.

Something’s brewing

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Something’s brewing

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020

For those who buy liquor in the province, there was a pint-sized bit of news that changes could soon be on tap.

Understandably, the throne speech delivered on Oct. 7 by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon on behalf of the Pallister government was focused on grappling with issues such as education, health care, tax cuts and social services.

There was just one reference to liquor in the throne speech, in a section dubbed “Protecting Incomes,” but it offers a tantalizing taste of what could be coming: “Paying less for products and services is good for working Manitobans. Every bit helps, including from publicly-funded Crown corporations. Your government will help a bit more, by instructing Manitoba Hydro to keep this year’s rate increase to below three per cent, ensuring MPI continues to lower rates, and allowing less expensive and more convenient private retailing of liquor in the province.”

When pressed to provide details about what that might mean, Premier Brian Pallister avoided elaboration. “What we’re after is better customer service,” he said when asked about liquor, later adding “Better choice, better options, fairer prices… these are all important goals. The details on how we get there will be forthcoming in due course.”

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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Canadian whiskeys at the Grant Park Liquor Mart.

We can always give thanks for wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

We can always give thanks for wine

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020

It’s become a bit of a cliché to say, “(Insert event here) is going to look a little different this year.” But here we are, with Thanksgiving looming next weekend, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen Winnipeg raised to the restricted level of the province’s pandemic response system.

So yes, Thanksgiving’s going to look a little different this year.

And while you may be staying home for a smaller celebration or gathering only with close family for your Thanksgiving feast next weekend, you’re still going to need some wine to go with those fall flavours.

The centerpiece of most Thanksgiving dinners, of course, is turkey. No matter how you’re preparing your bird this year, you want to make sure your wine doesn’t overpower your turkey. Avoid bigger, tannic red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz and the like; if you want a weightier red wine, try Zinfandel/Primitivo or Merlot instead.

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Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020

Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times FILES
Pinot Noir is an ideal wine for typical Thanksgiving fare, but those looking for something with more body can seek out a Zinfandel or Merlot.

Summer's end brings new season of bolder beers

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Summer's end brings new season of bolder beers

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020

For local craft beer drinkers, 2020 could be called the summer of sours. Many of Winnipeg’s craft breweries had people puckering up as they experimented with all manner of sour brews, from slightly salty goses to fruit-infused kettle sours to radler-ish brews and beyond.

The warmer months also saw our market crowded with clean, crisp lagers — the perfect post-yardwork brew if there ever was one.

But summer is over, and temperatures have begun their downward spiral towards our long, cold winter. For beer lovers and brewers alike, the changing of the leaves also comes with a changing of beer styles — from light and fruity to darker, richer malt-driven brews of fall.

“With brewing, it can be really dependent on using fresh ingredients,” says Chris Miller, tap room manager at Half Pints Brewing Co., who is also a certified beer judge and cicerone (the beer equivalent of a sommelier). “Usually by this time, citrus fruit that brings those fresher flavours in summer are already on their way out — they’re not in season.”

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Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Chris Miller, taproom manager at Half Pints Brewing Co. and certified cicerone, with a glass of the brewery’s Bulldog Amber Ale, an ideal fall brew that’s available year round.

Robertson family memoir seeks place as road map to self-discovery

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Robertson family memoir seeks place as road map to self-discovery

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Monday, Sep. 21, 2020

For the better part of the last decade, Winnipeg author and Norway House Cree Nation member David A. Robertson’s impressive publishing schedule has featured two or three books per year. And while his bibliography includes graphic novels, children’s books, young adult fantasy novels and more, none of his past works have taken as emotional a toll as his new memoir, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory.

The 43-year-old Robertson’s latest book chronicles his growing up with a white mother and a Cree father in River Heights, his coming to terms with his Indigenous roots and the absence of his father Don in his life for the better part of a decade after his parents separated (they would later reconcile).

It also lovingly recalls the reconciliation process between father and son, and an attempt by Robertson to understand his Cree background when the two journeyed to Black Water, a trapline located near Norway House where Don grew up, in 2018. (Robertson’s father, a longtime United Church minister and educator in Manitoba, died in December 2019 at the age of 84.)

Black Water, published by HarperCollins today, will be launched (virtually) in conjunction with McNally Robinson Booksellers on Thursday, when Robertson will be joined by Brampton, Ont. author Jael Richardson. It’s the latest in more than two dozen books Robertson has written in the last decade, including the 2017 Governor General’s Award-winning children’s book When We Were Alone, which was illustrated by Vancouver artist Julie Flett.

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Monday, Sep. 21, 2020

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
David A. Robertson chronicles growing up with a white mother and a Cree father in River Heights, his coming to terms with his Indigenous roots and the long absence of his father in Black Water.

Forget that chill in the air with Kilter Brewing's tropical-inspired brews

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Forget that chill in the air with Kilter Brewing's tropical-inspired brews

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 19, 2020

Dust off your best Hawaiian shirt and make tracks to St. Boniface today for a little taste of paradise.

Kilter Brewing Co. (450 Rue Deschambault) is throwing a tropical-themed party that runs from noon until 11 p.m. tonight.

The lushly decorated tap room will be pouring four tropical-inspired brews including the small-batch Jungle Bird pale ale, Maii Taii double IPA and the Acid Trip tropical punch sour ale, all of which were made specially for the event.

In addition to the beer there’ll be tropical dishes being served up, as well as plenty of tunes to make you feel you’re basking in a tropical paradise. Admission is free on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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Saturday, Sep. 19, 2020

Writers festival expects to incorporate virtual events beyond pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Writers festival expects to incorporate virtual events beyond pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 17, 2020

The latest chapter of the story of Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, has brought a plot twist no one could have foreseen at last year’s event — the move to an entirely online event.

Back in the spring, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and book launches, author tours and publication dates were being cancelled or postponed, Thin Air director Charlene Diehl and her team had to take a long, hard look at how the festival could go forward.

“In April, I was pretty sure that, come hell or high water, I was going to find some way to run a festival,” says Diehl. “I could feel the need for this. People who make stories never stop — in some ways, the intensity of their work increases. Suddenly they have material that is far more pressing, and a cultural moment to navigate or report on.”

This year’s entire Thin Air festival will be presented online at thinairfestival.ca starting on Sunday and running through to Oct. 12. Rather than present dozens of day-by-day Zoom-type events, Diehl and her team approached the virtual festival more like a gallery than a series of standard readings.

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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Thin Air director Charlene Diehl says she knew early on in the pandemic there was a need for this year's writers festival to happen — come hell or high water.

Go-to grape makes vibrant vino

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Preview

Go-to grape makes vibrant vino

Ben Sigurdson 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 12, 2020

Sauvignon Blanc might just be the ideal wine grape variety. For winemakers it’s a dream: it thrives in both cooler and warmer climates, does well in a wide variety of soils and, since it’s rarely aged in oak barrels, is quick and relatively inexpensive to make.

Unlike entry-level Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, even the most modestly priced Sauvignon Blanc is rarely boring, which has helped the grape’s popularity skyrocket with consumers. Visit any Liquor Mart or private wine store and you’ll find examples from practically every country, while almost every restaurant wine list features at least one or two wines made from the grape.

Like many of the most popular wine grape varieties, the origin story of Sauvignon Blanc can be traced back to France. In the Loire Valley, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the primary white wine grape varieties; it’s also widely planted in Bordeaux and the south of France. Examples from eastern Loire Valley appellations such as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the pinnacles of Old World Sauvignon Blanc, bringing remarkable complexity and verve.

These days, it’s south of the equator where much of the Sauvignon Blanc we see on shelves is being made, with most examples coming in young, fresh and with no oak aging. New Zealand producers have embraced the grape in a big way, with winemakers in the Marlborough region in particular delivering vibrant, intense examples. Producers in coastal Chile, Australia and South Africa are also making their fair share.

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Saturday, Sep. 12, 2020

Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune/MCT
Sauvignon Blanc’s fresh flavours often include tart citrus notes of lime and grapefruit.

Craft brewers putting safety on tap with mandatory masks

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Craft brewers putting safety on tap with mandatory masks

Ben Sigurdson  7 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created myriad challenges for all manner of small businesses, and craft breweries are certainly no exception. From losing draft accounts at pubs and eateries to shutting down operations entirely, from offering curbside pickup and delivery to cautiously reopening tap rooms, it’s been quite the ride.

With the recent uptick in virus cases in Manitoba, many local craft breweries have opted to make masks mandatory in their tap rooms. To date, Kilter Brewing Co., Sookram’s Brewing Co., Little Brown Jug, Torque Brewing, Stone Angel Brewing Co. and Barn Hammer Brewing Co. have all implemented such regulations in Winnipeg.

The general rule is that masks can be removed once you’re seated in the tap room, but must be worn at all other times, including to use the washroom or order a beer at the bar. And in talking to three of the breweries mandating masks, it would appear for the most part thirsty Winnipeggers are happy to oblige.

● ● ●

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Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2020

Kilter taproom manager Mischa Decter with a Waves pale ale and a Juicii IPA at the St. Boniface brewery, where masks are mandatory. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Local breweries beef up menus for Burger Week

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Local breweries beef up menus for Burger Week

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020

In the world of food-and-drink pairings, there are few combinations finer than a burger and a beer.

For those looking to take part in the ever-popular Le Burger Week, which runs to Monday, local breweries and tap rooms have plenty of options for beer and burger fans looking to avoid the crush of participating eateries.

Many of the breweries with their own kitchens are diving into Le Burger Week in a big way. Brazen Hall Kitchen & Brewery (800 Pembina Hwy.) is cooking up the Hambourgeois, a French-inspired burger; in addition to their dine-in option, they’ve also opted to set up a makeshift drive-thru (or walk up) option using an RV and food truck in their parking lot.

One Great City (1596 Ness Ave.) has created the spicy-sounding Luchador that it’s serving up alongside its brews, while Trans Canada Brewing Co. (1290 Kenaston Blvd.) is firing off beef sliders to enjoy in its spacious tap room.

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Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020

CK photography
Brazen Hall Kitchen & Brewery’s Hambourgeois is a French-inspired burger.

Unprecedented year for books yields bumper crop of fascinating fall titles

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Preview

Unprecedented year for books yields bumper crop of fascinating fall titles

Ben Sigurdson 8 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2020

There’s never been a fall books season quite like this one.

As the COVID-19 pandemic began taking hold across the globe, publishers found themselves scrambling to deal with the slate of books set to be released in the spring. Many books set to be released in March and April were pushed back to the summer, or fall, or even to next year. Book tours by authors were cancelled and festivals were moved online as we socially distanced.

Sales of printed books initially dipped before bouncing back as readers pined for new (or new-to-them) titles to help them get through our pandemic-related social isolation. But summer is typically a slow season for new releases, meaning readers and publishers are champing at the bit in anticipation of this year’s slate of fall releases.

Here are 20 titles — 10 fiction, 10 non-fiction — to watch for in the coming months that are sure to have book clubbers and critics alike talking...

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Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2020

Chef and restaurateur David Chang's new book, "Eat a Peach: A Memoir," is just one of the many great books being featured this fall.

Widely planted grape gets its well-deserved due

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Widely planted grape gets its well-deserved due

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020

While there are plenty of wine drinkers out there who go ga-ga over Grenache, are mad about Merlot or are silly over Syrah/Shiraz, in the world of red wine grapes Cabernet Sauvignon is king.

The world’s most widely planted grape variety gets its day in the spotlight on Thursday, Sept. 3, which has been dubbed International Cabernet Day. (Those posting their celebrations online are encouraged to use the #CabernetDay hashtag, it would seem.)

These days Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in practically every wine-producing country in the world. Of the 16 million acres of wine grapes planted globally, it makes up around five per cent of all plantings — around 800,000 acres.

The birthplace, if you will, of Cabernet Sauvignon was the Aquitaine region of France, which includes Bordeaux. (Fun fact: In the mid-1990s researchers discovered Cabernet Sauvignon’s “parents” are Cabernet Franc, a red grape, and Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine grape.)

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Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020

Terry Chea / Canadian Press files
These days Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in practically every wine-producing country in the world.

Wildfires add to woes of western wineries

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Wildfires add to woes of western wineries

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020

Just when they thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse, winemakers in the Okanagan Valley as well as a number of California grape-growing regions are facing a new and potentially deadly challenge — fire.

Thunderstorms in mid-August resulted in 11,000 lightning strikes throughout northern California in a 72-hour period, resulting in hundreds of fires and prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.

Of California’s wine-producing regions, Napa County has been hardest hit, but fires are also burning in Sonoma County, Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia Highlands, with many of the blazes not yet under control. The state has also been dealing with extreme heat and rolling blackouts.

In British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, meanwhile, hundreds of residents have been forced to flee their homes as a fire on Christie Mountain — located north of the town of Okanagan Falls on the east side of Skaha Lake — has grown to approximately 1,400 hectares.

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Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020

Nic Coury / The Associated Press
Trees near a vineyard burn in the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, Calif., Tuesday.

Outdoor patio serves up benefits for Exchange District businesses

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Outdoor patio serves up benefits for Exchange District businesses

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Monday, Aug. 17, 2020

The newest jewel in the Exchange District offers visitors the chance to grab a beer and a bite — with a twist — in a picturesque outdoor space.

Bijou Patio joins spots such as the Beer Can on Main Street, Cargo Bar at Assiniboine Park and The Common at The Forks as a destination for folks looking to get out and grab a pint (or other beverage) in a safe, physically distanced space.

Bijou’s bar is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day except Sundays, and the public space, which has seating for 120 over a number of well-distanced picnic tables, is both kid- and pet-friendly.

Located in Bijou Park, just east of the Cube stage in Old Market Square, in front of Red River College’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, the space has been used in previous years by the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Two years ago, the Exchange District BIZ began its own programming featuring movies and concerts, with a special events licence allowing drinks to be served.

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Monday, Aug. 17, 2020

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press
The patio is set in a paved park that runs between Main Street and Old Market Square.

Many great options can make a glass of red part of your patio pleaser plans

Ben Sigurdson  3 minute read Preview

Many great options can make a glass of red part of your patio pleaser plans

Ben Sigurdson  3 minute read Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020

Summer is the season of patios, backyards, picnics and generally enjoying the outdoors. For many wine drinkers, the warmer months mean a shift away from rich, robust reds to well-chilled whites, bubbles and rosés.

But for those who’d rather stick with red wines in summer, there are some tips and tricks to help maximize enjoyment.

First of all, don’t be afraid to chill your red wine. In fact, it’s generally a good idea to pop your red wine in the fridge for 10-15 minutes, period — whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall. We typically think of serving reds at “room temperature,” but unless your room is between 16-18 Celsius, chances are your red could use a chill.

Reds that are served too warm tend to taste more tannic and alcoholic, with stewed fruit flavours. (Adversely, chilling a red wine too much (especially a more full-bodied red) will makes it taste astringent.) If your plan is to enjoy your red wine in the sun, jam it in a bucket, bowl or pail filled with a mixture of ice cubes and water for 10-15 minutes before serving.

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Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020

istock

Patio poised as new jewel of Exchange

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Patio poised as new jewel of Exchange

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020

Those who miss the buzz of the Exchange Distict’s beer gardens during Winnipeg’s fringe and jazz festivals will soon have new outdoor space to raise a glass and grab a bite.

Located at Bijou Park in the space between The Cube in Old Market Square and Main St., Bijou Patio opens this weekend. It will feature craft beer on tap from Exchange District breweries Nonsuch and Little Brown Jug, as well as cans from other locals, draft cider from Morden’s Dead Horse Cider, a selection of wine from Ellement Wine and Spirits and non-alcoholic options as well.

“The idea is to get people back to the Exchange — coming down here, having drinks, like we would during the jazz festival and all the other summer events,” says Max Frank, general manager of Bijou Patio.

Those looking for a bite to eat can get food from nearby eateries by scanning a QR code on the table which opens an app with menus from nearby eateries such as Bodegoes, King + Bannatyne and Shawarma Khan. Once the order is placed, a food runner will then go to the restaurant, grab the food and bring it back to your table. “To me that’s the standout offer,” says Frank. “It’s all meant to promote businesses that aren’t seeing the same level of activity they would normally.”

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Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Bijou Patio, located in the Exchange District’s Bijou Park, opens this weekend.

Worldwide wine industry hit hard by pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Worldwide wine industry hit hard by pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020

While there may have been an initial modest spike in online sales, curbside pickup and home delivery of wine at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall global sales of wine are down thanks in large part to the temporary shuttering of bars and restaurants — major purchasers (and sellers) of wine. With eateries and watering holes cautiously reopening in markets everywhere, sales of wine will invariably begin creeping up again. But for some producers, and in some cases entire wine regions, it might be too late.

No wine industry has been hit harder than South Africa. The country, which has been dramatically affected by the pandemic, banned all sales of all alcohol for three months at the end of March, arguing it was necessary to keep health resources available for the pandemic by reducing “trauma admissions” associated with alcohol.

The ban was lifted on June 1, but then reinstated in mid-July, coming the second time around with a nightly curfew.

Most devastatingly to South African producers, the initial ban also included five weeks where South African wine producers couldn’t even sell their wines to other countries, as the government had also imposed a ban on exports (which it has since rescinded).

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Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020

Schalk van Zuydam / The Associated Press files
South Africa’s ban on alcohol, including a five-week ban on exporting wine, has crippled the industry.

Wine festival good cheer off the table till next year

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Wine festival good cheer off the table till next year

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2020

The Winnipeg Wine Festival has jammed the cork back in the bottle on this year’s festivities.

Back in mid-March, organizers announced the annual weeklong festival, which has raised millions for Special Olympics Manitoba, would be postponed from late April/early May until this fall because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. While their social media accounts have been quiet, the landing page on the festival’s website (winnipegwinefestival.com) indicates the public tasting (which takes place at the RBC Convention Centre) and WineDown ancillary events scattered throughout various venues have been postponed until fall 2021.

This year’s Winnipeg Wine Festival theme region was slated to be Argentina, which would have meant numerous new brands and producers from the South American nation would come to the province and samples would be available at the public tasting and ancillary events.

Those who bought tickets online should check credit card statements, as the website indicates tickets purchased from the festival website would be refunded beginning in mid-June. For those who purchased tickets at Liquor Marts, refunds can be obtained in-store by the original method paid. (Those without receipts can present their tickets at Liquor Marts for a refund by cash or debit only.)

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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2020

John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press Files
The Winnipeg Wine Festival has pushed its event back again to fall 2021.

Mapping your way through Winnipeg's brewery scene a tapography of ever-growing tastes

Ben Sigurdson 12 minute read Preview

Mapping your way through Winnipeg's brewery scene a tapography of ever-growing tastes

Ben Sigurdson 12 minute read Monday, Jul. 20, 2020

Five years ago, a map of craft breweries in Winnipeg would have had exactly two points on it — Half Pints Brewing Co.’s Roseberry Street brewery and Fort Garry Brewing Co.’s facility on Lowson Crescent.

Today the city is home to more than 14 physical breweries with over a half-dozen contract brewers and brewery offshoots/side projects. It’s one of the reasons Rob Stansel pulled together a postcard-sized beer map earlier this year, which he then distributed to the city’s breweries as well as to a handful of popular watering holes that serve local lagers and ales.

Stansel, a sommelier and historian by training, is an avid beer fan who, with partners Danielle Sheedy and Pierre Verrier, recently started Middle Tap (middletap.com), an online portal for stories about the local craft beer industry and the people working at the city’s breweries. His map was originally created with tourists in mind; when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and shut down non-essential travel, he decided to produce the map anyway for locals curious about exploring our beer culture.

“In other markets I’ve always encountered stuff like this. Those of us stuck in the city can get to know where our breweries are,” he says.

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Monday, Jul. 20, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Rob Stansel, who has started an online beer venture called Middle Tap, poses for a portrait with a map of local breweries at Barn Hammer Brewing Company in Winnipeg on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. For Ben Sigurdson story.

Winnipeg Free Press 2020.

Making the case for a craft-your-own adventure

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Making the case for a craft-your-own adventure

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 11, 2020

Pop into many of Winnipeg’s private wine stores and you’ll find stacks of what are commonly called “cottage cases” — collections of six or 12 wines chosen by staff for customers to grab and go.

These mixed cases typically feature reasonably priced reds, whites, the odd rosé and maybe a bit of bubbly to cover any and all your needs while you’re living lakeside, saving you the task of scouring the shelves for well-priced summer wines.

And while the draw of these cottage cases is convenience, there’s some fun to be had in crafting your own cottage cases. Whether you’re hauling your wines to the lake, the backyard or your patio, here are some tips, tricks and go-to categories for crafting your own cottage case without breaking the bank.

Brilliant bubblesSparkling wine goes with almost everything — including a weekend brunch at the cabin — so grabbing at least a bit of bubbly is a no-brainer. If you like your bubbly dry, Spanish Cava always brings great bang for the buck; for sparkling wine with a touch of sweetness try an Italian prosecco.

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Saturday, Jul. 11, 2020

Villa Wolf Rose

Go-to local lagers a crisp, refreshing way to beat summer heat

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Go-to local lagers a crisp, refreshing way to beat summer heat

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2020

With temperatures in the province settled in to the high 20s/low 30s Celsius, even a brief bit of time outside — doing yard work, or walking the dog, or even simply rolling the recycling bin to the curb — can be thirsty business. And, with the exception of life-giving water, is there a beverage that hits the spot better than an ice-cold beer?

And when it comes to thirst-quenching brews, the first style of beer that comes to mind is a crisp, clean lager. But this doesn’t mean having to give hard-earned cash to big macro breweries making commercial lagers in giant factories scattered across the country or the globe.

These days, many local craft brewers are making lagers of all sorts that are certain to hit the spot on a hot day. In fact, if a few new releases from local brewers are any indication, lagers could be a bit of a trend this year.

What is a lager? Well, there are two main categories of beer — lagers and ales. The main differences between the two is the type of yeast used and the temperature at which the beers are made.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2020

Bloomberg | Chris Ratcliffe
A lager hits the spot on a hot day, but the slower brewing process can be a challenge for smaller craft breweries.

Giving video-conferencing a swirl during pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Giving video-conferencing a swirl during pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2020

The last week of June is typically associated with celebrating the end of the school year — the accomplishments of months and years of learning. This year, of course, those festivities are decidedly less festive.

This is typically the time of year that I go back to school for a week — usually in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Ontario’s Niagara region or Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. The classroom is typically a brutally cold hotel conference room, my fellow students wine writers, sommeliers and educators tasting dozens of wines a day, and the subject matter the reds, whites, rosés and more being made in wineries in many corners of this country.

Like many events that featured travel and/or gatherings of groups, this year’s WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, which would have been the 20th year of the competition, is on hold. Whether we end up convening somewhere in Canada later this year to swirl, sniff and spit hundreds of wines (which, given the current pandemic, seems like not the best idea) remains to be seen.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began I’ve sat in on various video-conference “virtual tastings” by industry experts — both with and without wine in front of me. And while they can prove educational, the amount you can cram into an hour-long video conference is limited at best (something I’ve also discovered quarterbacking my kids’ home-schooling during the pandemic).

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2020

Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press files
A typical day judging at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada is spent swirling, sniffing and spitting dozens of Canadian wines.

Husband-and-wife authors hope pandemic won't send them around the bend

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Preview

Husband-and-wife authors hope pandemic won't send them around the bend

Ben Sigurdson 7 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2020

At this point pretty much every family that’s been holed up during the COVID-19 pandemic is going just a little bit bananas.

Daria Salamon, Rob Krause and their kids, daughter Isla Blue and son Oskar, are no exception — they’re just a little more used to driving each other bonkers than most families.

In 2015, the four took a year off work and school and headed out on a year-long trip around the world, a trek documented in Krause and Salamon’s hilarious dual-narratvie book Don’t Try This at Home: One Family’s (mis)Adventures Around the World.

When the pandemic set in earlier this year, things started off pretty well. “Like everybody, we thought it was really exciting — we were making Ukrainian Easter eggs, baking everything under the sun,” says Salamon. “After a while, I’d say the novelty wore off. But overall, we’re still coping quite well. Nobody’s killed or maimed anyone yet.”

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Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2020

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Rob Krause, left, and Daria Salamon wrote about their experience travelling for year as family in their new book Don’t Try This At Home.

Extreme weather, pandemic restrictions stressful for southern producers

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Extreme weather, pandemic restrictions stressful for southern producers

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 20, 2020

Up here in the Northern Hemisphere, grape growers are settling in to watch a long, hot summer growing season as it kicks in.

But south of the equator, the 2020 harvest is already in the books. It won’t be long now before we start seeing entry-level wines from Southern Hemisphere producers on our shelves bearing the 2020 vintage.

For many of these producers, the most recent vintage has been one of extreme hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing as they dealt with harvest schedules affected by extreme weather events and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Argentina’s growing season was the warmest on record, meaning grapes had to be picked between two to five weeks earlier than normal, according to a report by Wines of Argentina. In a normal vintage, different grape varieties would have been staggered at different times as the fruit ripened. This year, practically everything ripened almost simultaneously, leading to a front-loaded harvest that left few fermentation tanks to be spared.

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Saturday, Jun. 20, 2020

Bloomberg Bloomberg
The most tumultuous grape harvest in the Southern Hemisphere was in Australia which suffered through drought and fires. (Elin McCoy / Bloomberg News files).

Health rules send winery plans sideways

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Preview

Health rules send winery plans sideways

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Saturday, Jun. 13, 2020

Winery tourism is big business. Each of Canada’s two biggest wine-producing regions, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and Ontario’s Niagara region, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from upward of a million visitors annually to wineries and tasting rooms.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, that revenue dried up, sending producers scrambling to shift their focus to online sales and winery pickups.

As provinces begin to relax restrictions put in place because of the pandemic, it’s becoming clear the romantic notion of wandering through wine country from tasting room to tasting room is, at least for now, a thing of the past.

Most B.C. wineries, for example, are now beginning to reopen to visitors at reduced capacity — provided visitors have made a reservation in advance. (Ontario wineries, meanwhile, remain closed to the public; as they weren’t included in the province’s latest round of reopenings.) Gone are the days of venturing into a random tasting room and sampling all manner of wines at the tasting bar before pouring excess samples into a communal spittoon.

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Saturday, Jun. 13, 2020

Bonanza Cabernet

Vessel Beer lineup to chart new waters for Nonsuch Brewing

Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Preview

Vessel Beer lineup to chart new waters for Nonsuch Brewing

Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Saturday, Jun. 6, 2020

When Nonsuch Brewing Co. set sail at its 125 Pacific Ave. location, the owners already had other beer on the brain — namely, brews that didn’t quite fit in to their Belgian/European-inspired lineup.

But those ideas sat docked in notebooks and laptops until the folks at Nonsuch could establish themselves as a stand-alone brand and a destination. Their highly Instagrammable Umbrella Room and Rain Room opened, the taps were flowing freely… and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Enter Vessel Beer — an offshoot of Nonsuch featuring beers that fall outside its regular portfolio, paired with artists who express themselves on the beer’s 473-ml can packaging. The new website (vessel.beer) just went live, and its first beer is being released June 12.

“COVID gave us that little push — we didn’t know how long things would last,” says Matthew Sabourin, president and co-founder of Nonsuch. “(Vessel) allows us to explore whatever we decide not to include under the Nonsuch umbrella.”

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Saturday, Jun. 6, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Ben Myers (from left), brewer Mark Borowski, Matthew Sabourin and Dylan Picton of Nonsuch Brewing Co. are spearheading Vessel Beer, a collaborative line featuring brews that don’t fit in with Nonsuch’s Belgian-inspired beer and local artists.

For Winehouse founder Eduardo Cornejo, 66, 'it was about celebrating, it was a party'

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

For Winehouse founder Eduardo Cornejo, 66, 'it was about celebrating, it was a party'

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2020

When Eduardo Cornejo arrived in Canada in 1976 with Cecilia, his first wife, he had little more than the shirt on his back — and memories of being imprisoned and tortured for two years in his native Chile under the dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet.

Over the course of the next 40-plus years, Tico, as he was best-known, would find new love, build a family, act as a mentor to aspiring athletes, turn his love of wine into a thriving business, and share his boisterous, joyous love of life with everyone who met him.

Cornejo died Jan. 26 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at age 66, after struggling with diabetes and progressive health issues.

He was born March 1, 1953, in San Fernando, Chile, the middle child of five. His father died when Cornejo was a child, and he and his siblings essentially raised themselves before he moved to the capital, Santiago, to earn an agriculture degree.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2020

Supplied
Tico Cornejo opened Pembina Fine Wines in 1999; the store moved to Kenaston Blvd. a decade later and was renamed The Winehouse.

Success in the can

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Success in the can

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2020

Developments on the local beer scene seemed to slow down as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. But if the uptick in recent news on brews is any indication, summer is looking to be a busy one for brewers and beer drinkers alike — even without this year’s Flatlander’s Beer Festival to quench people’s thirsts.

A new outdoor space to gather over a cold brew is taking shape in a vacant lot on Main Street.

The Beer Can will be a pop-up beer garden located at 220 Main St. in the lot between the Fortune Building and the Winnipeg Hotel. It’s the brainchild of Brad Chute (one half of Blank Canvas Beer) and partners, and will feature an all-local lineup of lagers and ales, served mainly in cans.

The bar portion of The Beer Can will be housed in a retooled six-metre-long shipping container, with tables and benches throughout the space for guests. Chute estimates full capacity will be 100 people, but current restrictions will limit that by half. The space will also feature eats from a rotating selection of local food trucks.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2020

Brad Chute photo
This shipping container will be retooled into a bar for the Beer Can, an outdoor pop-up beer garden located in a vacant lot between the Fortune Block and the Winnipeg Hotel on Main Street.

Tourism element of wine industry bound to be affected by pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Tourism element of wine industry bound to be affected by pandemic

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2020

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt particularly drastically in the tourism sector. With interprovincial (and international) travel restrictions in place, as well as widespread social-distancing and stay-at-home recommendations, most tourism these days involves driving to the lake or a day trip to try to get some fresh air.

The wine industry, like many tourism industries, has been affected by these restrictions. This is the time of year when seasonal staff would be hired to pour in winery tasting rooms as they experience an uptick in visitors. Right now, however, most wineries are closed to the public. And with no concrete notion of what the “new normal” will be once they reopen their tasting rooms, producers have had to adapt on the fly.

Initially, many Canadian producers were offering free shipping (with a minimum order) to anywhere they were able to deliver in the country in order to keep sales from flatlining. (Manitoba was one of the first provinces to allow direct-to-consumer shipping from any Canadian winery; some provinces still retain restrictions.) It’s still possible to find producers in British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia offering such promotions on six- to 12-bottle orders.

Many Canadian wineries are also bringing the tasting room to the customer, ramping up virtual tastings and offering incentives for customers to buy their wines and taste at home. In some cases, customers can order particular wines, then gain access to personal, interactive video-conference tastings led by winery staff.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2020

Eric Risberg / The Associated Press
The empty grounds of the historic Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, Calif. Wineries that want to stay viable and connected to their customers during the coronavirus pandemic are harnessing platforms such as Facebook Live.

Patio services offer ray of sunshine amidst pandemic

Ben Sigurdson and Alan Small 8 minute read Preview

Patio services offer ray of sunshine amidst pandemic

Ben Sigurdson and Alan Small 8 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2020

When the provincial government announced in early May that restaurant patios could reopen at half-capacity, handfuls of hardy Winnipeggers quickly emerged from being holed up at home to brave less-than-ideal temperatures, all to enjoy a meal and/or a drink in an outdoor, social setting.

With the mercury creeping ever higher as summer approaches, the draw of sun, fresh air and food and drink (albeit in a socially distant, responsible manner) has only become stronger.

Earlier this week, the provincial government introduced the draft of the second phase of restoring services in the province. Those looking to hoist a pint, paralyzer or Pinot Noir on a patio will be pleased to learn the plan includes reopening patios at bars and craft breweries/distilleries in the not-too-distant future.

In the meantime, here are five patios Winnipeggers can frequent for food, drink and a little bit of careful socializing.

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Thursday, May. 21, 2020

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Patrons enjoy a patio lunch at Earls on Main Street Wednesday afternoon.

White wine royalty maintains loyal following

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

White wine royalty maintains loyal following

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2020

If you follow any wineries on social media, you know that every grape eventually has its day: April 17 was World Malbec Day, May 3 was International Sauvignon Blanc Day, and on Thursday, May 21, wine lovers the world over will raise a glass to Chardonnay, the king of white wine grapes.

This king, however, very nearly lost his crown back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Chardonnay’s critical reputation took a hit when some winemakers in the New World (particularly in California, but also in Australia) started making cheaper, uninteresting wines flavoured with oak chips, and pricier Chardonnays with excessively ripe fruit and aggressive barrel-aging programs using new oak barrels, creating buttery, vanilla-laden, overly tropical wines.

Thankfully, producers have largely abandoned that style in favour of fresher examples that highlight the grape’s best characteristics, often with little or no barrel aging. And while the grape flourishes in many different climates and is grown in practically every wine-producing region of the world, it’s in cooler-climate regions where the grape has taken back the throne.

This should come as no surprise — after all, the grape earned its crown in France’s cooler Burgundy and Champagne regions, both of which continue to deliver incredible examples of the grape (in still and sparkling styles, respectively) that offer a balance of freshness, complexity and elegance. And while they sometimes cost a king’s ransom, they continue to set the benchmark for quality.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2020

Dreamstime
Viognier is a white wine grape variety similar to chardonnay, but with marked differences.

Graphic novel nabs two prizes at Manitoba Book Awards

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Graphic novel nabs two prizes at Manitoba Book Awards

Ben Sigurdson 2 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2020

A graphic novel took the top prize, the McNally Robinson Book of the Year, at the 2020 Manitoba Book Awards, which were announced online on Friday morning.

This Place: 150 Years Retold, published by Highwater Press, is a collection of stories about the Indigenous experience in Canada since Confederation, and features a wide range of writers and illustrators, including Katherena Vermette, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, David A. Robertson and Chelsea Vowel. The book also took the Mary Scorer Award for best book by a Manitoba publisher.

The ceremony, which was to be held May 15, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, winners of 13 awards in 11 categories were announced online and via social media by organizers.

Lauren Carter also won a pair of awards this year, nabbing the John Hirsch Award for most promising Manitoba writer and the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction for her second novel, This Has Nothing To Do With You, published by Freehand Books.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2020

In addition to winning the McNally Robinson Book of the Year award, the collection This Place: 150 Years Retold also took home the Mary Scorer award for best book by a Manitoba publisher.

Here’s to mom

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Here’s to mom

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, May. 9, 2020

For many, Mother’s Day will look quite a bit different this year than in years past. Social distancing will likely keep many of us away from our moms on the day they should be showered with attention and affection, and toasting mom outdoors while maintaining the correct distance might require some layers — it’s not exactly patio weather out there yet.

Whether you’re getting together with mom this year or are simply swinging by for contactless delivery of gifts and a card, there are plenty of drink options out there no matter what mom’s palate prefers.

 

For those whose moms prefer their white wine a touch on the sweeter side, the Charles Smith 2018 Kung Fu Girl Riesling (Washington State, U.S. — $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is a great choice. Aromatically this Riesling packs a pleasant punch of peach, red apple, pear and apricot on the nose. On the off-dry, light-bodied palate it delivers a tasty kick of ripe stone fruit, fresh lemon and red apple, with racy acidity and a chalky note that make this a vibrant winner. It was designed to be paired with Asian fare, which it would do quite nicely, but it certainly drinks well on its own as well — and could even convert those who pooh-pooh Riesling and other sweeter whites. 4/5

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Saturday, M