Cookies and Wine

Can you beat the Milk and Cookie Combination? Yes You Can!

Chocolate Chip

The Joy of a chocolate chip cookie and wine can not be understated. I recommend you try the cookie with a Cabernet. A Merlot makes a nice match with the chocolate chips. Another suggestion would be a Malbec. 

Now, my personal selection would be an Ortega wine. Yes, it's a white wine, but the flavours go well with the chocolate.

Of course you can also go high class with Champagne or a rich Port.

Peanut Butter

The classic Peanut Butter cookie calls for a sweater wine. Try a Tawny port or a Madeira, a Portuguese sweet wine with caramel, almonds, coffee, and raisins.

One I have not had the pleasure of tasting is Banyuls A French dessert wine made from old vines cultivated in terraces on the slopes of the Catalan Pyrenees in the Roussillon county of France, bordering, to the south, the Empordà wine region in Catalonia in Spain.

White Chocolate Chip

Ice wine and more Ice wine goes best with with the famous White Chip Cookie. You can also try a Late Harvest wine. 

Some other suggestions include a German Riesling (it's sweeter than most other countries), Madeira, or a port. You might also try a Pinot Noir.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

For this one I am going with Cabernet Sauvignon. One that features Vanilla and Caramal. You can aslo try the Madeira.

Buttery Shortbread

The rich, buttery notes of the Chardonnay complement the cookie’s flavour, creating a harmonious combination. Additionally, the warm vanilla undertones in the shortbread are enhanced by this buttery white wine. 

My personal choice would be a Bacchus wine.

Snowball Cookies

A Christmas favourite, Snowball Cookies, dusted in powdered sugar, rich in butter, and brought to the next level with pecans, hit that sweet spot of being both very satisfying and easy to make. Bring out those rich pecan notes even further with a late-harvest Chardonnay. 

General wine-pairing wisdom recommends that your chosen wine should be sweeter than what you’re eating, as more saccharine food can accentuate harshness or unwanted bitterness in your glass. So, if you’re choosing between two bottles of the same style of wine, the sweeter option is almost always the right way to go when it comes to drinking with dessert.

 

Enjoying A Rainy Sunday

On a rainy Sunday afternoon Barbra and I had arranged to visit Festina Lente Estate Winery Today was their Farmers Market event. Not a great day to be in the great outdoors in the month of May.

I was reminded by a song by artist Marilyn Sellars best know for her hit "One Day at a Time. The song is called the "The Rain has to Make a Living too." Off we went knowing two things for sure the meads would be outstanding and the we would receive a warm welcome.

There were about twenty booth set up on the lawn with vendors braving the rain. The Travelling Tea Party Food Truck was their proving food for everyone. 

Barbara and I considered ourself quick luck to have a table inside reserved for us by the owners Bill and Teresa Townsley. Seven years ago, Teresa Bill bought a 5-acre hobby farm in Langley. They have colonies of honey bees, chickens and horses. They even grow some grapes. I wonder what the future holds for those grapes.

The winery features numerous  events through out the Spring, Summer and Fall months. Most of their events include local artists.

Bill, the winemaker, and Teressa the CEO run a very successful business. In fact Trip adviser reviews give them a 100 % rating. My wife and I find them among the very best Mead producers in the Northwest and beyond.

Today we tried two wines their Bacchus made with honey and Fox grapes. Simply bursting with flavour! This is going to become one of my favourite wines. Next we had the honour of trying a yet to be released Blueberry mead. WOW!

What a wonderful way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Mead/Honey Wine | Festina Lente Estate Winery

 What Makes Wine So Beneficial 

It is the phenolics found in the grape. A phenolic compound in wine can be defined as one that is derived naturally from plant or microbial origin, consisting of a phenyl ring backbone with many substitutive possibilities. Some phenolics like coumaric, caffeic, ferulic and vanillic acids are relatively simple while others are more complex polymeric structures such as the tannins, which contribute strongly to the mouth feel, quality and palatability of red wines. Phenolic compounds are commonly found in animal, plant and microbial tissues and contribute to defensive strategies as many are involved in plant protection as biologically active growth inhibitors of other living systems. In addition, they contribute to color and flavor of food items including wine. Since many have strong antioxidant activities, they also play important beneficial roles in mammalian systems. Red wine consumption has been clearly linked to reduced incidence of atherosclerosis and heart disease in humans, most likely due to the presence of numerous bio active phenolic compounds in red wine products. 

These compounds have a protective effect on the capillaries and on the collagen in the walls of the blood vessels. They hinder the aggregation of platelets and thus prevents the formation of clots. Phenolics also have powerful antioxidant properties, which inhibit degradation of the cell walls both in coronary arteries and in the brain. There is also the thought that wine may be beneficial in the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.(1) The majority of Phenolics in the grape are found in the seed and skin. The skin of the grape plays a greater role in the production of red wine than white wine. 

A Little is Good For You

People of southern Europe eat far more fruits and vegetables and less red meats than North Americans, their overall diet is healthier than ours. Enjoying your wine in moderation and with a responsible attitude can contribute to a long and healthy life. A little goes a long way. 

While heart disease reduction and other health-related findings are applicable to all beverages containing alcohol, some research has found advantages specifically for wine drinkers. In a landmark Danish study published in 1995, researchers for the Copenhagen City Heart Study found wine drinkers to have clear health advantages over nondrinkers or moderate drinkers of other beverages. "Our finding, that only wine drinking clearly reduces both the risk of dying from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and the risk of dying from other causes," wrote Morten Gronbaek and colleagues in the British Medical Journal, "suggest that other more broadly acting factors in wine may be present." 

Dr Jean-Paul Brouster of France says cabernet sauvignon is the healthiest. He refers to the cabernet sauvignon of Bordeaux as containing the highest concentration of resveratrol and quercitin which are beneficial to the heart. 

Resveratrol

"The compound (?) in red wine that keeps your blood platlettes 'slippery' and keeps those old arteries

from clogging up, is found to be most prominent in Pinot Noir. Not only in Pinot Noir, BUT Ontario Pinot Noir!" Linda Bramble 

Findings published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, contributes to the growing body of research that suggests moderate red wine consumption may help prevent a number of diseases, including age-related dementias, heart disease, and cancer. The researchers, led by neurobiologists Philippe Marambaud and Peter Davies, say their study also identifies a previously unknown chemical pathway that may one day be tapped to design new drugs to fight Alzheimer's Disease 

Canadian red wines may actually be naturally healthful. According to wine writer Natalie MacLean, cool-climate wines contain slightly higher levels of resveratrol, an antioxidant believed to help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

May I suggest that now is a good time to take a trip to your local wine store and purchase a fine bottle of Canadian wine. A glass or two with dinner could improve your health, it may even prolong your life. 

"I have enjoyed great health at a great age because everyday since I can remember I have consumed a bottle of wine except when I have not felt well. Then I have consumed two bottles." -A Bishop of Seville 

"In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary." -Ernest Hemingway, "A Moveable Feast"

According to Science Daily, when tested on mice and colon cancer cells in a petri dish, resveratrol proved effective at killing cancer. Associate Professor Jairam K.P. Vanamala deducted that the compound could be used to potentially craft treatments for the disease, which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America, as per the National Cancer Institute.

Resveratrol = Exercise?

A 2012 preliminary study done on rats suggested that resveratrol can provide the same benefits for heart function and muscle strength as exercise. Researchers say, “some of the benefits of regular exercise can also be mimicked by the naturally occurring polyphenol, resveratrol.”

However, the resveratrol content of red wine is rather low. You would have to consume several bottles per day to reach the amount used in the animal studies. This is not recommended, for obvious reasons (13, 14). If you’re drinking wine just for the resveratrol content, then getting it from a supplement may be a better idea.

Red wine for Seniors

Scientists say that resveratrol, the compound found in red wine, could help improve senior mobility and prevent falls, according to new research presented to the American Chemical Society

In the study, researchers fed young and old lab mice a resveratrol-rich diet for eight weeks. During that period, the mice's mobility was tested by charting their ability to cross a balance beam, with researchers noting how many times a mouse would fall. 

At first, the older mice had much more difficulty than their younger peers. But when week four rolled around, the senior mice stayed on the beam more often, and their performance was close to that of the young mice. 

"Our study suggests that a natural compound like resveratrol, which can be obtained either through dietary supplementation or diet itself, could actually decrease some of the motor deficiencies that are seen in our aging population," said research leader Jane Cavanaugh, Ph.D., in a press release. "And that would, therefore, increase an aging person's quality of life and decrease their risk of hospitalization due to slips and falls." 

Research released earlier this year suggests that red wine can lead to a longer life . Red wine and resveratrol have also been linked to good heart health and to inhibiting the spread of a number of human cancer lines , such as breast, thyroid, prostate, colon and stomach cancers, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State, which studies micronturients 

Moderate wine consumption has been shown to significantly delay dementia in a new report that analyses almost 100 studies into the subject.

The evidence stands in direct opposition to controversial new British government guidance on alcohol consumption by suggesting that there are health benefits to moderate drinking.

The Chief Medical Officer dismissed the benefits of drinking red wine as an “old wives’ tale” in January, when the recommended weekly consumption was cut to 14 units for both men and women.

But the new ‘study of studies’ suggests that chemicals known as phenols – most commonly found in red and sparkling wine – can help to protect brain cells from damage.

It also concluded that phenols may help nerve and brain cells to keep communicating with other cells, countering the effects of Alzheimer’s.

The review, led by Dr Jeremy Spencer of the University of Reading, has been published in Wine Safety, Consumer Preference, and Human Health.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

 Impressing your Date or Enjoying the Wine

You have just read an article titled " How to order wine like a Sommelier".You read it twice, in fact, and are now ready to impress your date.

The article most likely told you something far more complicated than Red with Steak Fish with wine. One article on the subect writes  The basics of food and wine matching is complex, but there are three main things to consider on your own: What is the main protein? How is it cooked? And what are the sauces and or spices?. Call the chef I need to know everything about the menu choices..  Perhaps not

I am willing to bet it even said you must order two or more bottles of wine. The right wine for each course. Hope you are rich.

So, the time approaches, and you're ready to tell the server what wine you wish to order. But a thought occurs to you: maybe she/he has a preference. 

The thought goes through your mind: should I ask if she/he prefers red or wine?? 

In my humble opinion and through experience ( over 50 years of ordering wine), ask if there is a preference. Your not their to please a wine writer but to please your date.

If it  is just me I order exactly the wines I like best regardless of what menu item I will order.

I like Bacchus and Ortega and will order it with a red meat dish. Sometime if there is a wine from a particular winery on the menu and I see an opportunity to taste this wine, I will go for it regardless of the menu selection

Although there is definitely one rule of law I follow: What the wife wants, the wife gets.

• Dining out is about enjoyment and relaxation. If your favorite wine brings you joy, go ahead and indulge.
• Sometimes the best pairings are the ones that make you happy.

 

Wine and Crab Cakes

Oh these delicious Crab Cakes. Crab cakes combine light, sweet crabmeat with crispy, fried crumbs and rich cream sauces.

The earliest use of the term "crab cake" is commonly believed to date to Crosby Gaige's 1939 publication New York World's Fair Cook Book in which they are described as "Baltimore crab cakes," earlier usages can be found such as in Thomas J. Murrey's book Cookery with a Chafing Dish published in 1891.

There are various recipes associated with Crab Cakes. A crab cake is a variety of fishcake popular in the United States. It is composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard (typically prepared mustard, but sometimes mustard powder), eggs, and seasonings. It is then sautéed, baked, grilled, deep fried, or broiled. Crab cakes are traditionally associated with the Chesapeake Bay, in the state of Maryland.

The sides accompanying crab cakes are usually french fries, coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad. Restaurants serve crab cakes with a lemon wedge and saltine crackers and sometimes with other condiments.

Cape Breton snow crab cakes make for a delicious light dinner and are so quick to put together.Snow crab doesn’t make reference to its geography in snowy Canada, but instead the snowy white colour of its meat when cooked.

Snow crab shells are easy breakable.

Ingredients*

1.5 cups cooked snow crab meat

1/2 cup red pepper minced.

1/4 cup green onion, minced

2 tbsp fresh dill

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 egg white

1/2 cup panko, half for mix and half for breading cakes

1 tsp Old Bay seasoning

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Mix all ingredients well, remember to keep 1/4 cup panko crumbs aside.

Form into 12 cakes and roll in panko crumbs.

Heat skillet over medium heat with a bit of vegetable oil. Add snow crab cakes, but do not crowd skillet as you'll need to gently flip after 1-2 minutes or when golden on each side.

Garnish with chopped dill and serve with sriracha dipping sauce.

The Wines 

Pairing wine with crab cakes can enhance their taste and make the experience even more delightful. The right wine can balance the richness of the crab meat and the seasoning, making each bite a flavor explosion.

1. A nice Sparkling wine is always a good idea. Nova Scotia has some outstanding world class Sparkling Wines.

2. Sauvignon Blanc. If your cakes have lots of herbs or fruity dipping sauces, the super aromatic and tropical-fruited style of Sauvignon Blanc works well. This wine is also great when the cakes have a little extra heat from jalapeños or Asian chile sauces.*

3. Pinot Blanc is also a good idea as is Petite Milo.

4. The all dependable Chardonnay.

Although white wine is usually the wine of choice for these types of dishes, you’d be surprised to find that mild-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir pairs well with crab cakes.

* baconismagic.com ~ Kristin Donnelly 

 Be Kind to Your Health

One of the best food for your health is cucumbers. Cucumbers provide various nutrients but are low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. People around the world grow and use cucumbers food and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and they have long been part of the famous Mediterranean diet.

Cucumbers can be the star of a meal, whether raw or pickled in sandwiches and salads, or sautéed, braised or roasted. They’re also a flexible match for nearly any fish, dairy, fruit or herbs. Regardless of use, the right wine can bring out some of their more subtle, complex flavors.

~ Cucumbers consist mostly of water, and they also contain important electrolytes. They can help prevent dehydration in hot weather or after a workout.

~ Vitamin K found in Cucumbers helps with blood clotting, and it may support bone health.

~ As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, cucumbers contain high levels of bitter-tasting nutrients known as cucurbitacin. These are believed to help fight cancer.

~ Cucumbers may help in controlling and preventing diabetes. It contains substances that may help lower blood sugar or stop blood glucose from rising too high.

~ The cucurbitacins in cucumber may also help prevent atherosclerosis.

~ One theory is that the cucurbitacins in cucumber help regulate insulin release and the metabolism of hepatic glycogen, a key hormone in the processing of blood sugar.

~ Cucumbers may have anti-inflammatory  . Inflammation is a function of the immune system.

When it comes to the right wine try Pinot Gris/Grigio: 

Pinot grigio (pee-noh gree-jhee-oh) is a white wine that is often light, crisp, and dry with plenty of zippy, mouth-watering acidity. It goes by several different names depending on the country—pinot grigio in Italy, pinot gris in France, grauer burgunder in Germany, and grauburgunder in Austria. Pinot grigio is the second most popular white wine in America,

Pinot Gris provides only slighty different characteristic it all depends on the region of origin.

Albariño: a white wine from Spain that is found on the coast. This is a refreshing white wine with lemon/lime, peach, pear, sometimes apricot, minerality that adds texture, and green vegetal notes that make it an exciting food wine and not just a sipping wine. 

Some food and wine writers suggest Muscat. The wines are generally on the low side in acidity, tannins, and alcohol. Clean to syrupy, golden sweetness is the name of the Muscat game. 

 

The Best Wines of 2023

These are the best wines that found their way into our home in 2023. We consider then to be the best of the best!

Festina Lente Vinmum Regum Reserve

The small family run winery in Langley Township, British Columbia stoled the show. The Winemaker and co-owner is Bill Townsley. An Extraordinary mead, 3 months in first-run Kentucky Bourbon barrels. 100% honey as a fermentable sugar. Aged 1 year before release Lifespan: 50 years Closure: Nomacorc Envirocorc (compressed sugar cane). Its a sweeter wine busting with flavour with a lovely honey finish , phenomenal. 99

Nagging Doubt -2021 Sallow Road Vineyard off dry Siegerrebe -

We never expect such a fine wine from a very small, new , Kelowna winery. Rob Westbury is the owner winemaker. This is an amazing wine. Not may people do a Siegerrebe. This one is perfection in a bottle. The wine is intensely aromatic – an extremely complex profile of flowers, lychee, tangerine, spice, and citrus can be detected. But that extra bit of sugar has allowed the wine to undergo a second fermentation in bottle, which means it has a sparkly effervescence. Note this wine was not subsequently filtered so will throw some sediment. Best Siegerrebe in years!! 98

Church & State 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a really good wine. It starts an intoxicating aroma of Black Cherry. The flavour follows through providing hints of blackcurrant and plum.. The finish is smooth Nice balance.. 96

Wild Goose 2021 Pinot Gris

A classic. with its lively zesty flavours. It represents what a true Pinot Gris can be. Flavours include Honeydew, lemon, and grapefruit. The wine begs you to say more please. 96

Vineland Estate Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2016

It is a dry combination of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41.5% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot Lovely favour of Bing cherry and blueberry. Each sip brings out a different rush of favour 95

50th Parallel Riesling 2021

Curtis Krouzel and Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel have created a world-class wine destination only 15 minutes from the Kelowna. Winemaker Matthew Fortuna has been with 50th Parallel since 2013 . Their Riesling is a perfect wine for those hot summer days. Featuring flavours of Peach and citrus fruits. A bolt of summer sweetness! 95

The View Gewurztraminer 2022

Year after year this family winery continues to produce top quality. Their Gewurztraminer is among the very best. The winemaker is Kristy French ,Wonderful fruits from the tropics A lovely pear finish 95

The View Black Rhino 2020

Under the guidance of president Jennifer Turton- Molgat The view has established itself among the best! The Black Rhino is very good Pinotage offering excellent notes of dark cherry Hints of spice. A smooth finish 95

Castoro de Oro 2020 Merlot

This small winery on the Golden mile in Oliver will surprise you with their "fine" selection of wines . Bruno Kelle is the winemaker. An excellent merlot displaying notes of plum, boysenberry, cherry and hints of raspberry. Barbara was impressed! 95

Chaberton Bacchus 2022 

The Fraser Valley's oldest and most distinguished winery. A very fine wine reflecting what a true Bacchus Can be! The wine features flavours of lime, ripe peach and fresh pear 95

Chaberton Madeline Syvaner 2021 

Chaberton's Madeline Syvaner 2021 is an very fine wine. It starts with the aroma of fresh lychee followed by flavours of citrus fruit and green apples. Its smooth with a delightful finish; saying more please. The grapes are estate grown. A small percentage of the wine was aged in new French oak for 4 months to accentuate the creamy and vanilla flavours, while keeping the fruit and floral notes from the remainder. 95

Forbidden Fruit Organic 2021 Pearsasion

Forbidden Fruit Winery is a family owned and operated certified organic boutique winery located on Ven’Amour Organic Farms, Owners Steve Venables, Kim Brind’Amour and their son, Nathan, initially added grape wines to their portfolio to satisfy the consumers who had ventured all the way to this secluded winery and found just fruit wines. The wine is a wonderful Pear wine bursting with favour. Made from the Shinski and Asian Pears. Their are hints of Vanilla ,lemon grass and Lychee 95

McWatters 2018 Chardonnay

The time family of wineries has taken the Okanagan by storm. Lynzee Schatz is the winemaker. You will be hard press to find a better chardonnay. Lovely fruit flavours extremely smooth 95

Intrigue Wines - I Do

A most favourable frizzante style wine. Featuring strawberry, raspberries and hints of honey. Also notes of peach. A blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer Merlot,Ehrenfelser and Malbec. The winemaker is Roger Wong.94

NightHawk 2018 Cabernet Franc

Nighthawk Vineyards is the passion of two families…Daniel & Christy Bibby, David & Melanie Flotten. The winemaker is Dakota Bibby. The wine - Oh Chocolate. The aroma is all about chocolate. Followed by black current and vanilla. 94

Ve Oh Lay Acres Appeachiation 2022

Okanagan's newest meadery. Maddison Vioet , daughter of the founders of Domaine Chaberton is the winemaker. The mead its refreshing Its light its delicious A blend of honey and peaches 94

Ex Nihilo Riesling 2021

Outstanding from the Okanagan Lake Country. The winemaker is Jim Faulkner. assisted by Jory Lumley. The aroma is bright and fresh dominated by Lemon. On the pallet Honey suckle and Apple. 94

SpearHead Pinot Gris 2022

No wonder they were named best preforming small winery at the Nationals. Grant Stanley is the winemaker. The wine is so nice and refresh notes of pear,p each and marinade. Followed by hints of honeydew and melon 94

Ward's Original

Ward" cider is part of the View winery, under winemaker Kristy French. A hard Apple cider. thats refreshing, bright and delicious. The traditional recipe has been passed down for five generations. The cider is crafted from the perfect blend of apple varieties grown in Ward's old growth orchard. Notes of Pear and melon. 94

Jost Vineyards L’Acadie Blanc, Pinot Grigio

Happy to have had the opportunity to enjoy a Nova Scotia wine. Gina Haverstock is an amazing winemaker. The wine is fresh and smooth. Lovely flavours peach, honeysuckle, McIntosh apple, anjou pear, , gooseberry, lemon, lime and ripe gooseberries. 94

Nostalgia Wines Kerner 2021

Located on the Black Sage Bench. The winery is owned by Gina Fernandes Harfman. She is also the winemaker. A perfect wine for those hot summer days. Refreshing citrus flavours hints of honey and pear 94

Benjamin Bridge 2018 Brute Rose

On the nose, a rich bouquet of blood orange, toast, soil tones and rose petals, seamlessly supported strawberry notes distinctly coming from the Pinot Noir. The winemaker is Jean-Benoit Deslauriers 93 

Meadow Vista Mabon

Mabon is a metheglin style mead made by fermenting BC honey with spices. I feel the cinnamon and nutmeg along with the honey. Yum The winemaker is Electra Logan c0-owner 93

Ex Nihilo Pinot Noir 2021

A very good wine from the Okanagan Lake Country. The winemaker is Jim Faulkner. It starts with a nice aroma. Featuring black cherry, hints of carmal and cola. 93

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