Complications of Wine Language

Have you ever found yourself surround by friends or even strangers and been asked "how do you like the wine" Your mind searches for those wine terms, the wine language you read about in wine reviews.

"I like the rich fruity black cherry and smokieness in the nose and the even bitter finish." Is this the description that flashes through your mind. You want to say. "It's Good I like it." Well go ahead, say it! Wine tasting does not have to be complicated. You do not have to extend the boundaries of the English language to describe the wine.

I have never understood "bright black fruit with anise dill and leather notes." Bright is a term that describes light not taste, anise dill I understand, anise can be described as having a licorice flavour, leather denotes hmmmm okay. What if someone described the wine " with a touch of olive and saddle leather" Would you know if it was good or bad. Is a wine supposed to have a leather flavour?

What about tobacco? Descriptive term, used by some, to describe a flavor component resembling the taste of raw tobacco leaf in the finish of certain red wines. Seems to mainly apply to Cabernet Sauvignons from Bordeaux, France or the Napa region of California. " Cigarbox " is a common term often used as a near synonym especially if a cedar-wood note in the aroma is detected. (Non-smokers may have trouble with this word and its implication).

Perhaps I'm just a simple guy who likes his wine and prefers to say.. I like this wine. Its good. Most enjoyable. an easy drinking wine with fruity flavours

Don't be intimidated by the language of wine. Simply describe the wine as it tastes to you. Allow your senses to react to the wine. Wine is to be enjoyed. The wine language is unique but you do not have to know it or refer to it in order to enjoy the wine tasting experience.

The following article from the Wines of Michigan * website

The Simple Pleasures of Wine by Joe Borello

The topic of wine is fascinating and often times emotional. It is a simple agricultural product, yet many have a tendency to shroud it in mystery and complexity. It is important to realize that wine has been placed on dining tables for centuries as a natural beverage that serves as a pleasing and logical companion to food.

Few other products offer as much diverse subject matter as wine. Interests range from cultivating personal vineyards, visiting the actual property of a winery, collecting wine labels, building a wine collection of fine wines, to simply taste-testing different wine styles with friends.

Wine also combines instinctively with an interest in food. Many professional and amateur chefs are wine hobbyists because good cuisine demands wine both as an intricate seasoning ingredient and as a basic component of the dining table. Keep in mind that like food, it is important to create a point of reference for what you may like in wine. As time goes by and your tasting experience grows you will notice subtle differences in your preferences, It is helpful to seek information from others, but don't be intimidated by their opinions.

Although many hours could be spent studying the finer points of wine, it is best enjoyed as an uncomplicated subject. So, what is the best way to enjoy and learn about wine and food? The experts tell us there is no substitute for personal tasting experiences. Through taste comes the acquisition of knowledge. What better way to acquire knowledge then by visiting local wineries or gathering with a group of friends for a wine and food tasting? As you taste and compare wines you will find that not all are pleasing to you. Wine, like food, is made in many different styles to satisfy different tastes. It is up to the individual to choose the wines that best suit a personal palate and pocketbook. In North America we are fortunate to have over 900 winery tasting room facilities in which to experience a variety of tastes and styles of wine. Many of these wineries have educational tours and videos of the facilities and the winemaking process. Knowledgeable winery representatives then guide visitors through enchanting tasting tours of nature's fruit of the vine.





*this article was edited to fit our website. Permission to use the article was obtained from Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.

Cider

I am a wine drinker and occasional White Russian. Beer no thank you. Cider,I have had one a few occasions over the years. They were okay but nothing I would rush to the store to buy. Until now! The first cider to impress me was Tod Creek Cider273 Prospect Lake Road,Victoria. I would not say no if offered one They were good light and refresh with good favours.

At a local Market this summer I tried the new Cawston Cidery. Kaylan Maderia the owner and cider master at this new Similkameen Cidery was behind the table. I could not resist the opportunity to say hello. Of course I tasted her ciders. Good! Actually very good. Twisted Hills’ Kingston Twist won the Judges’ Choice Award for Best Cider at this year’s Okanagan Fest-of-Ale celebration.

It was, however, Wards Pickers Hut Winter Spice that just might make a cider drink out of me. Sensational! Ward's operates out of the View Winery in Kelowna.
The Turton/Ward family has been growing premium apples for five generations in the Okanagan. The cider is inviting apple aromas with a touch of soul warming spice and a crisp citrus finish.

Ciders are very popular in Quebec they have more Cider Houses than any other province. Today we actually find numerous wineries experimenting with ciders. They seem to have regained their popularity once again. I look forward to tasting more ciders. As for Wards Ciders yes I would buy them.

Wines of Canada Fall Tasting Event

What a day what an event. It started by visiting some the Okanagan's best known wineries and purchasing some of their best wines. Then we invited a few select special guests. Friends we have known for years and have enjoyed numerous fine wines from around the world together. Add in a few appetizers and start tasting the wines. It became a very successful day.

Wines of Canada Fall Tasting

Gray Monk Odyssey white Brut 2008 ~ Outstanding ! One of the best all time sparking wines- so refreshing an absolute joy. 97

Old Vines Trebbiano Block 16 Yum now that's a wine wonderfully delicious. 96

Painted Rock Chardonnay 2014- Delicious the crowd went wild for the flavours of this wine Brilliant reviews 98

Culmina - Hypothesis - Another hit! Everyone loved this wine A rich bold blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
The blend shone with elegance and style 96

Painted Rock Red Icon 2013 - Dark rich classic! palate more ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla 94

Listed above were the first 5 wines we enjoyed. The Gray Monk Odyssey was rated by some as a "very remarkable" wine. We were off to a very good start.
The Trebbiano from Hester Creek has always been one of my favourites. This vintage was simple delicious.

Painted Rock a winery well know for its red produced its first white a 2014 Chardonnay. You could say it stole the event. words like "best chardonnay ever' and "better than any French wine Ive tasted".

Every loved the bold rich flavours of the Culmina blend Hypothesis. A favourite of my wife. It was a bottle she was saving to celebrate her birthday.

At this pointed we brought out a cake sang happy birthday and introduced for the second time a bottle of SKAHA Vineyard 2012 Rogue from Kraze Legz Vineyards.
At this point I was toasted for selecting such amazing wines from British Columbia's wineries. I took all the credit and gave none to the wineries.

The Kamloop’s Trail Wineries

There is a new and exciting wine region emerging in British Columbia just  a  little west of the Okanagan Valley.

The Kamloops Wine Trail connects four unique and diverse wineries pioneering a new wine region in the Kamloops* Thompson Valley area of British Columbia. Nestled amongst the natural beauty of the North and South Thompson Rivers

The wineries are, Harpers Trail, Monte Creek Ranch Winery, Privato Winery and Sagewood Winery

Harper's Trail the first winery to open in Kamloops with wines made from 100% Kamloops grown grapes. The winery is owned by Ed and Vicki Collett. Their Thadd Springs Vineyard is located on Shuswap Road just NE of Kamloops BC Monte Creek Located 10 minutes east of Kamloops , the working ranch, which straddles the Thompson River is home to grass-fed cattle, horses, honey bees, Haskap berries, grazing land and two stunning estate vineyards

Privato is located a half-hour drive north of Kamloops, it is one of the more northerly vineyards in British Columbia planted to vinifera (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). Gracefully situated among the families 80-acre Christmas tree farm the vineyards at Privato slope.The winery is owned by John and Debbie Woodward.

Sagewood is a Family owned and operated boutique winery, the vineyards of Sagewood are nestled on the slopes of the scenic South Thompson River. Home to the regions oldest commercial vineyard, winemaker Doug Wood has been growing award winning grapes since 2005.

*Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, located at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Kamloops lies in the rain shadow leeward of the Coast Mountains and is biogeographically connected to similar semi-desert areas in the Okanagan region,. Dry hot summers help the grapes. Kamloops is blooming into one of British Columbia’s prime destinations.
Down the road (58km) east and a wee bit north of Kamloops lies Cache Creek home to Bonaparte Bend a fruit winery owned by Gary and JoAnn Armstrong

Inniskillin


Is this the winery that put Canada on the world Map! It just might be. Inniskillin, co-founded by Donald J.P. Ziraldo and Karl J. Kaiser , in 1975. The winery is located in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada, on the Niagara Peninsula. Inniskillin was granted the first estate winery license in Canada. The name Inniskillin is Irish and is derived from the famous Irish regiment, the Inniskilling Fusiliers. Colonel Cooper, a member of this regiment, served in North America in the War of 1812. On completion of his military service, he was granted Crown land which he named the Inniskillin Farm.

In 1991 Inniskillin's 1989 icewine won Gold Grand Pix d'Honneur Show bringing Canadian wine to the attention of the WORLD.. Inniskillin Wines captured the top prize at the 17th Annual International Wine Competition at Vinitaly: "The Premio Speciale Gran Vinitaly 2009". The special prize for top producer at the show is considered to be the wine industry's "world cup". Vinitaly, held in Verona, is the largest and one of the most prestigious annual wine competitions, attracting the global wine elite. Inniskillin qualifies based on its performance of scores. For Inniskillin to take the top award of the show highlights Inniskillin's international reputation as a quality producer, and also has the wine world shifting its attention to Canada

Today name any award and most likely Inniskillin has won it, from winery of the Year to Winemaker of the year, Gold after Gold. Inniskillin is a household name.

Inniskillin has progressed from been a major player in Ontario to opening a second winery in Oliver BC. Here too they have accumulate the awards.

Tawse

Tawse is a family-owned estate winery situated on the lower slopes of the Niagara Escarpment.
Tawse was named 'Canadian Winery of the Year' by Canadian Wine Access Magazine in 2010, 2011 and 2012! This is the first time an Ontario winery has won this distinction three years in a row, with a record setting 9 gold medals. Winemaker Paul Pender was named Winemaker of the Year in 2011 at the Ontario Wine Awards.

The winery is owned by Moray Tawse. their first harvest 2001 with the winery opening in 2005. They produce 30,000 cases – 360,00 bottles. Their vineyards are Certified organic and biodynamic.
Growing Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Pinot
Gris, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah

In 2012 alone Tawse was award medals for 32 wines. The winery is indeed one of Canada's Elite.

Winesofcanada.com

I just looked at my calendar, it clearly shows July. What ever happened to August? All the plans I had. How could it now be September. We never made to Cultus Lake to the Hazelnut winery Constantin-Vasilca nor did we find Pitt Meadows' Blue Heron Fruit Winery. We never made it to Blackwood Lane Winery. How could that happen. I had a plans to enjoy lunch at Chaberton Estate winery and visit near by Township7 and Vista D'oro Farm

Plans also included hunting down the small and seldom heard from St. Urban Winery in Chilliwack. What happened to summer. Where did the time go. I wish it was 1992 again.

It was the year I got married and the year we started www.winesofcanada.com. A very good year indeed. I listed 28 wineries and it too just over a week to complete the project. I did it in the fall, working on the website over the winter but taking the summer off. In 1992 there were very few people interested in Canada's wines and only one other website (no blogs). The summer was spend visiting existing wineries new ones were not popping up like today.

In 1993 I though I was luck to get ten hits a day. In order to increase visitors I had new pages. Vineyard Plus was our first addition. Today this section. 100 times to size. The hits came and we became the only website featuring all of Canada's wineries. Our hit count went through the roof.
However, as with everything popular it brings in new people.

As Canada's wines became known world wide along came the writers who use to only talk about imported wines, the blogs and numerous other websites ( most have come and gone). www.winesofcanada.com peaked in 2004 a peak that lasted about four years before the bloggers and magazines, TV stations started to take away traffic.

However we stuck with it increasing our listing of Wineries, Cideries and Meaderies to over 800. We added new pages new features and once again the visitors returned. We had popular pages such as our history section, Women of Wine and The Best Wineries to Visit.
The summer of 2015 was very good to us as we slowly but surely gain back the traffic.
The website remains Canada's most popular source for information on Canada's wineries. We continue to operate in the RED.

The fall of 2015 will find us sprucing up the website, fine tuning the pages. We will of course continue the research discouvering new  wineries; letting the world see Canada's wineries through our eyes.

News Flash

Muse Winery
11195 Chalet Rd, North Saanich, BC

 

The muse Winery located in Deep Cove near the Ferry Terminal on Vancouver Island is setting extremely high standards for it Wines and  food dishes coming out of the Bistro Muse. A tip of the hat goes to Chef Judi Garbala and her staff. Owner Peter Ellmann not only makes some sensational wines - Ortega / Merlot  he makes a "to die for" dry rib. (pictured above).

 

 

It was a most delight time sitting on the patio enjoying a wine Flight and lunch. It was so enjoyable and the wines oh! so good we relaxed and ordered another Ortega for myself and Barbara another Merlot.

 

Good Times!