In the food and wine world, there’s a lot of talk about food and wine pairings. For those less into the food and wine scene, such talk can cause serious eye-rolling. I’m not particularly ridged about trying to match foods and wines. I listen to the experts and take their suggestions under advisement, but I […]
Ingrid Sapona
Somewhereness… Something Special
A group of a dozen Ontario wineries have banded together into a group they call Somewhereness. The name is meant to invoke the idea of the special qualities attributable to terroir and the wineries in the group pride themselves on their stewardship and quality. The wineries in the group are: 13th Street Winery, Bachelder, Charles […]
Cuvée’s Grand Tasting: A Sensory Thrill
Well, once again this year, the Grand Tasting was excellent. My sister came in from the States and it was terrific to be able to buy a ticket at the door. My sister had never been to a wine gala and, though I told her the crowd would be well dressed, I think she was […]
What the Winemakers Served at Cuvée
The idea behind the wines served at the Cuvée Grand Tasting is that each winemaker serves his or her favourite. If you weren’t able to attend the Grand Tasting last night – don’t worry – you can stop in at any of the wineries and try them – and buy them – there. […]
Wineries at the Cuvée Grand Tasting 2015
I’ve blogged a bit about some of the chefs who will be serving at the Cuvée Grand Tasting on Friday night (Feb. 27th) – but of course, the evening is also about celebrating Ontario wines and winemakers. So, I thought it only fair that I report on the 52 (!) wineries that’ll be there. Though […]
For Chef Parsons, it’s all in the technique …
In talking with some of the chefs that will be cooking at Cuvée 2015’s Grand Tasting (Friday, Feb. 27th) I was struck by how calm they are about cooking for hundreds and hundreds of guests. What I also found interesting was the different factors they considered when designing the dishes they’ll be serving. When cooking […]
Cuvée Culinary Partners: Pop-up (Gourmet) Restaurants
Chef Ross Midgley, Executive Chef at Ravine Vineyard Estates Winery, has an interesting way of describing what it’s like to be one of the chefs at Cuvée’s Grand Tasting (Feb. 27th) – it’s like having a pop-up restaurant for one night. A neat way of looking at it, eh? In a recent interview Midgley, who […]
Another Day of Wine and Chocolates
Despite the sub-zero temps, a fellow writer and I bundled up and headed down to Niagara-on-the-Lake for Days of Wine and Chocolate. You know it’s going to be a good day when your first stop involves bubbly — and Peller Estates’ Ice Cuvée Classic never disappoints. The traditional method bubbly pairs very nicely with the […]
And now, for something completely different…
Cuvée’s Grand Tasting is the opportunity to enjoy Ontario wines you may not have tried before, or that you may not have too often. Turns out, it’s also a chance to enjoy food you may not have too often – at least if you stop by Chef Justin Downes’s food station. Chef Downes, the Executive […]
The Wow Factor
Cuvée is all about showcasing the best of Ontario wine and food, and the Grand Tasting on Friday night (Feb. 27th) is undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend. It’s a given that the wines will wow – the winemakers are pouring their favourites. Getting the wow factor right in the food department is a bit […]