If you’re a wine drinker I’m sure you’ve come across the term “Old Vines” when shopping for bottles. Sometimes the varietal will follow on some labels such as “Old Vine Zinfandel” or “Old Vine Grenache”. Other times there’s a subheading on the label stating the wine was made from “Old Vines”. You’ll see the term […]
Summer in Toronto is not complete without the largest street festival in Canada that takes place early in August every year. I’m talking, of course, about Greektown’s “Taste of the Danforth” (August 11-13 this year). Organized by the Greek Town on Danforth, it started back in 1994 when a group of restaurateurs on the Danforth […]
This article was first published June 18, 2013 Ah summer…hot, lazy, long days of endless sunshine! The perfect time to just kick back with a glass of cool, white vino! Not just any wine, though! You’ll want something that’s light, fruity, crisp and clean with little, if any, oak at all. Put aside those big, […]
Now that summer is officially here, it’s time once again to enjoy cool refreshing drinks – and alcohol doesn’t have to be a part of it. There are more “mocktails” (mock cocktails) out there than you can possibly imagine, utilizing everything from muddled fruit, sparkling water and soda to fresh juices, infused syrups, herbs and […]
When it comes to red wine, especially bigger styles like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, Malbec, Italian reds, etc., breathing time and aeration is so important. Giving them air opens up the wine allowing oxygen to mix in bringing out the subtleties and nuances. You’ll smell and taste much more. It also helps soften the […]
The term “healthy’ is rather subjective and relative when it comes to alcohol. Although most alcohol will have some antioxidant benefits if consumed very moderately, it contains calories and too much is definitely not good. Also, many mixes add calories. The warm weather inspires us to look and feel better as we spend more time […]
Energy and sports drinks are a couple of the hottest items in the world today and make up a multi-million dollar industry. If you believe their advertisements, they are magic elixirs that provide more energy, improved performance, and better concentration. While many consumers assume the ingredients of energy and sports drinks are more or less […]
Where exactly does a wine get its character? Certainly the grape(s) used provide certain flavours, and the winemaker, with his or her personal winemaking style, somewhat dictates what the final wine will be like. However, there is something else that is far more important when it comes to what a finished wine will taste like. […]
Bartenders love them and consumers embrace them. They make for interesting drink concoctions that are yummy. Behold flavoured spirits. Producers in the last number of years have blown this category of alcoholic beverages wide open and the trend continues to grow. So what exactly is a flavoured spirit? Simply put, it’s a hard spirit that, […]
Does what drink you order in a bar or club say much about who you are? According to research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh a number of years ago, it does. Although the study focused on men, from my experience and observation over the last three decades in the alcohol industry, I think the […]
