How to Throw an Olympic Wine Tasting

We’re huge fans of parties.  We’re huge fans of wine.  So when something significant is happening in the world, it doesn’t take much for us to throw a themed party in its honour.

Now that the Olympics are in full swing, we see no reason as to why we wouldn’t throw a Gold Medal Wine Tasting, so we’re inviting Team Nearest and Dearest over to watch the Games, and sip, sample and judge a few wines from the competing countries.

If the thought of throwing a themed bash makes you sweat like you just finished a triathlon, check out our earlier blog on how to be the host with the most.

Wine

The most important element to any party we throw.  To celebrate the countries currently topping the leaderboard, as well as showing support to Our Home and Native Land, we’re showcasing the favoured wines from these places near and far, and everyone can judge for themselves which ones make it past the qualifying rounds, and which are podium bound. Points are awarded – or deducted – for taste, structure, food friendliness, and price.

USA – At the time of this writing, America has 22 medals and rising.  Just like the athletes themselves, wines are made in every state, but arguably the most popular is California.  Cabernet Sauvignon is a good bet here, available at most price points and in varying styles. Tipping our hat to the healthy lifestyles of Olympians, we’re going organic.

Try:  Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino County, California 2011 $19.95 Vintages 342428
A fully organic winery that offers pleasant, crowd pleasing wines. Look for typical Cab characteristics of blackberry, cassis, a bit of wild, savoury herbs and pencil box.

France – A country that is almost always too rich for our blood, we recently tried a Bordeaux that knocked our socks off  — and at less than $30, we went back for a case.

Try: Domaine de Viaud, Lelande du Pommerol, Bordeaux 2001 $26.95 Vintage 282475
A fantastic wine at an even better price point.  A 10 year old wine that’s 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, this has flavours of black plum, cassis, autumn leaves, black licorice and wet pavement.

Italy – While athletes give it their all in London, it’s currently so hot in Toronto, we sweat just sitting on the couch watching them. When the heat and humidity hits the hot zone, we need something crisp, cool and refreshing.  Italian white it is.

Try: Michele Chiarlo “Le Marne” Gavi, Piedmont 2010 $14.95 Vintages 228528
A beautiful white from one of our favourite Italian producers. Crisp and clean with white flowers, juicy ripe pear and peach and a bit of herbaciousness. Perfect with frito misto.

Japan: At the time of this writing Japan has 11 medals and is one of the stronger competing countries.  When we discovered a sake called “Fountain of Youth,” we thought that may be the official drink of the Japanese Olympic team.

Try: Kikusui “Chrysanthemum Mist” Fountain Of Youth, Junmai Ginjō, Niigata $12.95 Vintages 244137
If sake doesn’t get to your table very often, this is a fun way to give it a try.  Light and creamy with flavours of pear, citrus and tropical fruit.

Canada – Don’t forget about the home team! Not that this is a gimmie — Canada currently has 4 medals and is looking good (despite those beige pants the Canadians wore for the Opening Ceremony).  It was an Olympic effort for us to narrow down our choices, a lot of spinning in our chairs and staring at the ceiling, and while we could go on and on, we don’t want to lose points for timing so we’ll just dive right in.

Try: Cave Spring Estate Riesling, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara 2010 $17.95 Vintages 286377
Cave Spring really sets the standard for Ontario Riesling.  A grape that naturally does well in our cool climate, this Rielsing is fresh and zippy and all things a Riesling should be.  Look for tart green apple, honeyed notes, lime, petrol and wet-stone minerality. Perfect with or without food, it’s a winner.

Australia – Australia’s a crowd favourite, but the more well known players (i.e. the “critter” wines) often lose points on style.  So it’s happy news as of late that Oz is taking its team in a new direction and the wines coming out of the Land Down Under are simply tops.

Try: Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre, Barossa 2008 $33.95 Vintages 236377
Elegant and complex, this keeps its focus with red berry fruit, spice cupboard and floral notes.  Enjoy now with grilled NY strip, or cellar til the next Games.

Germany – OK, so this will be the second Riesling we’ve offered in a fairly short list, but just like the judges who discern the minutae of those synchro divers, it can be fun to exam the differences — no matter how great or slight — between Ontario and German Rieslings. Just do it at the start of the evening, before the rest of the bottles are consumed.

Try: C.H. Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2008  $19.95 Vintages 207274
Hailing from a leading Mosel vineyard, look for flavours of peach, apple and pear alongside mineral and petrol with vibrant acidity keeping things pure and fresh.

Food

Since this is an Olympic soiree, we’re offering a smorgasboard of athletic-(ish) treats, full of protein, healthy fats and the “good” carbs.  (Play along: we’re not doctors, nor nutritionists, nor coaches, so there’s a better than average chance we don’t have the Olympian’s diet down pat).

Anyway, for this cocktail party we’re offering a mostly snacks and finger foods, set up here and there, to encourage mixing and mingling.  In addtion to not being part of the medical or athletic community as noted above, we are also not chefs, but here’s some of our simple recipes that can be whipped up in a faster than the guys racing the 100 metre dash.

Risotto stuffed mushroom caps

Hummus
Blend 2 cups cooked chickpeas with 1/3 c. tamari paste, 1 Tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 4-6 cloves roasted garlic (we find raw garlic too harsh), S&P to taste.  Whir in a food processor, serve with pita chips and you’re done.

Kale chips
Preheat oven to  250F. Thoroughly wash, dry and remove tough stems from 2 bunches of kale. Rip leaves into manageable “chip size” pieces, knowing they’ll shrink a bit in the oven.  In a large bowl mix 2 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper with kale (be careful with salt as it really intensifies during baking).  Spread well-seasoned kale leaves on a cookie sheet (you will likely need at least two sheets) and *bake in the oven for about 45 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark. When they’re done, the chips will be crunchy, savoury and healthy! *Ovens vary so watch carefully. Other seasonings we like are garlic powder and chipotle, or cumin and smoked paprika.

Veggies & Dip
We make a high-protein, healthy veggie dip by mixing fat free Greek yogurt with fresh dill, roast garlic, a squeeze of fresh lemon, fresh ground pepper and Maldon sea salt. It’s delicious and no one knows it’s good for them!

Theme, Tone & Ambience

It’s up to you to decide how silly or subtle you want your Olympic evening to get.  We love silly, and let’s face it, the name of the Games is likely not propriety – at least for home spectators.  Here are a few of our ideas for keeping the energy:

Send out invitations with a cute phrase like “Let the Drinking Games Begin!” (but remind guests to enjoy responsibly and have a safe and sober way home and all that legal mumbo jumbo)

When guests arrive, have each enter your home to “Chariots of Fire.”

Ask guests come in costume: you can play it safe by dressing in your country’s colours, or have some fun by dressing in the uniforms of their favourite sport.

Get a few medals from your local trophy shop and have guests wear them through out the evening.

Have guests fill out score cards (and hold them up) for the each wine being tasted.

Instead of wine glass charms, keep wine glasses separate with coloured bands in the same tone as the Olympic rings – elastics for braces would work for this, as for some baffling reason orthodontists provide all shades of the rainbow because those with crooked teeth haven’t suffered enough.

Display each wine with the flag of the country from which it’s from.

Are you getting in the spirit by throwing an Olympic party of your own? Tell us what you’re doing to celebrate!