Blog
The Virgin Guide
Non Alcoholic Cocktails That Are Just as Good as the Real Thing It’s come to our attention that not everyone wants to drink alcohol. Whether it’s because guests are driving, detoxing, or rocking a baby bump, occasionally, tipples need to err on the side of temperance, not temptation. But what’s a modern party maven to...
The Sparkling Wines We’ll Be Drinking This New Year’s Eve
While bubbles always have a place on our bars all year long, the holidays and sparkling wine go hand in hand. The pretty bubbles, the refreshingly crisp flavours and the sleek stemware just make you want to pop the cork and celebrate. All champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is champagne. Champagne...
Sunday Supper: Food and Wine Pairing of the Week
Sausage and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta with Chianti Doesn’t it just seem like days off are actually busier than the days when you are working? We have no idea where the time goes, but after a quick run to the gym, a few household chores and minor check-ins with email, it somehow has managed to...
Thirsty Thursday
Our Favourite Mulled Wine This is what is currently looks like outside: A fairly debilitating snow storm – the first of the season – has hit Toronto pretty hard. Well, what can you do, eh, but suck it up and put on a steaming pot of mulled wine. But not just any mulled wine will do....
Our Holiday Entertaining Essentials
The holidays are busy enough without adding extra on your to-do list. Here are the essential items to always have on hand for stress free entertaining. by Erin A friend of mine once told me he could do anything as long as he had an egg and an onion. And that got me to thinking,...
Sunday Supper: Wine and Food Pairing of the Week
Boeuf Bourguignon and Beaujolais There’s something about the holiday season that brings on cravings for tradition. Whereas in summer months, lighter months, it’s all about experimentation and forging new frontiers (in the kitchen at least), winter, and specifically the nostalgia inspired by Christmas, brings on yearnings for roasts and rich sauces and the classic wine...
How to Pull Off A Fabulous Fête When You’re Busier than Busy ...
This is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. And the stinkin’ busiest. If all that merriment has just added a few dozen more social engagements to your already jammed schedule (not to mention the extra hours you need to find to decorate the house, extra shopping trips and all that wrapping), you may...
Wine for the Weekend
La Vite Lucente, Tuscany, Italy 2012 $34.95 Vintages 747030 A popular holiday favourite this rich and plush Super Tuscan has lots of New World approachability with some Old World restraint. Cured meat, black pepper spice, leather, and red cherry aromas follow through to the dense and powerful palate which shows big, grippy tannin, elevated acid...
Hot Buttered Bourbon Apple Cider
A warming Christmas cocktail that’s easy, delicious, and made for a crowd. It doesn’t get better than Hot Buttered Bourbon Apple Cider. By Erin This warm apple cider cocktail incorporates many of the things we love the most: Christmas, simplicity and deliciousness. I first debuted it as the welcome drink at my annual tree trimming...
Wednesday Wine 101
Q. If I smell apples or cherries in my wine, does that mean apples or cherries are in there? A. Unless you’re drinking and apple or cherry wine, than, no, the only fruit in your wine is grapes. We get asked this question quite a bit: why do wines, made of grapes, offer aromas of...
