News Archives - Page 13 of 30 - WineCollective Blog

Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Wil Knoll

WineCollective recently took part in a Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser with the help of our friend, Amy Nadeau. Amy is one of 100,000 Canadians living with MS. While the disease is life changing, she has managed to put together fundraisers such as the one held earlier this month on May 10, as well as run the MS 10km run that took place this past Sunday, May 25 in Calgary.

The fundraiser was held at the Blind Monk Pub with over 90 guests supporting the cause. A total of $7,000 was raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

WineCollective donated an Evolution Mixed package, valued at $90, which sold in a silent auction for $105. It appeared to be one of the more popular donations at the event!

The MS fundraiser was also supported by various donations from breweries, wine representatives and yoga studios. VIP tickets to a Calgary Flames game were also up for bidding. In addition to the auction, Hot Super Hot, volunteered to entertain the guests with their Caribbean jams throughout the evening.

As always, we feel very thankful and overjoyed to be able to take part in fundraisers around the city. Some members of the WineCollective team have personal connections to those living with MS and understand the struggle and symptoms of the disease. We are always willing to assist in any way we can.

Thank you to Amy and those who attended the event in support of finding treatment for MS. Click here to donate today to the MS Society of Canada and keep an eye out for future fundraising events supported by WineCollective to find out how you can help and donate.

CoffeeCollective feature: Caffe Rosso

Posted on May 20, 2014May 21, 2014 by Wil Knoll

The majority of our CoffeeCollective features first started as roasteries, who we able to open doors to their own coffee houses, years after roasting their first bag of beans. However, Rosso Coffee Roasters’ story starts in the opposite. In 2007, Caffe Rosso opened their first coffee house location in Ramsay, Calgary, one of the cities oldest communities, using Illy and George Howell Coffee.

After several years of gaining popularity and adding a second downtown location in 2009 on Stephen Avenue (a trendy hotspot for dining and drinks), owner David Crosby and his new partner and brother, Cole, decided to explore the idea of roasting their own beans and blends. In 2010, under the Ramsay location’s roof, Rosso began to roast and test their own blends, which would give the cafe greater control over flavour profiles and the ability to expand their brand and coffee across the city.

I was able to visit the original Caffe Rosso and sit with sales and operations manager Jessie Attrell, who has been with Rosso over the last two years. Prior to, Jessie says she was unofficially a member of the team after her landlord told her about the cozy café across the street, nearly seven years ago.

Jessie says Caffe Rosso has seen extremely positive growth with their third location opened in 2012 in Victoria Park.

“We’ve been really well received in every neighbourhood that we’ve opened in,” says Jessie. “Its an amazing thing to be able to see something grow and to take a neighbourhood café and make it something people are talking about. When we go out and we see people carrying a Rosso cup, it is really an awesome feeling to be part of that growth.”

Incredibly, Caffe Rosso’s growth is entirely in thanks to their customers and word of mouth, as they have not done any official advertising. Even as Rosso evolved from café to roaster, the fans have always stayed true and committed.

“Our customers really support us and really supported the direction we wanted to go in and the transition. We’ve had more compliments on our coffee since we started roasting than ever before,” Jessie says.

Before using their own roasts in the cafes, David and the Rosso team sampled and tested for almost a year. Today, they invite customers to help them pick out amazing blends with weekly in-house tastings, Wednesday afternoons.

Jessie says “Rosso searches for sweetness, balance and overall complexity in the cup,” with their blends by sourcing beans from around the world. The cafes typically hold three to four coffees at any given time and always have “one comfort and one adventurous coffee,” so that there is always a blend that appeals to everyone.

Apart from amazing coffee, Caffe Rosso aims to maintain a natural, family environment. With rustic furniture and a feel-good atmosphere, it is no wonder that Caffe Rosso acts as a destination location. Jessie says many customers who typically enjoy the downtown locations throughout the week, still make weekend visits to the original location to take in the scent of freshly roasted beans and familiarity. She also says the majority of customers that come in, were first brought by a friend or loved one, showing the welcoming comfort of the Rosso community and cafés.

This month, CoffeeCollective is featuring two delicious roasts from Rosso Coffee Roasters.

Guatemala – El Inteligente Drip

Overlooking the colonial city of Antigua in Guatemala, El Inteligente is a very old coffee estate growing Bourbon and Typica beans. For this roast, notice tastes of ripe plum and almond – notes that are not a common blend of flavours but balanced together, are thought provoking and delicious.

Rwanda Two-Wheel Espresso

The Two Wheel Espresso is washed in long channels and after soaking, the beans are laid out to dry on raised beds, facilitating airflow. Grown on elevations of 2,000 meters, this coffee portrays tasting notes of caramel, sugar and layered chocolate. Caffe Rosso chose it for its extremely unique richness and flavour and CoffeeCollective chose it because we don’t remember ever trying Rwandan coffee. However, I was lucky enough to have the baristas as Caffe Rosso treat me to a latte using the coffee and it was delicious!

Following the tradition of opening a new location every two years, Jessie says Rosso is checking out the market for yet another café but has yet to find a spot. The roastery also hopes to start sourcing their own beans by year’s end, because as of now, they use a cooperative green buyer to source quality beans under fair trade methods.

For a delicious, approachable and thought provoking cup of coffee, check out a Caffe Rosso location and don’t forget to rate and comment on their roasts on the CoffeeCollective site. We’d love to hear how you enjoyed it!

Blind Tasting Round 2

Posted on May 9, 2014October 3, 2016 by Wil Knoll

In preparation for my WSET exam, we had another blind tasting test at the WineCollective office. Pouring two red wines this time ‘round (my specialty), and with another week of education under my belt, I was much more confident!

Paying attention to colour, aromas and tastes can tell you everything you need to know about the wine. If you’re new to tasting, check out our Welcome to Wine blog series for information on varietals and their characteristics as well as regions from around the world.

Similar to last week’s blind tasting, read the notes below and make your own guess as to which varietal and region!

Wine #1

Eyes: Clear. Deep ruby red core with a slight trail. Thick legs coat the edge of the glass.

Nose: Clean. Ripe cherries and candied fruit. Hints of earthly mushroom with a strong aromas of balsamic vinegar.

Mouth: Dry. Medium acidity and tannins. Sweet red fruits, cheery and strawberry with more of the balsamic notes pulling through.

My guess: New world blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot or Pinot Noir!

Wine #2

Eyes: Clear. Intense medium purple with a faint trail. The legs coat the glass entirely but fade rather quickly.

Nose: Clean. Tobacco and smoke, possibly from oak. Blackberry and clove with more herbaceous notes.

Mouth: Dry. Medium acidity and tannins. Hint of oak spice with fruity raspberry and black cherry shining through on the palate.

My guess: With a ton of tobacco and smoke coming through, I assumed a South American Carmenere.

I am proud to say that this week, I was much closer in my guesses compared to last week’s white wine blind tasting test. Also, our Chief Wine Taster, Amber, didn’t want to trick me… as much.

The Answers!

Wine #1: Considering its fruit bomb qualities, and my guess it was coming a New World blend, I was close! The wine was a 2011 Peacock’s Tail. A Shiraz and Grenache Blend from Australia.

Wine #2: Again I was only half right. The smoke and herbal qualities did speak to South America’s style and the wine was the 2013 Apaltagua Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile.

Keep and eye out for both of these wines in upcoming WineCollective packages and be sure to take part in WineCollective’s online community and leave your own tasting comments and ratings! As well, each of our tasting cards sent with our monthly wines give space for you to make notes for your own records and we’d love for you to share them!

May 14th: Last Chance Sale on Tannic!

Posted on May 8, 2014May 8, 2014 by BlackSquare

Once in a while we like to have a blow-out sale on Tannic to clear out any remaining wines from previous sales. This is a chance for us to do some spring cleaning, and give you an opportunity to stock-up on wine with awesome deals!

Next week we will be having a “Last Chance Sale” on Tannic. All remaining wines that we have in stock will be offered at even further discounts. This is a great time to shop the Tannic store and find the perfect Father’s Day present, bottles for the summer BBQ season and fill your cellar. If you are not already a Tannic member, this is a great time to join! You will be able to view and purchase wines that have been curated.

We will be shipping out all orders the following week, May 2oth. There will be no new wines posted the 21st, instead all remaining wines from the sale will continue to be available. We will re-stock the store with new wines on May 28th.

Tannic members, look-out for the sale email next week!

Blind tasting test

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been taking my WSET training through Fine Vintage Ltd., in order to further expand my vino knowledge, assist in selecting package features and add some credibility to my self-taught wine education. Amber, resident CWT (Chief Wine Taster), thought challenging my taste buds through a blind tasting test would be a great way to test my education and add a valuable learning experience.

Blind tastings can be an eye opener, as well as a nerve-wracking experience. As Amber set up the three covered bottles and glasses, I had pages and pages of information running through my head. Regions, colour, aromas and flavour characteristics can all be determining factors of a wine’s variety and origin. But when selecting from literally thousands of options, the possibilities seem endless.

Amber poured three wines from different bottles with completely covered labels. Together we tasted and made our way through writing tastings notes in the WSET course fashion, combined with our WineCollective flair.

Eyes: Clarity, intensity, colour

Nose: Condition, intensity, aromas

Mouth: Sweetness, acidity, tannin, body, flavour, length, quality

We searched for the above characteristics in three white wines in order to determine the grape variety, region and vintage.

Quiz yourself and read the tastings notes to make your own guesses before scrolling down to see the answers. You may be just as surprised as I was.

Wine #1

Eyes: Medium intensity, pale lemon, quick evaporating legs.

Nose: Clean, medium intensity. Mandarin citrus aromas with tree fruit and blossom.

Mouth: Medium to high acidity. Apply with strong lemon-lime finish and minerality.

I guessed: In considering the higher acidity and minerality, I assumed a cool climate Riesling.

Wine #2

Eyes: Clear, medium intensity, very pale lemon.

Nose: Clean, medium. Aromas of under ripe green melon, tropical kiwi with traces of cucumber and green onion.

Mouth: Medium sweet, body and acidity. The palate continues to show similar tropical and herbaceous notes similar to the nose.

I guessed: Sauvignon Blanc. A warm climate Sauv Blanc can take on tropical notes as well as the typical herbaceous, green notes the variety carries.

Wine #3

Eyes: A rich and intense medium gold colour.

Nose: Clean and pronounced. Bruised Macintosh apple, ash minerality.

Mouth: Rich body. The apple continues with a touch of oak. Very drying and tannic, as well as very low acidity.

I guessed: Chardonnay! The darker colour and oak characteristics speak true to common characteristics of the variety.

Unfortunately, I failed miserably.

Although I attempted to pick out strong features of different varieties in order to make an educated guess, Amber chose some interesting selections to show the difference and possibilities of each grape.

Wine #1: Joseph Mellot Pouilly Fume Le Troncsec 2012

Pouilly Fume is a Sauvignon Blanc from the region of Loire, France. This wine is known for its minerality and crisp freshness.

Wine #2: Apaltagua Gran Verano Chardonnay 2013

Again, no oak on the Chardonnay. Amber was out to trick me.

Wine #3: Ogier Heritages Blanc 2011

A blend of Viognier, Roussane, Grenache Blanc and Clairette. We both agreed this wine was a touch past its prime. The fuller body should have given away that it was a Viognier blend, but my excuse – “I’ve never even tasted Grenache Blanc!”

Although I was far off on all of my guesses, so was the rest of the WineCollective office. It was definitely a lesson to be learned among tasters on the different characteristics grapes can take on dependent on so many factors.

Your WineCollective package provides a great blind tasting opportunity! Invite friends over and pour the wines into numbered glasses. Make your own notes and compare them to your WineCollective cards to determine which wine is which! Or host a party and ask your friends to choose wines with typical varietal characteristics and see how well you’ve expanded your wine knowledge. Study up!

Oso Negro Coffee

Posted on May 1, 2014October 29, 2020 by Wil Knoll

April’s CoffeeCollective feature comes from beautiful Nelson, British Columbia. Jim May and Jon Meyer, two friends that worked in the forest sector and had a mutual desire for change, and founded Oso Negro in 1993. After learning as much as possible about the coffee roasting business, they left the trees and open spaces for a small 200 square foot roasting room.

The Spanish name Oso Negro translates to “Black Bear,” and was chosen by Jim and Jon for numerous reasons, apart from their common love of black coffee. First, after years of working in the forest and living in Nelson, spotting the animal was not rare. Black Bears are often used as a common symbol to represent the area. Choosing the Spanish word and flair also brought forth a reminder of how far coffee travels from foreign lands to Oso Negro customers.

At first, Oso Negro began with single varietal roasts, sourcing beans from coffee brokers, West Coast Coffee Traders and Royal Coffee. From ordering only five bags of beans to 260, it is fair to say that ON has expanded it reach and popularity through out Nelson and the rest of Canada.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Anne Bokser Wishlow, a co-owner of Oso Negro who began with the company in 1995 as a barista. In her 10 years with the roasting company, Anne has taken part in its growth from three to 60 employees and says she has acquired a true taste and passion for coffee in the process.

“Oso Negro was a slow methodical evolution through tremendous amounts of customer engagement,” said Anne. “We listened to feedback and developed from there. Customers wanted more out of a cup of coffee, more flavour and dimension.”

Through understanding coffee and giving it away to our customers, Anne says Oso Negro was able to expand and outgrow their roasting space and build a community hub with the Oso Negro Café all while including the opinions of their supporters. Although ON grew slowly, Anne says this has given the company the ability to “expand with quality in mind.”

“We keep hands on and eyes on every bean so that we can make sure it is consistent and top notch.”

Today, Oso Negro has moved onto blending beans from Central and South America, Africa and Indonesia, which allows for the roasters to play with ratios and roasts. By combining the sweetness of Ethiopian beans with the creamy and buttery body of Indonesian, Oso Negro creates different flavour profiles in their unique 24 blends.

Lucky customers of the Oso Negro Café are able to try a new blend every day of the week as the baristas use freshly roasted coffee brought down from the roasting house each morning. The café, which used to be a house, has been transformed to a local hangout with multiple benches, tables and couches spread through its many rooms. Ann says the location on Nelson’s main road, Baker Street, fits in perfectly with the quaint and artistic community.

CoffeeCollective featured two blends from Oso Negro in April including the medium roast, Full Organic Blend and dark roast, Meteor Blend. Both of these roasts use beans sourced from Central America and Indonesia and come from certified organic and certified fair trade farms.

If you get the chance to stop by Nelson this summer, we definitely recommend visiting Oso Negro Café. We look forward to doing so ourselves. You can also visit the roasters website for more information on their roasts and to order some of their deliciously blended coffees.

Moms Love Wine!

Posted on April 28, 2014March 23, 2022 by Wil Knoll

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, we want to help our WineCollective members find the perfect gift for the most special woman in their life. After work, cooking, laundry, cleaning and taking care of everyone in the fam, most moms would love to kick back with a glass of vino at the end of a long, hard day. And you, being the world’s best son or daughter can easily make that happen with a WineCollective store order or gift subscription!

We’ll be working hard this month to ship out all store orders for mom before Mother’s Day. If you make your store purchase before Monday, May 5^th, your wine will arrive for Sunday, May 11^th.

For mom’s that prefer java over wine, we suggest checking out our little sister CoffeeCollective for store orders and monthly gift subscriptions. Each month, CoffeeCollective features freshly roasted beans from a different Canadian roaster.

Currently, we have some amazing wines in our members-only store that are perfect for mom including:

Mauricio Lorca Fantasia

A sparkling wine from Mendoza, Argentina made from Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The wine is fresh with fruity and bouquet aromas and flavours! It’s a perfect edition to mimosas along with brunch.

2012 Colterenzio Lumo Blanc

For a mom as bright as sunshine, this Italian blend is composed of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is a citrus and tropical fruit salad with strong acidity and lifted finish of blanched almonds.

Purchasing from the store is a great option if you’re looking to get your mom a bottle or two of something special we have featured in our packages. However, WineCollective also offers gift subscriptions, which will keep the gift of wine coming! Purchase a gift subscription for your mother before April 30^th and the first shipment will arrive in May. Although your mother won’t receive the wines in time for Sunday brunch, you can easily print off the WineCollective gift email to put inside a card. Our gift emails explain the gift and process to the receiver as well as how to log in to their WineCollective.ca account so your mom will have something to look forward to.

If you’re looking to purchase a gift for mom we invite you to use our Mother’s Day coupon code MOMSLOVEWINE for $15 off a store or gift purchase over $50.

In celebration of Mother’s Day we’ve found a few women who dominate the wine industry, but do so with a few youngins hanging on their sides.

Elizabeth Grant Douglas – La Crema

Born in Niagara Falls, Elizabeth has worked at various wineries around Canada, France, and the United States. Today she is the director of winemaking at La Crema in the Sonoma Valley and manages to make perfect cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris while taking care of her 4-year-old son Malcolm.

Lise Asimont – Francis Ford Coppola Winery

As the Director of Growers Relations at the Francis Ford, Lise is responsible for overseeing cultivation and sourcing grapes from over 100 Napa Valley growers. While busy, Lise still finds time out of the vineyards for her two kids, 12 and nine.

Stephanie Honig – Honig Vineyard and Winery

While she handles public relations, Stephanie’s husband Michael is president of their family-owned estate. The two are raising their three kids, Sophia (6), Lola (4), and Sebastian (2) in their Napa Valley vineyards.

While we are positively sure the above moms love wine, we’re fairly certain yours does too! Feel free to contact us for assistance or any questions about ordering for Mother’s Day and be sure to use the coupon at checkout as all other orders without will be shipped with regular subscription packages mid-May.

For all of our WineCollective moms, Happy Mother’s Day! Cheers!

3 Easter feasts & wines to pair!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Wil Knoll

With Easter right around the corner, the WineCollective team has decided to dig past the snow on the ground to the very small and patchy sections of green grass. We’re hopeful that after a festive weekend, the sun will start to shine and spring will be among us! To kick-start the bright and cheery season, we give to you several delicious recipes to boost typical Easter feasts and spring wine pairings that will absolutely bring sunshine to your table this weekend.

Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham

For those of you that enjoy sweet, sweet ham on Easter, try this Bourbon-glazed goodness. The recipe is incredibly easily with a handful of ingredients including brown sugar, full shallot cloves and of course, Bourbon!

Wine Pairing

2012 Misha’s Limelight Riesling

From New Zealand, this Riesling has incredible balance between sweetness and acidity that will easily handle the sugar from the ham. Notes of pears, melons, white blossoms and minerality are present with a medium body that can definitely handle this filling dish.

2010 Sperling Old Vines Foch

This previously featured Maréchal Foch is sourced from 60 year old vines in Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Cherry and blueberry jam characteristics are rounded with oak and smoke notes. With the bourbon glaze, much of the rustic elements of the wine will show through and balance out the sweetness of the ham.

Honey-Curry Glazed Lamb with Roasted Grapes and Cranberries

Substantial amount of flavour from curry and honey combination. The lamb is grilled then oven baked to soak in all the juices while the roasted grapes and cranberries make for a festive topping.

Wine Pairing

2008 Charles Joguet Chenin Blanc

This wine is incredibly fresh and best served at a cool 12 degrees Celsius. Mouthwatering acidity combined with tropical notes, banana bread and honeycomb will pair delightfully with the different flavours and balance the curry spice.

2010 Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, this wine has all the components necessary to pair with the lamb recipe. Minerality, dark cherries and bramble fruit are carried through the palate and generous amounts of acidity and round tannins with handle the richness of the meal.

Ginger Ale Can Chicken

Similar to the much-loved beer can chicken, except this wine uses ginger ale, adding a whole different profile of flavour to the meat. The steam from the can creates a moist rich roasted flavour.

2012 Glen Carlou Unwooded Chardonnay

A refreshing Chardonnay that we’ve even posted an entire blog about it! High acidity meets the green orchard fruits and floral components with a creamy and velvety texture. It’ll match superbly with the ginger.

2011 Sister’s Run GSM

Recently featured, this wine is a blend of Grenache and Shiraz from Australia’s, Barossa Valley. The Shiraz will bring out the lively ginger spice. On the palate, stewed plums, blackberries and blueberries with fine tannins and nicely balanced acidity.

We hope you get to try out some of these amazing pairings and bring out some of the best in your traditional Easter feasts this weekend! If not, let us know what you enjoyed through the WineCollective.ca community, Facebook or Twitter page.

As always, feel free to contact us for more information on food pairings!

Canmore Uncorked wine festival April 12th

Posted on April 3, 2014 by BlackSquare

We have some exciting news to share with you! The first ever Canmore Uncorked is taking place starting today through to April 12th. The food and wine festival is celebrating the great dining and drinking experiences found in Canmore.

Fellow Calgarians will agree, we rarely need an excuse to visit Canmore. The scenery, people and limitless activities found in the town are more than enough to persuade us to make the hour long trek. Give us a festival to further indulge in the bountiful culinary experiences of Canmore, and we can’t say no! The 10 day event includes a craft beer festival, featured menus at 26 restaurants, cooking courses, progressive dinners, and concludes with a wine festival.

WineCollective will be in attendance at the wine festival on April 12th, and we would love to see you there! Long-time WineCollective members might recognize some of the 80 wines being poured. There is a great selection that represents many boutique producers from around the world, and also includes a handful of Scotches.

What you need to know:

Saturday, April 12th from 7-10 pm.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased in advance at canmoreuncorked.com.
Your ticket covers the cost of the samples!

CanmoreUncorked has all the information on the week’s festivities, including the wine festival on April 12th. You can also visit Tourism Canmore for details on accomodation, and other attractions while you are in the area. We hope to see you in Canmore, WineCollective is looking forward to hearing about your Canmore Uncorked experiences!

The wines of Portugal

Posted on March 28, 2014March 31, 2014 by Wil Knoll

There are several reasons as to why Portugal is and further becoming a widely reputable player in the wine industry. First, the country accounts for 50% of global cork production, and second, for its famous and much loved Port wine.

Apart from mastering skills and natural resources in cork oak tree forests and through out the Douro, the Portuguese have an overall love of quality food and wine. I know this not only through personal experience of my nationality, but also in the way that Portugal is becoming greatly appreciated for their overall wine production by critics, industry leaders and everyday wine drinkers.

Various varieties, of both red and white, are rooted and grown only in Portugal’s vineyards and as WineCollective searches for uncommon wines to share, these native grapes offer a unique branch to expand your palate. Some of these varieties include:

Many of these grapes have been transferred to countries of similar climate, such as Touriga Nacional in South Africa. Considering its aging potential, richness in colour and tannins, and intense full-bodied flavours, Touriga Nacional deserves to be listed as a noble grape.

There are 14 wine regions in Portugal, all with unique qualities in terroir, climate and grape varieties that allow for recognized specialties.

mapa_regioes — Image from Wines of Portugal, www.winesofportugal.info

The famous Alentejo is known for its bodacious and dry red wines made from varieties such as Borba, Évora, Trincadeira or Tinta Amarela and the widely planted Aragonez (Tempranillo) in addition to noble grapes like Cabernet. Equally as admired, the Douro has branched from its production of fortified wine and uses the typical varieties that are found in Port like Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional, in making its rich reds.

Last summer, a major trend in the wine industry was the adoration of Vinho Verde, or green wine. The region’s cooler climate and coastal breezes from both north and west creates light, crisp and aromatic wines from indigenous grapes named Alvarinho, Arinto and Trajadura.

2010 Esporão Reserva Red

A very popular wine in Portugal with aromas of spice, red berries, chocolate and oak. On the palate the wine is compact and dense with black fruit and firm tannins. Made from Aragonês, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alicante Bouschet.

WineCollective has featured many Portuguese wines in the past. These more recent selections may still be in your cellar!

2010 Monte da Ravasqueira Prova

Blend of Aragonez and Trincadeira. The name Prova means “taste” or “proof.” Mid-palate shows soft red fruits and the smoke and spice qualities come directly from terroir as no oak aging is used.

2012 Monte da Ravasqueira Serrana

White varieties of Antão Vaz and Arinto. Notes of stone fruit, green apple and orange peel. A balance of tropical and citrus flavours.

2005 Luis Pato Baga

Made from single grape variety Baga. Weighty core of earth and wood with sour cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate on the palate.

Baga is traditional served with Leitão or suckling pig. For some, the pairing may be out of reach, however, many pork-based Portuguese dishes go hand in hand with the wine such as Carne de Porco à Alentejana (pork, clams and potatoes) or a bean stew known as Feijoada. I would argue that my father makes the best of both, but for those willing to try, enjoy the recipe below!

1. In large bowl, combine wine, paprika, salt and pepper, blend well. Add garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cubed meat, turn meat in marinade to coat pieces. Marinate for 6 hours, turning occasionally.

2. Drain pork; reserve marinade. Pat cubes completely dry. Discard garlic and bay leaf. Melt 1 teaspoon of oil in large skillet. Add pork cubes, stirring frequently so that the meat colors quickly and evenly. Transfer with slotted spoon to a bowl.

3. Pour reserved marinade into skillet and bring to a boil over high heat, scraping off any brown particles clinging to the inside of pan. Boil briskly uncovered until marinade is reduced to 1 cup. Pour over pork and set aside.

4. In 6 to 8 quart pan, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil; add onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onion is soft but not brown. Add garlic, tomatoes and crushed red pepper. Simmer, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

5. Spread the clams, hinged side down, over the tomato sauce; cover the pan tightly and cook over medium to high heat for ten minutes or until clams open. Stir in reserved pork and juices. Simmer for 5 minutes to heat thoroughly. Sprinkle with parsley.

Understanding and reading up on Portugal’s unique grapes and their traits will become very helpful as the wines continue to boom in popularity. Whether we featured it, or you found it on your own, comment below and share with us your favourite Portuguese wine!

Why choose Tannic?

Posted on March 26, 2014March 25, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Tannic and WineCollective have lived peacefully as siblings for several years. While both have their perks and provide great wines to vino lovers across Canada, some members of both clubs would argue Tannic has a special place in their… cellar.

Apart from the continuously rotating selection, Tannic members love the aspect of complete control of what wines they receive. With the ability to research and learn about the wines available for purchase, Tannic members know everything about the wines they are purchasing before they arrive.

The Tannic store is updated weekly with several new premium wines to choose from. Each featured wine is selected based on quality, value, exclusivity and ratings from acclaimed wine critics.

Here are some more reasons why everyone loves their Tannic membership:

– Online account to keep track of your wines

– Purchase gifts for family and friends

– Exclusive wines with limited availability

– Curated information and ratings

– No minimum purchase

– Free shipping offered

– Receive 15% – 50% off retail prices

– Two memberships to choose from

A Gold membership ($195/year) includes access to the online store with weekly updates every Wednesday at 9 a.m. MST. Shipping is free with 12 or more bottles.

Platinum members ($395/year) receive early access to weekly features on Tuesday evening, and receive VIP deals and features. Shipping is free for all orders.

Tannic often features wines at high price points with impressive ratings and reviews. However, this is not to say all of the wines are outrageously priced. Bottles can range from $25 to $2,000, yet the quality remains. Tannic aims to provide wines with exceptional cellaring capability. While some are available and ready to drink within the year, the store collection typically carries bottles that you can cellar and save for a special occasion years down the road.

If you’re interested in growing in your wine knowledge and want access to rare, cult and premium wines, Tannic is most definitely for you. For more information on Tannic, visit the site today and prepare to indulge in the world of wine.

March CoffeeCollective feature: Bean North Coffee Roasting

Posted on March 18, 2014October 29, 2020 by Wil Knoll

For the month of March, CoffeeCollective searched Canada’s beautiful northern territories for the perfect cup of coffee.

Bean North Coffee Roasting is nestled in Whitehorse, Yukon. While you may think the beans suffer in their journey from heat to frozen temperatures, Bean North owner, Michael King sees its many advantages.

“When we are roasting in the winter months in very cold temperatures, the conditions are perfect for hitting the sweet spot in the cup profile, every time.”

Another benefit the cold brings is the common need to wrap one’s hands around a steaming mug, hence why Bean North Café has become the community hangout and a local tourist destination. Surrounded by spruce and pine trees, the café offers more than just a quality cup of coffee. Cupping courses and roastary tours are hosted from the café in addition to the charming social atmosphere where guests can discover coffee farmers, Bean North and its beginnings.

In 1996, Michael says he and his wife, Helen “travelled to the coffee lands of Central America on a mission to learn everything we could about coffee.” After being exposed to the realities of coffee farming just as Canada’s Fair Trade label was newly launched, Bean North was signed on as western Canada’s first 100% fair trade coffee roaster.

Bean North founder, Michael King. Photo by Gary Bremner

To reach their dreams of sourcing coffee directly, Michael and Helen linked up Cooperative Coffees. By joining forces with other small roasters, Michael says opportunities to import coffee from Africa, Central and South America were now available. Today, after a decade, various farmers still work closely with Bean North and Cooperative Coffees.

“In most cases we were introduced to the farmers while travelling in the region or through connections in the coffee industry,” Michael says. “In some cases, our coop is still the only buyer.”

Apart from their exclusive selection, Bean North sources only farmer friendly beans and the facility is the only roastary in northern Canada that is certified for organic processing.

CoffeeCollective members received the following two roasts in their packages this month.

Colombian Fondo Paez

From the Cordillera Central region, this dark roast is brewing in the CoffeeCollective kitchen at this very moment. The coffee showcases notes of berry and wine under its rich and creamy body.

Peruvian Canchaque Natural

A lighter roast from northern Peru. The coffee has sweet and fragrant aromas that trail onto the palate with ripe berry and cocoa notes.

When selecting beans, Michael says there are many farming practices that Bean North looks for. Traditional and organic practices such as “under the forest canopy,” and natural fertilization is considered as well as how the beans are dried, depending on the region.

Members who received this month’s package, be sure to leave your comments and ratings on the site! For those without a subscription, sign up today or visit CoffeeCollective’s online store to purchase this months feature or BeanNorth.com for their full range of roasts.