By Kristin on 2/13/2009 11:56 AM

There are a few things in life that contribute to my personal happiness: my family, my work, good wine, good food… and cheese. For me, cheese is a food group in and of itself. I have friends who share this need. They are favourite mealtime companions.

I grew up among cheese lovers. My parents lived in Switzerland for a time. I blame that living experience for the beginning of my slide. Cheese fondue was a bi-weekly winter staple in our house and remains our Christmas Eve tradition; good chevre a pantry essential and  great blue with port a common weekend treat.

I then spent a year living in Switzerland. This time spent in a tiny village, living among cows and ski bums alike sealed my fate as a cheese addict.

I seem to go through phases with my addiction. Maybe it has to do with the seasons, maybe it has to do with which new wines we are currently importing. I’m not really sure… I ... Read More »

By Kristin on 2/3/2009 12:42 PM

We are smack dab in the middle of winter. Far enough into the cold and snow to forget the glorious crisp days of fall, the smell of falling leaves and the novelty of wearing cosy new sweaters. We are far enough from spring and summer that the idea of ever being warm outside again seems impossible.

Yet I know that the warm days will come, the days will get longer and the sun will melt the snow. In the meantime, I find that a good cozy red wine helps a lot on these cold dark evenings!

Here is a list of my current 5 faves at close to under 25 bucks. These wines are delicious, comforting and gentle on the newly reduced budgets that so many of us are struggling to maintain. Best of all, they can be delivered by the case to your front door.

#1)       Read More »

Comments (0)

By Kristin on 1/8/2009 10:58 AM

I don’t know if it’s because 2008 finished with such a resounding THUD, but I can’t help feeling that things have got to get better all around.
At least the holidays were a wonderful beginning to the New Year, with lots of family time and laughter. I spent a few days on my own with my parents, which I have not done for some time. We enjoyed much good food together, as well as some ‘interesting’ wines of my dad’s.
My father is a very intelligent, learned man. He is an intense professional who is strongly identified by his career. He takes the passions in his life very seriously: his work, his wife, his children, his skiing and those ‘finer things in life’. My dad’s favourite expression when enjoying himself over dinner with the family, or while on the ski lift is “the rest is all bull@!?#!”

About ten years ago, he developed a mild obsession ... Read More »

By Kristin on 12/16/2008 3:01 PM

Fortunately for me, I get to taste (read: drink) a lot of good wine. Most of what I get to taste is wine that the agency is bringing in to the province for sale to restaurant and private clients. It is usually above my everyday drinking snack bracket, so is always a welcome addition to my glass!
A couple of weeks ago, my colleague & buddy Mark Cuff came into the office bearing an incredible gift. Mark gets as excited about good wine as I do… Great wine sparks great discussion. I for one am tough to shut up once I get going…

So, in walks Mark, glint in his eye, bottle under arm. He’s carrying the famed Domaine du Coulet, from Cornas in the Northern Côte du Rhône. I have read of this wine in passing, and have heard Mark speak of it. The winemaker is Matthieu Barret, who is maybe 35 years old. The Domaine holds 4.5 hectares of prime old vines in Cornas. The yields are exceptionally low (approximately 8hl/ ... Read More »

By Kristin on 12/8/2008 10:51 AM

This past week I competed in the 4th Annual Wine Tasting Challenge. This is a crazy contest that attracts all of the local wine talent in the Toronto area. It is put on by CCOVI at Brock University (Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute) and takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel. Big sponsors include yours truly, B&W Wines.

The way it works:

You have 50 minutes to taste 7 wines blind, 3 VQA wines blind, and 3 spirits blind. At the end of this, you hazard a guess at varietal, country of origin, region, as well as vintage.

Prize values total over 100 grand, plus bragging rights. It goes without saying that all of the city’s top winos show up. During my exam alone, I recognized Zoltan Szabo, Paul Decampo from Henry of Pelham, Marlise Ponzo from Crush, Corey Ladouceur from the Granite Club, as well as three PhD students from CCOVI. That was just in the first hour time slot.
&l ... Read More »

By Kristin on 11/28/2008 2:51 PM

I’m sitting at home in the peace (finally) and quiet (sigh) of the evening. The kids are sound asleep and  I have a glass of wine at my side as I sit here and write. Life is good.

These last few months have been unsteady, uncertain, petrifying and exciting. I’m not talking about the stock market or the US election, I’m talking about my life!

I left the life of a restaurant cook/chef in July to venture into the world of wine, sales and a brand new food business. To say the transition has been smooth would be a bit of a fib. I’ve been studying wine with food for the last ten years, but have been finishing a diploma in wine for the last three. This was a logical (?) next step, though I realize now just what an enormous leap it has been!

The gang here has embraced me as a bonafide member of the family which has been a lifesaver. I have had to be a quick study in things like Ex ... Read More »