By Jarrod Price on
8/22/2008 1:00 PM
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Vintages’ Newest Classics Collection Now On-Line!
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By Howard Wasserman on
7/29/2008 10:24 AM
Viva Espania!
Could this have been THE summer of Spain? I say “SI!”
Before I left for the B & W Wines’ Spain Trip of 2008, I admit I was pumped, but I had no idea how amazing an experience it would turn out to be. Here it goes:
Six esteemed wine lovers left Pearson International on a evening flight for a whirlwind tour of the remarkable wines of Spain: Arron Barberian, Mehron Halitsky, James Drummond, Anthony Dumas, Tom Skrela, and of course myself, met by Toronto’s very own ambassador to Spanish wine (and true renaissance man) Fernando Garcia.
 
At the Airpor ...
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By Jarrod Price on
7/11/2008 3:09 PM
 A South Australian shiraz has graced the lips of two of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars in the world’s most anticipated movie of the year.
The Sex and the City movie features a cameo appearance by Australian shiraz producer Two Hands Wines.
Harry and Edward’s Garden Langhorne Creek Shiraz, from Two Hands Wines’ Garden Series, appears in a restaurant scene with Carrie and Miranda (played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon) about three quarters through the movie.
Carrie and Miranda order a bottle of shiraz and the waitress brings them a bottle of the Two Hands wine. When the wine is placed on the table, the Two Hands Wines logo can be seen. “We had heard a whisper that our wine might make an appearance, but it wasn’t until the movie premiered in the United States that our distributors spotte ...
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By Jarrod Price on
7/11/2008 2:53 PM
 With Argentinean wines the highlight of the July 5th Vintages release, including four wines from the B & W portfolio, now is the perfect time to talk about Argentina.
Once considered the “sleeping giant” of the wine industry, Argentina has for a long time been the fifth largest wine producing country in the world exporting a proportionately small amount of wine to the North American market. Over the last decade, there has been a gradual shift in focus towards quality. With the introduction of modern wine making techniques, including the investment in temperature controlled steel tanks and new-oak barrels, the Argentinean wine industry has reinvented itself, creating a new pedig ...
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By Jarrod Price on
6/26/2008 3:24 PM
 Recently we sampled the outstanding new vintage of Darioush Wines on a visit from our supplier and all we can say is "wow". Hearing the remarkable account of how this Napa Valley Winery was born only added to its appeal.
Darioush Khaledi, who was raised in the Iranian Region of Shiraz, first developed his passion for wine as a 6-year old boy, sneaking sips from the barrel in his father’s wine cellar, by wringing a wine-soaked towel into his mouth.
Today, that childhood memory is enshrined by a waterfall at the centre of Darioush’s lavish 22,000 square foot winery and visitor centre on the Silverado trail of eastern Napa Valley. Modelled after the Persian city of Persepolis, and ...
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By Jarrod Price on
6/25/2008 3:37 PM
 "There’s nought no doubt so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion" – Lord Byron
It may be interesting to learn that Rum, which is made through the distillation of molasses - itself the by-product of the sugar-making process is very much like wine in that its flavour profile and quality are directly related to its craft, tradition and terroir. Depending on how the rum is distilled (pot still or column), if it is oak aged or carbon filtered, the length of aging, as well as the inherent qualities of the sugar cane used in the making of the rum, it can result in a rum of varying complexity, flavour and regional characteristics. To experience how com ...
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By Jarrod Price on
5/25/2008 3:46 PM
 When we think about Israeli wine it is difficult not to imagine the sweet syrupy Mogen David and Manishewitz wines, traditionally served on the holiday table. What may surprise you is that Israel has developed a wine industry making first class wines, for any occasion. Wines are made from a variety of grapes, and compete with wines produced in countries all over the world.
Israeli winemakers have gone to great lengths over the last few years to shed Israel’s image as a producer of simple sweet wines. As a testament to this trend, this year marked the first time that Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate turned its attention to Israeli wines, awarding 14 wines with a score of over 90 points, with many of the highest scores going to Kosher wines. Robert ...
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By Jarrod Price on
4/1/2008 3:47 PM
 If you visited Langmeil Wines in the heart of the Barossa Valley, with its many historic buildings as backdrop for its world-class wine-making operation, it is easy to see that this is a winery steeped in tradition with tremendous pride in its heritage.
The history of the Langmeil property dates back to 1843 when the German settlement was first established on the site, in an area adjacent to the North Para River along what is today known as Langmeil Road. The ironstone buildings, stables and village well that still stand to this day act as monuments to its well preserved history.
What also stands is the winery, built in 1932 and purchased in 1996 by three locals - Richard Lindner, Chris Bitter and Carl Lindner - who refurbishe ...
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By Jarrod Price on
3/1/2008 3:48 PM
 Roman Bratasiuk has been at the forefront of winemaking in Australia since 1990. Located in McLaren Vale, South Australia, his winery produces only 800 to 1000 cases from each of his 16 single vineyards planted with the oldest vines of Grenache, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon aged between 70 to 100 years.
Robert Parker:
“Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earth's greatest winemakers and obviously a top-notch viticulturist given his obsession with sourcing extraordinary fruit from ancient McLaren Vale vineyards. If Penfolds Grange has been the most legendary wine in Australia, my instincts suggest that in the future, if any winery surpasses Grange, it will be made by Roman Bratasiuk of Clarendon Hills in McLaren Vale."
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By Jarrod Price on
2/1/2008 3:49 PM
 In early February, B & W Wines proudly welcomes Stephen and Prue Henschke, the winemaking tandem for Henschke. A family run Australian winery since its inception in 1861, Henschke is considered one of the world’s premier wineries and is most renowned for its Hill of Grace Shiraz – coveted by wine collectors everywhere, and described by Robert Parker as "one of Australia's benchmarks for Shiraz".
Since 1861 the Henschke family has built a reputation as one of Australia's most highly respected wineries. Today, fifth-generation Stephen Henschke and his wife Prue uphold the family name and reputation, as winemaker and viticulturalist respectively. The highly revered and much sought-after Hill of Grace is the pinnacle of the red wines - but another Shiraz first made by his father Cyril, the Mount Edelstone, and the ...
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