The Wine Establishment Blog

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-26T07:54:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012
The year of the Dragon.

The symbol of success and happiness.

Maximilian Riedel introduces the Dragon decanter. Elegantly designed and crafted to charge the wine with oxygen and a great addition to the Eve and Mamba decanters. The Eve Magnum Decanter pictured here in green and yellow for those times when a 750ml. is just not enough.

Riedel Mamba and the Sunset

2012-01-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of joining Georg and Maximilian Riedel at a special conference at the beautiful Ritz- Carlton in Marina del Rey in California. This year I most enjoyed the colorful new Riedel Mamba decanters. Having grown up in California, I always enjoy going home and taking in the beautiful sunsets on the beach. Both sunsets and the Mamba warm the heart and together they pair nicely with wine.

House and Home Wine Cellars

2011-09-24T12:39:00.001-07:00

We are happy to be in the October issue of House and Home Magazine in the Princess Margaret Welcome Home Sweepstakes show home.

In keeping with the concept of Lynda's vision the cabinets were left unfinished but they are also available in many different finishes. Click on the picture to get a virtual tour of the show home. We are shown just after the 4 minute mark showcasing five built-in Cavavin Majestika Wine Cellars.

Look for us October 29th on Style Saturdays with House and Home. Food and Entertaining with Lynda Reeves & Amy Rosen. Tour the amazing dream kitchen and get easy recipes and entertaining tips with Lynda and food editor Amy - just in time for the holidays!

Jeffrey Fisher Kitchen Reno in Canadian Living

2011-09-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Wine Establishment is proud to be part of the Jeffrey Fisher Kitchen home reno featured in Canadian Living. Jeffrey choose this fabulous Cavavin Urbania built - in wine cellar that really makes the kitchen look amazing – it’s the perfect addition to Jeffrey’s lifestyle of cooking and entertaining in style! (www.canadianliving.com) (www.jeffreyfisherhome.com)

2011-07-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

How do you say Sustainable?
I am Hooked!

It is so difficult to keep up with what you can and can't eat as far as fish and seafood goes.
You can follow the various sites such as Seafood Watch which is one of my faves. however it is difficult to pull out your guide or your Blackberry to look up a fish when you are at the market. So hard to know exactly how your fish was caught and where or if the mercury levels are too high.
I usually stick to what I know like arctic char and rainbow trout or if I am cottaging the Milford Bay Trout Farm is great! Just bring your rod or you can buy trout freshly caught. Restaurants such as Vertical 100 King Street West are listing the fish that are sustainable on their menu which is very helpful and is a no-brainer for those of us that don't want to sound pretentious by asking.

But if you want to cook at home then go to a place where all the thinking is done for you. Check out Hooked! Hooked is a new sustainable fish market that is fantastic! Located at 888 Queen Street East. I was there yesterday and I have to tell you I am hooked! Opened by Dan and Kristin Donovan and all sustainable. What a treat to walk into their quaint little store and hear the delightful stories about how and where each and every fish was caught and how to cook them as well. I bought some locally caught Mackerel. Dan suggested that I put some olive oil and salt and pepper on it and grill skin side down for 6 minutes then turn over for another minute. He also recommended a rose to compliment the fish. I also got some fresh garlic shoots which I cooked the same way and served them with peas and fresh thyme. I have to tell you the meal was absolutely DEEEEElicious! It was so refreshing to have an intelligent conversation with someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about what they do. Ever since reading the book Bottomfeeder I changed the way I eat fish and seafood. Dan told me the book is the reason he opened the store.
I will definitely go back for great fish and I look forward to more stories and the answers to all my questions.
I can suggest a wine glass to compliment your wine experience and recommend wine storage solutions for your collection. But when it comes to fish I will go to the experts!

2011-05-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

How do you say "I Love You Dad?"

Let me count the bottles!

Cavavin Wine Cellar Sale

until the end of June

Save 10 % on all Majestika models

_______________________________________________________________

The Wine Establishment is pleased to sponsor

these great events

May 27th: Jamii Presents

Fostering Social connectivity on the Esplanade

Free outdoor Events

May 28th: Terroir Wine Festival, Prince Edward County’s annual wine festival. 20 plus wineries will be showcasing their new releases accompanied by market fresh offerings from County restaurants as well as local college culinary programs. Click here for tickets and details

June 10th: Second Annual Spring for Wildlife

Fundraising dinner at Diedier Restaurant

http://springforwildlife.com/

2011-04-15T15:07:00.001-07:00

Join us this Sunday

Join hundreds of wine enthusiasts in Toronto, New York City and London in celebrating Argentina's Malbec World Day on April 17 at Vintage One Wines.

Experience a traditional grape crush, a live show by Tango Soul and new electro tango beats along with traditional Argentine empanadas and asado (BBQ), as we toast to one of the world's greatest wine varietals - MALBEC!

Hosted by Vintage One Wines in collaboration with Wines of Argentina and Trapiche Winery. Malbec vodka bar sponsored by TAG Vodka.

Vintage One Wines

4896 Dundas St. West,Toronto

416 231 6994
1 - 7pm

$30 per person

Sip and Savour

2011-02-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

You are invited to an informal, drop-in Wine Tasting and Sale!
Saturday February 12th
12:00am. to 4:00pm.
The Wine Establishment
250 The Esplanade

Cindy will be cooking...

Cindy's Cinful California Chili and Cornbread
in Le Creuset

Mark will be pouring...

Tin Roof 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma, $15.95

Rays Station 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast, California $21.95

Snapshot 2006 Red (Bordeaux Blend)
Napa, $19.95

Murphy-Goode 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley, Napa $23.95

Available for delivery to your home or office

call: Mark Bolduc 416-562-1419 for more information

Take the Taste Challenge

2011-01-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

Do you enjoy Pinot Noir? Maybe you would if it was in the right glass.

I am here to complicate your life. In a good way I hope! I would like to help you see how different wine glass shapes determine your perception, and can alter your enjoyment of the wines you drink. Lets take Pinot Noir in the correct glass. This grape is mostly misunderstood because it is tasted in the wrong glass. Pour your Pinot Noir into the Riedel glass on the left. Swirl and nose the wine in the glass and notice you get some nice fresh berry and fruit on the nose. The shape of the glass has really concentrated the aromas. Next we taste. The lip directs the Pinot to the front part of your palate and you taste the layering of fruit, the sweetness of the fragile variety and finish with the acidity. The Pinot is delivered to the palate for the best possible experience.

Now pour the Pinot Noir into the Cabernet glass above on the right. Nose the wine and notice the fruit is gone and you get a bit more of the sharpness of the acid. Now taste the wine. The sweet fruit is gone as the wine is directed to the middle of your tongue and directly back giving you a harsher acid taste. This is why many people shy away from Pinot Noir as tasted in the wrong glass it can be too acidic and tightly closed. Precisely why this glass is made for Cabernet. Stay tuned for more tasting challenges. Get the best out of your wine in the best glass!

2011-01-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

Decadent wine and cheese tastings in our Design Center

The Wine Establishment hosted some wonderful tastings over the Holiday season. One in particular that received a great deal of attention was the Terroir Wine & Spirits tasting featuring B.C. wines and spirits. The ambiance of our elegant design cellar made the event even more enjoyable. Alex and Jamie couldn't be warmer in their passion for B.C wine. It was special to have the winemaker here from the new Serendipity Estate Winery in the Okanagan. For more details check out The National Post. We paired the wines with a selection of lovely Saltspring goat cheese from B.C. purchased from Provenance. A delectable day!

Invest in your wine

2010-12-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

Why not invest in your wine for the New Year? This is for your future and the future of your loved ones. How much should you spend? More important how much can you afford to loose?

Your basement can fluctuate from winter to summer and shock your wine. Just 7 degrees can be harmful to your collection. If you loose just one bottle a month due to poor storage is it really worth the risk? There are so many affordable solutions available. Protect your investment in wine. Aren't you worth it?

Come visit us this week and ask about solutions to store your wine at the proper temperature. Life is short. Enjoy your wine. All Cavavin Majestica wine cellars 15% off this week only. Transtherm Floor models 20% off. Racking 15 % off.
We are here for you. Just ask.

Karl Lohnes on keeping your drinks cool this summer for CTV

2010-08-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Check out the reviews of some great products to keep your wines cool during this picnic season.

Click here for the web link to the CTV site.

2010-07-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Shop like a Queen! Ever wonder what she carries in that purse?
Lipstick, cab fare, new blackberry and purse size wine out for those nasty drips on her white gloves! We enjoyed her Royal visit and look forward to shipping the rest of her purchases. You too can shop like the Queen!

2010-06-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Famous Paris Tasting

On May 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in Paris that changed the world's view of California wines forever. The tasting was the brainchild of Steven Spurrier, an English wine merchant who owned an innovative wine shop and adjacent wine school in the center of Paris. Located near the offices of IBM, many of the students at L'Academie du Vin were Americans who worked in France and were anxious to learn more about wine. Spurrier was intrigued by some of the California Cabernets and Chardonnays his students brought by the shop.

Curious to see how these newcomers would fare against French wines made from the same kind of grapes, he arranged a blind wine tasting in celebration of the American Bicentennial activities in Paris. The French tasters chosen for the event had impeccable professional credentials. The French wines were First and other classified-growth red Bordeaux and white Burgundies. They were matched against California Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. The tasting was blind, with the identities of the wines concealed and the labels revealed only after the jury of nine tasters had voted its order of preference.

The unthinkable happened. The 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon - the first vintage produced with grapes from vines a mere three years old - was judged the best. The Cabernet had bested four top-ranked Bordeaux, including first-growths Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Haut-Brion. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from California bested its French counterparts.

The Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Dinner

In honour of this historical achievement the Profile Wine group will be holding a Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Dinner next Wednesday July 7 at the Harbour 60 Steak House in Toronto. Tickets are $275 plus tax and gratuity.

Stag's Leap Vice President Jeff McBride will guide you through the great history of the estate along with the wines. We'll be tasting the estate's white wines as well as the full line up of the single vineyard cabernets alongside Harbour 60's great steaks.

For more information or to book your ticket call Ruben at 416 520 1669 or email at relmer@profilewinegroup.com.

House and Home blog story about The Wine Establishment

2010-06-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Our Sabre and Savour Champagne Sabering event took place a couple weeks ago, and we are still getting people commenting about how successful it was. For some reason, people just love Veuve, Krug, great food from Paul Boehmer, and opening champagne with Sabres!?!?

Amy Rosen, Food Editor of House and Home magazine tried her hand at opening a bottle, and after numberous tries, would not be defeated! After many attempts (don't worry Amy, I'm not going to tell the acutal number), the bottle opened and the crowd roared with applause.

She's written about her adventures with a Champagne Sabre in the House and Home Blog.

Click here to read the full post.

Thanks for coming Amy.
We had a great time, and glad you enjoyed yourself.

The Ontario Wine Awards

2010-06-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Every year we are a proud sponsor of the Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion award at The Ontario Wine Awards.

Usually the celebration takes place in Niagara at a dinner with all the winemakers. This year the event was celebrated downtown at a lunch at The Pantages Hotel. Although I do love driving to wine country and tasting my way to the Awards dinner. This year we were honored to give The Wine Establishment Award to Lakeview Cellars for their 2009 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc! We never know who will win but we just happened to be sitting with the folks from Diamond Estates and Lakeview Cellars when the Gold Award was won! Congratulations Lakeview Cellars. For a complete list of winners go to Ontario Wine Awards

Wine Label Wednesday: Who says cheap wines need an ugly label?

2010-06-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Back Label Wines are budget wines.
At $ 5.99 AUD a bottle, the design for the label had to be clever with a low production budget.
Voice Design succeeded in creating an intelligent label which re-enforces the brand of the wine. The basic nature of the design itself, with large sans serif fonts emphasises the no-nonsense low cost aesthetic.

The clever part is that when reading the label on front, 'Back Label' appears backwards. Only when you view the label through the wine, does it read correctly.
An as you drink the wine, the name appears less distorted. Fantastic!

Great design is achievable at all price points.
Great packaging design just needs to be considered and brand appropriate.

When a good concept goes bad...

2010-06-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

I'm all for wine inspired design.
However, when it gets this literal...it's not very refined, and rather unsightly.
I can't imagine any location where this wine bottle sofa would look good.

And who on earth enjoys cherries with their wine???

The future of wine and beer glass design comes from Scotland

2010-06-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

Edinburgh Napier University Design Student Michelle Willis has come up with a fantastic idea for recycling wine bottles.

She noted that most empty wine bottles were not being recycled, but instead were thrown out. Her solution was to equip bottle manufacturers with the capability of turning used wine bottles into wine and beer glasses. One recycled bottle can be melted down and moulded into a very sexy shape for a wine and beer glass.

The design and the technology is still in the early stages, the glasses now being used by bars and clubs around Scotland.

The future of glassware design by Steven Ma: It's bold and a bit scary...

2010-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Architect and designer Steven Ma has come out with a line tableware titled "X-aperitivo" which has a future sci-fi aesthetic.
The glasses are detailed with silverware and textures giving the glasses a slight (well actually, more than just slight) menacing feel.

Why do I imagine these are the types of glasses Klingons would drink their Klingon Blood Wine?

Along with wine glasses, the tableware set includes cutlery, decanter, and wine bottle holder.

Wine Label Wednesday: Beach House Wine

2010-05-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

New Zealand wines have been on the forefront of wine packaging, being one of the first countries to embrace the screw cap, wine in tetra-paks, and now Designer Steph Baxter has designed a new bottle for Beach House Wines.

The gorgeous white bottles with over sized wrap around fonts elegantly modern in their simplicity.
The white of the bottles make them look a bit antiseptic, but I still I would love to show off these bottles at a summer BBQ -- I'm sure they'd be a hit.

Top 25 Cities in the World to Drink Wine

2010-05-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Gadling.com is the best website I've found for travel information, irreverent stories about weird destinations (see story about Vienna's Museum of Funeral Services Institute), and fantastic tips for travellers.

They recently published an article about the best cities in the world to drink wine, and Beamsville (Ontario), and Pelee Island (Ontario) both made the list.
Also on the list are such wonderful cities as Beaune (France), Cape Town (South Africa), and Montalcino (Italy.)
It seems we are amongst some great company!

Click here to read the entire article.

Virgin America hires Gary Vaynerchuk to re-design their wine list

2010-05-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Virgin America, an airline incredibly aware of the value of branding, has hired Gary Vaynerchuk to re-design it's wine list.
Vaynerchuk is a premier wine expert, and was named "Innovator of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast magazine and also joined other industry influencers on Decanter magazine's "Power List."
Also appearing on Virgin America's inflight entertainment will be Vaynerchuk's wildly popular Wine Library TV episodes.

"As the only airline based in California we pride ourselves on our fresh approach to the in-flight menu and we're excited to partner with world-renowned wine expert Gary Vaynerchuk to take our summer food and wine menu to new heights," said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. "In addition to a new range of premium wines and new menu items, our flyers will also be able to stay up-to-date on the latest wine trends, with Gary's informative and accessible Wine Library TV episodes available on the Red platform."

The first selections for this month are Turnbull Sauvignon Blanc 2008, and Arrowood 2002 Sonoma County Merlot.

"Virgin America has been very successful in bringing a quality dining experience back to air travel with personalized service delivered via tray and in-flight menus that focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients in keeping with the carrier's California roots," said Gary Vaynerchuk. "Wine is meant to be enjoyed in a variety of settings and I'm thrilled to be working with Virgin America to give travelers a more varied, upscale food and wine experience at 35,000 feet."

Looks like Virgin America is trying hard to get a Cellars In The Sky award!

This really is perfect timing, as Virgin America will start flying out of Toronto in September.

I Love Lucy tries her feet at wine making

2010-05-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, and frankly we all need some levity at the end of a week.

Here is a classic I Love Lucy episode of Lucy at a vineyard stomping some grapes -- enjoy.

Wine Label Wednesday: Vote for your favourite label for the Ontario Wine Awards

2010-05-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Ontario Wine Awards are here again!

This year you can be part of the process, and vote for your Favourite Label Design.
There are fourteen labels up vying for the prize.

I've cast my vote -- you should too, and stay tuned to find out who won.

Click here to see full list of nominees and vote for your favourite.

Wine Label Wedneday: Reach for a bottle of Habit Wine

2010-05-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days where you come home, drop everything at the front door in a big pile, then immediately head to the Cellar and reach for a bottle of wine.

Actor Jeff Fischer (The voice in American Dad) had been playing basement winemaker for a number of years, until he teamed up with Doug Margerum, and started making and bottling his wine.
Needing a label for his wine, Jeff called up his favourite artist, Stefan G. Bucher to design the label.
The result the most ingeneous label design - with a bit of black humour thrown in.

With only 50 cases produced - this is wine is going to be much sought after by design geeks, and wine geeks alike.

Rolls Royce Delivery Van for Krug

2010-05-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

When opening a bottle of bubbly isn't decadent enough, why not have your bubbly delivered by Rolls Royce.
And not just any regular old Rolls, but one which is modified to include refrigerators in the back which hold your Krug at the perfect temperature.

In 1984, LVMH commissioned Rolls Royce to modify a 1979 Silver Shadow to be branded as a Krug Champagne showpeice/delivery van.

Not only is there climate controlled champagne in the back, but the key to this uber-lux vehicle inlcudes the obligatory Krug Cork.

The vehicle was sold by Krug a number of years ago, but has since been re-acquired, and is returning to it's home at the House of Krug in Reims, France.

No word yet if they will be letting visitors drive it.

Cork Mosaic Flooring by Expanko

2010-04-29T13:34:00.001-07:00

I may have to rethink my aesthetic attitude towards cork flooring.

Of the cork flooring I've seen to date, I'm not all that impressed; I like my floors hard, and cork has a bit of bounce, I like wood floors with graining, and cork floors seem to be of uniform colour/striations.
That said, I think cork flooring is a wonderful 'green' alternative given that it is a renewable resource.

However, Expanko has recently come out with a new line of mosaic tile flooring, which I would gladly put in my cellar.
The patterning of the mosaic makes it look lux and interesting, and is appropriate for both a modern or traditional design aesthtetic.

And this is where your floors came from...

Henry VII's Wine Fountain recreated at Hampton Court Palace

2010-04-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

How utterly fantastic!

It's a hot summer day, you've been wandering around London checking out the Tate Modern, The Saatchi Collection, had tea in Mayfair, and picnic in Green Park, but you are still so thirsty -- after all it's been long day.
Then you happen on Hampton Court Palace, and lo and behold -- the holy grail for wine lovers is straight ahead: a working recreation of Henry VII's wine fountain!

How great is this -- the democratization of wine!

Starting May 1st the fountain will run with both red and white wine on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Given Ontario's archaic rules regarding alcohol sales and consumption, I never see this happening here, but I think it would be a great idea.

Wine Label Wednesday: New Logo for VQA Wines

2010-04-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

The following post is from Abe Sauer at BrandChannel.com, and is an interesting commentary about issues facing the Ontario Wine Industry.

"Canadian wine country" may sound absurd to those not in the know but the land of the maple leaf also boasts a robust fermented grape industry in Ontario. One challenge for local vintners though is that many Canadians might not know this.

Even worse, many Canadians who do know this are having trouble figuring out just which wines are home-stomped and which are imports. Consumers looking to buy local can identify 100-percent Ontario-made wines by noting the VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance of Ontario) symbol. The problem? Grape Growers chairman Bill George Jr. explains, "Several studies have shown a lot of customers don't know what VQA means." However, the alliance has a solution. Too bad it is more of the same.

In the interest of helping consumers better identify the Ontario-made brand, the organization's marketing board introduced a new, very characteristic logo: A clutch of purple grapes surrounded by a trillium flower. The logo is more colorful and noticeable than the old black VQA version.

However, the new logo does not advance the winemakers beyond their existing quandary. While a more colorful, attractive logo may be an improvement in theory, the fundamental problem remains; if a lot of customers did not know what VQA means, why are they going to know what the new (prettier) logo means?

What the alliance really needs is a strong, extensive outreach and education program for its brand. This is especially true since the alliance's marketing board says the new logo is intended only to compliment the existing VQA symbol, not replace it.

WinePod: Make your own wine - the stylish way!

2010-04-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Do you have a romantic view of making your own wine?
Perhaps you have fond memories of making wine (that tasted like jet fuel), with the family gathered around the wine press.
Or do you just want to play winemaker?

Well, the wine press goes high-tech with The WinePod.

The WinePod is a self contained fermentation tank, complete with automatic press and pressure controls, Pomace basket, Brix and temperature sensor, heating and cooling controls, and wireless monitoring controls.
Once your wine has been made, simply transfer the juice into oak barrels, and age for as long as you want.
Once finished, you have 60 bottles of your own wine, made in your oh so stylish wine press.

Wine Dispenser by Federica Castagno and Sara Petrucci of Acquacalda

2010-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

The design team Federica Castagno and Sara Petrucci of Acquacalda showed their new collection Fisica Applicata at the Temporary Museum of New Design during Milan's recent Design Week.

The new collection explores various laws of physics through design.

Below is the "One for all, all for one" decanter/dispenser, which artfully explains "The Pascale Principle."

The Pascale Principle: The pressure exerted on a fluid enclosed in a container is transmitted unchanged at any point of fluid and at the walls of the container that contains it.

Decanting a bottle of wine is always a good opportunity to show off, and this decanter will be sure to impress - it's just basic physics.

Wine Bath at Ritz Carlton Santiago

2010-04-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

What do you feel like doing after a long and tiresome day of wine tasting?
For those of you who said "wine bath", The Ritz Carlton Santiago is the place for you.

Simply call down to the front desk, and they will send up the "Bath Butler" to draw you a bath full of Carmenere anti-oxidant goodness.
As a treat, he will leave you a glass of Carmenere to sip whilst soaking.
All for only $ 50.00
Soak all your worries away...

The pragmatist in me worries about all those red wine stained towels.

Wine Label Wednesday: Mr. Noir and Ms. Grigio

2010-04-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Another stunning label by the Australian design firm MASH.

While many in Canada are upset by the rules and regulations regarding the percentage of foreign grapes in Canadian wines (see the debate around Cellared in Canada), the Australians decide to make that a design feature!
Mr. Noir and Ms. Grigio, two shadowy characters are busted for smuggling grapes....I love it.

Canadians take note: Everything is a design opportunity!

Great Restaurants in Montreal

2010-04-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Oh Montreal, why must you taunt a Torontonian so much....
Such interesting architecture - both old and new, fantastic design shops with impecably well edited collections (A table tout le monde), and great restaurants.

On Friday we went to Dominion Square Taverne, which just opened recently. The inside of the building itself has not changed in 80 years, with lovley old mosaic tile floor, heavy woodcuts of provincial crests on the walls, and wonderfully old wrought iron chandeliers hanging from the beamed ceiling. The wait-staff were all incredibly welcoming, gracious, and attentive. And the food...sigh...THE FOOD!! Mouth watering is an understatement. I had the smoked salmon gravlax with home-made buckwheat blintzes with sides of dill sour cream, and blueberries (I now want blueberries with my smoked salmon from now on), and the lamb shank. My friends were raving about the beetroot salad, and the steak: "I haven't tasted a steak like this in Toronto in years."

Saturday night, went to Lemeac , a gorgeously designed bistro-redux in Outremont. Firstly, they have a large champagne by the glass list - please Toronto restaurants, can we also have this?? Dinner was superb, the service impeccable, and I left truly sated.

For a taste of old style traditional Montreal, on Sunday we went to Rotisserie Laurier for some old fashioned rotisserie chicken. Succulent, moist, and just darn good comfort food, accompanied by a Pepsi of course.

As I write this, my mouth is watering...such great memories of Montreal...

Investing in Wine

2010-04-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend's Financial Post included a fascinating article written by Leslie Gervitz (Reuters) about the business of investing in wine.

Just remember - you need a climate controlled cellar in which to store those wine futures!

Liquid assets in your portfolio
Wine is a high-return low-risk delicious kind of investment

Leslie Gevirtz, Reuters
Published: Financial PostSaturday, April 03, 2010

Investing in wine, not just top Bordeaux, but even cheap varieties, can be good for your total portfolio and is especially useful during a financial crisis, according to two Swiss economists.

"Wine in a portfolio has produced higher returns and lower risks than the Russell 3000 equity index ... especially in times of economic downturns," they said in a report in the American Association of Wine Economists.

The study comes as leading auction houses reported sales of fine wines totalling more than US$12-million in the last two weeks.

Economists Philippe Masset of Lausanne Hotel School, and Jean-Philippe Weisskopf of the University of Fribourg, both in Switzerland, looked at auction prices from The Chicago Wine Company from January 1996 through January 2009.

"In a nutshell, our findings show that the inclusion of wine in a portfolio and, especially more prestigious wines, increases the portfolio's returns while reducing its risk, particularly during the financial crisis," they explained.

"This is true for all model portfolios both during bull and bear periods."

The economists accumulated data from 144 auctions with a turnover exceeding US$237-million and covered a period that included two significant economic booms and downturns. They also constructed several indices using the repeat-sale regression method, an approach used by the economists who created the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices that are used to track and forecast home prices in the United States.

Mr. Masset and Mr. Weisskopf created a General Wine Index (GWI) and other indices that tracked different price categories as well as ones that followed five major wine regions.

The GWI and the Russell 3000, which measures the performance of 3,000 publicly held U.S. companies, rose between 1996 and 1998. But while the Russell 3000 declined between 2001 and 2003 when the Internet bubble burst, the GWI steadily rose.

"Neither the terrorist attacks in New York, nor the burst of the Internet bubble, nor the boycott of French goods after the Iraq invasion have had much effect on wine prices," the pair said.

From 2005 to 2008, the GWI doubled. Since mid-2008, it has fallen 17% as a result of the global financial crisis. The Russell 3000 index lost 47%in the same period.

The economists also found that wine had a more positive effect, with a lower amount of risk, on investment portfolios than stocks.

Wines selling below US$200 a bottle saw a steady increase over the 13-year period and yielded a return of 120%, while those selling for under US$100 a bottle generated a 170% return.

Wines selling for more than US$200, and especially those over US$400 a bottle, such as Chateau Petrus or Chateau Haut-Brion, had a three-to-four-fold price increase. These wines also suffered the most declines during the financial crisis, losing about 25%. Wines under US$200 a bottle lost between 5% and 10% during that time.

Different wine regions followed the upward trend of the GWI, but as in real estate, location played a role. For the time period, U.S. wines showed a positive return of only 63%, while Italy had 125%. Bordeaux and Burgundy, by comparison, yielded returns of nearly 200%, while wines from the Rhone Valley yielded almost 300%.

The pair also created model portfolios mimicking the broad categories of investors, from conservative to aggressive, and foundthat allotting 20% of a portfolio to wine had a positive effect on performance.

Wine Label Wednesday: Gin Mare

2010-03-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's starting to feel like spring...and nothing says spring like Gin and Tonic!!
I can almost taste it...sigh...

Gin Mare a Spanish Gin - not a liquor typically associated with the Mediterranean.
In fact, it is the Mediterranean's first gin.

The design of the bottle, and logo reinforce the idea of crisp, clean and fresh.
The bottle itself looks more like a perfume bottle than your typical gin bottle, a fantastic design/marketing technique by which the consumer associates the product with the idea of value and decadence.

Congrats to SeriesNemo Studio in Barcelona for an excellent execution!

Wine Cellar inspired flooring

2010-03-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Flooring...it keeps you grounded!
That was the best I could do with a snappy intro.

There have been some fun and interesting advances in flooring recently, including Cork Mosaic Tile Floors by Jelinek, Wood Barrel Flooring by Fontenay, and Wood Case Floring by Parador (See previous blog post about Parador.)

Jelinek has taken recycled wine corks, and cut them to 1/4" thick coins, and put them onto a special glue paper.
This produces rolls of cork mosaics, which can also be tinted to specific colours.

Fontenay has taken Barrel Heads and Staves, and turned them into wood plank flooring.
The difference in colours of the planks is due to to the wood becoming stained with wine from the barell.

While they may not be your particular choice for flooring, it is always exciting to see new and different options for the lowly floor.

G.H. Mumm bucket by Patrick Jouin

2010-03-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Just like Veuve Clicquot and Karim Raschid, Dom Perignon and Marc Newson, G.H. Mumm has teamed up with designer Patrick Jouin to design a champagne bucket.

The bucket, called Georges, in honour of the founder of Georges Hermann Mumm, is on display at Patrick Jouin's exhibit "La substance du design" at the Pompidou until May 24th.

Opale Wine Cabinet by Sand and Birch: Not your standard Wine Cabinet

2010-03-22T12:09:00.000-07:00
This doesn't happen often: I'm pretty secure with what I have.
But after seeing the Opale Wine Cabinet by Italian Design firm Sand & Birch, I have Cabinet envy.
I'll never be able to look at my trusty ol' recatangle of a Cabinet the same way again.

The Opale Cabinet holds 60 bottles, and is temperature and humidity controlled, with LED back lighting to highlight bottles.
The smoked glass door can be opened by touch, or with a remote control.

Oh how I covet thee....

Incredible Paper Animation for Beringer

2010-03-19T07:43:00.000-07:00
Below is a stunning Paper Art Animation by Olivier Gondry for Beringer.

Now I want to make the trek to California, and drink some Beringer at the winery.

I'm such a sucker for good design and pretty things (as odd as it sounds).

A wine glass for both red and white wine??

2010-03-18T12:09:00.000-07:00
Like me, are you offended when you are served red wine in a white wine glass, or vice versa?

EOOS Design Studio in Austria have attempted to solve this problem by designing a universal red and white wine glass for Alessi.
To switch the drinking experience from red to white, just turn the glass 180 degrees.
The lip edge on each side of the glass is shaped differently, affecting how you taste of the wine as it flows into your mouth.

I would like to try this glass to see if they work as well as varietal specific glasses such as Riedel.

The product is interesting design concept which has attempted to provide a solution to a design problem.
It just seems like a bi-polar wine glass.
I know it's design sacrilege to criticize Alessi, but they aren't really known for design practicality are they?

Maybe it's just that I'm just a purist: I like my glasses symmetrical.

Karl Lagerfeld teams up with Dom Perignon to design a glass modelled after Claudia Schiffer's breasts

2010-03-18T08:06:00.000-07:00
Now THAT is a headline...

It would seem that breasts and champagne glasses have had a long and storied history together.
Marie Antoinette's breasts, it is rummoured, were the inspiration for the first champagne coupe (that would make a great Trivial Pursuit question).

Karl Lagerfeld has worked with Dom Perignon on many ad campaigns, with Claudia Schiffer as muse.
This time, with Claudia's breasts as muse, Lagerfeld has designed a champange glass for Dom.
The cup, which is sold as a package with a bottle of 1995 Oenotheque, costs $3,150 USD.

Wine Label Wednesday: Westmalle Tripel Beer by Jess McGeachin

2010-03-17T07:07:00.001-07:00
In honour of St. Patrick's Day today, I though it appropriate to look at beer Labels (as I'm sure many people will do in passing today).

Westmalle Tripel is brewed by monks at the Westmalle Abbey, and the proceeds from the sales go to various charities.
I love how designer Jess McGeachin alludes to the church steeple and gothic stained glass windows in the design of the packaging.

Superb.

Complete List of Wine iPhone Apps

2010-03-16T13:08:00.000-07:00
So you have an iPhone, and you love wine.
It's time to start playing with some wine Apps!

Check out the list below, and enjoy!

Natalie MacLean iPhone Wine App
If you've been to Natalie MacLean's website, NatDecants.com, you have an idea of what you're in for with her new wine app. The Nat Decants Wine & Food Mobile App is truly an extension of her site, packed with food and wine pairing advice, and you can pick your starting point - the food or the wine and take your pairing from there. It's relevant, witty and always user-friendly, with fresh tips, real-time wine reviews and as always highly entertaining! Cost: Free

Drync Wine iPhone App
Drync Wine is a well-rated and user friendly iPhone wine app worth looking into. Along with what have become the "standard" wine finding features, this app boasts a solid cellar tracking component and 1.2 million wines in their database and over 250,000 professional wine reviews. Drync Wine brings good overall functionality and is easy to use. Cost: free to $4.99

Wine Enthusiast Guide iPhone App
If you are looking for an iPhone app that will offer up wine reviews and recs at the touch of a button, this just may be your answer. With over 500 new wine reviews added monthly, this is an app that will be up to date more often than not. Of course the wines reviewed stem from the Wine Enthusiast magazine's hardcopy reviews, so the focus will be largely for a U.S. audience. The glossary of terms and preliminary vintage charts are solid starting points. Cost: $4.99

Hello Vino iPhone Wine App
This is an extremely user-friendly wine app, with a straight-forward interface and spot-on food and wine pairing recommendations. The wine recs and reviews are available via wine.com and offer up what you would find on the shelves of most wine shops, making those spur of the moment wine shop decisions just a bit easier. Cost: Free

Wine Snob iPhone App
Wine Snob's latest edition allows you to tag and snag a label image for your personal tasting records, in addition to finding wine pairing assistance in a pinch, or sifting through wine recs based on price points, grapes, and regions. They have a pretty impressive varietal listing and a wine and cheese pairing focus. This is an easy way to keep track of your own tasting notes, not necessarily utilized for picking up wine reviews and ratings, but a terrific way to log your own tastings and reviews. Love that Wine Snob offers a free backup service as well. Cost: $2.99

WineStein iPhone App
The WineStein iPhone app is uniquely geared for detailed food and wine pairings, specifically down to the individual ingredient level. It pairs tastes and textures of the food and the wine to give you the very best shot of coming up with a dynamite pairing. A fun app for both wine lovers and new chefs. Cost: $5.99

Cellar iPhone App
The Cellar iPhone App is targeted to those looking for some cellar management components, though if you are looking for assistance in managing a large cellar, this may not be what you are looking for. Cost: $2.99

WineDJ iPhone App
On a totally different wine pairing note, WineDJ partners tunes with tannins, to try to match the mood and spirit of a wine with music that seems to speak the same language.

via Stacey Slinkard @About.com

Bar Briefcase by Carl Mertens

2010-03-15T11:13:00.000-07:00
Attention Mixologists!
Do your friends pester you because they don't consider "Mixology" a real profession?

Well, what is more professional looking than a briefcase!

And this one has compartments for files, cell phone, business cards, most importantly, it comes complete with shaker, strainer, tongs, mixing glasses, bottle opener, cutting board, pestle, and corkscrew.

It's like you are a mixology spy -- business up front, party in the briefcase!

Wine Racking by Ron Arad for Kartell

2010-03-15T08:18:00.001-07:00
Star Designer Ron Arad and Italian Design House Kartell have had a long history of collaborative projects.

Their latest venture is Infinity Wine Racking.
The Racking is modular, and can be assembled in a multitude of shapes.

Very graphic, very clean, very Kartell.

Crystal Wine Glass Doorbell by Droog

2010-03-15T07:36:00.000-07:00
There is nothing that I can think of more welcoming than the sound of the clinking of wine glasses together.

Dutch designer Peter Van Der Jagt designed the 'Bottoms Up" doorbell with just that sound for Droog.

Why hide your doorbell?
Show it proudly, and give your guests an idea of what awaits them.
Cheers!

In Car Humidors

2010-03-15T06:42:00.000-07:00
Dilemma: You love your cigars, and you love driving, but stowing your stogies in the glove compartment just isn't dignified.

Solution: The In Car Humidor!

Legendary Cuban Cigar maker Cohiba has teamed up with Ferrari to make a portable in car Humidor, specifically designed for the Ferrari F430 and 599 GTB.
The Humidor requires no installation and costs $ 885.00 (complete with a dozen Siglo VI Cuban cigars).

The alternative is a built in Humidor in the Rolls Royce Phantom and the Phantom Drophead Coupe.
This option is obviously more expensive, at $ 3,530.00, plus the cost of the car itself (cigars not included).

The Non Dripping Decanter

2010-03-12T10:57:00.000-08:00
The quest is over, the Holy Grail has been found. Or rather designed.

Noro Design of NYC has designed a decanter with a double lip, which does not leave that pesky single drip sliding down the decanter, and staining the tablecloth.
The double lip system allows for the drips to fall back into the decanter.
You won't waste a drop - literally.

Wine Label Wednesday: Embroidered Label for Logan Wines

2010-03-10T13:37:00.000-08:00
In today's fast world of technology outpacing itself, it's reassuring to see handcrafted work done well.
Hand work implies care, craftsmanship, and value.
All of those words work perfectly to describe the process of wine making.

Logan Wine from Australia hired War Design to create a brand identity and packaging for their wines, and the result is incredible.

Max Riedel demonstrates the Bird Decanters

2010-03-02T08:57:00.000-08:00
Fantastic video by Max Riedel demonstrating the Birds Collection of Decanters including The Paloma, The Swan, and The Flamingo.

I've used these decanters, and they have the most elegant pour.
They are simply stunning, and makes decanting a great show!!

Clo Wine Bar in NYC

2010-03-01T13:49:00.000-08:00
I thought it was too good to be true...but no, it really exists!!
Clo Wine Bar in NYC - a self serve wine bar!?!?

Near Central Park in the Time Warner Building, Clo Wine Bar has opened and is doing great business.
The concept is fantastic -- you can peruse through the menu via touch screen table, pick your wine, and with the swipe of a card, fill your glass from the climate controlled bottle dispenser.

I know where I'm going on my next weekender.

Ultra Elegant Champagne Barrel by Nakagawa Mokkougei

2010-02-25T07:00:00.000-08:00
The simple elegance of Japanese carpentry detailing meets the luxury of French Champagne!

This is a gorgeous piece of sculpture that begs to be the centre of attention!

Designed by Nakagawa Mokkougei, the barrles will be sold by LVMH with the Dom Perignon logo stamped on the bottom.
And of course, there will be a bottle of Dom inside.
All for around $1,000.00.

I could justify that purchase to myself.

Wine Label Wednesday: Blowfly Wines

2010-02-24T08:18:00.000-08:00
Anyone who has been to Australia and ventured into the Outback, knows of the infamous Blowfly. The big pesky flies just never leave - hence the invention of the quintessential Australian hat complete with ring of corks on string.

It was only a matter of time until someone with marketing smarts appropriated the name for a winery.
Blowfly Winery opened in 1998, and the labels are great examples of understated design, with a slight edge of humour.
Kudos to the design firm Rhodes Wingrove for a wonderful design.

Tour of Taittinger Cellars with Loic Dupont, Chef de Cave

2010-02-24T06:33:00.000-08:00
Is this a dream? A sea of champagne bottles as far as the eye can see??

Below is a fascinating video walk through of the Taittinger Cellar, and interview with Loic Dupont, Chef de Cave.
If you can't get to Champagne to take a tour yourself, this is the next best thing.

The Ultimate Wine Cataloguing System: eSommelier

2010-02-22T13:58:00.001-08:00
Below is a 30 minute Webinar outlining the new eSommelier System.

We had one installed in our Cellar recently, and I was incredibly impressed at the ease of the interface, and the power of the software.
If you have a sizeable collection, and need to keep track of your acquisitions, this is the best solution for you.

Check out the video, then come see us and give it a test drive.

eSommelier Webinar - How to use eSommelier to manage your wine collection from Greg Rosner on Vimeo.

Marcel Wanders designs glassware for Baccarat

2010-02-18T11:36:00.000-08:00
Star designer Marcel Wanders has teamed up with Baccarat to design a line of crystal glassware.
While I'm usually a fan his designs, the design of these wine glasses seem a bit clunky and heavy, and not very elegant.
I understand he was trying to inject a bit of humour into the design of the glasses, and these will certainly stand apart from the typically spare design of other wine glass manufacturers.
But these glasses look like they would require a fist to raise the glass, rather like a goblet that wine glass.

The next big thing: Vintage Cigars?

2010-02-17T10:52:00.000-08:00
Below is a fantastic interview between Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigar and Luxist.com.

Pete's idea is to have Vintage Cigars: just like wine specific to year and region.
Interesting idea, and someone to keep an eye on.

Finally, a reason to spill wine on your Table Cloths thanks to Kristine Bjaadal

2010-02-17T09:14:00.000-08:00
It's happened to everyone.
As soon as a new white table cloth is placed on the table, someone inadvertently spills wine over it...and copious apologies ensue.
Welll, designer Kristine Bjaadal has decided to turn that negative experience into a positive, by creating the Underfull Table Cloth.
Once something is spilled on the white table cloth, a pattern is revealed.

Now instead of apologies, guests will be rather impressed.
Though, not sure if it's a good idea to encourage people to spill at the table.

Underfull - the tablecloth that turns spilling into poetry from Kristine Bjaadal on Vimeo.

Wine Label Wednesday: Aladdin Sake

2010-02-17T08:25:00.000-08:00
I recently came accross these little packages of perfection on a design blog, and I need to buy some of these tiny little personal sake bottles.
The LCBO does not carry these in stock.
Can tell me where I can find these in Ontario?
Help!

Champagne Corking Process at Gatinois

2010-02-17T07:10:00.000-08:00
Ever wondered how they get champagne corks into the bottle?

Below is a before and after picture of a typical champagne cork, as well as a video of the corking process at Gatinois.

Iron Wine: Wine in cans

2010-02-12T07:56:00.001-08:00
Wine packaging has gone through some drastic changes in the last few years. Tetra Paks are now commonplace amongst the bottles at wine stores.
Now, Iron Wine from Argentina is selling wine in cans.

There is something wonderful about the ritual opening a bottle of wine. Firstly cutting the foil away to reveal the cork, then gently uncorking a bottle.
I find it somewhat sad that these rituals are lost on the new packaging.

I just can't see myself saying "Let's crack open a can of Malbec."

Moleskine Passion Journals for Cataloguing Wine

2010-02-10T12:05:00.000-08:00
Moleskine notebooks have been around for years, because they are perfectly sized, easy to use, and just darned practical!
And now they have come out with a new line of Notebooks, appropriately called the "Passsions Journals".
These new journals have been designed for your passions, such as recipes, books, films, and yes WINES!
The journals have PDF templates for download which correspond to your passion.

Click here to view the Wine Template.

Another successful Moleskine design.

Akesson Vin Wine Tetra Paks from Sweden

2010-02-10T07:32:00.000-08:00
Even if you consider yourself as someone who would never buy wine in a Tetra Pak (and you know who you are), you have to concede that this new method for packaging wine has brought some great innovations to packaging design.

Below are some fantastic examples from Akesson Vin Wine from Sweden.
The packages are wonderfully detailed, and rather whimsical in their graphic design.

Cellars in the Sky Awards 2009 revealed

2010-02-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

For those of you who like to chose which airline to fly based on their wine list, the Cellars in the Sky Awards (sponsored by Business Traveller Magazine) has the definitive list of the best wines served on all airlines.

The award winners are as follows:

BUSINESS CLASS SPARKLING

1. Delta
Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 18.25 out of 20

2. JOINT: Qantas, Singapore Airlines
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne, France
Score: 18

3. Mexicana
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

4. JOINT: Jet, LAN
Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

5. JOINT: Cathay, KLM
Billecart-Salmon Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17

BUSINESS CLASS RED

1. Cathay Pacific
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18.75

2. Korean Air
Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2005, Hunter Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

3. KLM
Tempus Two Barossa Shiraz 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 18.25

4. LAN
Altair 2004, Alto Cachapoal Valley, Chile
Score: 18

5. Alitalia
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio, Casalferro, 2005, Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Score: 17.75

BUSINESS CLASS WHITE

1. SAS
Tim Adams Semillon 2007, Clare Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Cathay Pacific
Moët Hennessy, Green Point Reserve Chardonnay 2005, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Score: 18

3. ANA
Weinguter Wegeler, Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett 2007, Mosel, Germany
Score: 17.75

4. Qantas
Peter Lehman Wines Eden Valley Riesling 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Air New Zealand
West Brook Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.25

BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED / SWEET

1. Lufthansa
Vinhos Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2004, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18.5

2. Singapore Airlines
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18

3. Air New Zealand
Dr John Forrest, Forrest Noble Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.75

4. Delta
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards, Muscat a Petit Grains, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Qantas
Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Liqueur Muscat, Glenrowan, Australia
Score: 17

BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR

1. Cathay Pacific
2. LAN
3. Qatar Airways
4. American Airlines
5. British Airways

FIRST CLASS

FIRST CLASS SPARKLING

1. Lufthansa
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Rare, Champagne, France
Score: 19

2. Qantas
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999, Champagne, France
Score: 18.5

3. Qatar Airways
Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle 1996, Champagne, France
Score: 18

4. Emirates
Dom Pérignon 2000, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

5. JOINT: ANA, Singapore Airlines
Krug Grande Cuvée Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

FIRST CLASS RED

1. Qantas
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005, Canberra, Australia
Score: 18.75

2. JOINT:

Emirates
Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008, Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand

Korean Air
Château Léoville Poyferré 2004, Saint-Julien, France
Score: 18.5

4. JOINT:

American Airlines
Chapoutier Coteaux Tricastin 2006, Rhône Valley, France

American Airlines
Château Lynch-Moussas 2006, Pauillac, France

British Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Pinot Noir 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18

FIRST CLASS WHITE

1. TAM
Michel Picard Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2006, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.5

2. British Airways
Albert Bichot Meursault 2007, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.25

3. British Airways
Salomon Lindberg Reserve Gruner Veltliner 2007, Kamptal, Austria
Score: 18

4. Cathay Pacific
Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2006, Livermore Valley, San Francisco, US
Score: 17.75

5. Qatar Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.5

FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED / SWEET

1. Qantas
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Emirates
Château Rieussec 2003, Domaines Lafite, France
Score: 17.75

3. ANA
Taylor’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal
Score: 17.5

BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR

1. Qantas
2. American Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. British Airways
5. Cathay Pacific

OVERALL
BEST-PRESENTED WINE LIST

1. Qantas
2. Air New Zealand
3. JOINT: ANA, Qatar Airways

CONSISTENCY OF WINES ACROSS BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS

1. Qatar Airways
2. JOINT: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. British Airways
5. ANA

BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE

1. Oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. Skyteam

A Daniel Libeskind designed Wine Cellar

2010-01-29T10:28:00.000-08:00
Love him (Berlin Holocaust Museum) or hate him (Toronto's ROM Crystal), star-Architect Daniel Libeskind always elicits strong reactions.
And now, he is now in the pre-fab house business - inspired yet again by crystals.

The Villa Series home is a four bedroom home, complete with four baths, grand room, and best of all -- a wine cellar.

The homes are clad in Zinc (typical Libeskind), and can be shipped and assembled anywhere in the world.
Price tag: $2,800,000.00 to $ 4,200,000.00 (USD)

Additional photos and information here.

Wine Label Wednesday: The BEST Mulled Wine Label EVER!!!

2010-01-27T08:25:00.000-08:00
Argh!! It's the end of January, and I discovered this festive wine label too late!
Oh well -- it still merits a post.

I LOVE THIS DESIGN!!

Buddy Creative, a design firm in England sent out this bottle of mulled wine as their corporate gift this season.

Cheeky, fun, and just plain wonderful.

Wine case wood flooring by Parador

2010-01-25T08:12:00.000-08:00
Parador (based in Germany) is a flooring company specializing in high end luxury wood flooring.
They have recently started a new line of flooring, based on the aesthetic of old Wine Cellars in Germany which had floors laid with discarded wine and fruit cases.
The flooring looks like aged wood cases, with the names of various wineries burnt onto the face of the wood.
The flooring itself is a laminate, and is easy to install.

I can see this being the perfect flooring for a tasting room adjacent to the Wine Cellar.

Dom Perignon by Marc Newson

2010-01-25T07:07:00.000-08:00
Champagne House Dom Perignon has teamed up again with Australian Designer Marc Newson to design new packaging for the champagne bottle. In 2006, Newson produced a limited edition of 1,000 Dom Perignon champagne buckets, which sold out immediately. I am sure Dom is hoping to re-create that kind of buzz with this new product.

The black box is made of a composite material which is intended to keep the champagne cool at all times, no matter how hot it gets outside. The form fitting shape of the box follows the contours of the bottle, therefore the bottle itself will resist 'wear and tear' during transport.

Look for the bottle coming to an LCBO near you soon (fingers crossed).

The champagne bottle explained...

2010-01-25T07:01:00.000-08:00
Essentially unchanged since 1894, the champagne bottle is a study in beauty, elegance, and scientific function. Everything about it, from the cork on the top to the indentation on the bottom, serves a crucial role in keeping your champagne safe and at its best.

The Cork: Usually larger than corks used to seal wine, champagne corks are made in two parts: the bottom (inside the bottle) is a natural cork composite while the top (outside the bottle) is a mix of cork bits glued together. Corks are straight when first put into the bottle then swell when removed, creating the famous mushroom shape.

The Wire: Cage The first champagne bottles used string to restrain the cork, but in 1844 Adolphe Jacquesson invented the metal cage system we still use today.

The Foil: Foil was needed to deter rats and other pests from nibbling on the cork. Now it's a decorative and traditional part of the champagne experience.

The Rim: It's there strictly to serve as an anchor for the wire cage.

The Glass: The glass in champagne bottles is much thicker than that in wine bottles due to the pressure, which can be upwards of 70-100 pounds per square inch. The very first champagne bottles were not as thick and strong as they are today and bottles (especially when kept in volume in champagne cellars) were considered somewhat dangerous as they regularly exploded.

The Indentation: The indentation in the bottom of the bottle isn't a sneaky way of serving less champagne per bottle, but instead a means of keeping the pressure from building up near the bottom. Also called the punt or 'kick-up,' it helps redistribute the pressure to keep the bottle from exploding.

via Rigel Celeste @ luxist.com

Sharing a bottle with Fido: New wine glass set for yourself and the pooch

2010-01-11T10:03:00.000-08:00
Alice Wang from Taiwan feels that your pet pooch needs to be included at the dinner table, and has designed Pet Plus glasses for such an occasion.
When you are having your steak frites with a glass of Burgundy, why not invite Fido to join you at the table.

As I don't have a pet, I don't understand - but I know some people who will love covet this glassware.

courtesy of designboom.com

LACRIMA Decanter by Hiroyasu Takeuchi

2010-01-07T11:08:00.000-08:00
Lacrima (noun, Italian): Tear (drop of fluid secreted from the eyes)

This cast resin decanter was designed by Hiroyasu Takeuchi, and is a stunning example of making the basic element of an object the feature of its design.

The designer states:
I designed the very flow of wine.
Keeping "LACRIMA" on the table, you can pour wine along the surface curved gradually.
Therefore you will avoid damaging wine.
The thickness of acrylic resin prevent you from conveying your temperature to wine.
The outline of "LACRIMA" consists of plane surfaces.
Accordingly, "LACRIMA" being idle, you can stack and place "LACRIMA" upside-down and back to front.

Say goodbye to watered down cognac: Hennessy Eternal Ice Drop by 5.5 Designers

2010-01-06T07:17:00.000-08:00
I like my cognac on the rocks...there is nothing better on a cold winter night.
However, I suffer from the problem of becoming distracted with conversation around me, and I forget my cognac.
At this point, the ice cubes have melted, my drink has become a bit too watery, and it's just not as flavourful.

Enter Hennessy's new product, designed by 5.5 Designers: a water filled glass drop, which stays cold when you take it out of the freezer and put it into your glass of cognac.
Now I can have my cognac chilled, and not worry about it being watery when I finish my glass.

Wine Label Wednesday: Bernar Venet artwork to grace label of Mouton Rothschild 2007

2010-01-06T06:44:00.000-08:00
Numerous great artists have been selected to grace the label of Mouton Rothschild, such as Francis Bacon, Picasso, Andy Warhol.
Now, French sculptor Bernar Venet has joined the illustrious list, with a sketch of one of his outdoor sculptures on the label of Mouton Rothschild 2007.

Apparently, Venet was not paid any money for the commission, however, was given ten cases of Mouton - five of those being 2007.

Primo Estate Winery: Italian aesthetic meets Australian cool

2010-01-05T09:34:00.000-08:00
Primo Estate Winery is located south of Adelaide in McLaren Vale -- and was designed by Michael Edward Harvey.

The Owners of the winery, Joe and Dina Grilli grew up in Italy, and wanted the design of their winery in Australia to include familiar design aestetics of Italy.

The design is stunning in its stark simplicity, and shows a modern take on the concept of cloisters, courtyards, and piazzas.

Also included in the design are lights from Treviso, and a wood stove from Umbria.

Just one of the gems on McLaren Vale.

Wine Prices iPhone App

2010-01-04T09:08:00.000-08:00
WinePrices.com has a comprehensive, free, and up-to-date online resource for wine auction and retail prices, with over 400,000 auction prices from the last eight years and over 1 million prices (in US dollars) on nearly 200,000 unique wines.

They now have an iPhone application for which provides access to the same information - so you will always know if you are getting a bargain.

Mission Hill Winery Expansion

2010-01-04T08:45:00.000-08:00
One of Canada's great pieces of architecture, Mission Hill Winery by Olson Kundig Architects is planning an expansion.

The expansion is still in the planning phase, but the model of the expansion shows buildings projecting from the hillside.
The buildings will house a restaurant and conference centre, auberge, and wellness centre.
The expansion is expected to be completed in 2018.

Buca is mouthwatering!

2009-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

How do two Greek boys come up with outstanding Italian? Gus and Peter have outdone themselves! There is nothing that makes you feel better than Italian food and it is at it's best at Buca. The restaurant has not been open long and Chef Rob Gentile is cooking like I believe his grandmother taught him. Yes he comes from famous McEwan but his heart is in Italy. I have not tasted true Italian like this in a long time. The food has heart! The Vongole thin crust pizza with cured sausage is so simple and tasty with a stewed tomato sauce that is only found across the water. Serving with scissors to cut is brilliant. There is not one drop of oil on the plate as it is cooked perfectly. The stuffed Tortellini with veal, mortadella and grana served with preserved tomato and butter and sage is the best I have ever tasted. Each bite is a mouthful of sheer delight. The Orata must have been flown in and sent by limo to Buca directly from the boat it was caught on that morning in the Med. Served with the "hard headed" olive oil that is exquisite! The wines are served at the right temperature in the right glass by expertly trained staff who are always there when you want them with knowledgeable suggestions and advise. The room is stunning with a fabulous feel with Salumi di Buca adorning the walls. Menu and wines are at great prices. You must Run to Buca or fly to Italy! 'Felice Anno Nuovo' 604 King Street West 416 865 1600

Veuve Clicquot 'La Grande Dame' with Riva

2009-12-17T08:54:00.000-08:00
The result of the combination the history and luxury of Veuve Clicquot with the history and luxury of Riva Yacht manufacturers is a stunning peice of design with beautiful lines, stunning details, and brimming with champagne!

La Grande Dame is a custom designed trunk filled manufactured by Riva Yachts, and is filled with four bottles (Vintage 1988) and two magnums (Vintage 1998) of Clicquot's coveted La Grande Dame champagne, six Riedel crystal champagne flutes and elegant table settings for six people.

The perfect gift for the boating enthusiast.
Price tag, $ 80,000.00

The History of Veuve Clicquot

2009-12-17T08:36:00.000-08:00
The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo is a fascinating book about Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, who was "a young witness to the dramatic events of the French Revolution and a new widow during the chaotic years of the Napoleonic Wars."

A legend in her native France, Barbe-Nicole's story is not well known abroad. Mazzeo has uncovered many fascinating details about the grande dame of champagne, including the following:

• By her late 30s, Barbe-Nicole was one of the richest women in France, with annual sales of more than $30 million per year. She's credited with having taken champagne from marginal to mainstream and making it synonymous with style.

• As the Napoleonic Wars wound down, Barbe-Nicole risked her entire fortune and ran the blockade with 10,000 bottles of her most precious vintage, positioning herself to corner the huge Russian market the moment it re-opened. She was there weeks ahead of her competitors, selling her champagne for $100 a bottle to the celebrating Russians, becoming famous practically overnight.

• Barbe-Nicole invented champagne-making techniques that shaved months off production time and are still used today. Thanks to her employees' loyalty and a shrewd profit-sharing plan, she kept her method secret for almost a decade, solidifying her market dominance.

New Years Eve Toast App Clink-Clink

2009-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:00
There really is an App for everything!
Clink-Clink is an App for toasting a glass of bubbly.
The only drawback is that you miss out on the best part -- drinking the champagne.

Wine Label Wednesday: Tear Away Labels

2009-12-16T10:50:00.000-08:00
Have you ever had the problem of having a great bottle of wine, then a few weeks later going to pick up more at the liquor store, but forgetting the name of that great bottle?

Some very smart label designers have recognized that this is a common occurance, and have designed tear away name tags as part of the label.
This allows you to remove the tags, and keep them for safe keeping until the next wine buying trip.

Australian Student Design Awards: Black Ice Wine Fridge by Jinghao Lin

2009-12-15T08:52:00.000-08:00
When I was in high school, my family moved to Adelaide, Australia for a year while my father did a sabatical term at The Waite Institute as part of the University of Adelaide.
We lived in the southern part of Adelaide, and would drive past vineyards regularly when driving into town, or shopping.
We would spend weekends exploring the many winery areas around Adelaide -- with McLaren Vale being just a short drive away.
School in Australia was quite different - firstly, being in uniform, but also finding that design is part of the curriculum from grade 9.
Design was accepeted as being an integral part of a students education.
Today, the design industry in Australia(print, product, interior, etc.) in my opinion in is far and away ahead of the design industry in Canada.
All one has to do is look at Belle Magazine, the line of Breville appliances, as well, the Australian Student Design Awards sponsored by Dyson.

Below is a fantastic Wine Fridge by Jinghao Lin. The cabinet allows for the storage of 28 bottles, with a 180 degree view of the wine bottles.

Decanters as art by Etienne Meneau

2009-12-11T10:15:00.000-08:00
Is your decanter collection full of traditional decanters, and you are looking for something a little different?

Etienne Meneau has designed a series of wonderful decanters which will certainly cause a collective "WOW" around the dinner table.
That said, I think this would look wonderful as a work of art sitting a sideboard in the living room.

This is [not] by Jeremy Brown - Not your typical wine glass

2009-12-11T09:45:00.000-08:00
Design inspiration comes from many places -- for Jeremy Brown, it was Magritte's "The treachery of images, and the inscription ‘Ceci n’est pas une pipe’ (this is not a pipe).

From this, Jeremy designed a series of wine glasses as art pieces - removing any reference to practicality and functionality.

Holiday movies and wine pairings

2009-12-10T08:41:00.000-08:00
The following list was written by Courtney Cochran on WineCountry.com - it's a fantastic idea that I had to share.
I'll be trying the Zinfanel with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation next weekend!

When it comes time for the holidays, little sounds as good as a cozy night in with loved ones and a great seasonal film. So read on for our list of top holiday films - each one paired, of course, with a superb vinous partner. Because here at WineCountry, we wouldn't have it any other way.

10: Miracle on 34th Street
This 1947 holiday classic tells the tale of a precocious six-year-old who doesn't believe in Santa Claus - that is, until she meets a Macy's toy department Santa (72-year-old Edmund Gwenn, in an Oscar-winning performance) who insists he's the real St. Nick. Heartwarming and full of nostalgia, it's a can't-lose cinematic selection for the season. Pair the original black and white version of the film (our choice) with Meyer Family California Port ($35), a warm, soulful sticky tailor made for a cozy night in.

9: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Only Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) could get away with the insanely inappropriate and uncomfortably hilarious gags that mark this film from start to Yule-studded finish. Highlights: Disaster-prone Griswold serves up just about every holiday disaster possible, musters moping teens and negotiates with a mooching relative (a raunchy Randy Quaid). Pair this laugh-out-loud holiday romp with 2007 Earthquake Zin ($20), a hedonistic, unapologetically flamboyant red from California's hot Lodi. ;

8: Home for the Holidays
Director Jodie Foster delivers warm laughs and family angst aplenty in this feel-good film about a single mom (Holly Hunter) who loses her job and must cope with a wayward teen (Mom, I'm losing my virginity this weekend) and colorful relatives over Thanksgiving. Pair it with 2007 Château Thivin Brouilly ($16) a pert, resiliently fruity red from one of the top growing regions in France's Beaujolais.

7: Scrooged
Leave it to former SNL funnyman Bill Murray to bring us a deliciously dark update of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. In Murray's popular 1988 rendition, we follow a schmarmy TV exec on - surprise! - a ghost-ridden night of reckoning one Christmas in Manhattan. Watch for fabulous special effects as well as impressive celebrity cameos, including a rousing musical rendition from Al Green and Annie Lennox. Pair it up with a dark, brooding Petite Sirah from the Sierra Foothills; we like Lava Cap's 2005 "Granite Hill" El Dorado Petite Sirah ($30).

6: Home Alone
The John Hughes-penned holiday flick that made Macaulay Culkin the world's biggest child star is big on laughs as well as box office mettle (it grossed some $533 million in theaters). We love Culkin's spirited portrayal of an eight-year-old accidentally left alone when his family jets to Paris for the holidays, and who can forget Joe Pesci's hilarious burglar bent on breaking into the boy's home? Pair this cheerful holiday blockbuster with 2008 Tablas Creek "Cote de Tablas" Paso Robles Blanc ($20), a precociously aromatic, fruity white from California's Central Coast.

5: A Christmas Carol
This 1951 rendering of Charles Dickens' classic novel is considered the definitive film version (though we love Bill Murray's, too). We especially love the old school black and white coloring and effects, not to mention the way the film tugs on all the right heartstrings as we follow miserly London businessman Ebenezer Scrooge through a night of reckoning with the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. Pair up this nostalgic treat with a bittersweet Broadbent 3 Year Fine Rich Madeira ($17), a cold weather-ready sticky with surprisingly warm flavors.

4: Meet the Parents
This 2000 Ben Stiller/Robert De Niro vehicle delivers major laughs as Stiller's painfully bumbling Greg Focker travels home for the holidays with his would-be fiancé to meet her parents (De Niro and a brilliantly cast Blythe Danner). Lost luggage, fires, pet pranks and serious misunderstandings ensue in this superb side-splitting comedy of errors set against a wintry white backdrop. Pair it with 2005 Swanson Oakville Merlot ($22), made with the misunderstood but often stellar Merlot.

3: Love Actually
If you love Christmas, romantic comedies and unapologetically happy endings, then tune in to Love Actually this holiday, a British film by the writer of Bridget Jones's Diary that's as exuberantly entertaining as it is sweet. And with some eight couples' affairs of the heart to follow, this winning flick not only boasts a winning cast (think Hugh Grant, Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, to name just a few) but also a winning amount of intrigue set to a bestselling soundtrack. Match it up with 2006 Phifer Pavitt "Date Night" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75), a sweetly named red you might just fall in love with, actually.

2: A Christmas Story
Bullies, BB guns and frozen tongues - the holidays just wouldn't be the same without this 1983 nouveau classic about an Indiana boy who goes to great lengths to ensure he gets his dream Christmas gift. With its expert meshing of Americana and holiday themes, A Christmas Story comes in close to the top for us in overall excellence in the holiday film category - making it a must-see this year. Pair it with 2006 Casa Blanca Banyuls ($23), a sweet southern French stickie that's also tops on our list (not to mention tailor-made for pairing with chocolate.)

1: It's a Wonderful Life
Initially a box office flop, this 1947 winner shines today as one of America's most treasured films - and boasts a holiday backdrop to boot! Down and out, George Bailey (James Stewart) is contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve, only to be saved by an angel who shows him what the world would have been like had George never been born. It's Dickensian melodrama at its best, and viewers will find plenty to celebrate in a tear-jerking finale that affirms the importance of friendship, perseverance and - sigh - love. Match this one up with 2002 Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut L'Ermitage ($35), a vintage-dated bubbly made on American soil with - we firmly believe - no shortage of gratitude for the good things that life brings us.

Architectural Humidors by Linley with Hunters and Frankau

2009-12-10T07:26:00.000-08:00
I've just found a reason to start smoking.
Peer pressure during the teen years didn't do it - but this could be it.

Linley in association with Hunters and Frankau are producing custom Humidors in architectural models.
Each design is an exact replica of the cigar factories of Partagas and Laguito.
The humidors come completely stocked with cigars and Linley cigar cutters, and of course a humidification system.

Incredibly beautiful,they are also a wee bit pricey, starting at 39,959.00 GBP.

The making of a hand blown crystal wine glass

2009-12-09T10:48:00.000-08:00
Below is a fascinating video showing the making of a hand blown crystal wine glass.

Artificial corks perhaps not the panacea wine industry had hoped

2009-12-09T09:03:00.000-08:00
It seems that not only are real corks causeing wine to go off, faulty artificial corks are also causing havoc to wines and winemakers.
We'll have to keep an eye on this case -- could be interesting.

The following is an interesting article by David Bario from Law.com:

"Francis Ford Coppola Presents filed suit in November in state court in Napa County against cork and bottle manufacturer Vinocor USA, alleging that Vinocor ruined 55,000 cases of the company's wines. The wines, part of Coppola's "Encyclopedia" series, feature uniquely shaped bottles and caps and are meant to serve as a guide to various international growing regions and varietals. But Coppola alleges that the bottles and caps that Vinocor sold it turned the wine into so much vinegar. The company is seeking its money back and unspecified damages for breach of contract, fraud, and negligence.

Coppola, represented by former Litigator of the Week Barry Lee of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, alleges that it paid Vinocor more than $685 million for special flask-like bottles, screw-caps, and packaging for its Encyclopedia collection in 2008. In return, the company says it received chipped and deformed bottles and defective caps from Vinocor that "materially degraded or destroyed" virtually the entire 55,000 cases it bottled due to oxidation.

Wine Label Wednesday: Recession Wine

2009-12-09T08:13:00.001-08:00
Who says you can't have fun with the recession!?

"Cash and Tasty" is a line of wine by French firm BOLD being sold in the U.K., with the slogan "Eases your wallet, pleases your Palate".

Wine Cellar Climate Control Options

2009-12-08T06:20:00.000-08:00
Maturing wines should be kept in an environment at a constant temperature of 57 degrees fahrenheit, and 65% relative humidity. Due to the fact that we have such dramatic temperature fluctuations from summer to winter, a passive wine cellar (a cellar with no climate control) will not deliver that constant temperature.
Therefore, a menchanical intervention is required maintain that optimal environment for cellaring wines.

There are three generic options for Wine Cellar Climate Control Systems:

1. Modular Climate Control "Cooling" Boxes are akin to through the window air conditioners, but are designed for wine cellars. The cooling units need to be placed in an opening between the wine cellar and an interior space in the home. The room into which the cooling unit vents should be a large enough room to handle the warm air volume from the cooling unit. As well, the cooling unit should be located where the noise from the fan (about the same as a kitchen range hood fan) will not affect the occupancies of the adjacent spaces. These cooling units recycle the humidity which has been extracted from the room during the cooling process.

2. Custom "Split" Climate Control Systems involves placing One (1) or more Evaporator Cooling Coils and a Humidifier inside the Wine Cellar, and linking them to a remote Condenser "Engine".
We generally "hide" the Cooling Coils and Humidifier inside the Wine Cellar using Custom Decorative Wood or Iron Grilles, and integrate them into the Wine Racking Systems so that they do not negatively impact on the integrity of the Architectural Design of the Wine Cellar.

3. Forced-Air Systems are virtually noiseless, offer the best performance and life cycle, and can be Engineered and accessorized to deliver very precise Climates.
They are easily integrated into the Architectural Design of the Wine Cellar.
These types of systems can be engineered to be very robust, offering little operating noise (if any). Virtually all of the system components can be located out-of-sight.
This type of system is easily expanded when additional Wine Acquisitions demand expansion of the Wine Cellar space.
The ductwork is easily concealed in the Architectural Elements of the Wine Cellar.

Napoleon's 'sober' Empress Josephine had 13,000 bottle Wine Cellar

2009-12-07T12:34:00.000-08:00
At the Chateaux of Malmaison and Bois-Preau just outside Paris, home of Empress Jospehine, a new exhibition has opened, showcasing "La Cave de Josephine".

Wife of Napoleon, Josephine was a supposed teetotaler known as "The Sober Empress", and yet had an extensive collection of wines - for the many dinner parties.

After Josephine died in 1814, an inventory was taken of the Cellar, and it was noted that there was a clear predeominance of Bordeaux over Burgundies in the collection.
This was interesting, as Burgundies were typically the wine of choice by Parisian society.

Also in her collection are wines from Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal as well as South Africa and Hungary.

The exhibition runs from now until March 8, 2010.

Peek at our new Cellar

2009-12-07T08:21:00.000-08:00
This past Saturday was the grand reveal of our new Wine Cellar in our retail environment - and was a great success.

A Cellar in the store allows clients to become acquainted with the many possibilities of a walk in wine environment.

Along with Racking options, we have samples of flooring, wrought iron details, a selections from our portfolio, and a touch screen wine cataloguing system provided by eSommelier.

Not only will the space be used for client meetings, but also for wine tasting events (hint: Saturdays in December).

Come on down, have a walk through the Cellar, and take a look at the new Wine Establishment!

Combination Wine Storage and Sound System By Ben Blank Studio

2009-12-03T10:18:00.000-08:00
What's old is new again...

Ben Blank Studio has designed a sound system, complete with record player, 5 disc cd player, mp3 player, and storage for 12 bottles of wine!!!
Stating the obvious -- this isn't storage for long term holds, as the vibration of the speakers will have a negative effect on the aging of the wine, and there is no climate control.
That said, this design is very clever, and would give either a modern or traditional interior a bit of edge.

A Wine Geek's "Must-Do" London attractions

2009-12-02T08:33:00.000-08:00
Before I went to London, I did some research on wine places that I would like to visit -- as one does. That done, the completed list was rather long, and it would seem that it would be a weekend of drinking, so the list was pared down to something a bit more workable.

The following are my three 'Wine Geek must-do" London attractions:

#1: To get you into the spirit -- a pilgrimage to Berry Bros. and Rudd Wine Agents in St. James.
The store has been there for over 300 years, and is simply incredible. The wood planking floors are warped, and the place looks as though it hasn't changed in centuries -- except for the wines in refrigerated cabinets. As someone who lives in Ontario and has to deal with the LCBO, it was wonderful to see bottles of wine, spirits, and champagnes that we simply do no have access. I stood and looked in awe - like the perenial kid in a candy store.

#2: Lunch at Fortnum and Mason 1707 Wine Bar.
The store is a wonderland of British goodies - tins of cookies, a whole wall of jams, and never ending counters of sweets. The fumes from store can leave you with a sugar high.
In the basement of the store is the 1707 Wine Bar: a gorgeous room clad in rough sawn planks of wood, which have been lovingly detailed with dovetail joints at the corners. The center of the room is a glass walled Wine Cellar, which has an extensive collection of both old and new world wines.
I had a venison terrine, with game jelly paired with a Bordeaux Flight - which was simply wonderful.

#3: Last stop - World's longest Champagne Bar at St. Pancras Station.
The bar extends the length of the platform of the Eurostar trains, which come and go as you sip bubbly right beside them.
Decadent and civilized, the booths have heated seats, and you are provided with complimentary blankets for those cold nights.
The list of champagnes is extensive -- including some (again) which we do not have access to in Ontario.
I cannot recommend any better place to spend a night sipping champagne, and watching London come and go.

Wine Label Wednesday: Otokoyama Sake - simplicity perfected

2009-11-25T09:41:00.000-08:00
Designed by Jamie Conkleton, a recent graduate from University College Falmouth in the UK:

"The aim of this project was to produce a simple range of sake aimed at a western audience. By limiting the range to the three basic varieties and eliminating the confusing Japanese terminology my intention was to make it as clear as possible. To produce the different grades of sakes the rice grain is polished to remove the proteins and oils from its exterior. The more the rice is polished the better the outcome. This process of refinement is high-lighted through the decreasing opacity of the bottles."

via thedieline.com

Wine Cellar Security and Wine Drinking Robots

2009-11-25T07:51:00.000-08:00
Security is paramount when designing a Wine Cellar as the contents could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
We have designed many security systems for our clients including electronic locks, thumb print readers, and adding a 1/4" thick steel plate in all walls: all to prevent intruders from stealing the wine.

I recently came upon a storage vault location in Florida which takes security to the 'Mission Impossible' level.
RoboVault calls itself the first high-tech, robotic self-storage facility in the world.

It's features include:
•Proven robotic retrieval system
•Solid concrete and steel reinforced construction with solid concrete roof and double pane impact-resistant glass
•Resistant up to Category 5 hurricanes with winds up to 200 mph
•Museum-quality climate and humidity controlled
•Backup power systems for up to 14 days
•Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
•Fully equipped with sophisticated fire management systems
•Airtight building design, free of dust and debris
•High and dry at 16’ above sea level.
•State-of-the art biometric fingerprint scanning and keyed entry
•Private and secure drive-in access
•Private lease enrollment rooms
•24 x 7 facility monitoring
•Motion and heat detectors
•Photoelectric beams
•Smoke and Carbon monoxide detectors
•Networked CCTV systems
•Anonymity and private viewing rooms offered for Safe Deposit box clients
•Detailed reporting with digital photography
•Streaming video access

The website includes an interesting video of how the robotic storage system works.
Really quite fascinating.

I was telling a friend about this last night, and they said "it's all well and good, until the robots start getting a taste for wine!!"
My response was tell him he was paranoid and to laugh it off, until I found that a robot has been invented to identify wines!!

The robot has a spectrometer on its arm, which shines a beam of infrared light. The light which is reflected back from the bottle is then analyzed to determine the object's chemical composition.
Because all materials have different chemical fingerprints, the robot is able to identify the wine.
According to the inventor, "when it has identified a wine, the robot speaks up in a childlike voice. It names the brand and adds a comment or two on the taste, such as whether it is a buttery chardonnay or a full-bodied Shiraz, and what kind of foods might go well on the side."

Hmmm...should sommeliers be worried...should we be worried about these robots developing a thirst for first growths???
As the robots have not appeared on shelves at your local electronics store, I wouldn't think so...just yet.

For more information on the robot, click here.

The Ultimate Wine Tour of Kendall-Jackson

2009-11-24T10:49:00.000-08:00
This wine tour is not traditional 'show up at the winery, and sample their wines' -- this is the Ultimate Tasting Experience!!

Kendall-Jackson has started a tasting program which allows people to spend 3 days at the vineyards conducting tastings of the extensive wine collections with winemaster Randy Ullom.
During those tastings, Randy will be able to recognize and identify your particular tastes in wines.
At the end of the tour - he will personally customize a blend of wine and provide you with a case of 12 bottles specifically for you based on your taste profile.

All for $30,000.00 (with a portion going to charity)

For those interested, please email customwine@kjmail.com

Zaha Hadid's Vina Tondonia Winery

2009-11-24T07:52:00.000-08:00
Pritzker winner Zaha Hadid's design for Vina Tondonia Winery opened recently to rave reviews.

The new white and glass pavillion is bright and airy, and a contrast to the existing adjacent stone barrel building.

This is evidence enough that Wine Cellar Tasting Rooms needn't be dark and 'olde worlde' -- but instead can be sparkling and illuminating spaces.

An interesting footnote is that once the design was complete, it was noted by many that the end elevation looked like a distorted decanter, which the arhitect said was purely coincidental.