Michael Pinkus Wine Review - On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from - Gourmet Food & Wine Show ... Nov. 15, 2007

03 Dec 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

This year’s Gourmet Show saw a cast of regulars rubbing shoulders with a cast of newcomers and hopefuls. New York had their usual big booth showcasing at least two dozen of their wines; both France and California also had their usual large displays. Chile (the feature country) had a nice exhibit, but the narrow pathways made it hard to circumnavigate between the booths. Agents were spread throughout the show and that means that many countries were also spread throughout the room – so you were likely to bump into y9our favourite country or favourite type of wine anywhere within the room. The LCBO had their selling shop, but there seemed to have less consignment and pre-release bottles this time around.

The Gourmet Show is great for getting all kinds of countries together into one room along with interesting foods (I had a 44th Street roast beef sandwich to die for – best of all its available at the grocery store in the refrigerator section) and paraphernalia sellers (Wine Establishment, Vinoverso, etc.) all there in the hopes of improving your gastronomical pleasures. Myself I was looking for something special, a few things to write about (like that beef sandwich) instead of a shopping list of wines to enter into my lexicon … I’m looking for stuff you can buy now or hopefully soon – something to look forward to once I leave the show and something I can put on my table. Here are a few of my finds: (Read more)

For more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

Report from - A Bubbles and Sweets Tasting ... November 16, 2007

20 Nov 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Over the holidays two kinds of wine will reign supreme; the first is obviously Champagne / Sparkling Wine, we’re less than a month and a half away from the biggest staggered party on the planet, where corks shoot into the air and bubbles fill the many wine glasses of revelers. The other wine is not so much a party wine as a relaxation one … a mellow out in front of the fire on a cold winter’s night – I speak of course about Port, that (sometimes) thick, sweet liquid that makes everything seem alright (might be the 20% alcohol) – but rarely is it the wine you’ll get drunk on, like Champagne, or bring to the party. Port is one small glass you’ll nurse for hours. So without further ado here’s what I did … I plowed my way through numerous sparklers and a variety of ports (all available now or soon at your local LCBO) so that 1) you didn’t have to; and 2) so you could bring the right wine to the party … I am so self-sacrificing that way.

Best Value …(Read more)

For more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.