A visit to Megalomaniac Wines in Niagara.

Fine wines, beautiful winery, great venue. Updated October 15, 2023 This article also appears on my consulting website. Speaking of consulting, I do branding makeovers and offer my services as a writer/blogger and content creation resource. MORE HERE … I remember when John Howard first started out in the wine business. He launched and grew

The fine art of Chris Bacon

A painter whose works inspire a deeper appreciation of nature around us. Chris Bacon has much to say through art, and his merit as a visual story-teller calls us to listen carefully.  Acute detail and realism infuse his paintings with inspiring effect. Few artists so concentrate their scope on one particular subject as he does;

Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue.

A worthy single-hop pale ale showcasing the Citra hop. I’ve been wanting to try any one of Toppling Giant’s beers for some time. Some of their brews finally reached my area, so I was excited to finally experience their pale ale, Pseudo Sue. Appearance The beer is pale gold, and appears in the glass like a

Icewine alternatives. How sweet!

Icewine is a great dessert wine or apéritif. Here are some alternatives … SAUTERNES and TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE As you know, icewine is made from grapes that have hung on vine far beyond normal harvest time and have become very dry (and frozen). Other Dessert Wines A similar type of wine, that also shares the characteristic of

Bella Terra Red.

An endearing red blend from Bella Terra’s own estate vineyards. PondView Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake has recently changed its  name to Bella Terra Vineyards. The 2018 vintage of Bella Terra Red is a blend of the three main red varietals that grow in their vineyards: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This lovely medium-bodied red

Beef Bourguignon recipe and video.

This is my personal recipe for this dish. I’ve taken the liberty to add techniques and ingredients that I learned in Chateauneuf du Pape*, with additional ideas from my Austrian heritage. These factors produce a delicious and rich version of the popular stew. * My Chateauneuf experience was with winemaker Mireille Fabre of Domaine Tour

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot

The trio of Bordeaux originals that have take the entire world by storm! Three “big” full bodied red wines to enjoy. Whether a bottle that’s a blend of all three varietals from Bordeaux, or choose individually as a single varietal from a region like California, Australia, or South Africa, these are the blockbusters that satisfy

Sauvignon Blanc

(classic tasting notes of cut grass, lemon, herbs and a hint of gooseberry) Sauvignon Blanc is a popular alternative to Chardonnay. It makes a crisp, light wine. The grape and vinification history originated in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Notes: Herbal flavors, olive and a soft, smoky flavor. It can range from sweet to dry,

Wine 101 – Part 2

Back to “Part 1” Part Two … (the rest of the world’s top wine regions) Wine Regions of Italy, Spain, the U.S., and more Having covered the regions of France in Wine 101 Part 1, this second section now covers additional exciting wine regions to round out your growing wine experience. Look up the regions, check them

Wine 101

A Quick Guide and Introduction to Wine. Wine might seem a bit daunting at first. We can help you with that. Enjoy the process.  We’ll take it one step at a time. Step One: WINE REGIONS A good way to learn about wine is to learn about wine regions. I’ve included special wine regions here, ones that gave birth