This past Saturday April 24th, I attended the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, that was held at the new Trade and Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC Canada. As many clients ask me to recommend a wine for their event I was on a mission of sorts to try a variety of wines, starting with champagne, whites, reds, dessert wine and then a port. We tried a variety of price points some high and some very affordable that would be great for any occasion. In this blog I have provided for you my opinion of what I liked and didn’t care too much for. We did try to make sure that the wines were available at your favourite wine/liquor store and we only came across one supplier that did not have his wines listed with LDB at the moment but all others are listed and available. After you read this list and if you are interested in a wine maker’s dinner event either in your home or a larger event please don’t hesitate to contact First Services Hospitality (778)988-9440 to make your event memorable.
NOTE: Except where noted(*), wines below picked from Anthony Gismondi article in the April 17 edition of the Vancouver Sun. I did not use the tasting notes cards handed out, only notes that I made about the wines that I tried. If you would like more descriptive tasting notes about the wines listed please e-mail info@firstserviceshospitality.com and we would be happy to provide you with this information that we collected at the wine festival.
Higher Priced wines:
(Hope Family) Austin Hope Syrah 2005, Paso Robles, California USA $65
Comments: Good.
Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2006, Burgundy, France $140
Comments: Oaky.
Penfolds RWT (Red Wine Trial) 2006, South Australia $140
Comments: Good, dry.
Rinaldi Maior Amarone della Valpolicella 2001, Vento Italy $124
Comments: Fruity nose, dry, very good.
Wolf Blass Cabernet Shiraz, South Australia $100.00
Comments: Actually tried Cabernet/Shiraz/Malbec – not bad. Light, doesn’t need food.
Cutting Edge Wines:
Hope Family Treana Red, Paso Robles, California USA $56
Comments: Good.
Rosé:
Lanson Brut Rosé, Champagne, France $60
Comments: out, tried ‘Black Label’Anton Hobbs, suggested this was a ‘party animal’ drink that was best drunk before eating: $59 per bottle. Also tried the Gold Label Brut Champagne, not as good: $ 79.99 per bottle.
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rose N/V, Champagne, France $70
Comments: Not great.
Champagne de Venoge Rosé Brut Reserve $77
Comments: booth was out of this one.
Malbec (Argentina):
Finca Flichman Gestos Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina $20
Comments: lighter, dry, toboccoy
Terrazas de los Andes Afincado Malbec Las Compuertas Vineyard 2006, Mendoza, Argentina $64
Comments: sour – pass on this one. Reserva* was better.
Pinot Noir (New Zealand):
(Chard Farms) Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir 2007, Central Otago, New Zealand $25
Comments: Good, dry. Not as oaky as Spy Valley.
Mudhouse Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand $23
Comments: Skip this one.
Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand $27
Comments: Very good, oaky
Gewurztraminer*: crisp, light, refreshing, not too sweet.
These wines available from Liberty Wine Merchants.
*Other New Zealand Pinot Noir wines tried not recommended by Anthony Gismondi:
Vinoptima Estate, Noble Late Harvest Ormond Gewurztraminer 2007, Gisborne, New Zealand
Comments: different.
Gladstone Vineyard, Gladstone 12,000 Miles Pinot Noir 2008, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Comments: lighter.
Mount Riley Wines Savée 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand +361691
Comments: Savée (sparkling) okay with food $ 29.00
Local Wines:
CedarCreek Estate Ehrenfelser 2009, Okanagan Valley $19.00
Comments: good nose, fruity, light, well worth $19.00
Herder Pinot Gris, Similkameen Valley, $17
Comments: good. Serve chilled.
Poplar Grove Legacy 2006, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley $50.00
Comments: dry, light.
Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Okanagan Valley $30
Comments: so, so. 2007 Totally Botrytis Affected Optima is very good.
The Last Stop:
*Taylor Fladgate Partnership, Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny, Portugal, +149047
Comments: no dancing but we surely felt like it! Fabulous!
Please remember not to drink and drive take transit, a cab or a designated driver to and from any event where alcohol is served.
