Author Archives: thewinestudent

TWS 2024 Hallowine Pick!🧛🏻‍♂️🍷

A long time ago I fell in love with vampires. They were elegant, stylish and a little more than dangerous. There was something darkly magical in the way they could materialize from thin air, and change your life forever with one, quick bite. I was intrigued by mysteriousness of their lives that began at sunset; existing only through the deep, dark hours of the night. When the movie of Dracula starring Frank Langella came out, I was mesmerized. That summer I was a young apprentice at the Shaw Festival and had ripped out a poster of the movie to tape to my dressing room mirror. As I applied my makeup for each performance, he looked back at me with dark, smoldering eyes, unblinking, through the mist and fog. It was my first real crush on a sophisticated, elegant man.

Around the same time, I became obsessed with an artist. His name: Edward Gorey. His art was dark and gothic, yet embodied a subtle, ironic humor. I’d first seen his work in the opening credits for the PBS series MYSTERY! and I was in love. The drawings appealed to the dark academia streak in my personality. I wanted to live in those Victorian drawing rooms of black and white, and walk amongst the ancient cemetery relics beyond.

When I discovered that Gorey had designed the sets for the stage production of Dracula (also starring Frank Langella), I wanted to make a beeline for Broadway and immerse myself in that world. Happily, many years later, I discovered that his set drawings had been made into a play theatre set. I could now own a small piece of his toothsome art all for myself!

Click the video below for a fun little journey into the world of Edward Gorey’s Dracula!

When it came to this year’s TWS Hallowine pick, there was only one choice: the 2022 Vampire Vineyards Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes:

🩸dark cherry

🩸strawberry jam

🩸a little bite of spice

🩸whisper of smoke on the finish

Nice Bites:

🩸dark chocolate

🩸aged Brie or smoked Gouda

🩸pasta w/ creamy mushroom Alfredo

The bright acidity, spice and luminescent flavors of this wine did a beautiful job of cutting a swath through the creaminess of the Alfredo sauce I’d made to pair. Add to this a fresh salad of tender greens, and a crusty French stick smothered in home made garlic butter and we had a frightfully good dinner.

This bottle is also lots of fun your Halloween table. You can order the little vampire cape to dress up your wine bottle!

So have fun, my little creatures of the night! 🦇

Enjoy the holiday, be safe and may all your tricks turn into beautiful treats.🎃

Cheers!🧛🏻‍♀️🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2024

Mindful Drinking

Our opinions and attitudes towards alcohol and drinking are often formed from a young age. Watching our parents and relatives’ relationships to alcohol often shapes how we think about, and interact with it throughout our own lives. It may fall anywhere along the spectrum; a casual, occasional drink after work, to extreme party mode where one drink leads to another, then…beyond. Before you know it, some bad decisions are made, followed by deep regret, an Advil, an ice pack, and a solemn pledge to ‘NEVER drink again’ (an oath always made in the harsh light of a hangover).

Society itself has placed drinking in two very clear categories: a main ingredient in having a good time or the potential for serious trouble.

But it doesn’t have to be this extreme.

We know about Dry January & Sober October challenges, which are solid ways to reset after holiday fun, food and drinks. But do we have to go completely dry? It depends…

Mindful drinking takes us to a more meditative place. A place where we can stop and think about not only what we’re drinking but how we’re drinking.

Often drinking becomes almost a default action; one drink tastes like one more and then one more. Mindful drinking allows us to take a breath and a moment to reevaluate our relationship with alcohol; recognizing the reasons for, and consequences of our drinking behavior.

So What Exactly is Mindful Drinking?

Mindful drinking is a shift in consciousness centered between a proactive choice to pursue a healthier lifestyle without having to completely give up drinking. Sober curiosity is another term meaning actively tracking and managing your drinking behavior. More and more attention is being paid to this on social media creating a groundswell of participation and activity. Each sober curious influencer has a story to share. The beer, wine & spirits industry is paying attention: they’re creating more and more lo-alcohol products, and sponsoring a steadily increasing number of dry events. Join the buzz without getting a buzz!

But rather than going cold turkey, mindful drinking is the ability to create space for real change – physically, mentally and financially. It helps pull focus to health and wellness rather than deprivation.

Benefits of Mindful Drinking:

Improved sleep – alcohol can disrupt deep sleep, causing you to wake unrested, and tired. Cutting back, and stopping drinking at least two hours before bedtime can improve your quality of sleep.

Anxiety Reduction – High alcohol consumption causes hormonal imbalances that can increase anxiety. Decreasing about 30% drinking within 30 days can lead to reduced anxiety, and better sleep.

Lower blood pressure – Cutting back to a per day total of 1 drink (for women) and 2 drinks (for men) can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Healthier liver, healthier brain – modest lower alcohol intake can lower fat build up in the liver, and increase focus and clarity in mental energy, higher cognitive performance and greater motivation.

Weight Management – With an average of 125 calories per drink, a small reduction in alcohol intake can make a big impact.

How to Begin:

Often we find ourselves in social situations where we want to cut back drinking but old habits can die hard. Here are some tips to help keep you on track.

Be kind, yet decline – have a plan and stay with it.Even if you’re offered another drink, politely decline. If you get lots of questions from friends, (and, at first, you will) thank them and redirect the conversation. Drinking is a personal choice, no one should feel ashamed of refusing a drink, even with close friends or family. Keep your goals a priority.

Be aware of triggers for unhealthy drinking – sometimes social or family events can bring on unsettled feelings triggering the need to overindulge. Mindful drinking can help us recognize those triggers so we an be empowered to make conscious choices about our drinking habits even in sticky situations.

Alternate with water – 1:1 ratio – this can become a consistent, positive habit; always having a large glass of water between drinks.

Taste the drink – often, we don’t slow down to truly enjoy what’s in our glass. Take a moment to really see how it looks, smells and tastes. Sip slowly, considering the flavors and nuances of what you are drinking, and enjoy the experience.

Aim for small wins – focus on what you can do. Setting a goal of cutting back one drink per event is attainable rather than setting an unrealistic goal, and then feeling overwhelmed. Slow and steady wins this race. And you might occasionally indulge a bit more than you wanted. It happens. Just be kind to yourself, set your goal for the next event, and don’t give up.

As you head into party season, being mindful of how you drink can help make your holiday celebrations (and the morning after) a little brighter.

Cheers!

©️Copyright. The Wine Student, 2024

Unexpected Treats!❤️

One of the best things about having visitors from the North is not only spending time together but the treats they bring! 🍬🍭❣️
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Canadian Smarties are a sweet little taste of childhood; creamy milk chocolate enveloped in crunchy, brightly multi-colored candy shells.
What I paired it with might be a little surprising.
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Typical pairings for milk chocolate are richer, sweeter wines; tawny ports, Lambrusco,Reciotto della Valpolicella; late-harvest reds such as pinot noir, petit sirah, and shiraz.
My pick of this 2022 Gundlach Bundschu Dry Gerwürstraminer is not a typical pairing.
So why would I choose a dry white wine of all things??? Whyyyyyy?? That’s not in the rules!

Well…I like a juxtaposition of flavors, styles and mouthfeel when pairing food and wine. And I was looking for something a little off the typical path. I didn’t want the sweet sensation to become cloying (no one likes a clingy anything).
Its flavors of lychee, tangy tangerine, crisp white pear and ginger give more bounce to the ounce on your palate. 🍊🍐🫚
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This was a beautiful balance. A little surprising, I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. But the dryness of the wine played so nicely with the light creaminess of the Smarties and candy shell. Its balanced acidity took just a tiny edge off the creamy; providing bright bursts of flavor to the mix.
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Serving notes: Chill overnight, then let it sit just a little – about 55-60F (12-15C) to open up. Then bring on the chocolate Smarties.

Happy Wine Wednesday! 😙🥂🍫

©️ Copyright. The Wine Student. 2024

Bellinis, Momosas and Fun Sparkly Things✨🥂💝

This is the weekend of flowers, sparkly things and Momosas (see what I did there?). But sometimes we like to change things up a little. I recently featured Mimosa on my Instagram so…

What if we made a Bellini this year? But first:

What is the difference between Bellini and Mimosa?

Mimosa – originally created in 1921 at Buck’s Club in London. Bartender Pat McGarry mixed two parts orange juice and one part Champagne (and maybe a splash of grenadine).

Jump ahead to 1925; a French version was born at the Hotel Ritz (bartender Frank Meyer) using equal parts orange juice and Champagne. It was named for a pretty yellow flower common in French gardens. 🌼

Over the years, many variations have arisen featuring many sparklers such as Prosecco or Spanish Cava, as well as the addition of Cointreau or Triple Sec for a little kick.

Bellini – an Italian cocktail named for the 15th-century artist Giovanni Bellini. Originally created by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice, it is sparkling wine with a simple peach purée. Traditionally, Prosecco is in the mix but any sparkler will do the trick.

The beauty of these two is that there are no hard and fast rules; there are so many variations that can please every palate.

This year, I wanted to go with the trad Bellini with a wee twist: sparkling Rosé Prosecco!

The pink bubbles are so pretty in the glass and create a cool glow mixed with the peach puree. And I can tell you that it took a while to find any fresh peaches!

Easy Peasy Rose Peach Bellini:

• 6oz Sparkling Rosé (Prosecco if you’re a purist)

• 1 oz peach puree (blend of fresh, peeled peach, splash of fresh lemon juice & honey)

• Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

• Add peach purée to a flute glass (but any pretty glass will do), squeeze a little lemon juice to taste, then top it off with sparkling rose. Garnish with edible flowers.

• Enjoy!

Pair with brunch or sip all on its own.

Here’s to all the hard-working Moms out there, and to the memories of moms who are no longer with us. We toast you, and hold space in our hearts for you all.💜

Cheers!

©️Copyright. 2024 The Wine Student

Spring Cleaning🌷🫧🍷

It’s suddenly that time of year again, where one’s fancy turns to… cleaning. 🧽🪣

If we don’t often use decanters, we tend to forget about them, and they sit in the back of a cupboard or cabinet. If you’re like me, you might leave them on a countertop where they are exposed to dust, and kitchen grime.

Sure, you can try to blow the dust out of your decanter right before you fill it with wine, but trust me, this is not a good plan. 😶‍🌫️ Kitchen dust and wine do not mix. The ‘earthy’ vibe that you think will enhance the wine? Nah. Not a chance.

Help is on the way!

Click the video below to see an easy way to clean your decanter before your next wine dinner! 👇

There are a few methods out there but I found the Riedel Bottle Cleaner to be one of the best, natural cleaners.

I had a decanter that had a lot of old wine sediment that water and salt alone couldn’t seem to loosen.

Carefully pouring the little stainless steel balls into the decanter (with water and about 2Tbsp of coarse sea salt) I swished for a full 2 minutes. Like magic, all of the stubborn sediment from the bottom and sides was loosened. After a good rinse, the decanter looked sparkling clean!✨

At $15.99 this cleaner is reusable, non-toxic and very user-friendly.

To be clear, this post is not sponsored content. I just found this was a cool product I purchased few years ago and wanted to share with you.

Happy cleaning!🫧

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2024

Dry January🏜️

Every December 31st, many of us resolve to change a few things for the new year. Maybe we’re getting back on the treadmill; maybe it’s the promise to cut back on those indulgences we allowed ourselves over the holidays.

For many, we go cold turkey – cutting out alcohol in all its forms = Dry January. But every so often we reach for a bottle without thinking. It’s automatic. Maybe it’s a part of a nice dinner or celebrating the end of a day.

One of the things I love about wine is its sensual nature. I like the feel of the glass in my hands, the scents on the nose, the complexity of flavors as they caress the palate. The buzz isn’t always the attraction (tho it can be fun).

The challenge with many dealcoholized wines is experiencing the same essences, flavors and mouthfeel of wine with alcohol. It usually just tastes like grape juice. Which is fine but…it just doesn’t have the same vibe. And pairing with food can be even more tricky.

Alcohol is often what gives wine its body and texture, creating that nice bounciness (or solid gravitas) on the tongue.

Dealcoholized wines contain the exact grape varietals as its boozy counterpart. The difference in the processes used to remove the alcohol. This wine is created using the cold-filtration method.

Health Benefits of Dealcoholized Wine:

*Contains resveratrol, the component in red wine that has anti-oxidant properties

*Decreases stroke – promotes HDL (the good cholesterol) and decreases LDL (bad cholesterol)

*Anti-aging

*Anti-inflammatory – protecting cells, especially in the heart and brain from damage

*Less sugar and calories than wine with alcohol

All good things.

This year, I found a 2021 Ariel Dealcoholized Cabernet Sauvignon. $12.99

It had a lighter mouthfeel, bright essence of cherry with underlying earthiness that lingered for a bit on the finish. It’s refreshing little vibe is fun with a sweetness that’s not cloying. In the glass it has the clarity and deep ruby color of a Cab. HubbyDoug was fooled! He thought I’d already blown off my dry January pledge! Lol Such little faith.

Most dealcoholized winemakers make it pretty clear that their wine will taste different than what wine drinkers are typically used to. And that’s true. But for the pure enjoyment of a beverage with all the benefits of red wine ( and none of the side effects) it’s a nice change.

So raise a glass to Dry January to all those who participate!

Cheers!🍷

Copyright. The Wine Student. 2024

Turkey Time Wine! 🍷🦃

Now I know you’re not going to have just a turkey on your table. But I wanted to keep it simple and spotlight the star of the show (though maybe it’s a featured player, as we all know the real star is you).✨

According to Food and Wine magazine, turkey’s rich flavor profile; light and dark meat, and its juicy texture matches well with a wide variety of wines and traditional side dishes.

Keep in mind that what’s good for the turkey is probably going to be good for the side dishes.

•Dry Riesling– OK… wait a minute, this isn’t the sugar bomb you think it is. Many have the view that riesling always equals cloyingly sweet. But this dry offering is the riesling you never knew you wanted. High acidity and plentiful minerality make this a most agreeable turkey companion.

•Chardonnay – Sometimes chosen because of its name recognition, Chardonnay can be a wonderful pairing with turkey. Crisp acidity, and fuller-bodied vibe make it a pleasure to sip. Old World offerings, particularly from France, are more citrus-forward with a stalwart mineral heart. New World Chards from the US, Australia and South America have a juicier, stone fruit vibe.
Hint: Add a little to the turkey as you baste.

•Gamay – The Beaujolais grape, but skip past the Nouveau and head straight for a more mature offering to enjoy. Pleasant high acid, lo tannin, and a satisfying grippy mouthfeel make this wine one of the best pairings with turkey.

•Pinot Noir – A classic, Pinot Noir’s playful flavors of cherry make this a great pairing for both turkey and your favorite sides. Pinots from France have a grounded, earthy, mushroom-y, tart cherry gravitas where New World Pinots brings forth a brighter complex cherry vibe. 🍒

•Viognier – An excellent, but not as well known match, Viognier’s whispers of honey and rich ripe stone fruit essences are wonderful with the tender turkey. Look for amazing offerings from Northern Rhone, South Africa and Australia.

•Zinfandel – Jammy, juicy and fruit forward, this wine is a boss pairing with both light and dark turkey meat, and many traditional Tgiving sides.
A big hit on turkey day, you might want to splurge and buy a couple of bottles. 😉

•Champagne – Bubbles and high acidity make this wine a merry treat to cut through the richness of the turkey and all side dishes.
And it makes your holiday table scape even more festive and fun! 🥂

When all is said and done, these are simply suggestions to dial back some of the guesswork when picking your wine. In the end, it’s really about sharing time with family and friends. And whatever wine(s) you choose to adorn your Thanksgiving table this year, I hope you have happy and healthy holiday!🧡

Cheers!🍷🦃

©️ Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Hallowine Roundup ‘23!🎃🍷🩸

It’s a crisp October night. Candles lit, you nestle in with a great horror novel. The moon is full, suddenly there’s the sound of leaves rustling outside. You shake off the sensation of the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. It’s just
silly jitters.
And then you hear the scratching at the window…

One of my favorite Halloween novels is Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. I also loved the classic 1979 film version to get my creep on and send shivers down my spine. The freaky glowing eyes, the glimpse of fangs in the moonlight, the creepy little kids wanting to come in and play, the slow creak of the rocking chair in the empty room upstairs. And that house.

Lore tells you never to invite a vampire inside your home. But these two are ok. Let them in.

Check out the video below for more spooky fun!👇

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19 Crimes ~ Dracula🩸

With the cool glow-in-the-dark label, this red blend is something to sink your fangs into.
It’s a deep red velvet color as you pour it in the glass.

On the nose:
• black cherry
• spice

Flavor profile:
• bursts of dark cherry
• plum
• whisper of vanilla

Pairs well with:
• Roasted lamb or pork
• Hearty aged cheeses

$15.99

I paired mine with smoked gouda and prosciutto on pumpernickel toast points. Yum!

Not only does the label glow in the dark, it has a cool AR interactive feature that adds to the fun. Simply scan and enjoy. Check it out below!

2022 Steven Graf Bloody🩸

Organically grown in France’s Loire Valley, this Bloody wine is made from hand-harvested Grolleau grapes. Picking by hand is what can account for a higher price point. This is labour intensive work. Similar to Pinot Noir, this grape variety is thin-skinned, has fewer tannins, and is very susceptible to damage and disease. Extra care must be taken. Whole cluster fermentation is also used to impart more of a fruit forward quality and give a bright acidity on the palate.

The color is a bright, vibrant red as it pours. It seems to levitate just like Danny Glick floating to your window.

On the nose:
• blackberry
• cherry

Flavor profile:
• sour cherry ( a little like a Jolly Rancher)
• herbaceous
• earthy vibe

Pairs well with:
• Red peppers staked with goat cheese
• Grilled seasoned chicken
• Mild creamy cheeses
• Patè

$30.00

With the bright acidity of the wine, I paired with a hot creamy Gruyere cheese dip. So good!

Both wines are great choices to compliment lighter bites, and they’re lots of fun to dress up your Halloween table.👻🎃

It’s wise to be careful this time of year. But with these two wines, you’ll be sure to let the right one in.🧛🏻‍♂️

Cheers!🍷🩸

Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Adventures in Wine: Niagara! 🍇🍷🍇



•Eco-wine tour w/ Owen’s Hiking & Adventures @ Vineland Estates

•Ice Wine Cocktail Party

•Lazy Saturday Tasting @ iCellars Estate Winery

They say you can’t go home again. I’m happy to report that’s not always true. I went home to Niagara this past weekend. And it was wonderful!

Click the video below for more fun!

🗓️Friday – At Vineland Estates, my friend Deb and I got out on the vineyard (and part of the Bruce Trail) with Owen Bjorgan of Owen’s Hiking and Adventures. We learned about the Niagara bench ecosystems, how they affect the vineyards and the resulting wine. It was awesome to taste the wines in the spot they were grown.

Winding our way from the Riesling vineyard through a small nearby forest, Owen explained how the forest, in close proximity, provides numerous ecosystem benefits to vineyards, such as increased whole-farm yield, increased soil water-holding capacity, reduced erosion, cleaner watersheds. With this being a natural agroforest ( it was there first), set a little away from the vines, there is little to no competition for nutrients, resources and light. All the benefits and no fighting.

It was incredible to leisurely hike, enjoy the cool of the forest, and end our tour back in the sunny warmth of the vineyard. It’s very healing spending time in nature… the wine didn’t hurt, either!🍷

Next up: the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Ice Wine Cocktail Party – benefitting Rotary International Projects and Red Roof Retreat – who provide respite care for Niagara’s Special Needs families.

Hailed as the ‘event of the summer’ and held at Hiscott House, a private residence in Niagara-on-the-Lake, my friend Steffanie and I enjoyed, of course, fabulous Ice Wine cocktails. 🍸 Add to that a diverse menu of savory and sweet treats, ending the evening with a chocolate Ice Wine shot. It was the place to see and be seen, and was a great evening for great causes. ✨

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🗓️Saturday – with Friday being so busy, it was great to slow down, chill and have a lazy Saturday. Deb, Shiona and I met for a leisurely wine tasting at iCellars Estate Winery. This is a favorite spot, especially during harvest. We meditated on our flights of Chardonnay, Rose, the Arinna Red Blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This year’s pick – the Cab Sauv!

We spent some time after our flights enjoying a glass outside on the patio, gazing out as the golden sun warmed the vineyard.

And as we drove away, I saw a motorcycle with two dogs in goggles in the sidecar. And I know what you’re thinking… what do they put in their wine? I asked Deb if she saw it too. She did.

Luckily, I got a picture.

If you’re in the Niagara region, make a point of experiencing these great wineries. There are so many to choose from, and each with their own unique style.

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. 2023. The Wine Student.

Easy Breezy Picnic Picks!🏖️

I love Rosé. I love it in summer. I love it in my picnic basket. But I was looking for a change. I wanted a couple of wines that were light and refreshing but not my usual go to. I circled back to a couple of wines that I’ve not had in a while: Pinot Gris and Beaujolais.

As for my picnic treats, I strayed from the usual fare of potato or macaroni salad, instead pivoting to a crunchy Asian Ramen Salad with fresh peaches, Grilled Cauliflower salad w/ Feta, and Dill Deviled Eggs. Yum!

For the wine I chose a 2022 J Vineyards Pinot Gris and a 2021 Chateau de Jarnioux Beaujolais.

Check out the video below for more!👇

Made from Gamay grapes, this is no Beaujolais Nouveau, which is consumed right after harvest, and of which I’m not generally a fan. It’s way way too young. This wine was light-bodied, fruity and earthily floral. Paired with the Asian ramen salad, it brought out more of the fruit and had a lovely finish that lingered. Often, I find Beaujolais a little too fleeting but this pairing was both lively and light, highlighting the ripe peach flavors in the salad.

I paired the Pinot Gris with both the dill deviled eggs and the grilled cauliflower. While starting out with subtle flavors of white peach, cantaloupe and lemon zest, I liked the brightness and acidity that picked up nuances in the Dijon mustard and seasoning, while cutting a nice little swath through the creamy richness of the dill/egg mixture. With the cauliflower, its subtle vibe melded well with the creamy feta and brought out the heat of the red pepper, especially on the finish. It was like little fireworks on the tongue, an unexpected but nice surprise. It was a totally different wine with this pairing.✨

And I guess that goes to show you; first impressions are not always what they seem. Sometimes circling back can help you discover what you may have missed the first time around.

I think that’s one of the many things I love about wine – the flavors and characteristics they possess on their own, and how that can completely change when paired with food. Textures, protein, fruit, vegetal vibes can bring out so much more depth on both sides of the equation. Food + wine = awesome!

Whatever you choose to pair with your holidays, may they be safe and happy.🏖️🎢🎡

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023