accompaniment to any braised beef ribs, eggplant Parmesan or one I most enjoy, homemade Italian Bolognese. Without a doubt, the heavy smoke and ash that follows devastating wildfires, will surely affect tourism in all three of these wine producing regions, something we in PEI could relate to if we had the same devastating losses. The next time you’re dining out at one of our wonderful local restaurants, know that most carry a selection from all three of these regions. Choose wisely.
The wineries in Adelaide Hills, which happen to be producing some of the most exciting wines currently, are some of the hardest hit so far. Not only is there a risk of ‘smoke taint’ from smoke absorption, which can be absorbed through the skins during the ripening period, but the smoke filled skies limit sunlight exposure that is detrimental to the ripening of wine grapes. With their short term damage noticeable right now, long term damage caused by the high heat may not be fully established until much later. Needless to say, let’s start 2020 out by supporting Australian winemakers. PEI Liquor stores have a wide selection from Jacob’s Creek, to Yellow Tail, but one of my personal favourites is the 2017 Pinot Grigio from Wolf Blass. This Gris is more light bodied, crisp with just the right amount of acidity. Welcoming gorgeous flavours of pear and noticeable notes of ripe green apple. With a clean faint lemon finish, this food friendly dry white wine pairs exceptionally well with seafood, especially sushi. For me this is often a stand alone summer patio wine and it’s definitely on hand when lobster season starts! It retails for just $17.99. As the ashes settle in Sonoma California, one of the world’s most renowned wine regions, and home to more than 450 wineries spanning over 70,000 acres, this peaceful valley is assessing the Kincade Fire damage throughout this increasingly fire-prone region. Many of the well known wineries are now reflecting upon how fortunate that most of their 2019 grapes had been harvested and the vineyards remained nearly unharmed by the worst wild fire in the states history that started this past October. As climate change impacts extreme weather, wild fire events will certainly increase both in size and have the potential to become catastrophic to California’s wine country. Choosing my Chardonnays from this particular California region, not only makes for an easy choice, it in turn supports the industry.
Chardonnay drinkers all know that some of the best vintages come out of Sonoma County. Chardonnay is received as a clean, dry white wine that is very versatile. It pairs well with seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes. The PEI liquor store in Charlottetown showcases a variety of Californian Chardonnays. The 2016 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, retails for $34.29, and is certainly well worth it. It’s a well balanced, mid-bodied table wine with a slightly intense mouthfeel. This Chardonnay opens with aromas of oak, with subtle hints of baked spiced apple. Complex tasting notes of white peach, a hint of creamy lemon, with a little river rock round out each sip, while the lively acidity helps to keep the flavours moving. My favourite dish to pair this with? Mushroom Risotto. Back in British Columbia, Canada, our west coast wine country is looking for ways to protect their Okanagan wine region. With the increase of surrounding wildfires and the heavy smoke that continually looms over the valley, growers are concerned about the impact of the smoke to the grapes. The taint is untraceable in the grape itself, and only becomes apparent when fermented, making it difficult to detect during harvest. Unfortunately, winemakers can’t simply eat a grape and know if its affected. With the constant fear of smoke taint, Okanagan winemakers worry they may have to list ‘smoke’ as part of their terroir. An aromatic hint of smoke can be found in the 2016 Cabernet Merlot from 5 Vineyards by Mission Hills. While both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are dry ‘sister’ varietals, the Cabernet offers up it’s bold, robust richness but soon gives way to the Merlots delicately sweet fruitier flavours of lush wild blueberries. A bright flavour profile of black cherries, cassis, with an enticing unique tannic sensation on the tongue-finish out the tasting profiles making it one of my favourite blends, and it will soon be yours too. Reasonably priced at $21.99, it makes the perfect
Orginally from South Eastern Ontario, Jackie, her husband and teenage son, moved to PEI in 2016. While taking on a rather ambitious home renovation project, she also started a tour operation. HOP|SIP|SWIRL TASTING TOURS is a private winery, brewery & distillery business focusing on the evergrowing local artisan beverage industry. She's a true believer that life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by choice.
HOP | SIP | SWIRL TASTING TOURS 902-330-2739 www.hopsipswirl.ca
WINTER 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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