No Time for Bad Wine

A Backyard Spectacle

Posted July 30th, 2010 09:07 by Tom Firth

The wine industry is full of what could be politely called ‘one-upmanship,’ which aside from the usual “what I drank vs. what you drank,” or with whom, or where, it also includes a number of other measuring sticks. This would include using a butler’s friend or ‘ah-so’ bottle opener, opening a bottle with a shoe and one of my favourites, opening a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine with a sabre.

Champagne French sabrage sabre sparkling wine Willowpark Winefest

Ravenswood at the Calgary Stampede

Posted July 19th, 2010 12:07 by Tom Firth

During the Calgary Stampede, beer is usually the beverage of choice, followed by rye, Jack Daniels and a few other spirits. Most of the beverage industry events in Cowtown during Stampede reflect these preferences, but I don’t go to all that many Jack Daniels events and I firmly believe that Budweiser isn’t beer. So the Stampede is a time for me to relax a little, aside from a few smaller events or social functions that I either host or attend.

Barbeque Calgary Stampede Cowboy Cowtown Jack Daniels Joel Peterson Lodi Ravenswood Vincor

Make Time for Calgary’s Vine and Dine

Posted July 13th, 2010 08:07 by Tom Firth

I finally got the chance to go to Vine and Dine the other night and was suitably impressed. For those that might not be familiar with Vine and Dine, this is a series of year-round Calgary dinner events hosted by CBC Radio’s Linda Garson. Vine and Dine puts together an evening centered around a multi-course meal that is paired with appropriate wines.

Calgary CBC Radio Dine Escoba food Linda Garson pairing Vine wine

Behind the Scenes at the IVWA

Posted July 5th, 2010 12:07 by Tom Firth

My primary role at Wine Access is to manage and produce our two wine competitions, the Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA) and the Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards (CWA). While very similar in most respects, they are unique in their own ways.

behind the scenes competition International Value Wine Awards IVWA wine

Great Wines from the Austrian Wine Tasting

Posted June 23rd, 2010 08:06 by Tom Firth

I had the opportunity to attend a tasting of Austrian wines hosted by Christian Finz, formerly with the Austrian Wine group, who is based in Calgary with the beverage importer Delancy Direct.

In my last blog post, I highlighted a couple of wines that I enjoyed from the evening. Here are a few more to round out the list.

Loimer Grüner-Veltliner Reserve Terrassen-Kamptal DAC 2008

Austria Calgary Grüner-Veltliner Kamptal Kremstal Riesling Thermal wine Wine Meetup Zweigelt

Österreich Wein: You’ll love it

Posted June 22nd, 2010 10:06 by Tom Firth

In late May, I was able to enjoy yet another fantastic wine tasting that rarely comes along. On May 20, I was the guest of the Calgary Wine Meetup Group, which is a social group that gets together to taste and enjoy wine. With over 256 members, it is one of the largest of its kind in Canada. The wines tasted that evening were a number of interesting and rare Austrian wines.

Austria Calgary Grüner-Veltliner Kamptal Kremstal Riesling Thermal wine Wine Meetup Zweigelt

Blending Wines at the Cinq Cepage Blending Seminar

Posted May 27th, 2010 08:05 by Tom Firth

Blending Chateau Cinq Cepage Seminar St. Jean Tasting

Terroir and Zinfandel at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Posted May 25th, 2010 10:05 by Tom Firth

After another late evening, my Friday at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival started with “Get the Dirt on New Zealand Terroir.” Yes, this is the sort of thing I like to do with my time.

This tasting was designed to focus on the regional characteristics of New Zealand wines by discussing and tasting examples from several viticultural regions, such as Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay, and explaining the differences that the terroir can have on the wines. These sorts of tasting seminars work best with smaller groups and fewer wines.

Hawke’s Bay Hope Family Marlborough New Zealand Ravenswood Roots Seghesio Terroir Zinfandel

Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival: A Trade Tasting and Rosé-Rama!

Posted May 20th, 2010 10:05 by Tom Firth

Thursday is the day that the festival really starts for most people. It began with the Opening Plenary on Australian and New Zealand wines, which was followed by the Trade Days Lunch (sounds a little lofty but it is basically an industry lunch with welcome speeches and a chance to meet new people,) and the Trade Tasting.

Australia Henkell Innocent Bystander LA Cetto New Zealand Pink Moscato Playhouse Rose-Rama Vancouver

Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival: The Magic Begins

Posted May 12th, 2010 09:05 by Tom Firth

“You have the best job!”

I hear this a lot.

Granted, it’s pretty awesome. I eat a lot of great meals, drink an abundance of spectacular wines, and travel to loads of places. But other times, I wish I could watch TV in my pyjamas on my own sofa, eating grocery store yellow cheese (I’m loathe to call it cheddar) on crackers for dinner.

Boekenhoutskloof california Campganolo Canvas Lounge Fetzer Appetizer Challenge Moustache Café Playhouse Reinharthausen Seghesio Sonja Christ Vancouver Wine Festival Zest Fest