Allison McNeely
Allison McNeely is the web editor of Wine Access. Her work has appeared on websites, blogs and in print. She loves running and is the magazine's resident web nerd.
10 Sparkling Wines for Valentine's Day
Bubblies to enjoy on the Day of Love
Photo: Joshua Blais
Top Canadian Sparkling Wines
The best sparkling wines at the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Awards
(37 entries, 24 medals)
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91Points
Slightly darker in colour than its contemporaries at the 2011 Canadian Wine Awards, the nose is toasty and autolytic, with lemon, apple, slightly smoky, honey and mineral notes. Fairly spicy on the palate, with near perfect balance. A pleasure to drink. This wine won a gold medal at the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Awards.
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Recipe: Smoked Salmon Mousse with Walnut Salsa Verde
The walnut salsa verde adds a hit of tanginess to the rich flavours and creamy texture of the smoked salmon mousse
Ingredients
Smoked Salmon Mousse
- 1 cup hot smoked salmon, flaked
- 1 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp shallot, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3 sli rye bread
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Walnut Salsa Verde
- 1/3 cup walnuts
- 2 tbsp sweet gherkins, minced
- 2 tbsp each fresh dill, mint and parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp capers, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Makes: 15 to 18 pieces
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 2 minutes
Total time: 22 minutes
Smoked Salmon Mousse with Walnut Salsa Verde Cooking Directions
Combine salmon, mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, shallot and lemon juice in a medium bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, combine the walnut salsa verde ingredients.
With a cookie cutter or shot glass and a knife, slice the rye bread into 1 ½-inch (3.5 cm) rounds and brush each side with melted butter. Toast the rye bread rounds in a non-stick skillet on medium heat until browned on both sides.
Source: walnutinfo.com
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Brits Hope for English Sparkling Wine at Royal Wedding
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The British Monarchy has a long tradition of enjoying French Champagne, but some Britons are hoping that Prince William and Catherine Middleton will select English sparkling wine for their wedding reception.
Allison McNeely
Allison McNeely is the web editor of Wine Access. Her work has appeared on websites, blogs and in print. She loves running and is the magazine's resident web nerd.
Last-Minute Bubbly
Last-minute Champagne and sparkling wine recommendations for Valentine's Day
Still don't have a sparkling wine picked out for this evening? Try one of these recommendations — they're tasty and great value.
91 Taittinger Brut Réserve
Champagne, France
Nice toasty, honey, peach, baked pear, cherry, citrus and mineral aromas. Fresh, clean, fairly dry and very elegant with fine mousse. Light nutty, toasty, mineral, citrus, baked green apple, honey, strawberry and citrus flavours. Fine mousse, balanced, crisp and fresh, with light sweetness and brioche on the finish. Delicious, very attractive style and very easy to drink. Well done.
Tasted By: Anthony Gismondi
BC: $62 AB: $65 SK: $58 MB: $54 ON: $53 Vintages QC: $54
90 Veuve Clicquot Brut
Champagne, France
Palate is fine and round, if a touch foamy, with a crisp edge balanced by the brut sweetness, creaminess and fattiness. Citrus, nutty, toasty, green apple, cherry and mineral flavours, with a touch of grapefruit and orange on the finish. Good intensity and it will improve a bit in bottle.
Tasted By: Anthony Gismondi
BC: $70 AB: $52 SK: $54 MB: $65 ON: $65 QC: $67 NB: $63 NS: $68 NL: $70
88 Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
Cava, Spain
Our annual appraisal of this bargain bubbly seldom wavers. Floral, nutty and lemon notes greet the nose while the palate is fresh, with creamy mousse, dried pears, citrus, apple, nutty, honey and almond flavours. The finish is dry but elegant, with plenty of flavour. A grade “A” sparkler made for appetizers or light meals.
Tasted By: Anthony Gismondi
BC: $14 AB: $16 MB: $15 ON: $15 QC: $14 NB: $16 NL: $17
86 Two Oceans 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Brut
South Eastern Australia
The Two Oceans delivers plenty of sauv blanc characteristics on both the nose and palate - gooseberry, grapefruit and bell pepper, with a briney biscuit note followed by a touch of slate minerality. Not top-shelf sparkling wine, but represents excellent value that is ideal for seafood or mimosas.
Tasted By: Anthony Gismondi
AB: $12 ON: $12 QC: $12 NB: $14 NS: $12 PEI: $13 NL: $12
85 Yellow Tail Bubbles
South Eastern Australia
Fresh, foamy, crisp and slightly sweet, with grapefruit, peach, honey, floral, mineral and ginger aromas and flavours. A simple, easy-to-drink and tank-fermented bubbly.
Tasted By: Anthony Gismondi
BC: $14 AB: $15 SK: $14 MB: $14 ON: $14 NB: $15 NS: $14 NL: $14
Wine Questions: Sparkling Reds
All about sparkling red wine
An introduction to sparkling red wine, including when and how to serve it and pairing tips.
For more Wine Questions videos, visit our video archive.
Allison McNeely
Allison McNeely is the web editor of Wine Access. Her work has appeared on websites, blogs and in print. She loves running and is the magazine's resident web nerd.
Sparkling Wine and Suckling Pig in Barraida
Exploring one of Portugal's lesser-known wine regions
On my most recent trip to Portugal, I was absolutely stoked to participate in a brief side trip to a wine region of my choice. I was asked to rank my preferences among the Douro, Vinho Verde, Bairrada and Dão.
I have already visited the Douro and was blessed to spend a week in Vinho Verde back in September, but Bairrada and Dão didn’t immediately jump to mind as interesting wine regions to visit. The best reason I could come up with to visit Bairrada were the wines by Luis Pato.
I ended up on the Bairrada trip.
Tom Firth
Tom Firth is a writer, wine consultant, judge and a member of the Wine Access National Tasting Panel. He loves to chat about all things wine and blogs for wineaccess.ca, tweets as @cowtownwine and is a general nuisance.
Wine Questions: Champagne
An introduction to Champagne styles and serving
A quick introduction to Champagne styles, including serving suggestions and price information.
For more Wine Questions videos, visit our video archive.
Allison McNeely
Allison McNeely is the web editor of Wine Access. Her work has appeared on websites, blogs and in print. She loves running and is the magazine's resident web nerd.
