I have never been a fan of Ice Wines or wines with sweetness levels above 1. However, when I tried the Selection Speciale Okanakgan Peach Ice Wine from a few years ago, it was love at first taste.

If you like peaches you will love Okanagan Peach Icewine!

I recently removed a carboy of the 2008 release of the Selection Speciale Peach Icewine  from my cellar which has been bulk aging for 2 years. I was shocked by its deep, amber, peach colour and even more delighted by its sensuous mouth feel and its lingering taste of peach pie. If you like peaches, peach desserts or peach pie, give this kit a try.

I’m very pleased that it has been released again this year (it was not available in 2009). This Gold Medal winning treat will not disappoint.

Cheers,

Blaine (Wine Sense- Southdale Square)

-Contact your favourite Wine Sense location to reserve your Selection Speciale Okanagan Peach Icewine.

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Filed under: New Products, Wine by Craig

For some people, barbequed food is the best tasting food possible. I’ve personally even BBQ’d in January at -28c, huddled in the snow while the ribs slow-cooked on the back deck. No matter the food you grill- there is always a perfect wine to go with. Here are some of my favourites!

A favorite of mine for BBQ food is the versatile Selection International Spanish Rioja. It’s a medium to full bodied red wine that is spicey, oaky and fruity. A classic bold red wine that has a bright, fresh flavour and goes wondefully with steak and other hearty red meats. Best served at around 61-64*F. If it’s hot out, you maywish to put the wine in the fridge for a few minutes. If you serve a red wine too warm, it tastes mostl of alcohol and you loose the wonderful flavours.

Another great wine with ribs and big thick steak is Selection Original Luna Rossa. This proprietory, red blend is big, bold and bountiful with loads of rich black fruits and oak, plenty of tannins and structure that makes it a perfect pairing for big, meaty, grilled food.

Now if your more of a white wine person, try grilling up some fresh seafood and serving it with some fresh salads and adding an amazing Selection Estate Series ‘Small Lots’ BC Okanagan Chardonnay. A perfect wine to celebrate everything that is Canadian made with Canadian raw materials that are ‘as good as gold’!

So here’s a toast to you all! “May you enjoy the fruits of your labours and may all your days be filled with great family, great friends, great food and of course great wine – Salute”

Happy Barbequing,

Neil, Manager (Wine Sense- Brandon)

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Filed under: General, Wine by Craig

So how good is the Chocolate Raspberry Port you ask ??? éciale Chocolate Raspberry Port. My brother was amazed at how good it was- the flavour combination, the deep chocolate on your palate, followed by the tartness that the raspberries bring to it… There’s a reason it won Gold at the 2009 Winemaker Magazine!

Recently my brother was in town visiting from the west coast.  After a delicious BBQ and trying a few of my wines, it came time for dessert. I brought out a bottle of my  Selection Sp

Over the next few days my brother and I considerably depleted my Chocolate Raspberry Port stock. We enjoyed it with food, on it’s own, as a dessert and as a ‘night-cap’. 

Now I have to re-stock my wine rack with Chocolate Raspberry Port…

I’m also looking forward to trying the new Blackberry Port. Chocolater Raspberry Port- it’s that good… Dessert in a Bottle.

You can reserve your own Chocolate Raspberry Port by clicking here.

Cheers,

Victor, Manager (Wine Sense- McPhillips St.)

p.s. For those of you who are Icewine fans the very popular Okanagan Peach Icewine is returning since it’s original release in 2008- due to popular demand.

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Filed under: Wine by Craig

With Summer just around the corner I thought I would suggest a couple of my favourite white wines. We often think red wine once barbecue season is upon us but white wine has its place as well. Grilled chicken and fish, lighter salads and meals that don’t heat up the kitchen all pair nicely with a good white wine. There’s also nothing like a nice chilled glass of white wine on the patio.

Small Lots Estate Series BC Chardonnay-

The Estate Series BC Chardonnaywas first released about 10 years ago as one of 2 original Selection Estate Series wine kits. Winexpert sent us an 11.5 litre demo kit to make. I made it without oak as I was not a big fan of oak back then (how things change). I tried four bottles at certain times to see how it changed with ageing. Of course I tried the first bottle at day 1 of its life. I thought that it was good but very sharp (gee I wonder why). It continued to age nicely with nice ripe fruit showing through. When I had the last bottle (over 1 year old) I said that ‘this was the best white wine I had ever made’. It was quite fragrant with notes of fruit and honey and the taste was of peach, apple, pear and a hint of butter. It also had a mineral after taste… so good.

Needless to say I am very excited to have the opportunity to make it again! Keep in mind that it is currently released as a ‘Small Lot’ wine, which means it’s only available for a little while.

Selection Symphony-

Originally released as a Limited Edition wine and now available as a Selection Original kit, Symphonyis one of my all time favourites. I’ve entered this wine into the Winemaker Magazine International Amateur Wine Competition three times now, and have medaled each time (It’s not that I’m a pro to get these awards, but that I make quality kits and follow the instructions).

I love Symphony because it is light, fragrant and loaded with fruit- think of fruit salad in a glass. To me this wine tastes great from day one and the intensity of fruit increases with each passing day. At about one year of age the wine almost tastes like it’s carbonated because of the powerful fruit. This to me is a summer must do wine kit- you can make it now and have it ready to drink by the end of July.

Cheers,

Bob, Manager (Wine Sense- Springfield Road)

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Filed under: Wine by Craig