Ottawa Women's Wine Club: VINO VIXENS!

Date : August 23, 2007 – Julie hosted the last summer wine club with a pool party and spritzers! We had different selections of wine and mix to try and find the ultimate spritzer blend. Wines : Jackson Triggs Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and a E&JG rosé (I think!). Our 4 mixers : Fresca, Lychee soda, the regular Club Soda and Perrier. Enjoyed with : a “summer selection” of Baguette and brie with mango chutney; pasta salad; bean salad; spinach salad with candied walnuts, goat cheese and strawberries; and honey garlic meatballs. Comments : Personally, I didn’t notice a difference with the 2 white wines. My favourite was the white with soda and a bit of Fresca to sweeten it up (my parents both came out for a try and enjoyed this concoction as well). Using all Fresca or Lychee was a bit too sweet, and all soda didn’t do it for me (but I don’t really like club soda that much to begin with!). As for the rosé – I like it just the way it is! Girls – what were your favourites? Write a com

Date : June 6, 2008 Host : Anna, who paired great wines with delicious homemade pizzas (and a big thanks to Marc who helped on that front - and got to show off the marvelous new kitchen!!) Pizza #1 – Proscuitto & Pear (pesto sauce, proscuitto, blue cheese, pecans, pear, drizzle of honey) Jane Crawford 2007, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95) – we all agreed that this was an excellent wine with this pizza. The blue cheese was nicely complimented with this sauv. Blanc. Pizza #2 – BBQ Chicken (bbq chicken, caramelized onions, bbq sauce, tomato sauce & a bit of Tobasco, fontina cheese) Amano Primitivo Puglia 2006 , Zinfandel ($15.95) Pizza #3 – Turkey Kelbasa – (turkey kelbasa, fresh basil, tomato sauce, feta cheese) Chianti Classico, Rocca Delle Macie, 2005 ($19.95) – everyone thought this wine and food pairing was exceptionally tasty. Pizza #4 – Spicy Hungarian Salami (Hungarian salami, kalamata olives, red peppers, spicy tomato sauce) Old Patch Red , Trentadue Winery, S

Location: Sara-Rose’s Date: May 16, 2007 Theme: Viognier – Chardonnay’s sexy sister Attendees: Sara-Rose, Shereen, Jacquie, Tayisa and Almost-A-Mommy-Julie, with guest appearances by Andrea and Carmela Wines: Wine #1: Louis Latour Chardonnay Region: Bourgogne, France Vintage: 2006 Price: $15.95 Notes from the LCBO: D eep straw colour; citrus, melon fruit, anise and flinty aromas and flavours with hints of vanilla and nuts; cry, medium bodied with crisp and clean acidity. Serve with: Grilled chicken, shrimp satays or pork dishes. Wine #2:d’Arenberg The Last Ditch Viognier Region: Adelaide , South Australia Vintage: 2006 Price: $19.95 Notes from the LCBO: Distinctive and quite weighty varietal mouthfeel, but not heavy, oily or phenolic; moderate alcohol is counterbalanced by barrel ferment and 9 months in oak. Drink [until] 2009. Score - 90. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, March 2007) Wine #3: Calatrasi Accademia del Sole Viognier Region:

Host: Sara-Rose Date: September 7, 2007 Theme: No Longer Just for Raising a Glass – Delicious Sparkling Wines & Food Pairings Attendees: Carmela, Anna, Shereen, Julie, Jacquie, Tayisa, and Tayisa’s friend, Maggie The Evening’s Menu: Salted Almonds Figs & Melon wrapped in proscuitto (& some without) Scallop cakes on greens with an orange vinaigrette Halibut and cherry tomato skewers Rosemary chicken skewers with an orange dipping sauce Dark Chocolate CAVAS: CAVA #1: SEGURA VIUDAS LAVIT BRUT NATURE CAVA 2003 Price: $ 14.95 LCBO Description: This fine fizz is a blend of 60% Macabeo (a.k.a. Viura) and 40% Parellada. The aromas are a pleasing blend of butter, toast, pear, apple and aniseed. It is dry with a refreshing, long finish. A great palate refresher or fine complement for sautéed vegetables, wild mushroom carpaccio or steamed clams or mussels. http://www.freixenet.es/web/minisites/sv/eng/cont.cfm

Host: Sara-Rose Date: March 28, 2008 Theme: A blind tasting of Saint-Emilion and Cabernet Merlot blends Attendees: Carmela, Tayisa, Anna, Shereen, Andrea, and Hot Mamma Julie Wine #1: Christian Moueix Saint-Emilion Region: Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux , France Vintage: 2005 Price: $19.75 Vino Vixens’ Tasting Notes : Rating: Bottom three Look: dark Smell: peppery, spicy & fruity, potent, caramel, light, floral Taste: acidic, dry, bitter, smooth, sour Flavours: plum, current, white pepper, prune Overall thoughts: dry, strong flavour, not as strong and very good with lamb LCBO Tasting Notes: Pretty ruby/purple colour leads to an equally attractive nose of raspberry eau-de-vie, vanilla, tobacco leaf, cherry and sweet herbs. Dry with an elegant structure, the fruit is nicely wrapped in ripe tannins. Not a huge wine, but beautifully polished. Medium-bodied with a medium-long finish. Try it with veal tenderloin or cellar it for up to three years. (VINTAG

Date: March 7, 2008 Host: Carmela Company: Shereen, Tayisa, S-R, Jacquie, Andrea, Julie and the BIRTHDAY GIRL Anna:) Special Note: I think I (Julie) lost the wine club notes, so we don't have the wine names... BUT - the good news is, the favourites for many were Nono's homemade wines! Julie especially enjoyed the de-alcoholized red wine;) (sweet friends we have eh?) Carmela served some AMAZING sicilian food, and delicious homemade cannolis...mmmm

Date: February 8th, 2008 Host: Shereen