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***CarMela's May Mélange*** May 22, 2015

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Striking a pose... Pretty colours! Beautiful smiles Featuring a special guest Rose Coppola Sofia - $19.95 . We seemed to like this one. A little dry. We like the label and the name! Casal Thaulero Sangiovese Terre di Chieti - $7.75 . Our most economical but drinkable. Julie enjoyed this one but it burned her nostrils when she tried to sniff it. Lesson learned: good for drinking and not for smelling.  Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale - $22.45. Second most expensive but most liked! Cab Merlot Organic Frogpond Farm - $24.00. Most expensive and most earthy...it was OK.  Fonseca Periquita White - $8.95. Should have had this first! Light and easy, but difficult to appreciate after the heavier flavours.   Fennel, orange and olive salad Lamb, mint sauce, nut loaf, corn, watermelon + feta salad I want your cannoli nooooowwww! Too many cannoli...

SMOKIN!

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Wine Club at Julie's Date : April 11, 2015 Theme : Zinfandel ... with Smoked BBQ brisket Company : Shereen, Reem, Jacquie, Andrea, Anna, Melissa, Sara-Rose Menu : Smoked Brisket Smoked Lasagna rolls Roasted potatoes Smoked beans Green beans with shallots Apple & Cabbage Coleslaw Apple Crisp Lessons of the night: Zinfandel is considered California's heritage grape.    We tested 'regular' vine vs 'old vine' Zinfandels. While there is no legal definition for what classifies a vine as 'old', some California vineyards are over 125 years old, and there is a general belief that older vines give better, more intense flavoured wine. Overall I think we noticed a difference, and found the old vine selections more full-bodied than their younger counterparts. Wines: Dancing Bull Zinfandel LCBO 00669499, $13.95 Excellent, light wine - liked by all, would buy again.  (Even went nicely with the Chicago mix!) Cline Z...

July 11, 2014 - What wines pair well with the 'Specific Carbohydrate Diet'?

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We just chillin'....  Price list For more info on the 'Specific Carbohydrate Diet' go to:   www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info

Caribbean Wine Club @ Julie's June 21, 2014

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Theme : Caribbean food with wine pairing Date : June 21, 2014 Guests : Tayisa, Shereen, Reem, Carm, Andrea, Jacquie MENU : Coconut Sangria and fruit kebabs Sangria Recipe: 1 bottle of white wine (Pinot optimally; Chardonnay if you prefer something a little more acidic) 1.5 cups of Malibu 1/2 cup of frozen Limeade 2 cups of pineapple juice 1 Starfruit Chopped mango, lime, pineapple or your tropical fruit of choice 1 can (355 mL) Sprite or 7-Up (Add just before serving) Cream Cheese crab dip with crackers Recipe:  http://www.food.com/recipe/cream-cheese-crab-dip-caribbean-372707 Caribbean Green salad with orange vinaigrette Recipe:  http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/05/caribbean-salad-with-sweet-orange-vinaigrette/ Tilapia with mango salsa and coconut rice Recipe:  http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/214541/mahi-mahi-with-coconut-rice-and-mango-salsa I omitted the salsa and made my own:  http://m.allrecipes.com...

Mexican and Wine

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Theme - Mexican and Wine Pairing Friday February 21, 2014 - Anna's Wine Club Attendance: Jacquie, Andrea, Carmela, Shereen, Reem, Tayisa, Julie Food: Shredded Beef Tacos (Carne Deshebrada) and Cumin scented black beans Dessert: Lemon coffee cake with side of raspberry/blueberry sorbet Wine: Sophora Sparkling Rosé ($19.95 - #353664) – entry is almost sweet with raspberry but has a nice lemon curd backing. (*** ½+) SCINTILLA D'AMORE LAMBRUSCO DI SORBARA LCBO 336065 | 750 mL bottle  ($14.60)   CASTILLO DE MONSERAN GARNACHA LCBO 73395 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 9.95 4. LAS ROCAS GARNACHA LCBO 269977 | 750 mL bottle ($15.60) 5. SELLA & MOSCA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA RISERVA (V) VINTAGES 425488 | 750 mL...

Moroccan Dinner for Wine Club @ Shereen's - Sept. 20, 2013

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Excerpts below are taken from various internet searches. We enjoyed a delicious Moroccan chicken stew and apple crisp for dessert. BIG HOUSE CARDINAL ZIN 2012 California $13.45 It's still an outstanding Zinfandel, made from "Beastly Old Vines," as it says on the label. The winery selects grapes from all around the state. Some of the vines are more than 100 years old, so the yield is low and the quality high. It's a warm, spicy, silky wine full of blackberries and ripe fruit, but the alcohol is low (13 percent), so it doesn't overpower you. Sometimes you get a hint of vanilla, oak and herbs, as the complex flavors develop in your mouth. The grapes are 80 percent Zinfandel, 10 percent Mourvedre, 8 percent Carignane and 2 percent Petite Sirah. Now that the wine is part of the Big House Brand, the clever storyline says the Cardinal consoles the straying souls of the Big House. (All of their wines have something to do with ja...

Wine Club - Friday May 25th, 2013 - Anna's place

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Wine Club – Friday May 24, 2013 Host: Anna Attendance: Jacquie, Julie, Shereen, Andrea, Sara-Rose Part One: Wine and Cheese pairing FORREST ESTATE THE DOCTORS' SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 (V) Tasting Note Aromas and flavours of citrus fruit and sweet peach intermingle with characteristic grassy notes. A truly solid example of Marlborough Savvy that delivers on all points. Following a lengthy consultation, the Doctors on our panel determined that the best course of action would be to prescribe taking this with food, and recommend crab legs or grilled chicken. Price $ 19.95 Made in: Marlborough, New Zealand Paired with: Fresh Goat Cheese with onion raisin chutney Le Mini Chevrot (pasteurized goat’s cheese)      Sainte-Maure Cendre (mountain ash soft goat cheese) RAVENSWOOD VINTNERS BLEND OLD VINE ZINFANDEL (V) Price $ 17.95 Made in: California, USA Paired with: Blue Cheese COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES MERLOT 2008 Tas...