Question: Recently tried a few wines that showed a rubber smell. What is that and how can you get rid of it?

Answer: Probably a sulphur issue or mercaptans – giving off those rubbery strong onion & garlic aromas. Also can be the result of a reductive style of winemaking or screwcap closure (resulting in an absence of oxygen) that may be improved by decanting the wine. Another thing to try is adding a penny (an old one made of real copper) into the decanter or your glass. Not always totally successful but usually helps. Just like trying that trick of plastic wrap for a corky TCA problem. Good luck.

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By Joseph Temple

Want to add flare to your next dinner party? Try using wine in your favorite dessert recipe. Traditional all American apple pie with red wine caramel sauce. Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon move from the dinner setting to the sweetest part of every meal.

1. Vidal Ice Wine Ice Cream with fresh fruit

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b2. Chardonnay Roasted Apples with Custard Sauce
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3. Madeira Soaked Fruit Cake

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4. Riesling Fall Fruit Compote and Creamy Yogurt Parfait
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5. Merlot Cherry and Blueberry Chocolate Cake
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6.  Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Cabernet Franc Poached Cherries

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7. Gewürztraminer and Rose Sorbets with Coulis

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8. Sauvignon Blanc and Lime Refresher
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9. Stone Fruit Bread Pudding with Moscato Reduction
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10. Riesling Poached Pear Almond Cake
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Question: Confused about the wine speak words of variety or varietal. Are they interchangeable?

Answer: Not really.

“Variety” is best used to describe the grape type: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir etc.

Use the word “varietal” only to describe the wine made from that specific variety: a varietal wine made from the grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, or Merlot, or Pinot Noir etc. Not used for blends.

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By Joseph Temple

Back to school always brings back memories of falling leaves, freshly sharpened pencils, and of course, brown paper bag lunches.  A thermos of milk and a PB&J has its place, but if you’re looking for something a little more grown-up, try some of these tasty treats.

1. Fresh salad with a bit of cheese and crunchy fresh bread – add some salmon or chicken
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2. Creamy Greek yogurt with seasonal fruit, nuts, and a touch of honey is perfect for the mid-morning break.
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3. An upgrade for the classic pizza roll-up, spinach, spicy sausage and soft cheese.  When you make it at home, the flavour combinations are limitless.
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4. Fruits and Veggies are always a healthy choice and easily jazzed up with with a bit of dip.  Why not try some chocolatey hazelnut spread mixed with yogurt for berries?
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5. Like a hot lunch?  Bake an extra portion in a smaller container for tomorrow’s lunch.
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6. Kick up a regular sandwich with sprouted grain bread, brie, and a combination chutneys and greens
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7. A left-over vegetable frittata is an simple way to get an afternoon protein boost
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8. Popcorn is a snack favortie!  Why not add some Parmesan cheese or chipotle seasoning for an afternoon pick-me-up?
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9. Cheese and crackers are great for a dinner party, so why not for lunch too?
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10. No matter how old you are, cookies, especially homemade are on just about everybody’s list!
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Question: My boyfriend and me are eating more sushi and haven’t found our best wine match yet. Your tip please?

Answer: Yes an ideal match with a variety of sushi can be elusive. Cold beer usually works quite well – especially with the wasabi. Any well chilled Sparkling should also be a safe bet. Bubbles help avoid that sometimes metallic taste you can get with some still white wines and especially bolder reds when matched with fish but usually shellfish. However, there are lots of softer fuller whites that will accentuate the rich buttery textures of tuna. My tip would be to experiment with different Sparkling wines to find the one pairing you enjoy most.

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