Question: Every region in the world seems to be making wine these days but which are the main wine-producing countries?
Answer: The Top 10 stats show the main producers as follows: 1 Italy, followed in a virtual tie for 2nd are France & Spain, then the USA (though California claims themselves as the 4th largest wine-producing region in the world), a fast-rising China in 5th, closely bunched are Australia, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa, plus quite a bit further back in 10th is Portugal.
Everyone has their own favourite local pizza place. Your scribe on his wine & food travels is always searching out for recommendations for the very best pizza. In Vancouver the champion Via Tevere PIzzeria is now being challenged by many others. Wineries are becoming popular pizza outlets too. In the Okanagan The Oven at Upper Bench Estate Winery has impressive pizza topped with cheeses from their own creamery and cooked in a custom made Forno Bravo oven. Fond memories of delightful “oven on site pizza” paired with excellent Old Vines Cab Sauv with founder Rick Small at Woodward Canyon Winery in the Walla Walla Valley, Washington State.
The best commercial outlets often try to follow the authentic Neapolitan (“Napoletana”) Pizza Italian STG certification. They usually succeed with the round shape, ingredients (00flour, salt, yeast & water), hand stretched dough, and baked in a wood burning oven but less compliant on many other regulations such as temperature (485C or higher) and middle thickness of dough at a very thin .3 centimeters (about .1 inches). Difficult.
Homemade Pizza can take many days of dough preparation, close attention to detail on the toppings, and way less production. As a result it can rival or sometimes even be better than commercial pizza. Pleased to report such a wonderful culinary experience for eight of us last month at a friend’s home with an outstanding six course pizza dinner each one carefully orchestrated from the long leavening prep of the dough, different toppings carefully chosen, and perfectly cooked in a wood burning ALFA PIZZA oven – Made in Italy. Can be done. So impressive and delicious!
Italian wine pairings were so appropriate and well chosen. Started with an aged 2015 GRECO CAMPANIA “MASTRO” IGT value from MASTROBERARDINOAT 12.5 abv followed by a different wine matching for each pizza. Some ideas for you to try:
1. CACIO E PEPE: Pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano. toasted crushed black pepper, Pine nuts, asparagus, EVOO. 2014 ROERO ARNEIS DOCG VIETTI 13 Lovely mature pairing.
2. THE BEST OF THE WEST COAST: Goat Cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pine nuts, Peas, Dungeness Crab & Smoked Salmon, EVOO. 2010 TENORES BADDE NIGOLOSU IGT a big Romangia Rosso of Cannonau grapes unfiltered from Sardinia by Tenute Dettori with no wood used and making a powerful 17 abv dried fruits pruney earthy statement.
3. MUSHROOM MEDLEY WITH TRUFFLES: Bufala, Ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Portobello, King Oyster, Oyster, Shiitake, Porcini, Shimeji, Truffle tapenade, white truffle oil. 2014 BARBARESCO MONTESTEFANO RISERVA – More consistent Barbaresco vintage in 2014 than in Barolo showing young vibrant fruit.
4. MEDITERRANEAN: Mascarpone, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pesto, Pine Nuts, Olives, Capers, Artichokes , and sun dried tomatoes. 2012 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO CANALICCHIO DI SOPRA is brilliant drinking so well from a top producer Salad Interlude.
5. PIEROGI (OR PEROGI): Danish Blue Cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, Sour Cream, Red peppers, Roasted Potatoes, Alder Smoked Bacon. 2004 BAROLO PODERI ALDO CONTERNO with lots of classy Nebbiolo styling at age 20 on a lovely current drinking plateau.
Question: Your thoughts on the results of the 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s British Columbia Wine Awards for this year?
Answer: There was no Lt. Gov. BC Wine Awards in 2024 but Okanagan Wine Festivals successfully carried on with the rebranded 2024 British Columbia Wine Awards. They have done a stellar job under the excellent leadership of General Manager Kimberly Hundertmark and her team. Your scribe has been an enthusiastic long-time judge of this competition but was conflicted out this year by wine events in Burgundy The results are just out using a change in format from the previous medals to a BC TOP 50 (linked here) based on the judge’s highest average scores. 42 wineries were included in these impressively diverse results led by Wine Of The Year 2022 Cellar Series Gamay from Dirty Laundry Vineyard. Check these wines out!
Seaport City is a popular upscale Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver producing amazing high quality cuisine with some good value dishes. It was recognized as a Bib Gourmand in the 2023 Michelin Guide. Your scribe has enjoyed several lunches there and was keen to attend an overbooked Dim Sum event in one of their private dining rooms “VIP 1” especially well organized by IWFS Vancouver on Sunday June 23, 2024. The setting is elegant with an outside window view and large round tables covered with white table cloths.
The Menu chosen was really well thought out with a variety of special dishes matched with six appropriate wines from around the world that worked:
SEGURA VIUDAS RESERVA BRUT METODO TRADICIONAL A dependable citrus flavoured value Spanish Cava Sparkling aperitif with 10g/l dosage
CHATEAU MUSAR ROSE 2019 “MUSAR JEUNE” A crisp dry unoaked Cinsault-Mourvedre blend at 13 abv from Bekaa Valley in Lebanon works with the mushroom noodles
TUNELLA PINOT GRIGIO 2021 FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI Fresh lighter pinot gris at 13 abv provides wonderful refreshment of the palate with most of the Chinese Dim Sum dishes – especially the two different delicious more delicate steamed dumplings
SANCERRE LA MERCY-DIEU 2020 DOMAINE BAILLY-REVERDY Richer riper fuller bodied Sauvignon Blanc at higher alcohol of 14 is impressive but less refreshing than usual in this vintage. Better holding up with the sea cucumber & scallop dishes.
TANTALUS RIESLING 2022 OKANAGAN VALLEY from South East Kelowna slopes is an off dry true variety with balancing acidity at 12.9 abv. Perfectly paired with green beans and minced pork. Also outstandingly complex is the heritage vines dating back to 1978 in their OLD VINES RIESLING treasured bottle.
PFAFFENHEIM PINOT GRIS STEINERT 2012 GRAND CRU Older full bodied mature Alsace wine with residual sugar at 13.5 abv pairs best with the full flavoured sweeter Chinese dishes including the taro root and particularly the ribs.
Our lunch started with a platter of sensational mixed appetizers that included a magnificent crab cake with pieces of water chestnuts for texture, tender sliced small scallops, and deep fried dumplings filled with taro root vegetable. Most perfectly cooked sweet tender yet crunchy green beans ever experienced where the norm is often either undercooked hard too green flavoured or overcooked with a limp soft texture. Every dish was of such a high calibre that it made an amazing culinary event. A special thanks for those tasty unique mushroom noodles!
Congrats to the chef and his brigade. Also to the Robertsons for another successful IWFS function plus a well deserved Appreciation Certificate awarded to Susan Man and Garfield Marshall for their exemplary experienced ordering input and restaurant close connections in bringing this memorable Dim Sum to fruition.
Question: What about the results of the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards?
Answer: Yes, waited to reply to your question until the results were announced today. Also there was a most insightful Zoom seminar today about this excellent Competition held by Wine Scholar Guild with Andrew Jefford, Caro Maurer MW, and James Tidwell MS discussing the outstanding judging process. Also Logistics head Simon Wright on how they superbly organize some 18000+ entries with 4 bottles each for a total of over 72000 bottles. Totally amazing most well run credible event.
The Awards are now up on the Decanter website including the Top 50 Best in Show. Pinot Noir from Tasmania were impressive! Two Cru Beaujolais 2023 from the same producer of Domaine de Colonat made it with quite different styles according to Andrew of Morgon Les Charmes “exuberant fruit” and Moulin a Vent Les Greneriers “balanced, complex, meaty” plus a Retsina Kechris “Tear of the Pine” from Greece.
Canada did well led by an Estate Annapolis Valley Chardonnay 2021 from Nova Scotia by Blomidon Estate Winery. Lots of British Columbia recognitions led by Golds for Church and State 2020 Roussanne, Unsworth Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Blasted Church Vineyards 2022 Small Blessings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Phantom Creek Estate 2020 PVV Cuvee Red, CedarCreek Estate Winery 2022 Estate Riesling – Value too!, and Nk’Mip 2022 Qwam Qwmt Icewine Riesling.
Great work by Decanter. Check out the just released results.
