13
Apr
2012
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
The annual California / LCBO love it took the first part of the day. California thanks the LCBO for its support and then continues by rubbing it in with enviable numbers like 196 million (dollars of California wine sold by the LCBO); 9 (percentage of increase in sales on the general list); 4 (where they sit in sales in the overall LCBO scheme); 1 (with 20% of Vintages sales that have taken over top spot); 72 and 84 (percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay – respectively – sold in Vintages).
Then up stood guest speaker, Evan Goldstein (MS) to speak about California and had a few of his own numbers to share: 7395 (number of wineries in the USA); 3519 (wineries in California); 18 (years of continuous growth of wine consumption in the US); 90 (percentage of US wine exports that were California wine).
Evan also gave his top ten of what is happening in the world of California wine ... some highlights:
1 - White wine is making a comeback – 40% of all new plantings are muscat and is the number 2 white wine, surpassing Sauvignon Blanc
2 - There is a Chardonnay Renaissance
4 - Alternative grapes are gaining traction
8 - Wines by the Keg at bars and restaurants – keeps freshness from first to last drop.
9 - Bloggers are the new world order –and don’t foreget social media.
Finally ... as for the wine, with close to 500 wines in the room it's hard to taste them all.
(click here to see the wines)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
09
Apr
2012
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Terroir Wine and Spirits came by to visit with the members of the Wine Writers`Circle of Canada for a sampling of the BC wines they are bringing into the province. These Ontario born and bred boys (Alex Pyne & Jamie Crain) fell in love with "the competition" while visiting the West Coast about 4 years ago - they started their passion project agency in 2008 to promote the wines they fell in love with. They say they have been called traitors on occasion, for bringing in the wines of BC - but as the LCBO shows us time and time again, there is always room for wines other than Ontario-made here in the province. The focus of Terroir Wine and Spirits is boutique wineries of the Pacific Rim - mainly BC (they represent 35 wineries) - plus 6 Washington, 3 Oregon, and 1 California. Most of their wines are available through private order and restaurants, though some have made it onto the shelves of the liquor monopoly of this province (approximately 15-20% of what they bring in are available thru vintages outlets). Below is a list of some of their wines and some notes and scores about each ... I have to say that that majority of the reds were wonderful, while the whites ... well, let`s just say that Ontario still has a leg up on our West Coast counter-parts in that department. You'll also notice that the prices once they get into our province isn't cheap (must the currency exchange that makes them cost more ... yeah, that's it) ...
(To see the wines and their scores click here)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
